z3ter زعتر
Moroccan Darija · noun
“z3ter” (زعتر) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning thyme, oregano (herb).
Meanings
- thyme, oregano (herb)
- thyme infusion
Usage
Za3tar means thyme and, more broadly, several related aromatic plants of the oregano family, sold dried or fresh. It is put in tea, especially in winter, or drunk as an infusion for colds and stomach aches. It also flavours certain dishes, such as soup or olives. It is a collective noun: one says chwiya d za3tar (a little thyme). It is not the spice blend called zaatar in the Middle East. In Morocco, the word simply means the plant.
Example
كاين عندك زعتر؟
kayn 3ndk ze3tar?
“Do you have any thyme?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “z3ter” but also “za3ter”, “z3tar”, “ze3tar”, “za3tar” and “z3tr”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.