Religion & Temples

1. ننجم ندخل للجامع؟

   nnajjem nedkhel l-l-jāmeʿ?

   Can I enter the mosque?

   Usage

   Check at the entrance before visiting a place of worship such as in Kairouan.

   Grammar Note

   "l-" + "al-" + "jāmeʿ" fuse into "l-l-jāmeʿ". A sentence assembled from attested words.

2. وقتاش صلاة الفجر؟

   waqtāsh ṣlāt l-fajr?

   What time is the dawn prayer?

   Usage

   Ask locals when the prayer takes place.

   Grammar Note

   "waqtāsh" at the start asks for the time. A sentence assembled from attested words.

3. لازمني نغطي راسي؟

   lāzemni nghaṭṭi rāsi?

   Do I need to cover my head?

   Usage

   Ask the attendant before entering a place of worship.

   Grammar Note

   The statement form with rising tone becomes a question. A sentence assembled from attested words.

4. عيدكم مبروك

   ʿīdkom mabrūk

   Happy Eid

   Usage

   A greeting to family and neighbours on Eid days.

   Grammar Note

   "-kom" is plural "your", also used politely to one person.

5. وين الجامع القريب؟

   wīn l-jāmeʿ l-qrīb?

   Where is the nearest mosque?

   Usage

   Ask on the street when looking for a mosque.

   Grammar Note

   "jāmeʿ" means mosque; "masjid" is another word for it. A sentence assembled from attested words.

6. الماكلة هاذي حلال؟

   l-mākla hādhi ḥalāl?

   Is this food halal?

   Usage

   In restaurants and markets, to ask about a dish.

   Grammar Note

   "mākla" is feminine, so the demonstrative is "hādhi". A sentence assembled from attested words.

7. أنا صايم رمضان

   ana ṣāyem ramaḍān

   I am fasting during Ramadan

   Usage

   To decline food or drink during Ramadan.

   Grammar Note

   A man says "ṣāyem"; a woman says "ṣāyma". A sentence assembled from attested words.

8. الله أكبر

   Allāhu akbar

   God is the Greatest

   Usage

   Heard in the call to prayer; sometimes also an exclamation.

   Grammar Note

   A set phrase identical to the standard language.

9. وقتاش تفتح الكنيسة؟

   waqtāsh teftaḥ l-knīsa?

   What time does the church open?

   Usage

   Before visiting a church such as in Tunis.

   Grammar Note

   The noun is feminine, so the verb is "teftaḥ" (she opens). A sentence assembled from attested words.

10. وقتاش تسكر الكنيسة؟

    waqtāsh tesker l-knīsa?

    What time does the church close?

    Usage

    To check the closing time.

    Grammar Note

    "sker" means to close. A sentence assembled from attested words.

11. جامع

    jāmeʿ

    Mosque

    Usage

    The word for a mosque.

    Grammar Note

    Also called "masjid".

12. كنيسة

    knīsa

    Church

    Usage

    When asking where a church is.

    Grammar Note

    A feminine noun.

13. صلاة

    ṣlāt

    Prayer

    Usage

    When talking about prayer times and places.

    Grammar Note

    The verb is "ṣalla" (to pray).

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