3aslema عسلامة
Tunisian Derja · interjection
“3aslema” (عسلامة) is an interjection in Tunisian Derja meaning hello, hi.
Meanings
- hello, hi
Usage
3aslema is the most common Tunisian greeting. It is used at any time of day, with anyone, face to face or on the phone, and works equally well with close friends, a shopkeeper, or a stranger. It is often answered with 3aslema as well, or with ahla. The word is only used to greet someone on arrival: to say goodbye, one says bislema. The two forms should not be confused.
Example
عسلامة، لاباس عليك؟
3aslema, labes 3lik?
“Hello, how are you?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “3aslema” but also “aslema”, “3asléma”, “aaslema” and “3aslama”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.
Digits stand in for Arabic letters that have no Latin equivalent: 3 is ayn (ع), a voiced sound from deep in the throat with no English equivalent.