If you are planning to visit Morocco, learning a few words of Moroccan Arabic will make your trip easier and much more personal. While many Moroccans speak French or English, the real everyday language is Darija, the local Arabic dialect. It is warm, expressive, and full of history.
When you speak a few Darija phrases, locals appreciate your effort. You will be greeted with smiles, better prices in the souks, and real connections. This guide will help you learn the most useful Moroccan Arabic words and sentences for traveling, shopping, eating, and exploring.
Read more about Morocco Languages
Greetings and Daily Expressions
Moroccans love greetings. A simple Salam opens the door to a friendly conversation. The more polite you are, the more warmth you will receive in return.
| English | Moroccan Arabic (Darija) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Salam |
| Peace be upon you | Assalamu alaykum |
| And peace be upon you too | Wa alaykum salam |
| Good morning | Sbāh el khīr |
| Good evening | Msa el khīr |
| How are you? (to a man) | Kīf dāyr? |
| How are you? (to a woman) | Kīf dāyra? |
| I’m fine, thank you | Labas, shukran |
| Everything is fine | Kulshi bikhir |
| What’s your name? | Shnū smītk? |
| My name is… | Smītī… |
| Nice to meet you | Mtsharfin |
| Where are you from? | Mnīn nta? (to a man) / Mnīn nti? (to a woman) |
| I’m from… | Ana mn… |
| Goodbye | Bslama |
| See you soon | Ntshufu bqrīb |
| Take care | Tbarak Allah fik |
| Please | Afāk |
| Thank you | Shukran |
| Thank you very much | Shukran bzzāf |
| You’re welcome | Bla jmil |
| Yes | Iyyeh |
| No | La |
| Excuse me | Smah liya |
| I’m sorry | Ana smeht |
| No problem | Mashi mushkil |
| Welcome | Marhba |
| Slowly please | Shwiyya b shwiyya afāk |
Shopping and Bargaining in the Souks
Shopping in Morocco is a lively experience. In the souks, bargaining is part of the fun. Learning some phrases in Darija will make your shopping smoother and more enjoyable.
| English | Moroccan Arabic (Darija) |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | Bshāl had shī? |
| It’s too expensive | Ghāli bzzāf |
| Can you lower the price? | Nqass shwiyya afāk |
| Give me a better price | 3ṭīnī taman mzyān |
| I like it | Ajbāni |
| I don’t like it | Ma ajbānīsh |
| I’ll take it | Ghādi nakhdīha |
| I’m just looking | Gheyr kanshūf |
| Do you have another color? | 3ndk lūn ākhor? |
| Do you have another size? | 3ndk qiyās ākhor? |
| What’s your best price? | Aḥssān taman? |
| This one is nice | Had shī zwīn |
| Can you give me a discount? | Tqll mn taman shwiyya? |
| That’s fair | Mzyān had taman |
| I’ll come back later | Ghādi nrjā mnn b3d |
| Thank you for your time | Shukran 3la waqtk |
Food and Dining Phrases
Eating in Morocco is a pleasure. Whether you are having couscous with a family, eating street food, or enjoying mint tea in a café, these phrases will help you order and connect with people.
| English | Moroccan Arabic (Darija) |
|---|---|
| I’m hungry | Fiyya jou‘ |
| I’m thirsty | Fiyya l‘atsh |
| Water | Lma |
| Bread | Khobz |
| Tea | Atay |
| Mint tea | Atay b l na3na3 |
| Coffee | Qhwa |
| Milk | Ḥlīb |
| Juice | 3aṣīr |
| Sugar | Skkar |
| Without sugar | Bla skkar |
| Delicious | Bnīn |
| I like it | Ajbāni |
| It’s spicy | ḥār |
| Not spicy | Ma ḥārsh |
| Vegetarian | Nabāti |
| I’m full | Shb3t |
| I’d like to order | Bghīt nṭləb |
| What do you recommend? | Shnū katnṣaḥnī bih? |
| The bill, please | Lḥsāb afāk |
| Thank you for the meal | Shukran 3la l’akla |
| Enjoy your meal | Bssaḥa |
Transportation and Getting Around
Traveling through Morocco involves taxis, buses, and sometimes trains. Here are the phrases that will help you move around easily.
| English | Moroccan Arabic (Darija) |
|---|---|
| Where is the taxi station? | Fin stāsyon dyal taxi? |
| I need a taxi | Bghīt taxi |
| How much to go to…? | Bshāl bash tmshī l…? |
| Take me to… | Dīnī l… |
| Stop here | Wqqf hna |
| Turn right | Dūr lyamīn |
| Turn left | Dūr lysār |
| Go straight | Nīshān |
| Slow down | Rkhī shwiyya |
| Be careful | Rāha khṭar |
| How long does it take? | Shḥāl mn waqṭ? |
| Where is the bus stop? | Fin kayn tobis? |
| I want to go to Marrakech | Bghīt nmshī l Marrakech |
| Is this the right way? | Wash had trīq ṣḥīḥa? |
| I’m lost | Dāyt lī ttrīq |
| Train station | Stāsyon dyal train |
| Airport | L’mṭār |
Hotels and Accommodation
In riads, hotels, or desert camps, knowing how to ask for simple things in Darija will make communication easy and pleasant.
