50 Basic Words and Phrases in Moroccan Arabic
For your everyday conversations, we have compiled for you a list of 50 basic words and phrases in Moroccan Arabic.
You basically need to learn these words and phrases by heart to acquire a first baggage in Darija.
On this page, you will learn how to say words like “yes”, “no”, “thanks”, and “please” in Moroccan Arabic.
You will also learn a few phrases to ask for help, or signal that you do not understand something, in Darija.
An exercise is provided at the end to help you practice these basic Moroccan Arabic words and phrases.
Looking to learn Darija online? Two really popular Moroccan Arabic resources I recommend are Talk In Arabic and ArabicPod101.
50 Basic Words and Phrases in Moroccan Arabic
| English | Transcribed Moroccan Arabic | Moroccan Darija in the Arabic Alphabet |
|---|---|---|
| Yes | Iyyeh / ah / wah | إييه/ آه/واه |
| No | Lla | لا |
| Please (addressing a singular) | 3afak | عافاك |
| Thanks | Shokran | شكرا |
| I love you (addressing a singular) | Kanbghik | كنبغيك |
| I miss you (addressing a singular) | Twe77eshtek | توحشتك |
| A lot | Bezzaf | بزاف |
| A little | Shwiya | شوية |
| Okay | Wakha | واخا |
| Now | Daba | دابا |
| Not now | Mashi daba | ماشي دابا |
| Or | Awla | أولا |
| And | W | و |
| It’s not a problem / It’s okay | Mashi moshkil | ماشي مشكل |
| (It was) not me | Mashi ana | ماشي أنا |
| I want… | Bghit… | بغيت… |
| I don’t want... | Ma bghitsh... | ...ما بغيتش |
| I am done / I finished | Salit | ساليت |
| I am not done / I did not finish | Ma salitsh | ما ساليتش |
| Beautiful (masculine, singular) | Zwin | زوين |
| Bad/ugly (masculine, singular) | Khayb | خايب |
| Good (masculine, singular) | Mezyan | مزيان |
| Check out this list of 100 adjectives in Moroccan Arabic. | #colspan# | |
| Check out the lesson on the feminine form in Moroccan Arabic. | #colspan# | |
| Excuse me | Sme7 lia (addressing a male) Sem7i lia (addressing a female) | سمح ليا سمحلي ليا |
| I don’t speak Arabic | Ma kanhdersh l3erbia | ما كنهضرش العربية |
| I don’t understand/I didn’t understand | Ma fhemtsh | ما فهمتش |
| Do you understand me? (Addressing a singular) | Fhemtini? | فهمتيني؟ |
| I don’t have any money | Ma 3endish leflouss | ما عنديش الفلوس |
| Welcome | Mer7ba | مرحبا |
| Take (this) | Hak (addressing a male) Haki (addressing a female) | هاك هاكي |
| Give me… (Addressing a singular) | 3tini… | عطيني… |
| I know | 3reft | عرفت |
| I don’t know | Ma 3reftsh | ما عرفتش |
| I forgot | Nsit | نسيت |
| I have to go | Khasni nemshi | خاصني نمشي |
| It’s your turn (Addressing a singular) | Noubtek | نوبتك |
| It’s my turn | Noubti | نوبتي |
| I am tired | 3yit | عييت |
| Where is the W.C? | Fin kayna twalit? | فين كاينة الطواليت |
| Congratulations | Mebrouk | مبروك |
| Can you help me? | Tqdr t3awenni? (addressing a male) Tqdri t3awenini? (addressing a female) | تقدر تعاوني؟ تقدري تعاونيني؟ |
| I am looking for… | Kanqelleb 3la... | كنقلب على... |
| I can’t find/I didn’t find | Ma lqitsh... | ما لقيتش… |
| Agreed/Enough | Safi | صافي |
| Slowly | Beshwia | بشوية |
| Faster | Bezzerba | بالزربة |
| Maybe | Imken | إيمكن |
| Of course | Tab3an / Akid | طبعا / أكيد |
| I have a problem. | 3endi moshkila | عندي مشكلة |
| What do you think? (Addressing a singular) | Ashno ban lik? | أشنو بان ليك؟ |
| What did you say? (Addressing a singular) | Ashno guelti? | أشنو ڭلتي؟ |
Exercise – 50 Basic Words and Phrases in Moroccan Arabic
Try using up to 10 of the above words or phrases in a coherent paragraph or dialogue.
If you are a beginner, your paragraph does not have to be entirely in Moroccan Arabic.
Try to do this exercise by injecting 10 Moroccan Arabic words from this page into a paragraph.
You can post your text for feedback either in the comments section below, or in the exercises section on Speak Moroccan Forums.
You can continue with other Speak Moroccan materials in “Moroccan Arabic – Unit 1”.
Or you can carry on to other Moroccan Darija lessons.
