fouta فوطة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“fouta” (فوطة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning bath or beach towel.
Meanings
- bath or beach towel
- traditional hammam cloth
- hammam wrap, striped cloth
Usage
Fouta means a towel, especially a bath or beach towel. People say fouta mta3 b7ar, "beach towel". The word also refers to the traditional Tunisian flat, striped, woven cotton cloth that is tied around the waist at the hammam. This cloth is also used as a tablecloth or shawl, and it is now sold in France under the name "fouta". For a small table napkin, people say serviette or mendil instead. The plural is fwet or foutet.
Example
ما تنساش الفوطة كي تمشي للبحر
ma tensech el fouta ki temchi lel b7ar
“Don't forget the towel when you go to the beach.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “fouta” but also “fota” and “footah”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find فوطة and فوطه, all the same word.
Type “fouta” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “hand or bath towel”; “bath or hammam towel”: fouta in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “bath towel, hand towel”; “tea towel, kitchen cloth”: fouta in Algerian.