Most important phrases in Moroccan Arabic
With only a few months to go until the Moroccan Escapade, it’s time to brush up on your Moroccan Arabic, also known as Darija. It differs significantly from Modern Standard Arabic, even more so than most other Arabic dialects, thanks to the strong influence of Berber languages, Latin, French, and Spanish. That’s why we’ve put together the most important Moroccan Arabic phrases for you.
If you take your vocabulary from a Modern Standard Arabic phrasebook, people will most likely understand you, but you won’t understand a word they say. Modern Standard Arabic is a language used primarily only in very formal situations and in books, newspapers, and government, but is almost never spoken in everyday life. Morocco Tour
Moroccan Darija, on the other hand, is spoken as a first language by approximately 50% to 75% of Morocco’s population. The rest call one of the Berber languages (Tamazight languages) their mother tongue, but many also speak some basic Darija. So you’ll have a good chance of being understood with our key Moroccan Arabic phrases.
A little basic courtesy
Because a little courtesy can take you quite far.
Hello – salaam or salaam alaikum – Literally: Peace or peace be upon you – a common greeting
Good morning -sabah al khair – kh is the German hissing sound made in the back of the throat – as in Bach
Answer to good morning – sabah al noor (literally: morning of light)
Good evening – massa al khair – kh is the German hiss made in the back of the throat – as in Bach
Good evening reply – massa al noor – good evening reply (literally: evening of light)
Goodbye – bs-lama
Thank you (very much) – shoukran (bezaf)
Please – afek
Yes – ah/na’am
No – the
No, thanks – the shoukran
How are you? – labass
Reply to labass, literally something like “it’s going well, thank God” – hamdoulillah
I’m sorry – smeh-lia
No problem – meshi mushkil
Do you speak English? – katehdr belinglizya?
A visit to the market
Because shopping is fun.
How much is it? – beshhal hadīk?
It’s too expensive! – ghali bezaf!
I’m just looking around. – ghir tan chouf
Finding your way
Because you will get lost.
Straight – nichan
Left – lissar
Right – limeen
North – shamal
South – janoub
East – shark
West – gharb
Where is …? – fayne ?
How can I get to …? – kif nemchi li… ?
I’m lost – jlit rassi
Some Things Food
Because food is life.
Vegetable tagine – tagine b khodra
Beef tagine – tagine b lhem
Chicken tagine – tagine b djaj
Bread – khobz
Coffee (with sugar / milk) – kahwa (b skar / b hlib)
Tea (without sugar) – atay (bla skar)
Orange juice -asir limun
Enjoy your meal / Enjoy your meal – bsseha
It was delicious – lay i atik saha !
Last but not least
Inshallah – You can say inshallah pretty much any time you want, especially when you don’t want to commit to something, and you’ll hear it often. Literally: “God willing.” Travel to Morocco
