mathamech مثماش
Tunisian Derja · expression
“mathamech” (مثماش) is an expression in Tunisian Derja meaning there isn't, there aren't.
Meanings
- there isn't, there aren't
Usage
Mathamech is the negative form of "thamma" (there is). It is built with "ma… ch", the Tunisian negation. It is also written "ma thammech" or "mafamech". It is used to say that something is lacking or does not exist: "mathamech flous" (there is no money), "mathamech 7al" (there is no solution). It is very common in conversation and on social media, often to express a bitter observation. Note that it does not agree: the same form is used for singular and plural. For questions, say "thamma?" or "famma?".
Example
مثماش خبز في الدار، نمشي نشري.
mathamech khobz fed-dar, nemchi nechri.
“There's no bread at home, I'll go buy some.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mathamech” but also “methamech”, “mathamch” and “mathamesh”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.