ta3m طعم
Tunisian Derja · noun
“ta3m” (طعم) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning taste, flavour.
Meanings
- taste, flavour
- point, enjoyment (figurative)
- bait (fishing)
Usage
Ta3m primarily means the taste of food: "ta3mou behi" (it tastes good), "ma 3andou ta3m" (it's bland). Figuratively, it expresses the interest or pleasure one finds in something. "Ma3adech 3andha ta3m" means "it no longer makes sense, it has no point any more". People also say "dhe9 ta3m e-nja7", "to taste success". Among fishermen, the same word means bait, and context distinguishes the two senses. It should not be confused with ta3am, "food", which is more formal.
Example
الكسكسي هذا طعمو بنين برشا.
el kosksi hedha ta3mou bnin barcha.
“This couscous tastes really good.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “ta3m” but also “taam”, “ta3em” and “t3am”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.