The official language of Tunisia is Modern Standard Arabic, which is used in government, education, books, and newspapers

. However, the most widely spoken language among the population is Tunisian Arabic (also called Darija or Tounsi), a local dialect that differs significantly from Modern Standard Arabic and includes vocabulary from French, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, and Berber languages

. French plays a major role in Tunisia despite having no official status; it is widely used in education, the press, business, and signage, with about 64% of the population speaking it

. English and Italian are also spoken to a lesser extent, especially in tourist areas and among educated groups

. There are also small Berber-speaking minorities, primarily in the south and on the island of Djerba, but this represents less than 1% of the population

. In summary:

• Official language: Modern Standard Arabic
• National vernacular language: Tunisian Arabic (Darija)
• Widely used foreign language: French
• Other languages: English, Italian, Berber (minority languages)

This linguistic landscape reflects Tunisia's Arab heritage, colonial history, and geographic proximity to Europe