tji

Swedish

Etymology

From Tavringer Romani tji (“not, nothing, no”), related to Traveller Norwegian kji (“not, nothing, no”), from Romani či (“not, nothing”). Probably a borrowing from Armenian չի (čʻi, “not, no”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɕiː/
• Rhymes: -ɕiː

Noun

tji (indeclinable)

1. (colloquial, in some expressions) a setback, a failure

   Han försökte lura mig, men tji fick han!

   He tried to trick me, but failed in his pursuit!

2. (colloquial, uncommon) an impossibility

   Han försökte ringa, men det var tji

   He tried to call, but it was impossible

References

• tji in Svensk ordbok (SO)
• tji in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
• tji in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)
• Gerd Carling (2005) “tji”, in Romani i svenskan: Storstadsslang och standardspråk, Stockholm: Carlsson, →ISBN, page 104