Greetings in Tunisian Arabic
Greetings are the front door into Tunisian: “3aslema” to say hello, “3aychek” to say thanks, “beslema” when you leave. They're the first words your family expects from you — and the ones that get the biggest smiles.
Every word below comes from spoken Derja, not textbook Arabic: Arabic script, franco pronunciation (the digits 3, 7 and 9 stand for Arabic sounds) and a real everyday sentence.
The words (19 words)
- Name — ismإسم
- How are you? — chniya a7welekشنية أحوالك
- I love you — n7ebbekنحبك
- Mom / my mother — ommiأمي
- Come on / let's go — ayyaأيا
- To thank — chkarشكر
- Thank you — 3aychekعيشك
- Happy — sa3idسعيد
- Mister — misyuمسيو
- Congratulations — mabroukمبروك
- Welcome — mar7baمرحبا
- Safety — slemaسلامة
- Bravo — bravoبرافو
- Give my regards — sallemسلم
- Pleased to meet you — tcharaftتشرف
- You are welcome — al-3afwالعفو
- Good evening (greeting) — msek bel khirمسيك بالخير
- Peace — slemسلام
- Forgive — sma7سماح
In franco, digits stand for Arabic sounds: 3 = ع, 7 = ح, 9 = ق.