majel ماجل

Tunisian Derja · noun

“majel” (ماجل) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning rainwater cistern.

Meanings

1. rainwater cistern
2. underground water tank

Usage

The word majel refers to a cistern, often buried under the courtyard or next to the house, where rainwater from the roofs is collected. It is a common word in the countryside, in the Sahel, the Cap Bon and the South. It is distinguished from "bir", a well dug down to the water table: the majel only stores rainwater. Common constructions are "ma el majel", the cistern water, and "3abbi mel majel", to draw water from the cistern. The most common plural is "mwejel".

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “majel” but also “mejel”, “majil” and “maajel”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Type “majel” on the Arabic keyboard