Learn Tunisian Arabic — the Derja your family actually speaks
Not the textbook Modern Standard Arabic. Asla teaches you spoken Tunisian (Derja) — with Arabic script, transliteration you can read along, and real sentences from everyday life. Built for the second generation that understands everything but freezes when it’s time to answer.
What is Tunisian — and why not just “Arabic”?
Tunisian — “Derja” (الدارجة) in Tunisian — is the everyday spoken language of Tunisia. It’s the language your grandmother talks to you in, the one jokes work in, the one real life happens in. It has little in common with the Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) taught in schools, the news and most apps: different words, different pronunciation, different grammar.
That’s exactly the problem for heritage speakers: apps like Duolingo teach MSA — a language nobody actually speaks in daily Tunisian life. You learn sentences your family would never say. Asla flips that around and starts from what’s really spoken at home.
Tunisian blends Arabic roots with Berber, French and Italian influences — “behi” (good), “makla” (food), “3aslema” (hi). You won’t find these words in any MSA course.
Tunisian to get started — real words, real pronunciation
A few words you’ll need right away. The transliteration (franco) reads the way it’s written — the digits stand for Arabic sounds: 3 = ع, 7 = ح, 9 = ق.
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| عسلامة | 3aslema | Hi |
| بسلامة | beslema | Goodbye |
| عيشك | 3aychek | Thank you |
| باهي | behi | Good / Okay |
| مرحبا بيك | mar7ba bik | Welcome |
| ماء | mā | Water |
| مكلة | makla | Food |
| لا | la | No |
In MSA, “thank you” is “shukran” — in Tunisian you say “3aychek”. These are exactly the differences you learn with Asla.
How you learn Tunisian with Asla
1. Real words, not a textbook
Every word comes with Arabic script, transliteration and an example sentence from real everyday life — no made-up textbook Tunisian.
2. Read it, even without Arabic script
The franco transliteration (3aslema, 3aychek) lets you read and speak along immediately — and you pick up the Arabic script along the way.
3. Repetition that sticks
Spaced repetition brings each word back right before you’d forget it. 5–10 minutes a day is enough.
Frequently asked questions
Is Tunisian the same as Arabic?
Yes and no. Tunisian (Derja) is an Arabic dialect, but it differs sharply from the Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) taught in schools and apps — in vocabulary, pronunciation and grammar. If you only learn MSA, you’ll barely follow everyday Tunisian. Asla teaches spoken Tunisian directly.
Can I learn Tunisian without knowing the Arabic alphabet?
Yes. Every word has a transliteration in Latin letters (franco-arabic, e.g. “3aslema”). You can read and speak right away — the Arabic script comes over time but isn’t required to start.
What do the numbers in words like “3aslema” or “3aychek” mean?
In franco-arabic, digits stand for Arabic sounds that don’t exist in Latin script: 3 = ع (a deep throat sound), 7 = ح, 9 = ق. So “3aslema” begins with the ع sound.
Who is Asla for?
Mainly the second generation of the diaspora — people with Tunisian roots who understand their family’s Tunisian passively but no longer speak it fluently. And anyone who wants to learn real spoken Tunisian instead of textbook Arabic.
Where should I start?
With the words you need daily: greetings (3aslema, beslema), politeness (3aychek) and basics like “behi” (good). From there you build your Tunisian step by step.
Coming soon
Asla is in the works. Email hello@getasla.com for early access — and start speaking your family’s Tunisian yourself.