Filler Words in Tunisian (Darija)
أيّا {ayya} = C’mon
You can add “ayya” to other fillers or expressions for emphasis, intensification or prompting
أياّ عاد = oh c’mon
أيّا باهي = that’s good
أيّا وينك؟ = where (how) are you?
أمان {aman} = Please
Usually this word means please in a way to express politeness informally, however, it could be used - also informally - to be a gap filler that expresses exclamation and surprise both positively and negatively
أمان شو محلاها= oh please look how pretty
شبيك تحكي هكا أمان؟ = why are you talking like this? Please?
علاش هكا أمان؟ = why did you do this? Please?
أكهو {Akahaw } = That’s it / That’s all
Used to end a conversation or a point, or to emphasize on the last thing you said.
تستحق حاجة أخرى؟ = Do you need anything else?
لا، أكهو = No that’s all
أكهو، ستنينا وبعد مشينا = That’s it, we waited and then we left.
باهي {Behy} = Okay
Used to agree on something or to introduce an utterance, or as question tag
باهي، أيا نمشيو = okay, let’s go
كلمني غدوة، باهي؟ = Call me tomorrow, okay?
باهي باهي تو نشوفو = Okay, okay, we’ll see.
تيييييه {T’iiiiih} = Ugh / Whatever
It is a sound that sums up expressions of nonchalance like “never mind” or “I don’t care” or “whatever”
تيه أكهو! = Ugh that’s it
تيه، اخطاني أمان = Ugh, leave me alone, please
تيه ما يهمنيش = Whatever, I don’t care.
لحاصيلو/ لحاسيلو {El'hassilu} = Anyway
Used to end a conversation, to change the subject, or to resume a subject after an interruption.
لحاصيلو يعطيك الصحة = Anyway, thank you.
لحاصيلو، محلاه كلامنا = Anyway, our language is so beautiful
لحاصيلو ، أكهو = Anyway, that’s it.
ملخّر {mel’lokhe’r} = Basically/ Honestly
Used when you are explaining something and you want to get to the main point, the core issue or give the most accurate truth
علاش متحبش تجي معنا؟- - Why don’t you wanna come with us ?
ملخر؟ منحبهمش صحابك- - Honestly ? I don’t like your friends.
وكلشَيْ / و كل {w kol/shay } = Etc./ and all that / and so on
Used at the end after mentioning a group of related things or when you don’t feel like giving examples so you just put it there and it relates to any context
شريت خضرة وغلة وكل = I bought vegetables and fruits and all
شفتها وسلمت عليها وحكيت معاها وكلشي = I saw her, I said hi to her, I talked to her and all
هواشي؟ {hueshy ?} = Right?
A question tag, used to seek validation of the point or the information you are talking about
طفيت الضو،هواشي /اوشي؟ = You turned the lights off, right?
هواشي صبت الثلج لبارح ؟ = It snowed last night, right?
ياخي {yekhy} .. (?) = And/ So... (?)
Used as cause/result linker. It could also be used to bring up a question or an issue.
خرجت في لمطر ياخي تبليت ياخي مرضت = I went out in the rain so I got wet so (and that’s how) I got sick.
ياخي وينك؟ = So where are you?
ع.ف. كان عندكم كلمات آنا نسيتهم و محطيتهمش، و لا آنا حطيت كلمة تحسوها غالطة و لا مش في بلاصتها قولولي يعيشكم ^^