كرنب
karnab
In Moroccan Arabic, 'cabbage' is كرنب (karnab).
كرنب is the word heard at the market and in recipes, as in بغيت شي كرنب, 'I want some cabbage'.
Meaning: cabbage (noun)
What does it mean word for word?
كرنب is a word shared across the Maghrebi Arabic dialects, used in Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia for the same vegetable.
Which one should you use?
There is one everyday word for cabbage in Morocco. Other Arabic-speaking regions, such as the Levant, more often use ملفوف for the same vegetable.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
كرنب is used at every level, from home cooking to market stalls.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word is shared with neighbouring Algerian and Tunisian Darija.
How does it change in a sentence?
كرنب is treated as a mass noun in everyday speech, used without a plural the way English uses 'cabbage'.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress falls on the first syllable: KAR-nab.
When do people say it?
Cabbage is a common vegetable in Moroccan stews and couscous dishes, often cooked alongside carrots, turnips and other root vegetables.
Did you know?
- كرنب is a word shared across Morocco, Algeria and Tunisia, while ملفوف is the more common word for cabbage further east, in the Levant.
- Cabbage is one of several vegetables regularly cooked into Friday couscous alongside carrots and turnips in Moroccan households.
Examples in context
- بغيت شي كرنب للطبخ.bghit shi karnab l ttbikh.I want some cabbage for cooking.
- زدت الكرنب فالكسكس.zedt lkarnab f lkeskes.I added cabbage to the couscous.
- الكرنب رخيص هاد السيمانة.lkarnab rkhis had ssimana.Cabbage is cheap this week.
Example conversation
Souad buys vegetables from a seller, Hamid, for a couscous dish.
- Souadعندك كرنب طري اليوم؟andek karnab tri lyoum?Do you have fresh cabbage today?
- Hamidواخا، هاك واحدة زوينة.wakha, hak wehda zwina.Yes, here is a nice one.
- Souadشحال هادي؟shhal hadi?How much is this one?
- Hamidخمسة دراهم غير.khamsa drahem ghir.Just five dirhams.
