NO MARMITE IN TUNISIA

Help, I need to learn Tunisian?  

It can sometimes seem like a mountain to climb, when trying to learn the language in Tunisia!  There are 3 main languages spoken.  The local Tunisian dialect is spoken everywhere, but not used in written literature.  Children at school are taught to speak, read and write in classical Arabic.  I have been told by my 8 year old son that he must go with his friends to the far end of the playground if he wants to speak in the Tunisian dialect, so that the teachers cannot hear him!!

French plays a major part, taught currently from the age of 8, the majority of the Tunisians are fluent in the language and shop signs, road signs, menus in restaurants, important documents etc are all written in French as well as Arabic.

Language teaching is excellent in Tunisia and there are many opportunities to learn a host of languages, either for school children or for adults with private lessons or at language schools where both classical Arabic and conversing in the Tunisian dialect are offered.

English is set to become Tunisia's third official language, after Arabic and French.  It is a compulsory subject, taught from the age of 10, and most of Tunisia's official documents are being translated into English now, as well as French.

It is difficult to offer people a list of Tunisian phrases.  As well as a completely new alphabet to learn, many of the sounds from the Arabic alphabet, do not exist at all in the English language and can prove very difficult to pronounce.

Below are some phrases, taken from different sources; Hajer's phrases on http://www.tunisia.com and the website http://www.mizyana.com/

I also had a lot of help from Emil, my 8 year old boy.  You can probably spot some of his rather dubious phrases!!

If anybody has learnt any other phrases and would like them included please email me with them

nomarmiteintunisia@yahoo.fr

Pleasantries / General

Aslemma - Hello

Bislemma - Good bye

Bye Bye - Yes this does actually exist and is said all of the time!

Aye/na'am - Yes

Leh - No

Min fathlik - Please

Shokrun/barrakaloveek/ascent - Thank you

Ilelyacar - See you again

Sbakhir - Good morning

Ala Khir - Good night

Messa el Khir - Good Evening

Shniya ahwalek? - How are you?  

Lebes?  - How are you?  Lebes, winti? - I'm fine and you?

Labes elhamdulillah - I'm fine thanks (thanks to God)

Asia cullock! - Come here and let me tell you something/pay attention and listen

Sahmahni - Excuse me or sorry

 

Introductions

Shismik? - What is your name

Ismi - My name is........

Tikallem Angleez? - Do you speak English?

Ma nifhimsh - I don't understand

Ma nitkallamsh arbi - I don't speak Arabic

Kaddesh omrek? - How old are you?

 

Asking for Something

Et - Give

Attini min fathlik - Please may I have

Andixshee? - Do you have?

Leh, mandeesh - No there is/there are none

Attini zeed shwayer ?- Could I have a little more?

Shwire shwire - just a little (for example in answering Do you speak any Arabic?)

Hattashay - Nothing

Tushrub Haja? - Can I get you a drink?

Schnouwa? - What?

Alesh/Aleh? - Why?

Attini zouz miyet gramme buggarah hashay? - Could I have 200g of minced beef?

Food and Drink

De bousa mer - A bottle of water

Hhobs - Bread

Helib - Milk

Athum - Eggs

zibteh - Butter

Buggarah hashay - Minced beef

Aloush - Lamb

Djege - Chicken

Hhooter - Fish

Potartah - Potatoes

Senaria - Carrots

Brigdenna - Oranges

Tafeh - Apples

Roze - Rice

Macarouna - Pasta

Sulk - Spinach

Magnoose - Flat leaf parsley

Taebal - Fresh coriander

Tay - Tea 

Kahwah - Coffee

Kahwah blairshee helib - Coffee without milk

Gahli Barcha - Too expensive

 

Numbers

1   wehud	11  ahadesh	30 Thlehtheen
2  ithneen	12 uthnage	40 arabah een
3  thehther	13 thletage	50 khamseen
4  arabar	14 arabartage	60 sitteen
5  khamser	15 khamstage	70 sabah een
6  sitteh	16 sittage	80 thmehneen
7  sabahr	17 sabartage	90 tsah een
8  ithmenier	18 thmontage	100 miyeah
9  tisah	19 tsahtage	25 khamser ou ashereen
10 ahsharah	20 ashereen	44 Arabar ou arabah een

NOTE : When asking/ordering 2 of something use "zouz"

Miscellaneous/Dubious!

Many French words such as docteur, dentiste, lycee, banque

Nhib nsarraf el flous - I'd like to change some money

Kaddesh el wakt? - What time is it?

Taktooka - Ashtray

Kaddesh/Kaddeh - How much?

Shnouwa ma’ena hadha? - Can you translate this for me?

Ween mechi? - Where are you going?

Ween? - Where are you?

Wehnoowa John - Where is John?

Wehneeya Jane - Where is Jane?

Asia - Come here

Asia leh neh toe! - Come here NOW!

Chef, brabbi atina zouz kahawi bel helib. - Waiter, give us two cups of coffee with milk

El ftour bneen barcha barcha - The lunch is delicious

Barcha - so much

Kaddesh essabaat? - How much do these shoes cost?

Mandiksh haja okhra? - Do you have anything else?

Chouff! - Look!

Imshee feesah! - Go quickly!

Rowetha - Nursery school

Mukteb - Primary school

Lycee - Secondary school

Yizzy - Stop

Wallah - Believe me/I swear

Bearhee - Ok

Enhebbeck - I love you

Habibi - Babe/darling

Imshee al habs - Go to prison!

Barrra imshee hadeh enna shnooklik inti!! - Go away or I'll kill you!!!

Still feeling antisocial??!!!

Try this phrase suggested by Pat (ideal for over-zealous market traders or in my son's case .....the bully down the road!)

Pat was told that "metta keesh maiya" meant "Stop bothering me" so she usually puts that together with "min fahdlek, imshi" and finds it works a treat!

Food To Try In Tunisia - If You Dare!

Rape cheese  (This grated cheese is pronounced Rapay! From the French language)

El Bastardo  - Yes I actually saw this brand new cheese in Monoprix the other day!

 

Thank you Helmi from Tunisia for taking the time to send in the following link :-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tunisian_Arabic

Explanations on how the language formed, pronunciations, vowels, verbs and many new words!