mftoul مفتول
Algerian Darja · adjective
“mftoul” (مفتول) is an adjective in Algerian Darja meaning rolled (couscous, dough).
Meanings
- rolled (couscous, dough)
- twisted (thread, rope)
Usage
Maftoul, often pronounced mftoul, is the passive participle of the verb ftel, meaning "to roll" or "to twist". In cooking, it is used for couscous or dough rolled by hand: we say fetlet el kesksou, "she rolled the couscous". For a thread or rope, it means "twisted". The source also gives a popular sense: a small roll inserted against constipation. This sense is marginal, poorly attested and is not used as a basis here. The word agrees in gender: mftoula in the feminine.
Example
الكسكسي راهو مفتول، نطيبوه غدوة
el kesksi rahou mftoul, ntayboh ghedwa
“The couscous is rolled, we'll cook it tomorrow.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mftoul” but also “maftoul”, “mfetoul” and “meftoul”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.