tamam تمام
Tunisian Derja · adverb
“tamam” (تمام) is an adverb in Tunisian Derja meaning exactly, precisely.
Meanings
- exactly, precisely
- perfect, in order
- okay, agreed
Usage
In Tunisia, tamam is mostly used to confirm what has just been said or heard: "exactly, that's it". It is also used to say that something is complete or in order: kollou tamam, "everything is in order". The sense "okay, OK" exists too, but it is more recent and partly influenced by Eastern TV series. To agree, Tunisians more readily say behi or mrigel. Do not confuse tamam with temma, "there" or "there is".
Example
تمام، هكّا بالضبط صارت الحكاية.
tamam, hakka bedhabt sar't el7kaya.
“Exactly, that's just how the story happened.”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tamam” but also “tmam”, “tamem” and “tamaam”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.