Language/Tunisian-arabic/Grammar/Questions
Hi Tunisian Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about questions in Tunisian Arabic. Questions are important in any language because they allow us to ask for information or express doubt. So, let's start!
Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Future Tense, Pronouns, Question Formation & Possessive Case in Tunisian Arabic.
Asking Questions[edit | edit source]
In Tunisian Arabic, the formation of questions is slightly different from that of English. To form a question, we usually add a question particle at the end of the sentence.
Examples:
| Tunisian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| شنوة إسمك ؟ | shinwa ’ismik? | What's your name? |
| شنوة الجواب ؟ | shinwa l-jawwab? | What's the answer? |
| شحال قيمته ؟ | sh7al qimeetha? | How much is it? |
The question particle used in these examples is "شنوة" (shinwa) or "شحال" (sh7al). These particles are used to ask for information and can be translated as "what" or "how much". In Tunisian Arabic, the question particle is placed at the end of the sentence, unlike English where it is placed at the beginning.
Another way to form a question is to raise the intonation at the end of the sentence. This is often used in informal settings, especially in conversations between friends.
Examples:
- Person 1: توا تفيق من النوم ؟ (tawa tfiiq mn ennoum?) (Did you just wake up?)
- Person 2: والله عادي نعسان (wella 7adhi na3san) (No, I'm still sleepy)
In this example, Person 1 asks a question using the rising intonation, and Person 2 responds with a statement. Here, the question particle is not used, but the rising intonation makes it clear that it is a question.
Question Words[edit | edit source]
In Tunisian Arabic, question particles are often used with question words to ask for specific information. Here are some common question words used in Tunisian Arabic:
| Tunisian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| شنوة | shinwa | what |
| علاش | 3alash | why |
| كيفاش | kifash | how |
| واش | wach | whether |
| فين | feen | where |
| شحال | sh7al | how much |
| شحوذ | sh7oudh | how many |
Using question words can help you ask more specific questions and get more detailed answers.
Examples:
- Person 1: شحوذ الأولاد اللي عندك ؟ (sh7oudh el-waldi elli 3andek?) (How many kids do you have?)
- Person 2: عندي تلاتة (3andi tlata) (I have three)
Here, Person 1 uses the question word "شحوذ" (sh7oudh) to ask specifically about the number of kids, and Person 2 answers with the number three.
Indirect Questions[edit | edit source]
Indirect questions are questions that are asked within a sentence, without using a question particle or rising intonation. They are often used to ask for confirmation or express doubt. Indirect questions are formed by using the conjunction "أش" (ash) or "وش" (wesh) followed by a statement.
Examples:
- Person 1: أش تقرا ؟ (ash taqra?) (What are you reading?)
- Person 2: أنا كنستعمل الهاتف (ana knist3mel l-hatf) (I'm using the phone)
Here, Person 1 asks an indirect question by using the conjunction "أش" (ash) to ask about Person 2's activity, and Person 2 responds with a statement.
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
Here's a dialogue to help you see these concepts in context:
- Person 1: علاش ماتوصلناش ؟ (3alash ma tweslnash?) (Why haven't we arrived yet?)
- Person 2: في حادثة وخلاص (fi hadhtha wkhlas) (There was an accident and that's it)
- Person 1: شحوذ تفهم في هذا الموضوع ؟ (sh7oudh tfahem fi hadha lmawdhou3?) (How much do you understand about this topic?)
- Person 2: بصح ما نعرفش كثر (bse7 ma nerfesh kathir) (Honestly, I don't know much)
In this dialogue, Person 1 asks direct and indirect questions using different question particles and question words, and Person 2 responds with statements.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In conclusion, questions are essential in Tunisian Arabic as they allow us to ask for information and express doubt. Using question particles and question words can help you ask more specific questions and get more detailed answers. Remember to practice these concepts and don't be afraid to ask questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Past Participle in Tunisian Arabic, Numbers in Tunisian Arabic, Conditional Tense & How to Use Have.