temma تم
Algerian Darja · adverb
“temma” (تم) is an adverb in Algerian Darja meaning there, over there.
Meanings
- there, over there
- at that point, on that matter
Usage
Temma is the common adverb for a place far from the speaker or already mentioned. It is used alone ("rani temma", I'm over there), with ghir for emphasis ("ghir temma", right there) or with men ("men temma", from over there). The register is informal and neutral, and the word is heard everywhere in conversation. Note: in writing, the spelling تم is easily confused with the Standard Arabic verb tamma ("was done"), common in the media and unrelated to this meaning. The spellings تما and ثمة are also found.
Example
حط الصاك تم فوق الطابلة
7at sac temma fou9 tabla
“Put the bag over there, on the table.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “temma” but also “tema”, “thema”, “tamma” and “tma”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.