selham سلهام
Moroccan Darija · noun
“selham” (سلهام) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning traditional hooded cape.
Meanings
- traditional hooded cape
Usage
The selham is a large sleeveless cape with a hood, worn over the djellaba. It is generally made of fine wool and is white or light in color. It is a ceremonial garment, worn at religious festivals and weddings, and by officials on formal occasions. The groom wears it, and the bride sometimes does for certain outings. The plural is slahem. It should not be confused with the djellaba, which has sleeves, or with the burnous.
Example
جات العروسة لابسة سلهام
jat l3rousa labsa salham
“The bride arrived wearing a selham.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “selham” but also “slham”, “sel8am”, “sl8am” and “salham”. 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.