When You Don’t Understand
Learn how to ask for repetition, request slower speech, and keep a conversation going in Tunisian Arabic.
The Mini-Dialogue
Pedagogical Rule: Listen before reading! Trust your ears to catch tone, rhythm, and familiar sounds before unlocking the text.
Useful Chunks (Ready-to-Use)
We don't get bogged down in isolated grammar. Master these complete expressions you can reuse directly in Tunisia today.
Conversation Patterns
Build a polite request: tnajjem → action.
تنجّم تعاود؟
Tnajjem t3awed?
Can you repeat?
تنجّم تحكي بشويّة؟
Tnajjem ta7ki b-chwaya?
Can you speak slowly?
اتفضِّل
Etfaddhel
Go ahead.
Listen & Choose: Train Conversational Reaction
What Would You Say?
Say your answer aloud before revealing the model.
You did not understand. Ask for repetition.
سامحني، ما فهِمتش. تنجّم تعاود؟
Same7ni, ma fhemtch. Tnajjem t3awed?
Nour is speaking too fast.
تنجّم تحكي بشويّة؟
Tnajjem ta7ki b-chwaya?
Now you understand. What do you say?
توّا فهمت
Tawwa fhemt
Conversation Builder
Click the pieces below in the order a natural Tunisian conversation flows from the opening to understanding.
Role-Play: Your Turn!
Virtual Encounter with Nour (نور)
Nour will guide the conversation. Look at your prompt objective and respond to her directly!
وين تحبّ تمشي اليوم؟
Win t7eb temchi el youm?
Say you did not understand and politely ask Nour to repeat.
المدينة العربي · El medina el 3arbi
In Tunisian conversation, المدينة العربي refers to the medina: the historic old part of town. Picture narrow lanes, traditional houses, small shops and souks. Here, the phrase means “the old town,” rather than a separate city. Use نحبّ نمشي للمدينة العربي (N7eb nemchi lel medina el 3arbi) to say “I want to go to the medina.”