Language/Tunisian-arabic/Vocabulary/Telling-Time-and-Dates
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Introduction[edit | edit source]
Welcome to the lesson on telling time and dates in Tunisian Arabic! In this lesson, we will learn how to express time and dates accurately, helping you avoid any confusion when discussing schedules or making plans with native Tunisian Arabic speakers. Understanding how to tell time and dates is an essential skill for effective communication, and it will greatly enhance your ability to engage with locals during your time in Tunisia.
In this comprehensive lesson, we will cover the vocabulary and phrases necessary to express time and dates in Tunisian Arabic. We will explore the different ways to ask and answer questions about time, as well as how to discuss specific dates and months. To ensure a thorough understanding, we will provide numerous examples and exercises for practice. By the end of this lesson, you will have a solid foundation in telling time and dates in Tunisian Arabic.
Telling Time[edit | edit source]
The Basics[edit | edit source]
Let's start with the basics of telling time in Tunisian Arabic. The structure for expressing time in Tunisian Arabic is similar to that of English, with some variations in vocabulary and pronunciation. To ask someone for the time, you can use the phrase "Shnu lsa'a?" which translates to "What's the time?" in English. Here are some common phrases and examples to help you express time accurately:
- Tunisian Arabic: شنو الساعة؟
Pronunciation: Shnu lsa'a? English: What's the time?
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة التسعة
Pronunciation: Ssa'a tis3a English: It's nine o'clock.
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة الثانية عشرة و خمسة دقائق
Pronunciation: Ssa'a tanya 3shra w khmisa dakayiq English: It's twelve fifteen.
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة الثالثة و ربع
Pronunciation: Ssa'a tala3a w rb3 English: It's three fifteen.
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة السادسة و عشر دقائق
Pronunciation: Ssa'a ssadisa w 3shra dakayiq English: It's six ten.
Numbers and Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
To effectively express time in Tunisian Arabic, it's essential to familiarize yourself with the numbers and vocabulary associated with telling time. Here is a table that provides the numbers from one to twelve in Tunisian Arabic, along with their pronunciation and English translations:
| Tunisian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| وحدة | w7da | one |
| اتنين | tneyn | two |
| تلاتة | tlata | three |
| أربعة | rb3a | four |
| خمسة | khmisa | five |
| ستة | stsa | six |
| سبعة | sb3a | seven |
| تمانية | tmanya | eight |
| تسعة | tis3a | nine |
| عشرة | 3shra | ten |
| أحداشر | 7dshar | eleven |
| اثناشر | tna7ar | twelve |
To express minutes, you can use the word "دقيقة" which means "minute" in English. Here are some examples of how to express different times using the numbers and vocabulary provided:
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة التاسعة و ربع
Pronunciation: Ssa'a tis3a w rb3 English: It's quarter past nine.
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة التاسعة و ثلاث دقائق
Pronunciation: Ssa'a tis3a w tlata dakayiq English: It's nine three.
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة السابعة و خمس و أربعين دقيقة
Pronunciation: Ssa'a sb3a w khmisa w rb3in dakayiq English: It's seven forty-five.
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة العاشرة إلا ربع
Pronunciation: Ssa'a 3shra illa rb3 English: It's ten to quarter.
AM and PM[edit | edit source]
In Tunisian Arabic, the 12-hour clock system is commonly used. To differentiate between morning and afternoon, you can use the phrases "صباحًا" and "مساءً" which mean "morning" and "evening" respectively. Here are some examples:
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة الخامسة صباحًا
Pronunciation: Ssa'a khamsa sbah English: It's five o'clock in the morning.
- Tunisian Arabic: الساعة الثامنة مساءً
Pronunciation: Ssa'a tmanya msa English: It's eight o'clock in the evening.
