korkom كركم
Tunisian Derja · noun
“korkom” (كركم) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning turmeric (spice).
Meanings
- turmeric (spice)
Usage
Korkom refers to turmeric, the yellow powdered spice common in Tunisian cooking. It goes into some sauces, fish dishes, tajines and a few soups, often together with pepper, caraway or paprika. In recipes it is measured by the spoon: mgharfa sghira korkom ("a small spoonful of turmeric"). The word is neutral and common, at the market and at home. It should not be confused with saffron, za3fran, which is rarer and more expensive, even though both colour food yellow.
Example
زيد شوية كركم للصلصة.
zid chwaya korkom lel sal9a.
“Add a little turmeric to the sauce.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “korkom” but also “kurkum”, “korkem”, “kourkoum” and “kerkem”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.