Moroccan Arabic
Speak a little Darija
The essential words and phrases to connect with Moroccans — each one with pronunciation you can listen to, plus the cultural cues that make the difference.
Greetings
السلام
Salam
Hello (peace)
The universal greeting — short for 'salam 3likoum'.
صباح الخير
Sbaḥ l-khir
Good morning
مسا الخير
Msa l-khir
Good evening
لاباس؟
Labas?
How are you? / Are you well?
The reply is also 'labas' — meaning 'I'm fine'.
كي داير؟
Ki dayer? (m) / Ki dayra? (f)
How are you doing?
'Ki dayer' to a man, 'ki dayra' to a woman.
بخير الحمد لله
Bikhir, ḥamdullah
Fine, thank God
بسلامة
Bslama
Goodbye
تصبح على خير
Tsbaḥ 3la khir
Good night
مرحبا
Marḥba
Welcome
Essentials
إيه
Iyeh
Yes
Casual 'yes'. 'Na3am' (نعم) is the formal form.
لا
La
No
واخا
Wakha
OK / Alright / Agreed
عافاك
3afak
Please
شكرا
Shukran
Thank you
'Barak llah fik' (بارك الله فيك) is a warmer thank-you.
سمح ليا
Smaḥ liya
Excuse me / Sorry
ما فهمتش
Ma fhemtch
I don't understand
عاود عافاك
3awd 3afak
Repeat, please
واش كتهضر بالإنجليزية؟
Wash kathder b-l-ingliziya?
Do you speak English?
Numbers
واحد
Waḥed
1 — one
جوج
Jouj
2 — two
تلاتة
Tlata
3 — three
ربعة
Rb3a
4 — four
خمسة
Khamsa
5 — five
ستة
Stta
6 — six
سبعة
Sb3a
7 — seven
تمنية
Tmnya
8 — eight
تسعود
Ts3oud
9 — nine
عشرة
3achra
10 — ten
مية
Mya
100 — hundred
ألف
Alf
1000 — thousand
Getting around
فين كاين...؟
Fin kayn...?
Where is...?
على اليمين
3la l-imen
On the right
على اليسار
3la l-iser
On the left
نيشان
Nichan
Straight ahead
قريب
Qrib
Near / Close
بعيد
B3id
Far
طاكسي
Taksi
Taxi
بغيت نمشي ل...
Bghit nemchi l...
I want to go to...
وقف هنا
Wqef hna
Stop here
بشحال ل...؟
Bshḥal l...?
How much to...? (fare)
At the souk
بشحال هادا؟
Bshḥal hada?
How much is this?
غالي بزاف
Ghali bzzaf
Too expensive
نقص شوية
Naqes shwiya
Lower it a bit
Bargaining is expected — say it with a smile.
آخر تمن؟
Akher taman?
Final price?
عندك...؟
3endek...?
Do you have...?
ما بغيتش
Ma bghitch
I don't want it
صافي
Safi
Enough / That's it / Done
شي تخفيض؟
Shi takhfid?
Any discount?
Eating & drinking
الما
L-ma
Water
أتاي
Atay
Mint tea
Sweet mint tea is the heart of Moroccan hospitality.
قهوة
Qahwa
Coffee
بنين
Bnin
Delicious
شبعت
Shb3t
I'm full
بلا سكر
Bla skkar
Without sugar
بلا لحم
Bla lḥam
Without meat
الحساب عافاك
L-ḥsab 3afak
The bill, please
بصحة
Bssaḥa
Bon appétit / To your health
Reply with 'lah y3tik saḥa' (may God give you health).
Help & emergencies
عاوني
3awenni
Help me!
عيّط للطبيب
3eyyet l-tbib
Call a doctor
فين السبيطار؟
Fin s-sbitar?
Where is the hospital?
البوليس
L-bolis
The police
توضرت
Tweddert
I'm lost
عندي السخانة
3endi s-skhana
I have a fever
خاصني طبيب
Khaṣṣni tbib
I need a doctor
Everyday expressions
إن شاء الله
Inchallah
God willing (= hopefully / maybe)
Added to almost any future plan — don't read it as a firm yes.
الحمد لله
Ḥamdullah
Thank God
يالله
Yallah
Let's go / Come on
بسم الله
Bismillah
In God's name (said before eating/starting)
ما كاين مشكل
Makayn mushkil
No problem
شوية
Shwiya
A little
بزاف
Bzzaf
A lot / Too much
دابا
Daba
Now
مزيان
Mezyan
Good / Nice
صاحبي
Saḥbi
My friend
الله يخليك
Lah ykhlik
Please (I beg you) / Bless you
Good to know
Small cultural cues that go a long way.
"Inchallah" is everywhere
Almost any plan about the future gets an 'inchallah' (God willing). It softens commitments — treat 'tomorrow, inchallah' as 'probably', not a guarantee.
Never refuse the tea
Sweet mint tea is a ritual of welcome. Refusing it can seem cold — accept at least one glass, and expect the traditional three.
Bargaining is a friendly game
In the souks, the first price is an invitation. Counter at roughly 40–50%, stay smiling, and be ready to walk away — you'll often be called back.
Use your right hand
Eat from a shared dish, give and receive with the right hand. The left is considered unclean for these gestures.
Friday is couscous day
Friday is the main prayer day: many shops close around midday and families gather for couscous. Plan errands for the morning or afternoon.
Respect Ramadan hours
During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking, or smoking in public in daylight. Many restaurants close until sunset, then the city comes alive after iftar.