What kind of Arabic is spoken in Tunisia?

What kind of Arabic is spoken in Tunisia?

Tunisian Arabic
The vast majority of the population today speaks Tunisian Arabic (also called Derja) as their native language, which is mutually intelligible to a limited degree with other Maghrebi Arabic dialects.

How do you say hello in Tunisian?

The Tunisian word for “Hi” or “Hello” is Aslema. While there are many other greetings in French or more formal Arabic, Aslema is a greeting unique to Tunisian Arabic, and it is the most common greeting that Tunisians share with each other.

Where is Tunisian Arabic spoken?

listen), “Tunisian” or Derja “everyday language” to distinguish it from Modern Standard Arabic, the official language of Tunisia….Tunisian Arabic.

Tunisian
Native to Tunisia, north-eastern Algeria, Tripolitania
Ethnicity Tunisians
Native speakers 11.2 million native (2014 census)

What language is spoken in Tunisian?

Arabic
Tunisia/Official languages

Why do Tunisia speak Arabic?

The language evolved through the years and has been influenced by the various settlers in Tunisia. Today, it is the national language in Tunisia. The Tunisian Arabic is based on a substratum of Berber and Punic and is influenced by Arabic, Turkish, Spanish, French, and Italian languages.

What percentage of Tunisia speaks Arabic?

According to a survey conducted in 2020, French was the main language spoken in around 53 percent of households in Tunisia….Main languages spoken at home in Tunisia as of 2020.

Characteristic Share of respondents
Tunisian Arabic 46.3%
Arabic 0.2%
Do not know 0.2%
Berber language 0.1%

How are you Tunisian Arabic?

La bes, humdullah! If you listen to Tunisians greet each other, you’ll notice that they rarely stop at hello. In fact, there are a slew of phrases meaning, essentially, “How are you?” and Tunisians will often use more than one.

Are Tunisians friendly?

Tunisian people are friendly and kind. They don’t hesitate to offer advice or help everywhere you go. You never see then being in a rush – there always seems to be enough time for everything The official language is Arabic, but most of locals are bilingual in Arabic and French.

How is Tunisian Arabic different?

It is remarkably different from Modern Standard Arabic, which is the official language of Tunisia. The Tunisian dialect features Arabic vocabulary spiced with Berber and French words and phrases. It is also highly influenced by Latin languages such as Italian and Spanish, in addition to some Turkish loanwords.

Why is Arabic spoken in Tunisia?

Foreign Languages Spoken In Tunisia A significant population in Tunisia also speaks Turkish. Though French was heavily popularized in Tunisia during the French protectorate of Tunisia, the dominant role of the language was gradually replaced by the Arabic languages after the independence of the country.

Is Tunisian Arabic different?

Tunisian Arabic is a Maghrebi Arabic dialect or variety that is spoken in the Republic of Tunisia, and it differs slightly from one region to another within the country. It is remarkably different from Modern Standard Arabic, which is the official language of Tunisia.

What is the official language of Tunisia?

It is known among its over 11 million speakers as: تونسي ‎, romanized: Tounsi [ˈtuːnsi] ( listen), “Tunisian” or Derja “everyday language” to distinguish it from Modern Standard Arabic, the official language of Tunisia. Tunisian Arabic is mostly similar to eastern Algerian Arabic and western Libyan Arabic .

Is Tunisian Arabic mutually intelligible with other languages?

As a part of the Arabic dialect continuum, it is reported that Tunisian Arabic is partly mutually intelligible with Algerian Arabic, Libyan Arabic , Moroccan, and Maltese. However, it is slightly intelligible or even not intelligible with Egyptian, Levantine, Mesopotamian, or Gulf Arabic.

What are the different varieties of Tunisian Arabic?

Nowadays and due to dialect leveling, the main dialect varieties of Tunisian Arabic are Northwestern Tunisian (also spoken in Northeastern Algeria), southwestern Tunisian, Tunis dialect, Sahil dialect, Sfax dialect and southeastern Tunisian. All of these varieties are Hilalian excepting the Sfax one.

What is the relationship between Tunisian Arabic and Maltese Arabic?

Maltese and Tunisian Arabic have about 30 to 40 per cent spoken mutual intelligibility. Tunisian Arabic is one of the Arabic languages within the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic language family.

author

Back to Top