zeghrouta زغروتة
Moroccan Darija · noun
“zeghrouta” (زغروتة) is a noun in Moroccan Darija meaning ululation, cry of joy.
Meanings
- ululation, cry of joy
Usage
Zeghrouta means an ululation, that is, a shrill, trilling cry of joy, typical of family celebrations. It is a feminine singular noun: you say zeghrouta wahda for a single cry, and the common plural or collective is zgharit. It is used in expressions like tlqi zeghrouta, "to let out an ululation". It is heard mostly about weddings, exam successes or homecomings from a trip. The register is everyday. In English, "ululation" or "trill" can be used as a translation.
Example
طلقات زغروتة ملي سمعات الخبار
tlqat zeghrouta melli sm3at lkhbar
“She let out an ululation when she heard the news.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “zeghrouta” but also “zaghrouta”, “zghrouta” and “zgharouta”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.