Counting in Tunisian Derja: Numbers 0 to 1000

Numbers are one of the first truly practical skills to master in Tunisian Derja - at the market, in taxis, at restaurants, or when bargaining in the medina, figures come up constantly. Tunisian Derja (الدارجة التونسية) has its own number vocabulary, distinct from Moroccan or Algerian darija, most notably the famous "zūz" for "two" - an instantly recognizable marker of the Tunis urban dialect. In this article, you will find numbers from 0 to 1,000 with their arabizi transcription, authentic dialogue examples, and the most common mistakes learners make. On Targumi, each Tunisian Derja lesson includes audio recordings made by native speakers from Tunis, so you can train your ear on real pronunciation from day one.

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Numbers in Tunisian Daily Life and Culture

In Tunisia, numbers appear constantly in daily interactions: haggling over the price of a jebba in the Tunis medina, asking for change on the light rail, or ordering "zūz bira" (two beers) at a La Marsa café. The bargaining culture - known locally as "msamra" - runs deep, and knowing how to state a price in Tunisian Derja with the right Tunis accent immediately changes the dynamic of any transaction.

One important cultural point: Tunisians use Eastern Arabic numerals (١٢٣٤) in formal writing but freely switch to Latin digits (1234) in texts and everyday arabizi. This coexistence is completely natural. Regional variants also exist - speakers from the Sahel (Sousse, Monastir, Mahdia) or the South (Sfax, Gabès, Djerba) sometimes use slightly different forms - but the urban Tunis dialect is the national prestige standard you will hear on radio, television, and in educated conversation.

Tunisian number vocabulary broadly follows Classical Arabic for tens and hundreds, but features highly contracted forms for 11 to 19 and that distinctive "zūz" for 2. The word "zūz" likely derives from the Arabic root "zawj" (pair), not from a foreign borrowing as is sometimes assumed. This origin distinguishes it from superficially similar words in neighbouring dialects.

Table: Numbers 0 to 20 in Tunisian Derja

Below are the foundational numbers with their arabizi transcription - the Latin-script system Tunisians use for texting and social media posts. In arabizi, "3" represents the letter ع (ayn) and "5" represents the letter خ (kha).

Key linguistic notes:

• "zūz" (2) is the defining marker of Tunisian Derja compared to Moroccan "jouj" and Algerian "zūj"
• Numbers 11 to 19 are formed with the suffix "-āch", a contraction of "3achara" (ten)
• "ħ" in arabizi represents the sound ح (emphatic ha), a sound with no English equivalent
• Targumi's native audio lets you hear each number as it is actually spoken in Tunis

Dialogue: A Bargaining Scene at the Souk

Here is a typical exchange at a Tunis medina market stall, between a buyer (B) and a seller (S):

S: Aslema, 3andek chni tħeb? - Hey, what are you looking for?

B: Nheb nghodem b3d tomates. Bech hom? - I want to buy some tomatoes. How much are they?

S: Killo b tlētha dinars w nuṣ. - A kilo for three dinars and a half.

B: Barcha! 3tini zūz killo b 5amsa dinars. - That's way too much! Give me two kilos for five dinars.

S: Mā ya9belch. Killo b zūz dinars w thlēthīn... yezzi? - No way. One kilo for two dinars thirty... deal?

B: Ok, wāħed killo b zūz w nuṣ, tanya. - Ok, one kilo for two fifty, go on then.

S: Yallah, itfaḍel. - Alright, here you go.

This short dialogue packs in several key features: "barcha" (too much / a lot) as a strong reaction to a price - a typical Tunisian marker absent from other Arabic dialects - , "nuṣ" (half) attaching to numbers for halves, and the natural flow of "zūz" in a price negotiation. Notice also "aslema" (hi, contracted from "salam") and "nheb" (I want / I like), both unmistakably Tunisian.

Key vocabulary from the dialogue:

• nuṣ : half
• barcha : a lot, too much (Tunisian-specific, unlike Moroccan "bzaf")
• 3andek : you have / do you have
• nheb : I want, I like (Tunisian - not the Moroccan "bgha" or Algerian "ħab")
• yezzi : is that ok? is that enough?

Tens, Hundreds, and Thousands

Once you have mastered numbers 1 to 20, building larger numbers in Tunisian Derja is quite regular. The tens follow a consistent pattern inherited from Classical Arabic.

