What is Tounsi (Tunisian Derja), and is it different from Modern Standard Arabic?
Tounsi (also called Tunisian Derja or Tunisian Arabic, ISO 639-3 code aeb) is the native spoken language used in daily life across Tunisia. While formal news and legal documents use Modern Standard Arabic (MSA), everyday conversations, cafés, markets, and families speak Tounsi—which blends Arabic roots with Amazigh, French, Italian, and Turkish vocabulary and faster vowel contractions.
What do the numbers 3, 7, 9, 5, and 8 mean in Tunisian Arabic texting (Arabizi)?
Tunisians frequently write Derja with Latin letters plus digits representing Arabic sounds missing from English keyboards: 3 = ع ('Ayn, deep 'a', e.g., 3asfour for bird), 7 = ح (breathy 'H', e.g., 7lib for milk), 9 = ق (deep 'q', e.g., 9ahwa for coffee), 5 = خ ('kh', e.g., 5ubz for bread), and 8 or 4 = غ ('gh', French-style 'r'). Our dictionary search supports both Arabizi digits and Latin phonetics.
How does the phonetic system in Tounsi in Black & White work?
Unlike academic transliterations full of diacritics, Tounsi in Black & White (pp. 9–12) uses plain English/French approximations plus strategic capital letters: lowercase h, s, t, a are soft, while uppercase H (ح), S (ص), T (ط), and Ä (ع) mark deep or emphatic throat/mouth sounds. Digraphs kh, gh, dh, th, and sh match predictable sounds.
What are the top survival greetings I should learn first in Tunisia?
Start with Äsléma (Hello / Hi), Labés? (How are you? / All good?), YÄyshek (Thank you / Bless you), Bshléma (Goodbye), Éy / Lé (Yes / No), Qadesh hedhi? (How much is this?), and MarHabé bik (Welcome).
How many words are included on this Tunisian Arabic resource?
Our platform currently hosts over 17,626 Tunisian Derja entries, organized with phonetic breakdowns, Arabizi aliases, and thematic chapters curated by Paul R. Beeman (“Am Paul”) & Khaled Arres at Lancer Learning Communities, LLC.
Where can I buy the books, use the learning app, or get Tunisian Derja coaching?
You can order Tounsi in Black & White (Paperback ISBN 978-1-958941-27-0 / Hardcover ISBN 978-1-958941-28-7) on Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/clp/1958941298?lv=shuf&channelId=500) or Waterstones (https://www.waterstones.com/book/tounsi-in-black-and-white/khaled-arres/paul-r-beeman/9781958941270), learn interactively with the LuHa app (https://LuHa.lancercommunities.com), join the waitlist for our upcoming Tounsi Survival Guide on the Books page, or book personalized/group Tounsi Coaching through Lancer Learning Communities at https://lancercommunities.com/landing/coaching/tounsi.
First-Week Tunisian Survival Cheat Sheet
| Tounsi | Arabizi | English Meaning | Quick Word Guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| Qadesh hedhi? | 9adesh hedhi | How much is it? | See guide → |
| qahwa | 9ahwa | coffee | See guide → |
| Hlib | 7lib | milk | See guide → |
| khubz | 5ubz | bread | See guide → |
| Marhabé bik fi Tounes | mar7abe bik fi tounes | Welcome to Tunisia | See guide → |
Need personalized Tunisian culture & language coaching before arriving in Tunis? Explore Tounsi Coaching options →