chermoula شرمولة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“chermoula” (شرمولة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning onion and raisin sauce.
Meanings
- onion and raisin sauce
Usage
Tunisian chermoula is a thick, sweet-spicy preparation of long-cooked onions, raisins and spices. It is traditionally served with salted fish on the first day of Eid el-Fitr, especially in Sfax, where it is strongly tied to this holiday. Pitfall for an English speaker: it has nothing to do with Moroccan chermoula, an herb marinade for fish. The word can also be used as a familiar nickname. One commonly says ta3mel chermoula, "she is preparing the chermoula".
Example
نهار العيد ناكلو الشرمولة بالحوت المالح
nhar el 3id nekłou ech-chermoula bel 7out el mele7
“On the day of Eid, we eat chermoula with salted fish.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “chermoula” but also “charmoula” and “chermola”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.