Learn Darija: the main words
The words of every day, for children who grow up far from Morocco and for anyone who wants to speak with the family back home. Each word is written in Latin letters, the way Moroccans text, and in Arabic letters.
How to read the Latin spelling
Moroccans write Darija in Latin letters with a few numbers for the sounds French and English do not have.
- 3ع
- A deep sound from the throat, as in 3afak.
- 7ح
- A strong, breathy h, as in L7amdoulah.
- 9ق
- A k made deep in the throat, as in 9rib.
- 2ء
- A short stop in the voice, as in L3a2ila.
- khخ
- Like ch in the Scottish loch or the German Bach, as in Khouya.
- ghغ
- Like the French r, as in Ghali.
- chش
- Like sh in English, as in Chouf.
- ouو
- Like oo in English, as in Koul.
Hello, thank you and goodbye 16
- Salam 3likomالسلام عليكمHello. Word for word: peace be upon you.
- W 3likom salamوعليكم السلامThe reply to Salam 3likom.
- Sba7 lkhirصباح الخيرGood morning.
- Msa lkhirمسا الخيرGood evening.
- Labas?لاباس؟Are you well? Is everything all right?
- Labas, l7amdoulahلاباس، الحمد للهI'm fine, thank God.
- Kidayr? / Kidayra?كيداير؟ / كيدايرة؟How are you? (to a man / to a woman)
- ChoukranشكراThank you.
- Baraka llahou fikبارك الله فيكThank you. Word for word: God bless you.
- Bla jmilبلا جميلYou're welcome. Don't mention it.
- 3afakعافاكPlease.
- Sme7 liyaسمح لياSorry. Excuse me.
- Mer7baمرحباWelcome.
- BslamaبالسلامةGoodbye.
- Tsba7 3la khirتصبح على خيرGood night.
- MabroukمبروكCongratulations.
Questions and short answers 16
- Chkoun?شكون؟Who?
- Achnou?أشنو؟What?
- Fin?فين؟Where?
- Fou9ach?فوقاش؟When?
- 3lach?علاش؟Why?
- Kifach?كيفاش؟How?
- Ch7al?شحال؟How much? How many?
- Wach…?واش…؟Starts a yes-or-no question: Wach nta mzyan? Are you well?
- IyehإيهYes.
- LaلاNo.
- WakhaواخاOK. All right.
- Ma fhemtchما فهمتشI don't understand.
- 3awed 3afakعاود عافاكSay it again, please.
- Chnou smitek?شنو سميتك؟What is your name?
- Smiti…سميتي…My name is…
- Mnin nta? / Mnin nti?منين نتا؟ / منين نتي؟Where are you from? (to a man / to a woman)
The family 17
- Baba / Lwalidبابا / الوالدDad. Father.
- Mama / Lwalidaماما / الوالدةMum. Mother.
- KhouyaخوياMy brother.
- KhtiختيMy sister.
- JeddiجديMy grandfather.
- Jeddti / Mimaجدتي / ميمةMy grandmother. Many families say Mima.
- 3ammiعميMy uncle, father's brother.
- KhaliخاليMy uncle, mother's brother.
- 3ammtiعمتيMy aunt, father's sister.
- KhaltiخالتيMy aunt, mother's sister.
- WeldولدBoy. Son.
- BentبنتGirl. Daughter.
- DrariالدراريChildren. Kids.
- RajelراجلMan. Husband.
- MraمراWoman. Wife.
- L3a2ilaالعائلةThe family.
- L3ersالعرسThe wedding.
Numbers and money 18
- Wa7edواحد1
- Joujجوج2
- Tlataتلاتة3
- Rb3aربعة4
- Khamsaخمسة5
- Settaستة6
- Seb3aسبعة7
- Tmenyaتمنية8
- Tes3oudتسعود9
- 3achraعشرة10
- 7dachحداش11
- Tnachطناش12
- 3echrinعشرين20
- Khamsinخمسين50
- Miyaمية100
- Alfألف1000
- DerhamدرهمDirham, the Moroccan money.
- Ryalريال5 centimes. Many people still count prices in ryals: 20 ryals make 1 dirham, so 100 ryals is 5 dirhams.
Days and time 20
- LyoumاليومToday.
- GheddaغداTomorrow.
- Lbare7البارحYesterday.
- DabaداباNow. It can also mean in a moment.
- Men ba3dمن بعدLater.
- DimaديماAlways.
- Sba7الصباحThe morning.
- L3chiyaالعشيةThe afternoon.
- LilالليلThe night.
- Ch7al f sa3a?شحال فالساعة؟What time is it?
- SimanaالسيمانةThe week.
- ChherالشهرThe month.
- L3amالعامThe year.
- LetninالتنينMonday.
- TlatالتلاتTuesday.
- Larb3لاربعWednesday.
- LkhmisالخميسThursday.
- Jem3aالجمعةFriday.
- SebtالسبتSaturday.
- L7edالحدSunday.
Food and drink 22
- LkhobzالخبزBread.
- LmaالماWater.
- AtayأتايTea. In Morocco, green tea with mint.
- L9ehwaالقهوةCoffee.
- L7libالحليبMilk.
- L7emاللحمMeat.
- DjajالدجاجChicken.
- L7outالحوتFish.
- LkhodraالخضرةVegetables.
- LfakyaالفاكيةFruit.
- LbidالبيضEggs.
- ZzitالزيتOil.
- Lmel7aالملحةSalt.
