karama كرامة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“karama” (كرامة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning dignity, personal honour.
Meanings
- dignity, personal honour
- self-respect, pride
Usage
karama means dignity and self-respect. The word belongs to the vocabulary shared with Standard Arabic but is commonly used in Tunisia, in conversation as well as in political discourse, where it appears in slogans pairing freedom and dignity. In everyday life, it is used to talk about self-respect: someone who "3andou karama" refuses to lower himself or to beg. One also says "mes b karamtou" for an attack on someone's honour. The register is neutral to slightly formal.
Example
هو فقير أما عندو كرامة، ما يطلب من حد.
houwa fa9ir ama 3andou karama, ma yotlob men 7ad.
“He is poor but he has dignity; he doesn't ask anyone for anything.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “karama” but also “karéma”, “kerama” and “karamaa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “karama” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “dignity, honour”; “miracle attributed to a saint”: karama in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “dignity, honour”; “generosity, hospitality”: karama in Algerian.