mharrem محرم
Tunisian Derja · adjective
“mharrem” (محرم) is an adjective in Tunisian Derja meaning forbidden, unlawful (religion).
Meanings
- forbidden, unlawful (religion)
- taboo, prohibited
- Muharram (first Hijri month)
Usage
Mharrem describes what is forbidden, especially by religion. It is used in phrases like haja mharrma, "a forbidden thing", or mawdhou3 mharrem, "a taboo subject". The register is neutral and it is common in religious or moral debates. It is close to 7ram, which is more common in speech for saying "that's a sin". Pronounced Moharram, the same word names the first month of the Hijri calendar. Context is enough to tell the two meanings apart. The feminine is mharrma.
Example
الشرب محرم في الدين.
ech-chorb mharrem fed-din.
“Drinking is forbidden in religion.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “mharrem” but also “moharram”, “m7arrem”, “mo7arram” and “mharam”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 7 is ha (ح), a breathy h from the throat.