How to Say Yes, No and Okay and Answer Politely in Tunisian Arabic

Knowing how to answer yes, no or okay changes a conversation. This page shows you the words our teachers recorded for this.

You will see two ways to say yes, two ways to say no and one word for okay. You will also see how to add a detail or a thank you to answer politely.

Every phrase comes with its translation, ready to copy.

Saying “yes”: Ey and Aih

Our teachers recorded two forms for “yes”: Ey and Aih. Both are translated as “Yes”. Here is each one in a full sentence.

Click the button after a phrase to hear it spoken by a teacher.

Ey, bnin barcha. : Yes, very good.
Aih, m3aya. Bslema! : Yes, with me. Goodbye!

Remember both forms. You will then recognise them when you hear them.

Saying “no”: Le and La

For “no”, our recordings also give two forms: Le and La. Here they are in full sentences.

Le, 9riba. 3achra da9aye9. : No, it's close. Ten minutes.
La, 9rib. 3achra d9aye9 machey : No, close. 10 minutes on foot.

These two sentences contain the word “minutes” with two spellings: da9aye9 in the first and d9aye9 in the second. Do not be surprised by this difference.

Saying “okay”: Behi

To accept, our recordings give Behi. It is translated as “Ok” in one sentence and as “Okay” in the other.

Behi, hani bech nji m3ak. : Ok, I will come with you.
Behi, 3andna wa9t. Yalla. : Okay, we have time. Let's go.

In the second sentence, Yalla. means “Let's go”.

Be careful: behi barcha also appears in Ey, soutou behi barcha. This sentence is translated as “Yes, his voice is very beautiful.” Here behi barcha means “very beautiful”, not “okay”.

Answering politely: add a detail

Several recorded answers do not stop at “yes”. They add a detail, which makes the answer fuller.

Ey, m3aya 3aylti. : Yes, with my family.
Ey, m3a wled 3ammi. : Yes, with my cousin.
Ey, chwaya bark. : Yes, just a little.

The first two say who is with you. The third says how much.

To thank someone, our teachers recorded Y3aychek., translated as “Thank you”. You hear it in the full sentence Ey, chbe3t. Y3aychek. : “Yes, I'm full. Thank you.”

To ask the question back, remember W enti ?, “And you?” It comes from the sentence Ey, na9ra droit. W enti ? : “Yes, I study law. And you?”

Six examples ready to copy

Ey, jou3an barcha. : Yes, I'm very hungry.
Ey, sawwer ki ma t7eb. : Yes, take photos as you like.
Ey, ama 3 w 7 s3ab ! : Yes, but the 3 and the 7 are difficult!
Ey, 3andi zouz khwet ouled wa thlatha khwet bnet. : Yes, I have two brothers and three sisters.
Ey, nel3bou carta. : Yes, we play cards.
Ey, chems 9wia. : Yes, the sun is strong.

In the third sentence, Ey, ama is translated as “Yes, but”. You agree first, then you add a nuance.

Tips for practising

Learn three words first: Ey, Le and Behi.
Learn whole sentences with their translation rather than single words.
After each answer, add a detail: who with, how much, what.
Read the sentences aloud, then cover the translation and test yourself.
When a word has two spellings, like da9aye9 and d9aye9, learn to recognise both.