Language/Tunisian-arabic/Vocabulary/Fruits
Hi Tunisian Arabic learners! 😊
In this lesson, we are going to learn some delicious Tunisian Arabic fruits 🍉🍍🍓🍊. Tunisian people love fruits and consume them a lot since Tunisian sun is hot and fruits are a refreshing way to stay hydrated. Moreover, Tunisia is famous for its high-quality fruits, and some of them are even exported. So, let's discover together some Tunisian fruits in Tunisian Arabic language!
After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Clothes & Drinks.
Basic Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Here are the most common fruit names in Tunisian Arabic with their pronunciation:
| Tunisian Arabic | Pronunciation | English Translation |
|---|---|---|
| portoka | pɔrtɔka | Orange |
| bsalima (phelima) | bsalima (felima) | persimmon (kaki fruit) |
| khawkha | kħawkha | Peach |
| khimri | kʰimri | Date (fruit) |
| fijjal | fid‿dʒal | Fig |
| lbiib | lbiv | Grape |
| na3na3 | naʔnaʔ | Mint (used as ingredient and a side to fruits) |
| limoun | limun | Lemon |
| mawz | mɔwz | Banana |
| ba99ar | baʕ‿tˁˤar | Pomegranate |
| khbal | kʰbal | Watermelon |
| felfel | filfil | Pineapple |
| tamr | tamr | Date (fruit) |
| rmal (rmiil) | rmal (rmiil) | Pears |
| zbib | zbib | Raisin |
| rbe3 | rbɛʕ | Strawberry |
Now that you know the basic vocabulary let's see some expressions:
Express Yourself[edit | edit source]
Some useful expressions to use in a fruit market or when you are eating fruits in Tunisia:
- كيفاش مذاقوا هذا ؟ (kifāsh maḏāqū-hāḏā?) -- How does it taste?
- هذا جميلة وعذبة! (hāḏā jamlh w ʕḏhbh!) -- This is beautiful and delicious!
- بسم الله وبنت الله ((bsm‿l-lh wbnt‿l-lh)) -- In the name of God and the daughter of God. It is a popular expression used before eating fruits.
- وين عثرت عليه؟ (wīn ʕaṯṯart ʕlih?) -- Where did you find it?
- حتى هناك يوجد طعم مختلف! (ḥatta hnak yūǧid ṭaʿm mḫtlf!) -- Even there, there's a different taste!
Here's an imaginary dialogue between a fruit seller and a customer in a market:
- Fruit seller: واش تحب تشري يا الخويا؟ (wāsh taḥbb tšry yā l-ḫwyā?) - What do you like to buy, brother?
- Customer: نحب خري ! (nhubb khri!) - I want cherries.
- Fruit seller: غريبة.. ما عنديش (gṛyba.. ma ʕndiš) - Strange, I don't have any.
- Customer: والله نحب رمان.. راهو موجود؟ (wllh nhubb rmaan.. rāhū mūǧdūd?) - OK, then give me pomegranate... Do you have it?
- Fruit seller: عندي يا الحبيب ... دوزه! (ʕndi yā l-ḥbīb ... dwīz-hā!) - Yes, my dear ... Here, take it!
Fun Facts[edit | edit source]
- Tunisia is, in fact, home to the Baccar pineapple or Felfel Abdesslem, which is a Tunisian type of pineapple. It was named after a farmer in the Nfidha region of Tunisia.
- Dates are seriously important in Tunisian culture - no festive occasion is considered complete without dessert made of or containing dates.
- Tunisian citrus fruits are considered some of the best in the world, with many delicious varieties being grown in and around Cap Bon and the Sahel region.
- Tunisia is North Africa's leading producer and exporter of fresh oranges, clementines, and mandarins.
Further Reading[edit | edit source]
- Tunisia Wikipedia Page
- Tunisian Cuisine Wikipedia Page
- Tunisian Dishes Wikipedia Page
➡ 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. 😎