jjdam الجدام
Moroccan Darija · noun
“jjdam” (الجدام) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning leprosy.
Meanings
- leprosy
Usage
Jjdam is the word for leprosy. Since the disease has become rare, the word appears mostly in medical, historical or religious contexts, or in old stories. It is also heard in traditional curses directed at someone. A person with leprosy is called mjdum. In everyday conversation the term is uncommon and can sound heavy or harsh. An English speaker can use it without difficulty in an informative context, but should avoid applying it to a person.
Example
الجدام مرض قليل دابا
jjdam mrd qlil daba
“Leprosy is a rare disease now.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “jjdam” but also “ljdam”, “jdam”, “jedam” and “ljudam”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.