d3em دعم
Moroccan Darija · verb
“d3em” (دعم) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to support, back someone.
Meanings
- to support, back someone
- support, help (noun da3m)
- to subsidize (prices, products)
Usage
The verb d3em is conjugated: d3em, kayd3em, ghadi yd3em. It means to support a person, a team, a project or a cause. The noun da3m means support or help, and also the state subsidy on certain products, hence lmawad lmad3ouma (subsidized products). The word belongs to a rather formal or media register. In everyday conversation, people readily say wqef m3a (to stand by someone) to express moral support. The construction is direct, with no preposition: d3em chi wa7ed (to support someone).
Example
عمرك ت دعم شي واحد مايستاهلش
3emrek t d3em chi wa7ed maystahelch
“Never support someone who doesn't deserve it.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kand3em | d3emt | |
| nta (you, m.) | katd3em | d3emti | d3em |
| nti (you, f.) | katd3mi | d3emti | d3mi |
| howa (he) | kayd3em | d3em | |
| hiya (she) | katd3em | d3mat | |
| 7na (we) | kand3mo | d3mna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | katd3mo | d3mto | d3mo |
| homa (they) | kayd3mo | d3mo |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “d3em” but also “da3m”, “d3m”, “d3am” and “dda3m”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.