retteb رطّب
Moroccan Darija · verb
“retteb” (رطّب) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to soften, make tender.
Meanings
- to soften, make tender
- to moisturize, hydrate
Usage
The verb retteb (imperfect: yretteb) means to make something softer or more tender. It is used for stale bread, meat or skin, for example "krima katretteb lbachra" ("a cream that moisturizes the skin"). It should not be confused with the related adjective rteb, much more frequent, which means "soft, supple, tender". It is applied to smooth hair ("cha3ru rteb"), to an animal's coat, or to the soft inside of a food. Most attested sentences in fact illustrate this adjective rather than the verb. Figuratively, rteb can also describe a gentle, accommodating person.
Example
رطّب الخبز اليابس بشوية د الما
retteb lkhobz lyabes b chwiya d lma
“Soften the stale bread with a little water.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “retteb” but also “rtteb”, “rteb” and “rattab”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.