debza دبزة
Algerian Darja · noun
“debza” (دبزة) is a noun in Algerian Darja meaning fight, brawl.
Meanings
- fight, brawl
- punch
Usage
Debza refers to a fistfight or, more precisely, a punch. The sense of fight is the most frequent in conversation: tnod debza, "a fight breaks out", or kla debza, "he took a punch". The derived verb tdabez, "to fight", is very common, as is debbouza for a round object. The register is informal. The word is also used figuratively for a very heated quarrel, even without blows, for example between relatives on Eid day.
Example
نضات دبزة قدام القهوة وجات الشرطة
nadet debza goddam l9ahwa w jat chorta
“A fight broke out in front of the café and the police came.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “debza” but also “dabza”, “dbza” and “debzaa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.