debban ذبان
Algerian Darja · noun
“debban” (ذبان) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning flies (collective).
Meanings
- flies (collective)
Usage
Debban is a collective noun meaning flies in general. It often takes the masculine singular: "eddebban kther" (the flies have multiplied). For a single fly, say debbana, and for a specific number, "jouj debbanat". The word is used every day, especially in summer, and in colloquial expressions for a dirty or deserted place. It works like all collectives in darja, on the model of nmel (ants). The initial d corresponds to a dh pronounced d in most regions.
Example
الذبان كثر في الصيف
eddebban kther fe sif
“There are a lot of flies in summer.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “debban” but also “dbban”, “dhebban”, “debane” and “dbane”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.