ye7yik يحييك
Tunisian Derja · expression
“ye7yik” (يحييك) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning may God keep you alive.
Meanings
- may God keep you alive
- thank you, reply to wishes
Usage
Y7ayik is almost always used in the formula rabbi y7ayik, "may God keep you alive". It is said on holidays and birthdays, often after sinin dayma or 3id mabrouk, followed by l'amthalou, "for other similar occasions". It is also used to thank someone who has just offered good wishes. It is conjugated according to the person addressed: y7ayikom in the plural. The tone is warm and polite, and the formula suits all ages.
Example
عيدك مبروك، ربي يحييك لأمثالو.
3idek mabrouk, rabbi y7ayik l'amthalou.
“Happy holiday, may God keep you alive for more like it.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, it is written “ye7yik”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.