3abber عبر
Algerian Darja · verb
“3abber” (عبر) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to measure, portion out.
Meanings
- to measure, portion out
- to weigh up, assess
- to express (formal)
Usage
3abbar, with a doubled consonant, mainly means to measure or portion out, especially in cooking. « 3abbar el melh » is to measure out the salt. It is also used for assessing or gauging something. The sense "to express" comes from Standard Arabic. It appears in a more formal register, for example « 3abbar 3la rayou », he expressed his opinion. Beware of the Arabic spelling: without vowels, عبر is often confused with the standard preposition 3abra, "via, through". It is very common in writing but has nothing to do with this verb.
Example
عبّر الدقيق مليح قبل ما تعجن
3abber eddqiq mli7 qbel ma t3ejjen
“Measure the flour well before kneading.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3abber” but also “3abbar”, “aabber” and “3ebber”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.
Type “3abber” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to measure”; “to weigh”: 3ber in Moroccan.