| English | Moroccan Arabic (Darija) |
|---|---|
| Do you have a room? | 3ndkom bit farāgh? |
| I have a reservation | 3ndī rēzervāsion |
| I’d like to book a room | Bghīt nḥjz bit |
| For one night | Līla wāḥda |
| For two nights | Jūj dyāl lyāl |
| With breakfast | M3a ftūr |
| With dinner | M3a 3shā |
| How much per night? | Bshāl l-līla? |
| Is there Wi-Fi? | Wash kayn Wi-Fi? |
| Hot water | Lma skhūn |
| Towels | Sserviyāt |
| Blanket | Manta |
| Pillow | Wssāda |
| Air conditioning | Klimatizāsyōn |
| I need another key | Bghīt mftāḥ ākhor |
| My room number is… | Rqām dyāl lbit huwa… |
| Thank you | Shukran |
Emergencies and Health
| English | Moroccan Arabic (Darija) |
|---|---|
| Help! | 3āwnī! |
| Police | Bolīs |
| Call the police | 3iyyṭ l bolīs |
| I’m lost | Dāyt lī ttrīq |
| I’m sick | Mṛīd |
| I need a doctor | Bghīt ṭbīb |
| I need medicine | Bghīt dwā |
| Hospital | Sbitar |
| Pharmacy | Ṣīdaliyya |
| I have a headache | Rāsī kaydīnī |
| My stomach hurts | Karshī kaydīnī |
| I’m allergic | 3ndi ḥassāsya |
| I need help | 3āwnīnī |
Numbers
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| One | Wāḥd |
| Two | Jūj |
| Three | Tlata |
| Four | Rb3a |
| Five | Khmsa |
| Six | Sitta |
| Seven | Sb3a |
| Eight | Tmnya |
| Nine | Ts3ūd |
| Ten | 3shra |
| Eleven | ḥdāsh |
| Twelve | tnāsh |
| Twenty | 3shrīn |
| Thirty | tlātīn |
| Forty | rb3īn |
| Fifty | khamsīn |
| One hundred | Mīa |
| One thousand | Ālf |
Days of the Week
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| Monday | Tnīn |
| Tuesday | Tlata |
| Wednesday | Larb3 |
| Thursday | Lkhmīs |
| Friday | Jm3a |
| Saturday | Sbt |
| Sunday | Ḥdd |
Colors
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| Red | ḥmr |
| Blue | zrq |
| Green | khḍr |
| Yellow | ṣfr |
| White | byāḍ |
| Black | kḥl |
| Orange | lranjī |
| Brown | bnī |
| Pink | wardi |
| Grey | rmādī |
Cultural and Social Expressions
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| God willing | Inshallah |
| Thanks be to God | Alhamdulillah |
| God bless you | Barak Allah fik |
| Congratulations | Mabrouk |
| Take care | Tbarak Allah fik |
| Welcome | Marhba |
| It’s okay | Mashi mushkil |
| See you later | Ntlaqaw mn b3d |
| Have a safe trip | Rāḥa w slāma |
| Slowly, slowly | Shwiyya b shwiyya |
| Be patient | Sbr shwiyya |
| What a beautiful day | Shnū nhār zwīn |
| I like Morocco | Ajbātnī lmaghrib |
| The people are nice | Nās zwīnīn |
| Everything is good | Kulshi mzyān |
Practice While Traveling
Learning Darija can be fun. Start with greetings, then use words for food, numbers, and directions. Listen to your driver or guide, watch how locals talk, and repeat what you hear. Moroccans will always appreciate your effort and may even teach you more words.
When you join a private tour, your driver can help you practice. Many visitors learn simple conversations in just a few days.
Travel with Us and Learn More
We are a Moroccan travel agency that organizes private tours, desert trips, and cultural experiences all across the country. Our local guides and drivers speak English, French, Spanish, and Arabic. During your trip, they can teach you more Darija words while exploring Morocco’s most beautiful destinations.
Whether you are walking through the colorful souks of Marrakech, riding a camel in Merzouga, or enjoying tea in the Atlas Mountains, you will experience Morocco through real local moments.
Contact us to plan your trip and discover Morocco with friendly guides who love sharing their culture.
FAQs
Moroccans speak Darija (Moroccan Arabic), Amazigh (Berber languages), French, and sometimes English or Spanish depending on the region.
Yes, Darija is a blend of Arabic, Berber, French, and Spanish. It is different from Modern Standard Arabic but easy to understand once you get used to it.
Yes, most people in tourist areas speak English or French, but knowing some Darija will help you connect better with locals.
Start with Salam (hello), Shukran (thank you), and Bslama (goodbye). These are simple and very common.
