Nightlife

1. طاولة لزوز عباد من فضلك

   ṭāwla l-zūz ʿbād min faḍlek

   A table for two, please

   Usage

   Tell the staff how many you are when you enter a restaurant or café.

   Grammar Note

   "zūz ʿbād" is "two people", with "l-" (for) in front of the number. A sentence assembled from attested words.

2. اعطيني كاس تاي بالنعناع من فضلك

   aʿṭīni kās tāy b-n-naʿnāʿ min faḍlek

   A glass of mint tea, please

   Usage

   The usual way to order sweet mint tea in a café or at an evening stall.

   Grammar Note

   "b-" means "with". Tea is "tāy", not the Standard Arabic "shāy". A sentence assembled from attested words.

3. وقتاش يسكر المطعم؟

   waqtāsh yesker l-maṭʿam?

   What time does the restaurant close?

   Usage

   Check the closing time before you go out for dinner.

   Grammar Note

   The question word comes first, followed by a third-person present verb. A sentence assembled from attested words.

4. وين نلقى مطعم باهي؟

   wīn nelqa maṭʿam bāhi?

   Where can I find a good restaurant?

   Usage

   Ask locals or hotel staff for a place worth eating at.

   Grammar Note

   The verb "find" is "lqā"; the present can carry the sense "can I find". A sentence assembled from attested words.

5. وين نلقى قهوة فيها شيشة؟

   wīn nelqa qahwa fīha shīsha?

   Where can I find a café with a shisha?

   Usage

   In Tunisia the "qahwa" is a café where shisha is smoked, often mostly by men; look the place over before going in.

   Grammar Note

   "qahwa" means both the drink coffee and the café. A sentence assembled from attested words.

6. فما موزيكا تونسية الليلة؟

   fammā mūzīka tūnsiyya l-līla?

   Is there Tunisian music tonight?

   Usage

   Ask whether there is live music at a café or square.

   Grammar Note

   "fammā" is "there is"; the question is shown by rising tone. The adjective follows the noun. A sentence assembled from attested words.

7. وين فما كونسار الليلة؟

   wīn fammā kūnsār l-līla?

   Where is there a concert tonight?

   Usage

   Useful for finding festival or theatre events, especially in summer.

   Grammar Note

   "kūnsār" comes from French "concert". A sentence assembled from attested words.

8. نحب طاولة هادية

   nḥebb ṭāwla hādya

   I would like a quiet table

   Usage

   Ask for a calmer seat in a noisy place.

   Grammar Note

   "ṭāwla" is feminine, so the adjective takes the feminine ending. A sentence assembled from attested words.

9. يعيشك، ما نشربش

   yʿayyshek, mā nesherb-sh

   Thanks, I don't drink

   Usage

   A polite way to decline when someone offers alcohol; no explanation is needed.

   Grammar Note

   "nesherb" (I drink) wrapped in "mā … -sh"; without an object it is understood as alcohol. A sentence assembled from attested words.

10. نحب نسمع موزيكا تونسية

    nḥebb nesmaʿ mūzīka tūnsiyya

    I would like to listen to Tunisian music

    Usage

    Use it to ask a shop or taxi driver for some local music.

    Grammar Note

    The verb follows "nḥebb" directly. A sentence assembled from attested words.

11. قداش طلع حساب العشا؟

    qaddāsh ṭlaʿ ḥsāb l-ʿashā?

    How much did the dinner bill come to?

    Usage

    Check the total with your companions or when the amount looks off.

    Grammar Note

    "ṭlaʿ" (went up) is also used for a total that "comes to" an amount. A sentence assembled from attested words.

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