Tunisian Arabic Words of French Origin!

Some TA vocabulary that is used in everyday life in Tunisia and is thouroughly integrated in Tunisian dialect is originally french ! These are borrowings of  french that have completely integrated TA decades ago. the pronunciation of these words is usually altered from the original. in the list, the TA word, the french word then the english translation:

TA - French original - English

atourail - autorail - railway
banou - bain - bath
barkoun - balcon - balcony
barwita - brouette - wheelbarrow
bisklét  - vélo ou bicyclette  - bicycle
blassa - place - spot
brikiyya - briquet - lighter
chifour - chauffeur - driver
dacourdou - d'accord - ok
fatoura - facture - bill
faillousa - veilleuse - pilot light
fraolou - fraise - strawberry
frigo - frigo - fridge
kartaba - cartable - bag/satchel

kayyés : pour dire route (caillasses) 
kounoulia : pour dire eau de cologne 
mitrou: pour dire metro 
outil : (le “l” n’est pas muet) pour dire hôtel 
raffey : pour dire réveil 
sbadri ou sbèdri : pour dire espadrilles 
talvza : pour dire télévision 
tisèf : (dans la région de Bizerte) pour dire radio (TSF : l’ancienne appellation de radio) 
zoufri : pour dire ouvriers 

Pleasantries / General

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

Lesson (1): Some basic vocabulary

Nouns                                                   

the nouns on the left are indefinite. To make the definite noun, we add the
standard definite article [il]. Howerver, for pronunciation and assimilation reasons, the definite prefix varies from noun to noun: it assimilates with the 1st sound of the base noun. for instance, "il" remains unchanged before "ktab" = il.ktab, but changes to "r" before "rajil' --> ir-rajil (a man/ the man).  to "s" beore sukkur (sugar)= is-sukkur. 

ktab = a book (indefinite) / li-ktab (definite)                            Ajectives
                                                                                       
rajil= a man (indefinite) / ir-rajel (definite)                                 kbiir = big/   sghiir= small  
                                                                                               ahmar= red
mra= a woman / li- mra  (definite)                                            asfar= yellow
                                                                                               akhal= black
wlad= a boy   / l-wlad                                                             abyath= white
                                                                                               akhdhar= green
bnaya= a girl   / il-bnaya                                                           azrak= blue
                                                                                               skhuun= hot/ ghaali=expensive
stilo= a pen   / is-stiilu                                                              baarid= cold / bniin= delicious
                                                                                               saiib= difficult/ sahel= easy
tayara= plane   / it-Tayyaara                                                    mizyan= beautiful/ mizyana= beautiful (Feminine)
                                                                                                kriib= near/ baiid= far away
passpor= passport  /il-passpor                                                 ghali= expensive/ rkhiiss= cheap
                     
flouss= money  /li-flouss                                    

kahwa= coffee /el-kahwa

tay= tea / et-tay

sokkor= sugar

swagher (dokhan)= cigarettes

falija= suitcase

mataar= airport

taxi=taxi

car= bus                                              

kattoussa= a cat

kalb= a dog

assfu:r: a bird

karhba: a car

korsi: a chair

tawla: a table

talfza: a TV

bouli:ss: a policeman

mhatta: station

lham: meat

djaaj: chicken

tran= train                              

khobz= bread

mouz= bananas

toffaHa= an apple

ftuur: lunch

aachee: dinner

sirwal: pants

sabbaat: shoes

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