tata طاطا

Tunisian Derja · noun

“tata” (طاطا) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning kindergarten teacher.

Meanings

1. kindergarten teacher
2. auntie (child's word)
3. lady (child's affectionate address)

Usage

Tata is a borrowing from French that is common in Tunisia. It mainly refers to the kindergarten teacher or the teacher of the youngest classes. Children and parents use it as a title before the first name: tata Leila. By extension, a child may call an adult woman close to the family this way. It is also used, in children's speech, for an aunt. The word is affectionate and familiar. Note that in Tunisia tata refers first of all to the schoolteacher, not only to an aunt.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “tata” but also “tatta”, “ttata” and “taata”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Type “tata” on the Arabic keyboard

In Algerian Darja

Spelt the same way in Arabic, the word also exists in Algerian Darja, where it means “aunt, auntie”; “ma'am (older woman)”: tata in Algerian.