jouza جوزة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“jouza” (جوزة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning walnut (one).
Meanings
- walnut (one)
- nut
Usage
Jouza is the singulative form derived from jouz, the collective noun for walnuts. One says "jouza" for one walnut and "jouz" for walnuts in general, for example in pastries or dried fruit (frisk). Several expressions derive from it: "jouz el hend" (coconut) and "jouzet et-tib" (nutmeg), a kitchen spice. Be careful not to confuse it with zouz (two), whose pronunciation is close. The word is used in an ordinary register, with no particular connotation.
Example
كسّرلي جوزة نحطها في البوزة
kassarli jouza n7ottha fil bouza
“Crack me a walnut so I can put it in the cream.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “jouza” but also “jawza”, “jouzaa” and “jeuza”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.