 Falafel is known as taʿamiya ( Egyptian Arabic : طعمية ṭaʿmiyya , IPA : [ tˤɑʕˈmejjɑ ] ) in Egypt . The word is derived from a diminutive form of the Arabic word ṭaʿām ( طعام , " food " ) ; the particular form indicates " a unit " of the given root in this case Ṭ @-@ ʕ @-@ M ( ط ع م , having to do with taste and food ) , thus meaning " a little piece of food " or " small tasty thing " . 
