شوي

South Levantine Arabic

Alternative forms

• شويّة (šwayye)

Etymology

From the diminutive form of Arabic شَيْء (šayʔ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃwajj/, [ʃwaj]

• Audio (Ramallah):

  (file)

Noun

شويّ • (šwayy) m

1. alternative form of شويّة (šwayye)

Adverb

شوي • (šwayy)

1. a little, a bit

   Antonym: كتير (ktīr)

   كننا نحكي قبل شوي.

   kunna niḥki ʔabl šwayy

   We were talking a little while ago.

   (literally, “We were talking a little before.”)

   أنا مضغوط شويّ هالإيّام.

   ʔana maḍḡūṭ šwayy hal-ʔiyyām

   I'm a bit under pressure these days.

Derived terms

• شوي شوي (šwayy šwayy, “slowly, step by step”)