Tens:

Hundreds and thousands:

How to combine numbers:

In Tunisian Derja, compound numbers are joined with "w" (and), in the order hundreds - tens - units:

• 21 = wāħed w 3ichrīn
• 35 = 5amsa w thlēthīn
• 142 = mya w arb3īn w zūz
• 250 = myatayn w 5amsīn
• 1,500 = alf w 5amsiya

Points not to miss:

• 200 is "myatayn" (dual of "mya"), not "zūz mya" - a very common learner mistake
• 2,000 is "alfayn" (dual of "alf"), not "zūz alf"
• For 300, 400, and so on, the structure is number + mya: "telt mya", "arb3 mya"
• Linking between components is always done with "w"

Ordinal numbers:

Ordinals are useful for floors in a building, rankings, or sequential order:

Example: "el-bāb eth-thēni" = the second door / "el-marra l-ūla" = the first time

Recap and Common Mistakes

Here are the most frequent traps learners fall into when studying numbers in Tunisian Derja:

1. Mixing up "zūz" with "jouj" or "zūj" This is the most telling mistake: a learner who says "jouj" (Moroccan) or "zūj" (Algerian) for "two" immediately signals they have been studying a different Arabic variety. In Tunisian Derja, it is always "zūz". No exceptions in everyday speech.

2. Forgetting the dual forms "Two hundred" is not "zūz mya" in Tunisian Derja - it is "myatayn". Similarly, "two thousand" is "alfayn", not "zūz alf". These dual forms are inherited from Classical Arabic and remain active in Tunisian, unlike in some other dialects where they have gradually disappeared.

3. Mispronouncing "3" (ayn) and "ħ" (ha) These sounds do not exist in English. The "3" (ع) is a voiced pharyngeal fricative produced deep in the throat. The "ħ" (ح) is a voiceless pharyngeal fricative, like a very breathy and tense "h". The native speaker audio on Targumi lets you hear these sounds in real conversational context - by far the most effective way to internalize them.

4. Using "ithnayn" for "two" "Ithnayn" is the Modern Standard Arabic form. In everyday Tunisian Derja, people say "zūz". Using "ithnayn" sounds extremely formal, almost literary, and comes across as unnatural in casual conversation.

5. Getting the order wrong in large numbers In Tunisian Derja, the order is strict: hundreds, then tens, then units, all linked by "w". Do not let the English pattern interfere. "One hundred and forty-two" is "mya w arb3īn w zūz" - always in that sequence.

6. Ignoring gendered ordinals From first through fifth, ordinals have masculine and feminine forms. When the noun is feminine, use the feminine form: "el-marra l-ūla" (the first time), not "el-marra l-awwal".

Going Further with Tunisian Derja Numbers

Once you have the basic numbers down, several directions open up for deepening your Tunisian Derja:

Fractions and measures: "nuṣ" (half), "tilt" (one third), "rob3" (one quarter) come up constantly in cooking recipes, market shopping, and casual estimation. They combine naturally with the numbers you have learned: "rob3 killo" (a quarter kilo) or "tilt mya millīm" (a third of a hundred millimes).

Telling time and dates: Knowing how to say "es-sā3a 5amsa" (five o'clock) or "yom el-5amīs" (Thursday) naturally extends your number vocabulary into the time domain - essential for making appointments or catching transport.

Prices and currency: The Tunisian dinar (TND) divides into 1,000 millimes. Tunisians quote prices in millimes or dinars depending on context - "mya w 5amsīn millīm" (150 millimes) or "zūz dinars" (two dinars). Getting comfortable with price talk is essential for any real market interaction.

Phone numbers: In Tunisia, mobile numbers start with specific prefixes (20, 21, 23 to 29, 50, 51...). Practicing phone number sequences is a great drill for number fluency - it forces you to produce strings of numbers at natural speed without pausing to think.

On Targumi, you will find complete learning paths for everyday vocabulary in Tunisian Derja - with human audio recorded in Tunis, validation quizzes, and level-based progression from A1 through B1. Number vocabulary lessons are part of the A1 beginner level curriculum and are among the first lessons unlocked. For immersion practice, try watching clips from Tunisian comedians or sketch shows on YouTube: you will hear "zūz", "tlētha", and "barcha" used constantly in the kind of spontaneous, unscripted contexts that no textbook can fully replicate.

For learners focused on practical use, the price negotiation scenario above is worth practicing out loud until it feels effortless - the ability to state a price, counter-offer, and close a deal in Tunisian Derja will serve you in almost every commercial interaction you have in the country.

Conclusion

Numbers in Tunisian Derja are both logical in their overall structure and rich in the specific features that define the Tunis dialect. "zūz" for two, the contracted "-āch" endings for 11 to 19, and the dual forms "myatayn" and "alfayn" for 200 and 2,000 are the three takeaways that matter most. With regular out-loud practice - and Targumi's native audio to calibrate your ear against real Tunis speech - you will quickly feel comfortable quoting prices at the souk, giving your phone number, or ordering at a restaurant. The key is active practice and exposure to authentic Tunisian Derja as often as possible.

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