Language/Tunisian-arabic/Vocabulary/Common-Workplace-Vocabulary
As a Tunisian Arabic teacher with over 20 years of experience, I am delighted to teach you the vocabulary necessary to communicate in a Tunisian workplace setting. In this lesson, we will cover the essential phrases and words to help you communicate effectively with your colleagues and employers in Tunisia.
Let's get started!
Common Workplace Vocabulary
Working in Tunisia may require you to use specific vocabulary to interact with your colleagues and employer. Here are some of the essential words and phrases:
| Tunisian Arabic | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| عمل | ʿamal | work |
| موظف | muẓaff | employee |
| مدير | madīr | manager |
| ساعات العمل | sāʿāt al-ʿamal | working hours |
| موعد التسليم | mawʿdu t-taslīm | deadline |
| ملف شخصي | malfi shakhṣī | personal file |
| راتب | rātib | salary |
| شركة | shirkah | company |
Here are some useful phrases that you might use in a workplace setting:
- السلام عليكم ورحمة الله وبركاته (as-salāmu ʿalaykum wa raḥmatu Allāh wa barakātuhu) - This is the standard greeting in Tunisia. It translates to "Peace be upon you, and God's mercy and blessings." It is a simple and respectful way to start a conversation.
- كيف حالك؟ (kayf ḥāluk?) - This is the equivalent of "How are you?" in English. It's a polite way to start a conversation.
- شكرا (shukran) - "Thank you." It is always important to show your gratitude when your colleagues or employer help you.
- عفوا (ʿafwan) - "Excuse me" or "pardon me." You can use this to get someone's attention politely or to apologize for interrupting.
- تفضّل (tafaddal) - "Please." This can be used to ask someone to do something for you or to offer something politely.
Describing Work and Employment Situations
In addition to vocabulary for specific objects and actions, it's also important to learn phrases that you can use to describe your work situation. Here are some essential phrases:
- أنا أعمل كمصمم (anā ʾaʿmal ka-muṣawwim) - "I work as a designer."
- نحن نبدأ العمل في الساعة الثامنة صباحا (naḥnu nabdaʾ al-ʿamal fī s-sāʿah ath-thāminah ṣabāḥan) - "We begin work at 8 a.m."
- التحقت بالشركة قبل شهرين (taḥaqqtu bi-sh-shirkah qabl shahrayn) - "I joined the company two months ago."
- يجب علي أن أوفّر عملا جيدا للوصول إلى المستهدف (yajib ʿalayya ʾan ʾawaffir ʿamalan jayyidan lil-wuṣūl ʾilā al-mustahdaf) - "I have to provide good work to reach my goal."
Remember, language is only one part of effective communication in the workplace. It's equally vital to understand Tunisian customs and meet your colleagues and employers with respect and politeness. Don't be afraid to ask your colleagues for clarification or help understanding something. Above all, approach your work with an open mind and a positive attitude!
In the next lesson, we'll discuss the vocabulary necessary to describe work and employment situations even more thoroughly.