Phrases & Vocabulary
50 Essential Moroccan Arabic Phrases (With Pronunciation)
The 50 most useful Moroccan Darija phrases for travellers and beginners — greetings, shopping, directions, food, and more. With easy pronunciation guides.
25 June 2026·7 min read
The Phrases That Matter Most
80% of daily interactions in Morocco use fewer than 100 phrases. Master these 50 and navigate the country with confidence.
Note: kh = "ch" in "Bach". gh = soft gargled sound. 3 = Arabic ع.
---
Greetings & Basics
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| سلام | salam | Hello |
| لا بأس | labas | How are you? / Fine |
| مزيان | mzyan | Good / Great |
| شكرا | shukran | Thank you |
| عفاك | 3afak | Please |
| واخا | wakha | OK |
| بسلامة | bslama | Goodbye |
---
Getting Around
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| فين هو...؟ | fin hwa...? | Where is...? |
| على اليمين | 3la l-ymin | On the right |
| على الشمال | 3la sh-shmal | On the left |
| نيشان | nishan | Straight ahead |
| وقف هنا | wqef hna | Stop here |
---
Shopping & Markets
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| شحال هاد الشي؟ | shhal had sh-shi? | How much is this? |
| غالي بزاف | ghali bzzaf | Too expensive |
| اخفض شوية | khffed shwiya | Lower the price |
---
Food & Cafés
| Darija | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| واحد كاس أتاي | wahed kas atay | One glass of mint tea |
| بلا سكر | bla sekkar | Without sugar |
| بنين بزاف | bnin bzzaf | Very delicious |
---
Polite Phrases That Go a Long Way
"barak allahu fik" — may God bless you. Use it as a heartfelt thank you and watch faces light up.
Responding to "labas?" Say "labas, l-hamdullah" — the standard response showing cultural knowledge.
Within a week of using these phrases, Moroccan conversations will open up in a completely new way.