sabb سب
Tunisian Derja · noun
“sabb” (سب) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning insult, abuse.
Meanings
- insult, abuse
- insulting someone
Usage
Sabb refers to an insult or to the act of insulting someone. The same word serves as a verb: sabb, ysebb, "to insult", for example sabbni, "he insulted me". It is often used to reproach foul language: es-sabb 7ram, "insulting is a sin". The expression sabb ed-din means blasphemy, which is considered very serious. The word itself is not vulgar and is used in all registers. It is close to chtam, "to insult", but sabb is the most common term.
Example
ما نحبّش السبّ
ma n7ebbech es-sabb
“I don't like insults.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “sabb” but also “sab”, “seb” and “sebb”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Type “sabb” on the Arabic keyboard
In Moroccan Darija
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Moroccan Darija, where it means “to insult, abuse”; “to curse, swear at”: sebb in Moroccan.
In Algerian Darja
Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “to insult, curse”; “to disparage, speak ill of”: sebb in Algerian.