Due to Morocco's diverse history with colonial rule from both
the Spanish and French, there are a number of languages in
Morocco, but the two official languages are Modern Standard
Arabic and Amazigh (Berber). Moroccan Arabic (known
as Darija) is the spoken native vernacular. The languages
of prestige in Morocco are Arabic in
its Classical and Modern Standard Forms and French, the
latter of which serves as a second language for many
Moroccans.
However in the North, Spanish is more widely spoken as a second
language than French. English is now taught as the second foreign
language in many schools and many Moroccans, especially in tourist
destinations, will be able to communicate in English.
Below are some basic phrases in Moroccan local Arabic dialect,
Darija, and learning a few phrases will go a long way in
Morocco.
Helpful phrases
|
English |
Arabic |
Pronunciation |
|
Welcome
|
مرحابة
|
mrehba
|
|
Hello (General greeting)
|
اسلا عليكم
|
ssalamū
'lekum
|
|
Hello (on phone)
|
الو
|
alu
|
|
How are you?
|
كيف حالك؟
لاباس عليك؟
لاباس عليك؟
لاباس عليك؟
|
kīf halek?
labas 'lik?
>f kidayra?
>m kidayr?
|
|
Reply to 'How are you?'
|
لاباءس بارك الله
فيك
انا بخير شكرا ونتة؟
|
(labas, barak llāhū fīk)
(ana bekhīr shukran, wenta?)
|
|
What's your name?
|
شنو اسميتك؟
اسميتك؟
|
shno smītek?
asmītek?
|
|
My name is ...
|
انا سميتى ...
سميتى ...
|
ana smītī...
smītī...
|
|
Where are you from?
|
منين
انت؟
منين
انت؟
منين
انتم؟
|
>m mnīn nta?
>f mnīn ntī?
mnīn ntūma? pl
|
|
I'm from ...
|
انا
من
|
ana men ...
|
|
Pleased to meet you
|
متشرفين
|
metšerrfīn
|
|
How do you say ... in Arabic?
|
كيفاش كتكولو
... ب العربية؟
|
kīfash kaygūlū ... bel'arabīya?
|
|
Please
|
عفاك
|
afak
|
|
Sorry
|
اسف
|
aasif
|
|
Thank you
|
ﺷﻜﺮﺍ
|
Shukran
|
|
Good morning
|
صباح الخير
|
ṣbah lkḥīr
|
|
Good afternoon
|
مساء الخير
|
mselkḥīr
|
|
Where is the toilet
|
فين كان البيت الماء؟
|
fīn kein lbīt lma?
|
|
Help
|
عتقني!
|
ʿṭeqnī!
|
|
Fire
|
العافية!
|
lʿafīya!
|
|
Stop
|
وقف!
|
wqef!
|
|
Number |
Moroccan Arabic |
Pronunciation |
|
1
|
واحد
|
Ouahed
|
|
2
|
جوج
|
Jouje
|
|
3
|
تلاتا
|
Tleta
|
|
4
|
ربعا
|
Arbaha
|
|
5
|
خمسا
|
Khamsa
|
|
6
|
ستا
|
Seta
|
|
7
|
سبعا
|
Sebaa
|
|
8
|
تمنيا
|
Temnya
|
|
9
|
تسعود
|
Tèssha
|
|
10
|
عشرا
|
'Ashra
|
