tsalem تسالم
Moroccan Darija · verb
“tsalem” (تسالم) is a verb in Moroccan Darija meaning to greet each other.
Meanings
- to greet each other
- to shake hands
Usage
Tsalem is the reciprocal form of sellem (to greet). It is mostly used in the plural or with m3a: "tsalmu" (they greeted each other), "tsalemt m3ah" (I greeted him, we shook hands). It refers to the exchange of greetings, often with a handshake or kisses on the cheek, on arrival or departure. The register is neutral and everyday. Sellem 3lih means "to greet someone", whereas tsalem stresses that the gesture goes both ways.
Example
تسالمنا ومشينا
tsalemna w mchina
“We greeted each other and left.”
Conjugation
Forms as recorded in DODa and reproduced in its spelling, which often leaves out short vowels.
| Imperfective (present) | Perfective (past) | Imperative | |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana (I) | kantsalm | tsalmt | |
| nta (you, m.) | kattsalm | tsalmti | tsalm |
| nti (you, f.) | kattsalmi | tsalmti | tsalmi |
| howa (he) | kaytsalm | tsalm | |
| hiya (she) | kattsalm | tsalmat | |
| 7na (we) | kantsalmo | tsalmna | |
| ntouma (you, pl.) | kattsalmo | tsalmto | tsalmo |
| homa (they) | kaytsalmo | tsalmo |
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tsalem” but also “tsalm”, “tsalmo”, “tsalmu” and “tsallem”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.