gddam ڭدّام
Moroccan Darija · preposition
“gddam” (ڭدّام) is a preposition in Moroccan Darija meaning in front of, facing.
Meanings
- in front of, facing
- the front
- in the presence of
Usage
Gddam means "in front of". It is the "g" pronunciation of qddam (also written 9oddam), very common throughout Morocco. It takes suffixed pronouns: gddami (in front of me), gddamek (in front of you). It is used for space, gddam ddar (in front of the house), and for someone's presence: ma tgoulch hadchi gddam lwalidin (don't say that in front of your parents). Used alone, it means "in front, ahead": sir gddam (go ahead). Do not confuse it with qbel, "before", which marks time.
Example
تسنّاني ڭدّام الدار
tsennani gddam ddar
“Wait for me in front of the house.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “gddam” but also “goddam”, “9oddam”, “godam” and “geddam”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.