chammam شمام
Tunisian Derja · noun
“chammam” (شمام) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning melon.
Meanings
- melon
Usage
Chammam means melon, a fruit widely eaten in summer in Tunisia, alongside watermelon ("dellaa"). The word is a collective: "chammam" for the fruit in general, "chammama" for one melon. It also appears in the fresh juices sold in summer: "3asir chammam". The word resembles the verb "chamm" (to smell): in some contexts, "chammam" can mean someone who sniffs, notably glue, and it is then pejorative. It is also a family name.
Example
شريت شمامة حلوة برشا من السوق.
chrit chammama 7lowa barcha mel sou9.
“I bought a very sweet melon at the market.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “chammam” but also “chamam”, “chemmem”, “chammem” and “chmam”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.