Local Guide

A Few Words of Darija

You won't need more than a handful of phrases β€” most people in the medina switch easily to French, and many speak some English too. But a little Darija (Moroccan Arabic) goes a long way, and it usually gets a smile in return.

Start Here

Greetings & Politeness

Salam / As-salamu alaykum
Hello (literally "peace be upon you")
La bas?
How are you? (lit. "no harm?")
La bas, alhamdulillah
I'm fine, thank God β€” the standard reply
Shukran
Thank you
Afak / Aafak
Please
Bslama
Goodbye
Smehli
Excuse me / sorry
In the Souks

Numbers & Bargaining

Wahed, jouj, tlata
One, two, three
Arbaa, khamsa, setta
Four, five, six
Sebaa, tmenya, tessaud, ashra
Seven, eight, nine, ten
Bshhal hada?
How much is this?
Ghali bezaf
Too expensive
Naqas shwiya
Lower it a little

Bargaining is normal and expected in the souks β€” it's part of the interaction, not a confrontation. A friendly, unhurried back-and-forth usually gets further than a hard opening low-ball.

At the Table

Food & CafΓ©

Bghit...
I would like...
Atay
Mint tea
Bla lham
Without meat (useful for vegetarians)
Lhsab, afak
The bill, please
Bnina!
Delicious! (a nice thing to say to a cook)
Everyday Use

Getting Help & Casual Talk

Fin kayn...?
Where is...?
Ma fhemtsh
I don't understand
Wash kat-hdar b-nglizia?
Do you speak English?
Yallah
Let's go / come on β€” used constantly, for almost anything
Mzyan / Zwina
Good / nice (zwina for a woman or feminine noun)
Inshallah
God willing β€” said about almost any future plan
πŸ’‘

Good to know: Darija is a spoken dialect first β€” spelling in Latin letters varies a lot from one guide to another (you'll also see it written with numbers standing in for Arabic sounds, like "3" or "7"). Don't worry about getting it exactly right; the effort is what lands.

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