Darija Phrasebook

السلام عليكم

As-salaam alaikum

Peace be upon you (universal greeting)

The standard greeting everywhere. Works in any situation, any time of day.

وعليكم السلام

Wa alaikum as-salaam

And peace be upon you (response)

The response when someone greets you first.

لا باس؟

La bass?

How are you? / Everything OK?

Casual check-in. The answer is usually 'la bass, hamdulilah' (fine, thank God).

الحمد لله

Hamdulilah

Thank God / I'm fine

Used constantly. The standard answer to 'how are you?' regardless of how you actually feel.

صباح الخير

Sbah el-khir

Good morning

Used until about noon.

مسا الخير

Msa el-khir

Good evening

Used from afternoon onward.

بسلامة

Bslama

Goodbye

Casual farewell. Works everywhere.

كلشي بخير؟

Kolshi bikhir?

Is everything good?

A casual greeting you can throw out as you walk into a shop or meet a guide.

آش كتعاود؟

Ash kat'awed?

What's up? / Any news?

Literally 'what are you repeating?'. A very casual way to ask how someone is doing.

بشحال؟

Bshhal?

How much?

Point at the item and ask. The most useful shopping word in Morocco.

غالي بزاف

Ghali bzzaf

Too expensive

The opening move in any negotiation. Say it with a smile.

نقص شوية

Nqess shwiya

Reduce a little / Lower the price

Ask for a discount. Follow up with your counter-offer.

واخا

Wakha

OK / agreed / fine

Universal agreement word. Use it to close a deal, accept a price, or agree to a plan.

ماشي هاد الثمن

Mashi had t-taman

Not this price

Firm rejection of a quoted price. Walk away slowly after saying this.

خلي الصرف

Kheli s-serf

Keep the change

Say this to taxi drivers or waiters when leaving a tip.

عندك الصرف؟

'Andek s-serf?

Do you have change?

Crucial. Most small vendors cannot easily break a 200 dirham note.

بغيت نشوف واها

Bghit nshouf waha

I just want to look

A polite but firm defense against overly eager shopkeepers in the medina.

واش نقدر نقيس هادا؟

Wesh nqder nqiyes hada?

Can I try this on?

Use this when browsing clothes, shoes, or leather jackets in the souk.

شحال المجموع؟

Shhal l-majmou'?

How much is the total?

Useful when you have bundled several items and need the final price.

بغيت نمشي ل...

Bghit nemshi l...

I want to go to...

Start with this, then say the destination name.

كمبيو (compteur)

Compteur

Use the meter

Ask the driver to use the meter. Point at it if needed. French word universally understood.

وقف هنا

Wqef hna

Stop here

Tell the driver where to pull over.

بعيد؟

B'eed?

Is it far?

Ask before getting in to gauge whether a taxi is necessary.

يمين

Limin

Right

Directional. Point and say.

يسار

Lisar

Left

Directional. Point and say.

نيشان

Nishan

Straight ahead

Keep going straight.

زرب شوية عافاك

Zreb shwiya 'afak

Hurry up a little please

When you are late for a train or flight, though actual results may vary.

بشوية عافاك

B-shwiya 'afak

Slow down please

When the taxi driver thinks he is in a Formula 1 race.

ديني ل...

Dini l...

Take me to...

An alternative to 'bghit nemshi', literally meaning 'take me to'.

واش كتمشي ل...؟

Wesh katmshi l...?

Do you go to...?

Ask a grand taxi or shared taxi driver if they are heading to your specific destination.

الله يبارك فيك

Allah y-barek fik

May God bless you / Please

A polite way to ask for something or thank someone. Works as 'please' in most contexts.

عافاك

Afak

Please

The casual 'please'. Use it when ordering, asking for the bill, or requesting anything.

الحساب عافاك

L-hsab afak

The bill please

Ask for the check at the end of a meal.

بلا لحم

Bla l-hem

Without meat

Essential for vegetarians. Specify what you do not want.

زوين بزاف

Zween bzzaf

Very good / delicious

Compliment the food. The cook or waiter will appreciate it.

أتاي

Atay

Mint tea

Morocco's national drink. Usually served very sweet.

ما

Ma

Water

Ask for water. Add 'skhoun' for hot water, 'bared' for cold.

واش كاين شي طبلة؟

Wesh kayn shi tabla?

Is there a table available?

When walking into a busy local cafe or restaurant.

الماكلة بنينة

L-makla bnina

The food is delicious

A great compliment to the chef or your host after a tagine.

شبعت، الحمد لله

Shba't, hamdulilah

I'm full, thank God

The polite way to decline a fourth helping of couscous on a Friday.

عاونوني

Aawnooni

Help me!

Call for help in an emergency.

البوليس

El-bolis

Police

Call police: dial 19 in cities, 177 for gendarmerie (rural).

سبيطار

Sbitar

Hospital

Ask for directions to the hospital.

طبيب

Tbib

Doctor

Ask for a doctor.

فارماسيان

Farmasyan

Pharmacy

Pharmacies are everywhere. Look for the green crescent sign.

مريض / مريضة

Mreed / Mreeda

I am sick (m/f)

Tell someone you are unwell. Use 'mreed' if male, 'mreeda' if female.

عيط للإسعاف

'Eyyt l-l'is'af

Call an ambulance

Use this loudly if there is a severe medical issue requiring immediate transport.

تضربت

Tdrebt

I am injured / I got hurt

Tell this to a doctor, pharmacist, or bystander if you have an accident.

