wa3ka وعكة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“wa3ka” (وعكة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning illness, brief health problem.
Meanings
- illness, brief health problem
- minor crisis, rough patch
Usage
Wa3ka is a standard Arabic word, common in Tunisia in the fixed expression wa3ka sa77iya, "a health problem, an illness". It is heard mostly in news reports, social media posts, and conversations asking after a sick person. The register is rather formal. In casual conversation, people are more likely to say "mridh" or "ta3eb". The word refers to a passing problem, often sudden, not a chronic illness. It is often followed by a wish for recovery such as "rabbi yechfih". Typical constructions: "jattou wa3ka" or "3mal wa3ka sa77iya".
Example
جاتو وعكة صحية البارح أما توا لاباس عليه
jattou wa3ka sa77iya lbere7 ama tawa labes 3lih
“He had a health scare yesterday, but now he's doing fine.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “wa3ka” but also “wa3ke” and “waaka”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.