nabta نبتة
Tunisian Derja · noun
“nabta” (نبتة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning plant.
Meanings
- plant
- seedling, sprout
Usage
Nabta refers to a plant, especially an individual one: a houseplant, medicinal or aromatic plant. It is a feminine noun. The common plural is nbatat; nabt is also used for plants in general. For potted flowers, one often hears mchmoum (for jasmine) or fleur, borrowed from French. In conversation, the use is often specified: nabta tetekel, "a plant you can eat", or nabta mta3 dwa, "a medicinal plant".
Example
شريت نبتة باش نحطها في الصالة
chrit nabta bech n7otha fel sala
“I bought a plant to put in the living room.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “nabta” but also “nebta” and “nabtaa”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “nabta” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “plant, shoot”; “seedling”: nabta in Moroccan.