تُونَة
tūnafeminine
The English word tuna is translated into Arabic as تُونَة (tūna) or تُنّ.
Meaning: fish (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| تُونَة | tūna | feminine |
| تُنّ | tunn | masculine |
The word refers to the fish known as tuna.
Which one should you use?
تُونَة is a feminine noun, while تُنّ is a masculine noun.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, the word التُّنّ is used for tuna.
How do you pronounce it?
tūna
Did you know?
- While 'tuna' is a common word, if you are in a seafood market and want to order specific types of fish, you might find that the Arabic term for tuna is borrowed directly from the Mediterranean-influenced naming conventions rather than an ancient Semitic root.
- The feminine form تُونَة follows a pattern in Arabic where loanwords from European languages are often assigned a feminine ending to fit the language's gender system.
- In Arabic, fish in general are often categorized by their environment, and tuna is grouped under أسماك المياه المالحة or 'saltwater fish' to distinguish them from freshwater varieties.
Examples in context
- أريد علبة تُونَة.urīdu 'ulbat tuna.I want a can of tuna.
- هذه تُونَة طازجة.hādhihi tuna ṭāzija.This is fresh tuna.
- هل اشتريتِ تُونَة؟hal ishtaraytī tuna?Did you buy tuna?
Example conversation
Ahmed and Maryam are talking in the kitchen about lunch.
- أحمد Ahmedهل هناك تُونَة في الثلاجة؟hal hunāka tuna fī al-thallāja?Is there tuna in the fridge?
- مريم Maryamنعم، اشتريتُ تُونَة اليوم.na'am, ishtaraytu tuna al-yawm.Yes, I bought tuna today.
- أحمد Ahmedرائع، سأصنع سلطة تُونَة.rā'i', sa'asnu' salat tuna.Great, I will make a tuna salad.
- مريم Maryamفكرة ممتازة يا أحمد.fikra mumtāza yā aḥmad.An excellent idea, Ahmed.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “tuna” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
