sebb صبّ
Moroccan Darija · verb
“sebb” (صبّ) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to pour a liquid.
Meanings
- to pour a liquid
- to pour down (rain)
- to cast (concrete, metal)
Usage
Sebb (present kaysebb) means to pour, especially a liquid: sebb atay ("to serve tea"), sebb lma. It is also used for rain: kat-sebb chta means it is pouring down. In construction, it refers to pouring concrete (sebb dala). This verb is common and neutral. The pitfall is confusing it with sabb ("to insult"), which sounds very similar depending on the region. Context generally makes the difference clear.
Example
صب ليا شوية د الما
sebb liya chwiya d lma
“Pour me a little water.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “sebb” but also “sbb”, “seb” and “sabb”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “sebb” on the Arabic keyboard
In Tunisian Derja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Tunisian Derja, where it means “to pour, make a liquid flow”; “to pour down (rain)”: sob in Tunisian.