Ways to say it
| Tunisian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| صباح الخير | sbah el-khir | |
| صباح النور | sbah ennour | reply |
The standard reply is صباح النور (sbah ennour). Tunisians use صباح الخير the same way as elsewhere in North Africa, to open a morning greeting at home, at work or in a shop.
What does it mean word for word?
صباح means 'morning' and الخير means 'the good', so the phrase is literally 'morning of goodness'. صباح النور answers with 'morning of light'.
Which one should you use?
صباح الخير works with anyone. صباح النور is specifically the reply, not an alternative way to say the greeting first.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
صباح الخير suits every formality level, from a boss to a close friend.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase and its short vowels are shared across Tunisia and the wider Maghreb, including Algeria and Morocco.
How does it change in a sentence?
صباح الخير does not change for a man or a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
Tunisian speech drops the first short vowel the way other Maghrebi dialects do, so it sounds like 'sbah el-khir' rather than the Standard Arabic 'sabah al-khayr'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Repeating صباح الخير back instead of صباح النور is understood, but the brighter reply is what Tunisians expect.
When do people say it?
Tunisian mornings often start with a strong coffee, and صباح الخير at a café is usually followed right away by the order.
Did you know?
- Tunisian Arabic drops short vowels much like Moroccan Arabic, which is why صباح الخير sounds like 'sbah el-khir' rather than the fuller Standard Arabic pronunciation.
- صباح النور as the set reply to صباح الخير is shared across nearly the entire Arabic-speaking world, from Tunisia to the Gulf.
Examples in context
- صباح الخير، عملت قهوتك؟sbah el-khir, amlit gahwtek?Good morning, did you make your coffee?
- صباح النور، نعست مليح؟sbah ennour, naast mlih?Good morning, did you sleep well?
- صباح الخير يا جارة.sbah el-khir ya jara.Good morning, neighbor.
Example conversation
Amel greets her neighbour Latifa on the way out in the morning.
- Amelصباح الخير لطيفة.sbah el-khir Latifa.Good morning Latifa.
- Latifaصباح النور، رايحة للخدمة؟sbah ennour, rayha lel-khedma?Good morning, are you going to work?
- Amelآه، متأخرة شوية اليوم.ah, metakhra shwaya el-youm.Yes, a little late today.
- Latifaروحي بالسلامة.rouhi bis-salama.Go safely.
