koura كورة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“koura” (كورة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning ball.
Meanings
- ball
- football (soccer)
- round object, sphere
Usage
Koura first designates the object, the ball. By extension, it is the ordinary word for football itself. You say "nal3bou koura" for "we're playing football" and "match koura" for a football match. You also say "ma ya3ref ken el koura" of someone who thinks only about football. The word is very common in conversation and sports commentary. It is feminine: "el koura mcheet", the ball is gone. For the football (the ball) specifically, "ballon", borrowed from French, is also heard.
Example
الصغار يلعبو كورة في الحومة.
e sghar yel3bou koura fel 7ouma.
“The kids play football in the neighbourhood.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “koura” but also “kora”, “coura”, “koora”, “korra” and “koraa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Its Arabic spelling is not fixed either: you will find كورة and كرة, all the same word.
Type “koura” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “football (the sport)”; “ball”: kora in Moroccan.