Practice Exercise[edit | edit source]
Now that we have covered the basics of telling time in Tunisian Arabic, let's put your knowledge into practice with a few exercises. Fill in the blanks with the correct time in Tunisian Arabic:
1. الساعة التاسعة و _______ 2. الساعة الرابعة و _______ 3. الساعة الثامنة و _______ 4. الساعة الثالثة و _______ 5. الساعة السابعة و _______
Solution: 1. الساعة التاسعة و نصف 2. الساعة الرابعة و ربع 3. الساعة الثامنة و نصف 4. الساعة الثالثة و ربع 5. الساعة السابعة و ربع
Expressing Dates[edit | edit source]
Days of the Week[edit | edit source]
To express the days of the week in Tunisian Arabic, you can use the following vocabulary:
- Sunday: الأحد (el-ahed)
- Monday: الإثنين (el-ithnin)
- Tuesday: الثلاثاء (el-thlatha)
- Wednesday: الأربعاء (el-arba3a)
- Thursday: الخميس (el-khmis)
- Friday: الجمعة (el-jum3a)
- Saturday: السبت (es-sbet)
Here are some examples of how to use these vocabulary words to express specific dates:
- Tunisian Arabic: اليوم الأحد
Pronunciation: El-yom el-ahed English: Today is Sunday.
- Tunisian Arabic: بكرة الإثنين
Pronunciation: Bukra el-ithnin English: Tomorrow is Monday.
- Tunisian Arabic: بعد بكرة الخميس
Pronunciation: Ba3d bukra el-khmis English: The day after tomorrow is Thursday.
Months of the Year[edit | edit source]
To express the months of the year in Tunisian Arabic, you can use the following vocabulary:
- January: جانفي (janvi)
- February: فيفري (fivri)
- March: مارس (mars)
- April: أفريل (avril)
- May: ماي (mai)
- June: جوان (jwan)
- July: جويلية (jwiliah)
- August: أوت (out)
- September: سبتمبر (septambr)
- October: أكتوبر (oktobr)
- November: نوفمبر (novambr)
- December: ديسمبر (disambr)
Here are some examples of how to use these vocabulary words to express specific dates:
- Tunisian Arabic: في ١٥ جويلية
Pronunciation: Fi 15 jwiliah English: On July 15th.
- Tunisian Arabic: في أوت
Pronunciation: Fi out English: In August.
- Tunisian Arabic: في نوفمبر
Pronunciation: Fi novambr English: In November.
Practice Exercise[edit | edit source]
Now, let's practice expressing dates in Tunisian Arabic. Fill in the blanks with the correct vocabulary:
1. اليوم _______ 2. بكرة _______ 3. بعد بكرة _______ 4. في ١٠ مارس _______ 5. في نوفمبر _______
Solution: 1. اليوم الأحد 2. بكرة الإثنين 3. بعد بكرة الخميس 4. في ١٠ مارس (fi 10 mars) 5. في نوفمبر (fi novambr)
Cultural Insights[edit | edit source]
Tunisian culture places great importance on punctuality and respecting others' time. When making plans or appointments, it is considered polite to arrive on time or inform the other person if you are running late. Being mindful of time and keeping your commitments is a sign of respect in Tunisian society.
Additionally, it's worth noting that the Tunisian weekend falls on Friday and Saturday, with Friday being the Islamic holy day. It is common for businesses and schools to be closed on Fridays, and many Tunisians use this day to spend time with family or engage in religious activities.
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Congratulations! You have completed the lesson on telling time and dates in Tunisian Arabic. In this lesson, we covered the basics of telling time, including vocabulary and phrases necessary to express different times accurately. We also explored how to express specific dates, including the days of the week and months of the year. Remember to practice regularly to solidify your understanding of this topic.
By mastering the skill of telling time and dates in Tunisian Arabic, you will be able to navigate daily interactions more effectively and connect with native speakers on a deeper level. Understanding the cultural significance of punctuality and the importance of respecting others' time will also help you adapt to Tunisian society more easily. Keep up the good work and continue to build your knowledge of Tunisian Arabic!
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- 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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