Language/Tunisian-arabic/Vocabulary/Telling-Time-and-Dates

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Tunisian Arabic → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Telling Time and Dates

In this lesson, we will dive into a fundamental aspect of communication: telling time and dates in Tunisian Arabic. Knowing how to express when something happens is crucial for everyday conversations. Whether you're scheduling a meeting, planning a dinner, or simply asking someone when an event takes place, mastering this vocabulary will enhance your ability to interact with native speakers and immerse yourself in the rich culture of Tunisia.

Understanding how to tell time and dates is also a gateway to understanding the cultural rhythms of life in Tunisia. Time management and the significance of dates, particularly in relation to Islamic customs and traditions, are vital components of Tunisian society.

In this lesson, we will cover the following topics:

• How to tell time in Tunisian Arabic

• Vocabulary related to time

• How to express dates and days of the week

• Practical exercises to reinforce your learning

Let's get started!

Telling Time in Tunisian Arabic

Telling time in Tunisian Arabic is quite straightforward once you get the hang of it. The basic structure involves stating the hour first, followed by the minutes. Here are some essential terms and phrases:

Basic Vocabulary for Telling Time

|| Tunisian Arabic || Pronunciation || English ||

|-

| ساعة || sâʕa || hour |

|-

| دقيقة || dqiqa || minute |

|-

| صباح || ṣabāḥ || morning |

|-

| مساء || masāʔ || evening |

|-

| ليل || lēl || night |

|-

| منتصف الليل || muṭāf al-lēl || midnight |

|-

| ظهر || ẓuhr || noon |

Structure of Time Expressions

To tell the time in Tunisian Arabic, you typically use the following structure:

• "ساعة" (sâʕa) + hour + "و" (w) + minutes

Here’s how it works:

• "ساعة وحدة" (sâʕa waḥda) means "1:00"

• "ساعة ثانية" (sâʕa ṯāniya) means "2:00"

• "ساعة و ربع" (sâʕa w rubʕ) means "quarter past"

Examples of Telling Time

Here are some examples of telling time in Tunisian Arabic:

Tunisian Arabic	Pronunciation	English
الساعة واحدة	as-sāʕa wāḥda	It's 1:00
الساعة ثنية	as-sāʕa ṯāniya	It's 2:00
الساعة ثلث	as-sāʕa ṯulṯ	It's 3:00
الساعة ربع	as-sāʕa rubʕ	It's 4:15
الساعة خمسة و عشرين دقيقة	as-sāʕa ḵamsa w ʕišrin dqiqa	It's 5:20
الساعة ستة إلا ربع	as-sāʕa sitta illa rubʕ	It's 5:45
الساعة سبعة و نص	as-sāʕa sabaʕa w naṣṣ	It's 7:30
الساعة ثمانية و نصف الليل	as-sāʕa ṯmāniya w niṣf al-lēl	It's 8:30 PM
الساعة تسعة و عشر دقائق	as-sāʕa tisʕa w ʕašar dqiqa	It's 9:10
الساعة عشرة و نص النهار	as-sāʕa ʕašra w naṣṣ an-nahār	It's 10:30 AM

Days of the Week

Knowing how to express dates is another vital piece of communicating effectively in Tunisian Arabic. The days of the week are particularly important for scheduling events. Here’s the vocabulary you need:

Vocabulary for Days of the Week

Tunisian Arabic	Pronunciation	English
الأحد	al-aḥad	Sunday
الإثنين	al-ithnayn	Monday
الثلاثاء	ath-thulāthāʔ	Tuesday
الأربعاء	al-arbiʿāʔ	Wednesday
الخميس	al-ḵamīs	Thursday
الجمعة	al-jumʕa	Friday
السبت	as-sabt	Saturday

Expressing Dates

When talking about dates, the structure is slightly different. You typically state the day first, followed by the month and the year:

• "اليوم" (el-yom) means "today"

• "غدوة" (ghodwa) means "tomorrow"

• "أمس" (ams) means "yesterday"

Examples of Dates

Here’s a table illustrating how to express dates in Tunisian Arabic:

Tunisian Arabic	Pronunciation	English
اليوم الأحد	el-yom al-aḥad	Today is Sunday
غدوة الإثنين	ghodwa al-ithnayn	Tomorrow is Monday
أمس الثلاثاء	ams ath-thulāthāʔ	Yesterday was Tuesday
5 جانفي 2023	5 jānfi 2023	January 5, 2023
14 أفريل 2022	14 afrīl 2022	April 14, 2022
1 ماي 2023	1 māy 2023	May 1, 2023
15 أوت 2023	15 ʔūt 2023	August 15, 2023
20 سبتمبر 2023	20 sibtāmbir 2023	September 20, 2023

Practice Exercises

Now that we've explored telling time and dates in Tunisian Arabic, let's put your knowledge to the test with some exercises!

