fol فل
Tunisian Derja · noun
“fol” (فل) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning Arabian jasmine (fragrant white flower).
Meanings
- Arabian jasmine (fragrant white flower)
Usage
Fol (or fell) refers to Arabian jasmine, a very fragrant white flower, distinct from yasmin, ordinary jasmine. Both are emblematic of Tunisia: bouquets of them, the machmoum, are sold, and men wear them behind the ear in summer. The word is used mainly in the affectionate greeting sbe7 el fol, "good morning", literally "jasmine morning", to which one often replies sbe7 el ward or sbe7 el yasmin. Note: in writing, the same spelling can transcribe English "full", which is a different word.
Example
صباح ال فلّ
Sbe7 el fol
“Good morning (literally: jasmine morning)!”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “fol” but also “fell”, “foll” and “fel”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.