IN GREEK
τζάμπα
tzampa
free of charge; in vain (τζάμπα κόπος)
IN TURKISH
caba
caba
free, gratis; extra, on top
WEAR THE WORD
τζάμπα in blue ink and caba in red, on a T shirt, a tote or a mug.
THE RECORD
- LENT BY, BORROWED BY
- Turkish to Greek
- STARTED IN
- Arabic
- CATEGORY
- Trade and money
- HOW THE MEANING DRIFTED
- Greek adds the sense in vain, while Turkish caba also means extra or into the bargain.
- NOTES
- Greek via Turkish caba. Nişanyan derives the Turkish word from Arabic jabāʾ, an extraordinary tax.
COMMENTS
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SOURCES
- Nişanyan Sözlük (checked online)
Etymologies are checked against the dictionaries and studies listed. An entry is stamped settled only when both the Greek and the Turkish side have been checked. Research for this ledger was compiled with AI assistance and reviewed by the editors.
HOW TO CITE THIS ENTRY
Gold, K. (ed.) (2026) ‘τζάμπα / caba’, entry 227, Defter ή Tefteri: a ledger of shared Greek and Turkish words. https://defteritefteri.com/en/w/227-tzampa/. Accessed [day month year].