bolbol بلبل
Tunisian Derja · noun
“bolbol” (بلبل) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning nightingale, small songbird.
Meanings
- nightingale, small songbird
- person who sings well
- affectionate or ironic nickname
Usage
Bolbol refers to the nightingale, or more broadly any small bird with a melodious song. The word is very common in songs and popular poetry, where it symbolizes a sweet voice and love. Figuratively, it applies to someone who sings well, or to a talkative person. Used as a form of address (ya bolbol), it can be tender or openly mocking: the tone decides. The common plural is bleblel. Context usually makes clear whether one is talking about the bird or a person.
Example
البلبل يغني في الجنينة.
el bolbol y8anni fil jnina.
“The nightingale sings in the garden.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “bolbol” but also “belbel”, “bulbul” and “boulboul”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.