“Stiff” in Tunisian Arabic

In Tunisian Arabic, “Stiff” (the adjective, in the singular form) is written using the Latin script as:

(m) Yebes

(f) Yebsa

Using the Arabic script, it is written as:

 يابس (m)

يابسا (f)

In Tunisian Arabic, “Stiff” (the adjective, in the plural form) is written using the Latin script as:

Yebsin

Using the Arabic script, it is written as:

يابسين

(Editor’s note: In Tunisian Arabic, if describing an object or objects, including body parts, Yebes / Yebsa / Yebsin can be used, but what is also common in this context is: (sing. m.) Jemed / جامد, (sing. f.) Jemda / جامدا, & (pl.) Jemdin / جامدين. And when speaking about someone or people being stiff emotionally, as in not being too emotive, it’s most common to use this series of words: (sing. m.) Kesah (Kesa7) / كاسح, (sing. f.) Kesha (Kes7a) / كاسحا, (pl.) Keshin (Kes7in) / كاسحين.)

Listen to these three words pronounced (audio)

 

Examples in sentences or statements

 
“I’m feeling a bit stiff.”

(m) Nhes fy rouhy yebes.

(f) Nhes fy rouhy yebsa.

.نحس في روحي يابس

.نحس في روحي يابسا

 
“My legs are stiff.”

Sa9aya yebsin.

.ساقايا يابسين

 
“My body is a little stiff.”

Badni yebes chwaya.

.بدني يابس شوية

 
“She woke up with a stiff neck.”

9amet w ra9betha yebsa.

.قامت و رقبتها يابسا

 
“I always feel stiff after sitting down for so long at work.”

Dima nhes rouhy yebes mba3ed ma nab9a 9a3ed barcha fel khedma.

.ديما نحس روحي يبست مبعد ما نبقا قاعد  برشا في الخدمة