debba دبة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“debba” (دبة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning jerrycan, plastic container.
Meanings
- jerrycan, plastic container
- fat person (mocking)
Usage
Debba means a jerrycan or large container, most often plastic, used to carry water, oil or fuel. Common phrases are debbet ma (a water jerrycan), debbet zit (an oil jerrycan) or debbet essence. The plural is dbeb. In informal speech, the word is also applied to a heavyset person, to mock or tease them. This sense can offend: best avoided outside a very friendly setting.
Example
جيب دبة ماء من الحانوت
jib debbet ma mel 7anout
“Bring a jerrycan of water from the grocery.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “debba” but also “deba”, “dabba” and “dobba”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.