mchoum مشوم
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“mchoum” (مشوم) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning ill-omened, bringing bad luck.
Meanings
- ill-omened, bringing bad luck
- gloomy, ominous-looking
Usage
Mchoum describes a person, a day or a thing that brings bad luck or announces misfortune. It is often used in a half-serious, half-teasing tone to accuse someone of being a jinx: nasya mchouma, wjah mchoum. The feminine is mchouma and the plural mchoumin. The word belongs to common superstitions about chou'm, bad luck, and is the opposite of mabrouk, "blessed, auspicious". Said directly to someone, it can be offensive. Between close friends, it stays light.
Example
ناصية مشومة هههه
nasya mchouma hhh
“What a jinx, haha.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mchoum” but also “mchouma”, “mshoum”, “mechoum” and “mchoom”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.