jellaba جلّابة
Moroccan Darija · noun
“jellaba” (جلّابة) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning djellaba, hooded long robe.
Meanings
- djellaba, hooded long robe
Usage
Jellaba refers to the traditional Moroccan garment: a long, loose robe with sleeves and a hood, worn by both men and women. The plural is jlaleb. People say lbes jellaba, "put on a djellaba". It is worn especially on Fridays, for festivals, weddings, or in cold weather. Its cut and finishing are entrusted to a tailor, the kheyyat. The English word "djellaba" comes from this term. Note: the jellaba should not be confused with the caftan, which is dressier and has no hood.
Example
علاش مابغيتيش تشري جلابة جديدة
3lach mabghitich tchri jellaba jdida
“Why don't you want to buy a new djellaba?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “jellaba” but also “jlaba”, “jllaba”, “jelaba” and “djellaba”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “jellaba” on the Arabic keyboard
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “djellaba, long hooded robe”; “loose women's house robe”: djellaba in Algerian.