7imaya حماية
Moroccan Darija · noun
“7imaya” (حماية) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning protection.
Meanings
- protection
- defence, safeguarding
Usage
The word 7imaya comes from Standard Arabic and belongs to a careful register. It is heard mostly in the media, administration and advertising: "l-7imaya l-ijtima3iya" (social protection), "7imaya mn ch-chms" (sun protection), "l-7imaya l-mdaniya" (civil protection). In everyday conversation, a verb is often preferred, for example "7da" or "7ma" (to protect), or some other turn of phrase. The word is understood by everyone and is used naturally on technical or official subjects.
Example
هاد الكريمة فيها حماية من الشمس
had l-krima fiha 7imaya mn ch-chms
“This cream gives protection from the sun.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7imaya” but also “himaya”, “7emaya” and “7maya”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.
Type “7imaya” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “protection”; “safety (service, system)”: 7imeya in Tunisian.