Speak Moroccan Arabic

In Darija, feminine words generally end with an (a), which is basically a silent (t) in standard Arabic. To form a feminine word from a masculine one –especially adjectives- you just add (a) then.

Word	Masculine	Feminine
Big	Kbîr كبير	Kbîra كبيرة
Small	Sghîr صغير	Sghîra صغيرة
Doctor	Tbîb طبيب	Tbîba طْبيبة
Teacher	Ostâd أُستاد	Ostâda أُستادة
Beautiful	Zwîn زوين	Zwîna زْوينة

When the word ends with (i) in its masculine form, it becomes (iyya) in the feminine one.

Word	Masculine	Feminine
Pharmacist	Saydali صيدلي	Saydaliyya صيدلية
Moroccan	Mghrîbî مغربي	Mghrîbîyya مغربية
Somalian	Sômâlî صومالي	Sômâliyya صومالية
American	Mîrîkânî ميِريكاني	Mîrîkâniyya ميِريكانية
Chinese	Shînwî شينوي	Shînwîyya شينوية

There are, nonetheless, words that don’t end with (a) but that are still feminine, like the body parts that come in pairs: 3în عين (eye), wdn ودن (ear), îd/yed إيد (hand), rjl رجل (foot),…

Words’ genders are usually learnt by heart and mastered by practice.

Exercise:

Give the feminine form of the following words:

Modîr مدير - Director

Jazâyrî جزايري – Algerian

Khâyb خايب – Ugly

Twîl طويل – Tall

MowDDaf موضف -      Employe

Khâyf خايف – Afraid

MîSrî مصري – Egyptian

Sa3ôdî سعودي – Saudian

Tlmîd        تلميد -  Student

Sa7afî     صحفي – Journalist