jeghma جغمة

Tunisian Derja · noun

“jeghma” (جغمة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning gulp, swallow of liquid.

Meanings

1. gulp, swallow of liquid
2. small drink

Usage

Jeghma refers to the amount of liquid swallowed at once: a gulp of water, coffee or soda. The word is informal and very common in speech. It is heard mostly in requests like "a3tini na3mel jeghma" (let me have a gulp). Na3mel jeghma corresponds to the English "have a quick drink". The diminutive jghima stresses the small quantity, often to ask politely. For several gulps, one says jeghmet. Jeghma is not used for solid food. For a mouthful, another word is used, such as lou9ma.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “jeghma” but also “jaghma”, “jghma” and “je8ma”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 8 is light ha (ه) or ghayn (غ), depending on the writer.

Type “jeghma” on the Arabic keyboard

In Algerian Darja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “sip”; “small amount of drink”: jeghma in Algerian.