rayeb رايب
Tunisian Derja · noun
“rayeb” (رايب) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning curdled milk, thick fermented milk.
Meanings
- curdled milk, thick fermented milk
Usage
Rayeb is milk left to curdle naturally, thick and slightly acidic, drunk fresh or eaten with a spoon. Don't confuse it with lben, the thinner fermented milk obtained after churning. It's also sold industrially in bottles or pots. It's often enjoyed with couscous, dates or bread, especially during Ramadan. One says kas rayeb, "a glass of rayeb". For an English speaker, the closest equivalent is buttermilk or drinkable yogurt, but the taste is more sour.
Example
نحب كاس رايب بارد مع الكسكسي.
n7eb kas rayeb bared m3a el kosksi.
“I like a cold glass of rayeb with couscous.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “rayeb” but also “raib” and “rayb”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.