3mal jaw عمل جو
Tunisian Derja · expression
“3mal jaw” (عمل جو) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning to liven things up, energize a party.
Meanings
- to liven things up, energize a party
- to have fun, party
Usage
3mal jaw is used in a colloquial register, especially among young people. Jaw means "atmosphere, mood". You say someone "made jaw" when they livened up an evening, a wedding or an outing with friends. The expression is conjugated like the verb 3mal: na3mel jaw, 3malna jaw, ya3mlou jaw. Jaw is also found on its own to say there was a good atmosphere: "kén fama jaw". It can also be used ironically, for someone who makes noise or puts on a show. Do not confuse it with the weather use of jaw, "the weather".
Example
البارح في العرس الدي جي عمل جو
lbare7 fil 3ers e dj 3mal jaw
“Yesterday at the wedding, the DJ got the party going.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3mal jaw” but also “3mel jaw”, “amal jaw” and “3mal jow”. 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.