ضاع ليا الباسپور

Daa' liya l-basport

I lost my passport

The essential phrase when walking into the local police station (commissariat).

سرقوني

Sreqouni

I was robbed

Use this if your phone or wallet is stolen and you need to file a police report.

عاوني عافاك

'Awni 'afak

Help me please

A slightly less panicked version of 'Aawnooni'. Good for asking locals for urgent assistance.

فين كاين...؟

Fin kayn...?

Where is...?

Ask for directions. Follow with the place name.

فين الحمام؟

Fin l-hammam?

Where is the bathroom?

Essential in any language.

ما فهمتش

Ma fhemtsh

I don't understand

Honest and useful. People will usually switch to French or find another way.

شوية

Shwiya

A little / slowly

Ask someone to slow down or indicate a small amount.

بزاف

Bzzaf

A lot / too much

Opposite of shwiya. Used for quantity or emphasis.

اليوم

Lyoum

Today

Time reference.

غدا

Ghedda

Tomorrow

Time reference. 'Inshallah ghedda' means 'tomorrow, God willing' (which may or may not mean tomorrow).

إن شاء الله

Inshallah

God willing / hopefully

Used constantly. Can mean 'yes definitely' or 'probably not' depending on context and tone.

واش كتهدر النڭليزية؟

Wesh kat-hder n-negliziya?

Do you speak English?

Essential for bypassing the language barrier when French or Darija fails.

ما كنهدرش العربية

Ma kan-hdersh l-'arbiya

I don't speak Arabic

A polite way to manage expectations when locals start speaking rapid-fire Darija.

كيفاش كنقولو... بالدارجة؟

Kifash kan-goulou... b-darija?

How do we say... in Darija?

People love it when you want to learn. Point at an object and use this phrase.

فيا الجوع

Fiya j-jou'

I'm hungry

Literally 'hunger is in me'. A direct way to say it's time to eat.

فيا العطش

Fiya l-'tesh

I'm thirsty

Literally 'thirst is in me'. Very important during the summer months.

شكرا

Shukran

Thank you

The most important word. Use it liberally.

لا شكرا

La shukran

No thank you

Firm but polite refusal. Works for touts, sellers, and unwanted offers.

سمح لي

Smeh li

Excuse me / I'm sorry

Use to get attention, apologize, or squeeze past someone in a narrow alley.

سير ف حالك

Sir f halek

Go your way / leave me alone

Firmer dismissal for persistent touts. Said calmly, not aggressively.

مزيان

Mezyan

Good / well done / nice

Positive reinforcement. Use with caddies, waiters, guides.

ما عنديش

Ma andish

I don't have (any)

Useful when asked for money, cigarettes, or change you do not have.

بارك الله فيك

Barak Allahu fik

May God bless you

A respectful way to end an interaction. Works as a polite goodbye or 'that's enough, thank you'.

توحشتك

Tewheshtek

I missed you

Use this warmly with friends or shop owners you haven't seen in a few days.

بصحة

B-s-saha

To your health

Said when someone buys something new, gets a haircut, or is eating. Always reply with 'Allah ye'tik s-saha'.

الله يعطيك الصحة

Allah ye'tik s-saha

May God give you health (response)

The mandatory response when someone says 'b-s-saha' to you.

سمح ليا، ما بغيتش

Smeh liya, ma bghitsh

Sorry, I don't want to

Polite rejection for persistent guides or sellers.

مرحبا

Marhaba

Welcome

You will hear this everywhere from shopkeepers and hosts. Just reply with 'Shukran'.

واحد

Wahed

One

Used for counting or specifying quantity. Wahed kess d atay = One cup of tea.

جوج

Jouj

Two

The number two. Also used to indicate a couple of things.

ثلاثة

Tlata

Three

The number three.

أربعة

Reb'a

Four

The number four.

خمسة

Khemsa

Five

The number five. Also a traditional symbol of protection against the evil eye.

ستة

Seta

Six

The number six.

سبعة

Seb'a

Seven

The number seven.

ثمانية

Tmenya

Eight

The number eight.

تسعود

Tes'oud

Nine

The number nine.

عشرة

'Ashra

Ten

The number ten.

عشرين

'Ashrine

Twenty

Twenty. Useful since the 20 dirham bill is the standard for small transactions.

مية

Mya

One hundred

A hundred. Essential for negotiating in the medina.

نص

Ness

Half

Used for quantities (half a kilo) or ordering coffee (nus-nus = half milk, half coffee).

دزينة

Dzina

A dozen

Handy when buying pastries, eggs, or fruit from a street vendor.

منين نتا؟

Mnin nta?

Where are you from? (to a man)

The most common conversation starter. Use 'Mnin nti?' when asking a woman.

أنا من...

Ana men...

I am from...

Follow this with your country. E.g., 'Ana men mrikane' (America) or 'Ana men negliz' (England).

شحال فعمرك؟

Shhal f 'emrek?

How old are you?

Moroccans are direct. Don't be surprised if asked this soon after meeting someone.

واش مزوج؟

Wesh mzewej?

Are you married?

A very normal personal question. Ask a woman by adding 'a' (mzeweja?).

عندي دراري

'Andi drari

I have kids

Family is deeply respected; mentioning your kids is a great icebreaker.

شحال هادي ونتا هنا؟

Shhal hadi w nta hna?

How long have you been here?

Perfect for chatting with fellow travelers or expats at a cafe.

أول مرة فالمغرب؟

Awel merra f l-maghrib?

First time in Morocco?

A welcoming question locals will ask to see how familiar you are with the culture.