lmama لماما
Tunisian Derja · expression
“lmama” (لماما) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning to mom, for mom.
Meanings
- to mom, for mom
- mom's (possession)
Usage
Lmama is not a standalone word. It is the preposition l- ("to, for") attached to mama, the common word for "mom". It is found after verbs such as "to buy", "to give" or "to say": chrit hdiyya lmama. It is also used to mark possession, like "mom's". Online, the ironic expression mama França refers to France as the former protecting power. Pitfall: do not confuse it with the Standard Arabic word lamāman, "rarely", which is absent from everyday speech. In writing, people hesitate between lmama and l mama.
Example
شريت هدية لماما في عيد ميلادها
chrit hdiya lmama fi 3id miledha
“I bought mom a gift for her birthday.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “lmama” but also “lmamma”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.