A study: “Where” in Tunisian Arabic

This article will study the English word “Where”, when translated into Tunisian Arabic. This article is part of IBL’s Study series which analyzes words at a deeper level to enhance reader learning & understanding. Related articles include: A study: “What” in Tunisian Arabic and A study: “Why” in Tunisian Arabic.

In Tunisian Arabic, “Where” is most conventionally:

Win / وين

At times, some use the synonym: Fin / فين

A note: The use of Fin / فين isn’t thought to be a regional difference but instead preferential amongst Tunisian Arabic speakers. Some will switch to the word Fin when what before it makes Fin an easier phrase to say than Win. Many 

In Standard Arabic (Fos7a / فصحى) Where is: أين (Using the Latin, Ayna)

IBL Contributor, Aroua F., pronounces Win:

Aroua F. pronounces Fin:

Here are three examples of Win in statements:

Where do you want to go?

• (You) Win t7eb temchi? / وين تحب تمشي؟
• (We) Win t7eb nemchiw / وين تحب نمشيو؟

Where were the keys?

• Win kenou lmfeta7? / وين كانو المفاتح؟

Where are you going?

• (m) Win mechi? / وين ماشي؟
• (f) Win mechya? / وين ماشية؟

The conjugation of Win

The use of Win conjugates through the standard subjects in Arabic. Here is the list:

(I) Ena win? / أنا وين؟ = Where am I?

(you) Winek? / وينك؟ = Where are you?

(You, plural) Winkom? / وينكم؟ = Where are you (two/both/all, etc.)?

(He) Winou? / وينو؟ (Where are you? in the masculine form)

(She) Winha? / وينها؟ (Where are you? in the feminine form)

(We) Na7na win? / نحنا وين؟ (Or A7na win? / وين احنا؟) (Where are we?)

(They) Winhom? / وينهم؟ (Where are they?)

Here are some examples of the above in use in fuller statements:

“Where is it?”

• (masculine-based noun) Winou? / وينو؟
• (feminine-based noun) Winha? / وينها؟

Arabic is a gender-based language. As such, nouns are almost always identified as masculine- or feminine-based. So to construct this statement accurately in Tunisian Arabic, the speaker would need to know the gender-designation of the noun they are describing. (I.e., What the “it” is in the statement/question) For more information on this concept see the IBL guide: How nouns function in Tunisian Arabic.

“We’re near the bus station.”

• A7na win m7atet l kar tawa. / .احنا وين محطة الكار توا

“Where are you two right now?”

• Winkom tawa? / وينكم توا؟

In closing

Learning the ins and outs of “Where…?” in Tunisian Arabic is another fundamental building block to speaking, writing and understanding Tunisian Arabic. Again, you may find natural value in reading next the articles from this series: A study: “What” in Tunisian Arabic and A study: “Why” in Tunisian Arabic. And if you want to begin examining the alphabet that Tunisian Arabic speakers, this IBL series is under development. You could start with: The letter “A” in Tunisian Arabic. And here is a link to the entire IBL catalogue on Tunisian Arabic. (Over 5,000 principal words/phrases translations with recordings and over 20,000 statements)

Enjoy learning Tunisian Arabic.

And as always, we wish you a marvellous journey!