- SsokkarالسكرSugar.
- L3selالعسلHoney.
- FtourالفطورBreakfast. In Ramadan, the meal that breaks the fast.
- LghdaالغداLunch.
- L3chaالعشاDinner.
- BninبنينTasty. Delicious.
- Chba3tشبعتI'm full.
- Ji3anجيعانHungry.
- 3tchanعطشانThirsty.
At home 14
- DarالدارThe house. Home.
- LbitالبيتThe room.
- LkouzinaالكوزينةThe kitchen.
- Bit lmaبيت الماThe toilet.
- L7ammamالحمامThe bathroom. Also the public bath.
- LbabالبابThe door.
- SserjemالسرجمThe window.
- TablaالطبلةThe table.
- LkorsiالكرسيThe chair.
- LfrachالفراشThe bed.
- TlajaالتلاجةThe fridge.
- SsaroutالساروتThe key.
- L7oumaالحومةThe neighbourhood.
- LjarالجارThe neighbour.
In town and on the road 19
- Ttri9الطريقThe road. The way.
- NichanنيشانStraight ahead.
- 3la limenعلى ليمنOn the right.
- 3la lisserعلى ليسرOn the left.
- 9ribقريبNear.
- B3idبعيدFar.
- HnaهناHere.
- TemmaتماThere.
- Fin kayn…?فين كاين…؟Where is…?
- L7anoutالحانوتThe small grocery shop of the neighbourhood.
- Ssou9السوقThe market.
- LmdinaالمدينةThe old town. Also the city.
- TomobilالطوموبيلThe car.
- Taxi sghirطاكسي صغيرSmall taxi, inside the city.
- Taxi kbirطاكسي كبيرLarge shared taxi, between towns.
- LagarلاڭارThe train station.
- LmatarالمطارThe airport.
- LbabourالبابورThe boat. The ferry.
- W9ef hna 3afakوقف هنا عافاكStop here, please.
At the market 12
- Ch7al hada?شحال هادا؟How much is this?
- GhaliغاليExpensive.
- RkhisرخيصCheap.
- N9es chwiyaنقص شويةLower the price a little.
- Bghit…بغيت…I want…
- Ma bghitchما بغيتشI don't want it.
- 3tini…عطيني…Give me…
- Nouss kiloنص كيلوHalf a kilo.
- BezzafبزافA lot. Too much.
- ChwiyaشويةA little.
- SserfالصرفChange, coins.
- LflousالفلوسMoney.
Feelings and health 14
- Fer7anفرحانHappy.
- M9elle9مقلقUpset. Annoyed.
- 3iyanعيانTired.
- MridمريضIll.
- Kayderni rassiكيضرني راسيMy head hurts. Kayderni… means … hurts.
- TbibالطبيبThe doctor.
- SbitarالسبيطارThe hospital.
- LfarmasyanالفرماسيانThe pharmacy. The chemist.
- KhayefخايفAfraid.
- Tw7echtekتوحشتكI miss you.
- KanbghikكنبغيكI love you.
- MzyanمزيانGood. Fine.
- KhayebخايبBad. Ugly.
- ZwinزوينNice. Beautiful.
Words you say to children 18
- Aji!أجي!Come!
- Sir!سير!Go!
- Koul!كول!Eat!
- Chreb!شرب!Drink!
- Gles!ڭلس!Sit down!
- Noud!نوض!Get up!
- N3es!نعس!Sleep! Go to bed!
- Chouf!شوف!Look!
- Sme3!سمع!Listen!
- Hder!هدر!Speak!
- Kteb!كتب!Write!
- 9ra!قرا!Read! Study!
- L3eb!لعب!Play!
- Tsenna!تسنى!Wait!
- Jib!جيب!Bring it!
- 7ell!حل!Open!
- Sedd!سد!Close!
- Ghsel yeddik!غسل يديك!Wash your hands!
Expressions you hear every day 16
- Inchallahإن شاء اللهIf God wills. Also: I hope so.
- L7amdoulahالحمد للهThank God.
- Bismillahبسم اللهIn the name of God. Said before eating or starting something.
- Tbarkallahتبارك اللهWonderful! Said to praise someone or something.
- Yallah!يالاه!Let's go! Come on!
- SafiصافيThat's enough. That's it. OK.
- Machi mochkilماشي مشكلNo problem.
- 3adiعاديNormal. It's fine.
- BchwiyaبشويةSlowly. Gently.
- Bzzerba!بالزربة!Quickly! Hurry up!
- 7chouma!حشومة!Shame! That is not done. Parents say it a lot.
- Bsse7aبالصحةEnjoy! Said after a meal, a haircut, a hammam or a new purchase.
- Llah ychafikالله يشافيكGet well soon.
- Llah yr7moالله يرحموMay God have mercy on him. Said of someone who has died.
- Mbarkin l3wacherمباركين العواشرHappy Eid. Said for the holy days.
- Ramdan mbarekرمضان مباركHappy Ramadan.
Good to know
- Darija changes from one region to another. In the north, the east and the south you will hear other words for some of these. The words here are understood everywhere.
- Many words speak to one man or one boy. To a woman or a girl, they often end in -a or -i: Kidayr becomes Kidayra, nta (you) becomes nti, sir becomes siri, koul becomes kouli.
- Many everyday words come from French or Spanish: tomobil, lkouzina, sbitar, tabla, simana.
- The best way to learn is to use five words a day at home, with the family, and to ask the grandparents how they say them.