famma فمة
Tunisian Derja · particle
“famma” (فمة) is a particle in Tunisian Derja meaning there is, there are.
Meanings
- there is, there are
- is there? (question)
Usage
The direct equivalent of "there is/are", very characteristic of Tunisian speech. It is invariable: famma barcha ri7 (there is a lot of wind), famma chkoun (there is someone who). Negation is made with ma famma or ma fammech: ma famma chay (there is nothing). For a question, you simply add intonation: famma 7aja? (is there something?). Ma famma ken means "there is only": ma famma ken el-khobz (there is only bread). This word is never used to express duration ("two days ago").
Example
ما فمّة شي هههه
Ma famma chay hhhh
“There's nothing, haha.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “famma” but also “fama”, “femma” and “fema”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.