mafama مفما
Tunisian Derja · expression
“mafama” (مفما) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning there is no, there isn't.
Meanings
- there is no, there isn't
- no one, nothing (with 7atta)
Usage
Mafamma, often written mafama, is the negation of famma, "there is". It is a very typical Tunisian construction, in constant use. It is used alone (mafamma, "there isn't any") or followed by a noun: mafamma 7ad, "there is no one", mafamma 7atta chay, "there is nothing". The form mafammech, with the same meaning, is also found. For questions, people say famma? ("is there?"). Beware of spellings: arabizi wavers between one and two m's, and the word is sometimes split in two (ma famma).
Example
مفما حد في الدار.
mafamma 7ad fi eddar.
“There's nobody at home.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mafama” but also “mafamma”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.