rkham رخام
Tunisian Derja · noun
“rkham” (رخام) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning marble.
Meanings
- marble
- marble flooring, marble covering
Usage
Rkham refers to marble, a highly prized material in Tunisia for floors, staircases and house façades. One says dar kolha rkham for a house fully covered in marble, often a sign of wealth. The word is a collective noun. For a single slab, one says rather blata or blat. In everyday language, rkham can also refer to a smooth, shiny tiled floor, even when it is not real marble. In derja, the word is pronounced with a very brief first vowel: rkham.
Example
الدروج متاعهم الكل رخام
edrouj mte3hom lkol rkham
“Their staircase is all in marble.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “rkham” but also “rokham”, “rkhem” and “rukham”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.