7al9oum حلقوم
Tunisian Derja · noun
“7al9oum” (حلقوم) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning loukoum, gelled sweet.
Meanings
- loukoum, gelled sweet
- throat, gullet
Usage
In Tunisia, 7al9oum mainly refers to loukoum, those gelled, sugary cubes, often rose-flavored and rolled in powdered sugar. It is bought by weight at the confectioner's and served with coffee or at celebrations. The word is used as a collective noun: one says "chwaya 7al9oum" (a bit of loukoum) rather than counting the pieces. The meaning of "throat" also exists, but it is more literary. In everyday language, it is less common than the confectionery sense.
Example
جبتلك شويّة حلقوم مع القهوة.
jebtlek chwaya 7al9oum m3a l9ahwa.
“I brought you some loukoum with the coffee.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “7al9oum” but also “halkoum”, “7alkoum”, “halgoum” and “7al9oom”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat; 9 is qaf (ق), a k pronounced at the back of the throat.