farina فرينة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“farina” (فرينة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning flour.
Meanings
- flour
Usage
Farina is the usual word for flour in Tunisia, whether at home, at the baker's or at the market. The type is often specified: "farina bidha" (white flour), as opposed to semolina ("smid"), which is widely used in Tunisian cooking. The two should not be confused: for couscous or certain breads, semolina is used. The word is neutral and used in all registers. It is also heard in talk of shortages: "mafamech farina" (there is no flour).
Example
شريت كيلو فرينة باش نعمل الكيكة
chrit kilo farina bech na3mel el cake
“I bought a kilo of flour to make the cake.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “farina” but also “frina”, “farine” and “farinna”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find فرينة and فارينة, all the same word.