yahoudi يهودي
Tunisian Derja · noun
“yahoudi” (يهودي) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning Jew, Jewish person.
Meanings
- Jew, Jewish person
- Jewish (adjective)
Usage
Yhoudi refers first of all to a person of the Jewish faith. It is also used as an adjective. The feminine is yhoudiya and the plural is yhoud. Tunisia has an old Jewish community, notably in Djerba, and the word is neutral in a descriptive context. Be careful: it is also heard as an insult, for example "ya yhoudi" shouted at a referee or a player in the stands or on social media. This usage is antisemitic and abusive. A learner should recognise it, but never use it that way.
Example
فما برشا يهود عايشين في جربة.
fama barcha yhoud 3aychin fi jerba.
“Many Jews live in Djerba.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “yahoudi” but also “yehoudi”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.