yalatif يالطيف
Tunisian Derja · interjection
“yalatif” (يالطيف) is an interjection in Tunisian Derja meaning oh my God! (fright, surprise).
Meanings
- oh my God! (fright, surprise)
- how awful, that's too much
Usage
Ya latif (O Gentle One, one of the names of God) is a very common interjection. It is used when frightened, surprised or overwhelmed: on hearing bad news, facing something frightening or a painful situation. It is often reinforced by repetition: "ya latif ya latif", or "ya latif el lotf". It can also express disgust or exasperation at something excessive. It is colloquial and everyday, as natural among young people as among older ones. Depending on the tone, it can be translated as "oh my God", "help" or "how awful".
Example
يا لطيف، شنوة الحس هذا؟
ya latif, chnowa el 7ess hedha?
“Oh my God, what is that noise?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, it is written “yalatif”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.