علاش
3alash
In Tunisian Arabic, 'why' is علاش (3alash).
علاش is used in everyday questions asking for a reason, exactly like English 'why', from small daily questions to more serious ones.
Meaning: asking for a reason (adv)
What does it mean word for word?
علاش comes from على, 'for' or 'on', joined with ايش, 'what', so it literally asks 'for what'.
Which one should you use?
There is no everyday alternative to choose between, علاش is simply the standard Tunisian word for 'why'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
علاش is used in every informal setting and in most everyday formal speech as well.
Is it said differently in some regions?
علاش and its underlying pattern, 'for what', are shared across the wider Maghreb.
How does it change in a sentence?
علاش does not change form and can start a question on its own or combine with a full sentence.
How do you pronounce it?
The ع at the start is a deep throat sound, often written by learners with the number 3.
Did you know?
- علاش builds the question 'why' out of two smaller words meaning 'for' and 'what', rather than using a single separate root as English does.
- The pattern behind علاش is shared with other Maghrebi dialects, even though the exact pronunciation differs slightly from Morocco to Tunisia.
Examples in context
- علاش ما جيتش البارح؟3alash ma jitesh el-bareh?Why didn't you come yesterday?
- علاش تضحك هكا؟3alash tedhak heka?Why are you laughing like that?
- علاش محلول الباب؟3alash mahlul el-bab?Why is the door open?
Example conversation
Sami asks his roommate Oussama why he is home early.
- Samiعلاش رجعت بكري اليوم؟3alash raj3et bakri el-youm?Why did you come back early today?
- Oussamaالخدمة سكرت بكري.el-khedma sakkret bakri.Work closed early.
- Samiعلاش، صار شي؟3alash, sar shi?Why, did something happen?
- Oussamaلا، كان عطلة فجئية.la, ken 3otla faj2iya.No, it was a sudden day off.
