jbha جبهة
Moroccan Darija · noun
“jbha” (جبهة) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning forehead (part of the face).
Meanings
- forehead (part of the face)
- nerve, cheek
Usage
Jebha refers to the forehead, the upper part of the face: one hits one's forehead, or has a mark or injury on it. In the figurative sense, very common in conversation, jebha means nerve, cheek: "3ndo jebha" means "he has nerve", often with a nuance of reproach towards someone who has no shame. One also hears "mat7echmch, 3ndek jebha" (aren't you ashamed, you have some nerve). The h is clearly pronounced; in arabizi it is sometimes written 8 instead of h.
Example
ضربت راسي فالباب وتجرحت فجبهتي
drebt rasi f lbab w tjre7t f jebhti
“I hit my head on the door and injured my forehead.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “jbha” but also “jebha”, “jb8a”, “jeb8a” and “jab8a”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 8 is light ha (ه) or ghayn (غ), depending on the writer.