Moroccan Arabic phrasebook
The Moroccan dialect of Arabic (الدارجة, Darija) is the main spoken language of Morocco. It is not written down nor used for official speeches or news programs; only Standard Arabic is used for those purposes. Moroccan Arabic is, however, the main language used at home and in the streets of Morocco for everyday conversation.
Pronunciation guide
Phrase list
Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.
Basics
- Hello.
- . ( SALAM )
- Hello. (informal)
- . (AHLAAN )
- How are you?
- ? ( kif dayer?)
- Fine, thank you.
- . ( MZYAN, CHOUKRANE)
- What is your name?
- (SHNOO SMEETIK/ -AK??)
- My name is ______ .
- ______ . (SMEETEE_____ .)
- Nice to meet you.
- . (mcherfine )
- Please.
- . (AAFAK )
- Thank you.
- . ( CHOUKRANE )
- You're welcome.
- . (LA CHOUKRA AALA WAJIB )
- Yes.
- . (NAAM ) Ah Iyeh
- No.
- . (LLLAA )
- Excuse me. (getting attention)
- . (ESSMAHHLIYA )
- Excuse me. (begging pardon)
- . (BALLAK )
- I'm sorry.
- . ( SMEHLIYA, AASIF)
- Goodbye
- . (BSSLAAMAA )
- Goodbye (informal)
- . (MAA SALAMA )
- I can't speak Moroccan Arabic [well].
- [ ]. ( )
- Do you speak English?
- ? ( KATE HDER BEL NEGLIZYA ?)
- Is there someone here who speaks English?
- ? ( KAAIN chi OUAHAD LI ki hder nglizya ?)
- Help!
- ! ( MOSAADA!)
- Look out!
- ! ( CHOUF LHIHE!)
- Good morning.
- . (SBAH ELKHEIR )
- Good evening.
- . ( massa elkheir )
- Good night.
- . (tssbeh aala kheir ): Laila Saida
- Good night (to sleep)
- . (SIIR TN3ASS )
- I don't understand.
- . ( MAFHAMETCH )
- Where is the toilet?
- ? ( FINAHIYA TWALIT?)
Problems
Machakil(several) /mouchkil
Machi muchkil - no problem
Numbers
- 1
- wahed
- 2
- zuj
- 3
- tleta
- 4
- r-ba
- 5
- hamsa
- 6
- s-ta
- 7
- s-ba
- 8
- t'minya
- 9
- tsoad
- 10
- ashra
- 20
- eshren
- 50
- khamsun
- 100
- mya
- 200
- meyten
- 500
- hamsamaa
- 1000
- al-ef
- 2000
- alf-en
- 5000
- hamsaalef
Time
waqt
Clock time
What time is it? Chhal raha sar-a
Duration
Days
ayaam
Months
Chehar
Writing time and date
Colors
- black
- khel
- white
- byad
- red
- ahmar
- yellow
- asfar
- green
- akhdar
- blue
- azrak
- orange
- limouni
- bortokali
- brown
- khwi
- bonni
Transportation
naql
Bus and train
Tobis/tran
Directions
itijahat
Taxi
taxi kbeer - big taxi (for intercity travel)
taxi sghir - small taxi (for shorter distance travel)
Lodging
Money
Flous
Eating
I am vegetarian
ana nabati
- Tea without sugar
- (atay bla sekkar): atay bla sukar
Bars
Bar
Shopping
Shopping/t'kedya
Driving
Sougan
Authority
Fin hya l koumisarya?
Learning more
- Abdel-Massih, Ernest T. (2011). An Introduction to Moroccan Arabic. Ann Arbor: MPublishing. (ISBN 978-1-60785-218-6). Open access textbook available via HathiTrust.