50 Essential Moroccan Arabic Phrases
A practical starter list of 50 essential Moroccan Arabic (Darija) words and phrases, grouped by situation, with transliteration and English meanings.
Moroccan Arabic, known as Darija, is the language you'll actually hear in the streets, cafés and taxis of Morocco. Learning even a handful of words changes how people respond to you, and it opens doors that English or French never will. Below are 50 essential words and phrases, grouped by the situations where you'll need them most.
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How to Read the Pronunciation
Darija is often written with Latin letters and numbers online, because some Arabic sounds have no English equivalent. Here is the key you need:
- 3 = ع, a deep sound made from the throat, as in 3afak
- 7 = ح, a strong breathy h, as if fogging a mirror, as in 7mmam
- 9 = ق, a k sound made far back in the throat, as in 9ahwa
- kh = a raspy sound like the ch in Scottish "loch"
- gh = like a French r, a gargled g
- ch = like the sh in "shoe"
Don't worry about perfection. Moroccans are famously generous with learners, and a rough attempt is always better than silence.
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Greetings & Basics
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| صباح | sba7 | morning |
| خويا | khouya | my brother (friendly way to address a man) |
| لا | lla | no |
| مزيان | mzyan | good, fine |
| العفو | l3fou | you're welcome (reply to thank you) |
| لهلا يخطيك | lhla ykhtik | thank you (polite) |
| الله يخليك | llah ykhlik | please (polite) |
| عاود عفاك | 3awd 3afak | please say that again |
| بشّوية عفاك | bchwiya 3afak | slowly, please |
| نشوفوك | nchoufouk | see you later |
These ten will carry you through most short encounters. bchwiya 3afak and 3awd 3afak are especially useful early on, when people speak faster than you can follow.
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Introducing Yourself
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| أنا | ana | I, me |
| سمية | smia | first name |
| منين نتا | mnin nta | Where are you from? |
| فهم | fhem | to understand |
Expect mnin nta within the first minute of almost any conversation. Have your answer ready.
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Numbers & Money
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| واحد | wa7ed | one |
| جوج | jouj | two |
| عشرة | 3chra | ten |
| درهم | drhm | dirham (the currency) |
| غالي | ghali | expensive |
Note that jouj is the everyday word for two, not the Modern Standard Arabic form. Saying ghali with a smile is the polite opening move of any negotiation.
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Asking Questions
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| فين | fin | where? |
| علاش | 3lach | why? |
| واش؟ | wach | question word that turns a statement into a yes/no question |
| لقى | l9a | to find |
wach is a small word with a big job: put it at the front of a sentence and you have a yes/no question.
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Getting Around
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| طاكسي | taksi | taxi |
| ليمن | limn | right (direction) |
| ليسر | lisr | left (direction) |
| ڭود | goud | straight ahead |
| وقف هنا | w9ef hna | stop here (to a taxi driver) |
Directions in a petit taxi are usually given in exactly these words, one at a time, as the driver moves. Keep them on the tip of your tongue.
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Around Town
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| محطة | ma7tta | train or bus station |
| فرماسيان | frmasian | pharmacy |
| فندق | fondo9 | hotel |
| حمّام | 7mmam | bathroom, toilet |
Combine these with fin and you can ask for nearly any place you need: the station, the pharmacy, your hotel.
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Cafés & Ordering
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| قهوة | 9ahwa | coffee |
| ماء | ma | water |
| كاس | kas | a glass, a cup |
| الحساب عفاك | l7sab 3afak | the bill, please |
Café culture is central to daily life in Morocco, and these four words are enough to sit down, order and leave gracefully.
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Food & Eating
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| خنزة | khobz | bread |
| طاجين | tajin | tagine |
| بنين | bnin | delicious |
| حارّ | 7arr | spicy |
Saying bnin to whoever cooked your meal is one of the highest-value words in this entire list.
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Shopping & Haggling
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| تمن | taman | price |
| نقس | n9es | lower the price |
| كبير | kbir | big |
| صغير | sghir | small |
Haggling in the souk is a conversation, not a fight. Ask the taman, react, ask them to n9es, and keep it light.
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Time & Days
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| لبارح | lbar7 | yesterday |
| ليوم | lyoum | today |
| ساعة | sa3a | hour, o'clock |
These three anchor most everyday scheduling, whether you're confirming a bus time or arranging to meet someone.
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Help & Emergencies
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| عاون | 3awn | to help |
| سبيطار | sbitar | hospital |
| شفار | chffar | thief |
You will probably never need this last group, but knowing it costs you nothing and buys real peace of mind.
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Fifty phrases is a real foundation: enough to greet people, order food, take a taxi, bargain and ask for help. The next step is hearing these words spoken by Moroccans and repeating them until they come out without thinking. You can start practising them with audio and short daily lessons at mocrodarija.com.