“Close friend” in Tunisian Arabic

In Tunisian Arabic, “Close friend” is written using the Latin script as:

(m) 5ouya

(f) O5ti

In Tunisian Arabic, using the Arabic script, it is written as:

خويا (m)

اختي (f)

(Editor’s note: In Tunisian Arabic, the literal translation for “Close friend” is A3az sahb (اعز صاحب) but is uncommonly used. The words 5ouya (خويا) and O5ti (اختي) mean brother and sister, respectively, and can be used to also denote a close friend. In situations where a woman is referring to another woman who is a close friend, the terms O5ti (اختي) and 3zizti (عزيزتي) are commonly used, and on occasion, the term Sahbty (صحبتي).

Listen to this term pronounced (audio)

 

Examples in sentences or statements

“You are a close friend.”

(m) Enti 5ouya.

(f) Enti o5ti.

.انتي خويا (m)

.انتي اختي (f)

 

“He is a close friend.”

Houwa 5ouya.

.هو خويا

 

“She is a close friend.”

Hya o5ti.

.هي اختي

 

“We are close friend.”

(m) Ahna 5wat.

(f) Ahna 5wat.

.احنا خوات (m)

.احنا خوات (f)

“We have been close friends for years.”

(m) Ahna 5wat 3ana barcha.

(f) Ahna 5wat 3ana barcha.

.احنا خوات عنا برشا (m)

.احنا خوات عنا برشا (f)

 

This term in other Arabic dialects

“Close friend” in Lebanese Arabic