zitouna زيتونة

Tunisian Derja · noun

“zitouna” (زيتونة) is a noun in Tunisian Derja meaning olive (fruit).

Meanings

1. olive (fruit)
2. olive tree

Usage

Zitouna means an olive. It is the singular unit noun of zitoun, "olives", which is a collective noun. The word can also mean an olive tree, although chajrat zitoun is more often said. The expression zit zitouna, "olive oil", is very common. The word carries strong cultural value in Tunisia, a country of olive groves. Note: Ez-Zitouna with a capital letter refers to the great mosque of Tunis and the university that bears its name. It is then a proper noun.

Example

How to write it in Latin letters

In Arabizi, Darija written in Latin letters, you will find “zitouna” but also “zeitouna”, “zitoona”, “zaytouna” and “zitona”. No spelling is official: people write the sounds as they hear them.

Type “zitouna” on the Arabic keyboard