emtin امتين
Tunisian Derja · adverb
“emtin” (امتين) is an adverb in Tunisian Derja meaning when? (interrogative).
Meanings
- when? (interrogative)
- when (indirect question)
Usage
Emtin is the Tunisian interrogative adverb meaning "when". It generally goes at the start of the sentence: "emtin tji?" (when are you coming?). It is also used in indirect questions: "ma na3rafch emtin" (I don't know when). The synonym waqtech, very widespread, is also used. Pitfall for an English speaker: emtin is used to ask a question, not to link two clauses. To say "when he came, I went out", one uses wakt or ki: "ki ja, khrajt".
Example
إمتين تجي لدارنا؟
emtin tji l darna?
“When are you coming to our place?”
How to write it in Latin letters
In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “emtin” but also “imtin”, “amtin”, “emteen” and “imteen”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.