dammar دمر

Algerian Darja · verb

“dammar” (دمر) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to destroy, to devastate.

Meanings

1. to destroy, to devastate
2. to ruin, to wreck (one's life, health)

Usage

Dammar is used in Algeria as in Standard Arabic for material destruction: a war, an earthquake or a flood that devastates a place. In conversation, it is used mostly figuratively: dammar rouhou, "to destroy oneself", for someone who wrecks their health, studies or future. Dammartni, "you ruined me", expresses exasperation, often in an exaggerated tone. The verb is conjugated normally: dammart, ydammar, mdammar ("destroyed, crushed"), the latter also used for an exhausted or dejected person. One source gives it the meaning "to soil a garment", but the uses found do not confirm this.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “dammar” but also “damar”, “daamaar”, “dammer” and “demmar”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Type “dammar” on the Arabic keyboard

In Tunisian Derja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to destroy, devastate”; “to ruin someone, crush them morally”: dammar in Tunisian.