khamem خمم
Algerian Darja · verb
“khamem” (خمم) is a verb in Algerian Darja meaning to think, to reflect.
Meanings
- to think, to reflect
- to consider, to think of
Usage
Khemmem / ykhemmem is the usual verb for "to think, to reflect" in Algeria. It is much more common in conversation than fakkar. It is used on its own ("khemmem mlih", "think carefully") or with f for the object of the thought: "rani nkhemmem fik", "I'm thinking of you". The verbal noun tekhmam means "thought, worry"; "rah ghir ykhemmem" can suggest that someone is worrying. A Frenchified synonym, yriflichi, exists in informal register. The meaning is active thinking, not an opinion: for "I think that", people say "ndhenn" instead.
Example
خمم مليح قبل ما تهدر
khemmem mli7 9bel ma tahder
“Think carefully before you speak.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “khamem” but also “khemmem”, “khammem”, “5amem” and “khmem”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 5 is kha (خ), like the ch in Scottish loch.
Type “khamem” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to think, to reflect”; “to think of someone, to care”: khammem in Tunisian.