Following are some words of Arab dialect of Tunisian origin "bidderja" for the intention our foreign hosts. Some of the most useful words are :

Asslama - Hello and welcome

Aâtini – Give me

Abdieth - White

Ahmar - Red

Azrag - Blue

Akhdar - Green

Asfar - Yellow

Adhma - An egg

A la Hiatek - At your health

Amine - Expert in his field

Aoud - A type of cloves

Acha - Dinner “Slat Laachâ” : Prayer

Aouda Moubarka – Good return

Aîdek Mabrouk - Happy Eid

Aïda - Inchallah fi Aïda- Wishing a good return - Pilgrimage

Ahoual- Malla Ahoual - What’s the matter

Ajneb - Corners

Besslama : Good bye

Barrani - Stranger

Barcha - Too much

Bab- A door. in Kairouan, door of Jelladine, door of Tounes, door of El Khokha, door of Jedid

Bsall - Onions

Béchfa - Wishing well for someone who is drinking

Behi - Ok

Besbes - Grain fennel

Beyaâ - Seller

Bhar - Sea

Bit : Room

Bit al muna – A small room for preserving food

Boukha – Fig water. Prepared by the Tunisian Jewish "Bokhobza"

Banka - A bank

Barnous – A long exterior type of coat, made from pure wool

Blid - Idiot

Blad – Village/country

Blad Arbi – Village of Arabic design

Blad Essouri –European village/country

Blouza - Jacket

Bouza - Type of cake, made with vanella

Bousta - The post

Caïd - Leader

Camoune- Cumin, used in kitchen

Carouia - Coriander used in kitchen

Chanab - Moustache

Chéchia - Red special hat with black small cord for men

Chouaya - A little

Chenoua - What’s happening

Ja - He came

Jat - She came

Chouch ouard - Dried roses

Dabouza - Bottle

Dad - A type of wood, burned for freshness

Dakourdou - Ok

Dar tkiya - House of retired

Dar - House

Djaja - Chicken

Douni , Not perfect

Elli fat mat - What ever passed, is dead

Ekteb - Write

Emchi - Let’s go

Ennssaâ - Ladies

Farha - Happiness

Felfel akhal - Black pepper.

Felfel haar - Hot pepper.

Felfel hlou - Sweet pepper

Felleye - Fine comb

Fenjel - Cup, usuallu for coffee

Fermla - A small vest, used under “Jebba”

Fissaa : Hurry up

Foul - Fava Beans

Fourma - pâtes agrémentées de poisson , poulet ou viande.

Flous - Money

Ftayir - Special thin bread

Ftayri - The “ftayir” maker

Ganaria , - Artichoke

Gazouza - Soda

Ghassal - A person who works in the funeral homes and washes dead people

Ghazza - sand

Ghorbel - Kitchen utensils used to select grounded grain (couscous), usually circular

Gourbita , Cravat, a tie

Habibi - my dear (my lover)

Hani hna - I’m here

Haï - surviving

Haj - A Muslim who made pilgrimage to Mecca

Hajem - Hair styler

Halbiya -cruche à eau.

Hallab - Container (water mostly)

Harissa - Paste of hot pepper

Hat - give

Hlib - Milk

Hocca - A can

Hout - Fish

Hout ââlik - "Fish on you",usually said to prevent evil things

Irani ma netechouah - "May I not be in pain for a close relative".

Irak tfouz – May you be a winner

Izourek el khir - "May the wealth and happiness will visit you".

Jann ( plurieljnoune)- Devil

jebah - A large dress for men

Jcida ou Slata jida – A salad made from small peaces of (tomatoes, pepper, parsley,) to accompany main dishes with meat and fish

Jwab - letter

Kabbar - Caper, a type of spices

Kaddache - How much

Kaki - Dried cake

Kolla - Alcove

Kanawita - A small box for jewelry

Kanoune - A small furnace made from clay,

Kerfa - Cinnamon

Kassa - A peace of tissue

Kassarola - Casserole (saucepan).

Kefta - Rounded peaces of meat

Keskes - A special kitchen pot, usually to prepare couscous

Keswa – Magnificent dress, where its edges has a finery of gold

Khamsa - The number 5 (five)

Kifach - How come?

Koffa - Basket

Khoudh - Take

Khobza - Bread

Klem - Pencil/pen

Korkob - Coloring product (used in the kitchen).

Koumidiniou - Wooded storage furniture

Koujina- Kitchen

Koumita - Board of control

Kouttab- A kindergarten school, teaching Quran

Karroussa - Cart carried by horses

Lham - Meat

Laiouarina,- "May God will not let us see such occasion".

Maâ - Water

Mahlaha - Very sweet

Markez - A post

Maadnousse - Parsley

Ma beldou - He is rude (usually it is said not in front of the interested)

Maïda - Table

Maksoura- Small room

Marka - Sauce

Méchoui .- Barbequed meat

Méchouya - Salad made from grilled tomatoes, pepper, garlic in olive oil.

Meddeb - Teacher at the kindergarten of Quran

Medersa - A place where the kindergarten takes place

Mélya - Traditional clothes for women

Mosht - Comb

Moubiliya - Furniture

Mraya - Mirror.

Nahj - Street

Nanaa - Menthe

Nechri - Buy

Nbiâ - Sell

Nheb – I like

Nechrob - Drink

Nlaouej - Look

Ojja - Scrambled eggs

Oukala - Group of rooms, usually for rent, locator shares the same kitchen, bathroom. Does not exist any more in Tunisia

Ouine loutil – Where is the hotel?

Ouinek - Where are you?

Osbaneou ôsbana- A ball made from the sheep stomach, filled with couscous

Qandil - Oil lamp

Rabbi iachek - May Allah give you longer life

Rabbi mâk - May God be with you

Rabbi yaïéchna - May God give us prosper life

Rabbi yéstor - May God protect us

Rébab - Violin

Rébayibiya - Session of relaxation based on traditional music.

Reunde - Bay leaves (in the kitchen)

Rouzata - A special juice usually extracted from almond

Saha !- At your health

Samsar (samsara)- Someone who schedule events, as marriages or make deals between people

Sarir - Bed.

Sayyéd ,- Mister

Sba - Fingers

Secritou - Secret.

Selq - Spinach.

Séroual , Pants, for men or women

Sefsari - A huge peace of clothes (up to 5 m) which envelop the body of woman when she goes out

Sfenj - Doughnut ,

Sigourou - For sure.

Skifa - Hall

Sla - Prayer

Stambali - Special dance

Taalil laaroussa - A special song for the bride

Tabel - Coriander

Taffala - A pot that holds clay shampoo

Tâgine - Pan

Taïche - May God gives you long life

Takrita - Scarves

Taliyane - Suit

Taoula ,- Table

Tarra'h ,- Bread basket

Tbark 'olla , Tbark Halla- May God protects you

Tembri - Stamp

Thoum - Garlic.

T'Hour ou Tahour - Circumcision

Touansa - Tunisian

Trino ,- Train

Ya Baba - Dad!

Yaïchék - May God gives you long life

Yazi bla Rkaka ,- Do not be silly

Yéd - Hand

Yéd el-méftou'ha - Open handed

Yezzi - Its enough

Yoyo - Yoyo.

Zafrane - Saffron

Zaouya - A place where graves are.

Zélije - Ceramic

Ziyara - A visit to the grave,

Zougdida - A small plate prepared for the kids

Zegharite – A special voice made by ladies during special occasions (weddings, …)

Mohamed Rebai
info@kairouan.org