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Complete the sentences with the correct time or date.

1. الساعة _____ (one).

2. غدوة _____ (Monday).

3. اليوم _____ (Friday).

4. الساعة _____ و _____ (quarter past two).

5. أمس _____ (Wednesday).

Solutions to Exercise 1

1. الساعة واحدة (as-sāʕa wāḥda).

2. غدوة الإثنين (ghodwa al-ithnayn).

3. اليوم الجمعة (el-yom al-jumʕa).

4. الساعة ثنية و ربع (as-sāʕa ṯāniya w rubʕ).

5. أمس الأربعاء (ams al-arbiʿāʔ).

Exercise 2: Match the Time to the Description

Match the Tunisian Arabic phrases with their English translations.

| Tunisian Arabic | English |

|----------------|---------|

| A. الساعة سبعة | 1. It's 5:30 |

| B. الساعة خمسة و نص | 2. It's 7:00 |

| C. الساعة ثمانية إلا ربع | 3. It's 8:45 |

| D. الساعة عشرة و ربع | 4. It's 10:15 |

Solutions to Exercise 2

A - 2, B - 1, C - 3, D - 4.

Exercise 3: Create Your Own Sentences

Write three sentences expressing the time and date in Tunisian Arabic.

Example:

• الساعة ثلاثة و عشرة (It's 3:10).

• اليوم السبت (Today is Saturday).

Your Answers:

1. ______________________

2. ______________________

3. ______________________

Exercise 4: Listening Comprehension

Listen to a native speaker say the following phrases and write them down in Tunisian Arabic.

1. It's 6:15.

2. Tomorrow is Tuesday.

3. Today is the 10th of March.

Solutions to Exercise 4

1. الساعة ستة و ربع (as-sāʕa sitta w rubʕ).

2. غدوة الثلاثاء (ghodwa ath-thulāthāʔ).

3. اليوم 10 مارس (el-yom 10 mārsi).

Exercise 5: Role Play

Pair up with a classmate and practice asking each other for the time and date. Use the vocabulary learned in this lesson.

Example:

A: الساعة كم؟ (What time is it?)

B: الساعة خمسة و نصف (It's 5:30).

Conclusion

By mastering how to tell time and dates in Tunisian Arabic, you are now better equipped to engage in daily life and conversations in Tunisia. Remember to practice regularly, as repetition is key to retention. Use the vocabulary in real-life situations, and don't hesitate to ask native speakers if you're unsure about anything.

Keep up the great work, and I look forward to seeing you in the next lesson!

Table of Contents - Tunisian Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Basic Noun Structure
• Subject Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Common Phrases and Expressions

• Basic Greetings and Introductions
• Ordering Food and Drinks
• Telling Time and Dates

  ---

Verbs and Verb Conjugation

• Present Tense Regular Verbs
• Past Tense Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

  ---

Numbers and Counting

• Basic Numbers
• Counting Objects and People

  ---

Tunisian Society and Customs

• Daily Life and Customs
• Traditional Food and Drink

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjective Formation
• Adverb Usage

  ---

Transportation and Travel

• Modes of Transportation
• At the Airport

  ---

Tunisian Holidays and Celebrations

• Islamic Celebrations
• Independence Day and Other National Holidays

  ---

Questions and Statements

• Question Formation
• Statement Construction

  ---

Emergencies and Health

• Emergency Phrases and Vocabulary
• Medical Vocabulary

  ---

Tunisian Arts and Literature

• Traditional Tunisian Music
• Contemporary Tunisian Writing and Poetry

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Conjunctions Used in Tunisian Arabic

  ---

Sports and Recreation

• Popular Sports and Games
• Outdoor Recreation and Leisure

  ---

Tunisian History and Geography

• The Phoenician Period
• Modern Tunisia and Geography

  ---

Negation and Interrogation

• Negation Usage in Tunisian Arabic
• Interrogation and Question Indicators

  ---

Work and Employment

• Common Workplace Vocabulary
• Describing Work and Employment Situations

  ---

Tunisian Folklore and Mythology

• Popular Legends and Characters
• Traditional Crafts and Skills

Other Lessons

• Count to 10
• Counting Objects and People
• Medical Vocabulary
• Camping
• Dinner Table
• Emergency Phrases and Vocabulary
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• At the Airport
• Animal
• Colors

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