zin زين
Tunisian Derja · noun
“zin” (زين) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning beauty.
Meanings
- beauty
- beautiful (zin, zina)
- to decorate, beautify (zayyen)
Usage
Zin means beauty, especially physical beauty. It is heard in compliments, songs and set expressions: ezzin ma ydoumech, "beauty doesn't last". Zina, the feminine, is used as an adjective or as a compliment to a woman. The related verb zayyen means "to decorate, to beautify": zayyen ed-dar, "decorate the house", zayyen rouhou, "to make oneself look good". Zin is also a common first name, notably in the compound name Zine El Abidine. To say simply "beautiful" in everyday speech, mezyen or behi are used more often.
Example
الزين ما يدومش، الأصل هو اللي يبقى
ezzin ma ydoumech, el asl howa elli yob9a
“Beauty doesn't last; it's good breeding that remains.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “zin” but also “zine”, “zayn” and “ziin”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “zin” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to decorate, adorn”; “to beautify, make beautiful”: zyyen in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “beautiful, pretty”; “good, of good quality”: zin in Algerian.