You do not need to speak Arabic to travel in Morocco, but a handful of words in Darija, the everyday Moroccan Arabic, will open doors and bring out smiles. French is widely understood, and English is common in tourist areas, yet a simple salam or shukran shows respect and often turns a transaction into a friendly conversation. Below are 40 useful phrases, grouped by situation, with simple pronunciation.
About Darija
Darija is the spoken Arabic of Morocco. It differs a great deal from the formal Arabic used in news and writing, and it borrows words from Amazigh languages, French and Spanish. It is mostly spoken rather than written, so you will see the same word spelt in Latin letters in several different ways. Do not worry about this; Moroccans are used to it, and any honest attempt is appreciated.
How to read the pronunciation
- Capital letters show the stressed syllable, as in sah-LAAM.
- kh is a rasping sound at the back of the throat, like the “ch” in Scottish loch.
- gh is a soft gargle, a little like a French “r”.
- q is a “k” made deeper in the throat.
- An apostrophe marks a sound made deep in the throat that English does not have. If you find it difficult, simply leave it out.
- Darija often runs consonants together, as in bslama. Say them quickly, without adding extra vowels.
Some phrases change slightly depending on whether you are talking to a man or a woman. Where this matters, we give both.
Greetings and basics
- Salam alaykum (sah-LAAM ah-LAY-koom): peace be upon you. The universal greeting. The reply is wa alaykum salam. Among friends, a simple salam is enough.
- Labas? (lah-BAHS): how are you? Literally “no harm?”
- Labas, hamdulillah (lah-BAHS, ham-doo-lee-LAH): fine, thanks be to God. The natural reply, used by everyone.
- Sbah lkhir (sbah l-KHEER): good morning.
- Msa lkhir (msa l-KHEER): good evening.
- Bslama (b-SLAH-ma): goodbye.
- Shukran (SHOO-kran): thank you. Shukran bzzaf (b-ZAF) means thank you very much.
- Afak (AH-fak): please. Add it to any request.
- Smh li (SMAH-lee): excuse me, or sorry. To a woman, smhi li (SMAH-hee lee).
- Smiti… (SMEE-tee): my name is…
- Mtsharfin (mt-shar-FEEN): pleased to meet you.
- Wakha (WAH-kha): OK, all right. You will hear it constantly.
- Iyeh / la (EE-yeh / LAH): yes / no.
- Ma fhemtsh (ma f-HEMTSH): I don’t understand.
- Katehder l-ingliziya? (ka-TEH-der l-in-glee-ZEE-ya): do you speak English? To a woman, katehdri (ka-TEH-dree).
Two more words worth knowing: marhba (MAR-ha-ba) means welcome, and inshallah (in-sha-LAH), “God willing”, is used whenever people talk about the future. Our guide to Moroccan etiquette for visitors explains greetings, handshakes and other customs.
Shopping and the souk
- Bshhal? (b-SHHAL): how much?
- Ghali bzzaf (GHAH-lee b-ZAF): that’s too expensive.
- Nqas shwiya (n-KASS SHWEE-ya): a little less, please. Useful when bargaining.
- Bghit hada (b-GHEET HAH-da): I want this one.
- La, shukran (LAH, SHOO-kran): no, thank you. Polite and firm, and usually all you need.
- Ghir kanshuf (gheer kan-SHOOF): I’m just looking.
Bargaining is a friendly game in Moroccan souks, and a few words of Darija help a great deal. Our guide on how to bargain in Moroccan souks covers the art in full, and our Souk El Had shopping guide is a good place to practise in Agadir.
Directions and getting around
- Fin kayn…? (feen KAYN): where is…? For example, fin kayn l-mahatta? (l-ma-HAT-ta), where is the station?
- Limen / lisser (lee-MEEN / lee-SER): right / left.
- Nishan (nee-SHAN): straight ahead.
- Qrib / b’id (KREEB / b’EED): near / far.
- Wqef hna, afak (w-KEF HNA, AH-fak): stop here, please. Handy in a taxi.
- Dir l-kontor, afak (deer l-kon-TOOR, AH-fak): please turn on the meter. To a woman driver, diri (DEE-ree).
For using trains and coaches, our Morocco train travel guide explains the network, and the Fes travel guide includes advice on finding your way through one of the world’s most intricate medinas.
Food and drink
- L-ma (l-MAH): water.
- Atay b-n’na’ (ah-TAY b-NAH-na): mint tea.
- Bla sukkar (blah SOOK-kar): without sugar. Moroccan tea is usually served sweet, so ask early.
- Bnin! (b-NEEN): delicious!
- Ma kanakulsh l-lhem (ma ka-na-KOOLSH l-LHEM): I don’t eat meat.
- Shba’t (SHBA’t): I’m full. Very useful when a host keeps refilling your plate.
- L-hsab, afak (l-HSAB, AH-fak): the bill, please.
Our article on Moroccan food to try in Agadir will give you plenty of dishes to order, and the Moroccan mint tea tradition explains the ritual behind every glass of atay.
Emergencies and health
- ‘Awnni! (‘AWN-nee): help me!
- ‘Ayyet l-bulis (AY-yet l-boo-LEES): call the police. To a woman, ‘ayyti (AY-tee).
- Ana mrid (AH-na m-REED): I am ill. A woman says ana mrida (m-REE-da).
- Fin kayn sbitar? (feen KAYN sbee-TAR): where is the hospital?
- Fin kayna l-farmasyan? (feen KAY-na l-far-mas-YAN): where is the pharmacy?
- Tlft (TLEFT): I’m lost.
In a real emergency, it is also worth knowing the French words police, hôpital and pharmacie, which are widely understood. Our article on whether Agadir is safe has general safety advice.
Numbers one to ten
Numbers are useful for prices, quantities and times. You will also often hear prices given in French.
| Number | Darija | Say it |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | wahed | WAH-hed |
| 2 | jouj | JOOJ |
| 3 | tlata | TLAH-ta |
| 4 | rb’a | RBAH |
| 5 | khamsa | KHAM-sa |
| 6 | stta | STTA |
| 7 | sb’a | SBAH |
| 8 | tmnya | TMEN-ya |
| 9 | ts’ud | TSOOD |
| 10 | ‘ashra | ASH-ra |
A word about Amazigh languages
Darija is not the only language you will hear. Amazigh (Berber) languages are spoken across much of Morocco, and in the Souss region around Agadir, Taroudant and Tafraoute, many people speak Tashelhit as their first language. A friendly azul (ah-ZOOL), meaning hello, and tanmmirt (tan-MEERT), meaning thank you, are a lovely surprise for local people. Our guide to Amazigh culture in the Souss region tells you more, and the Agadir travel guide includes a short language section for the south.
Tips for using Darija
- Start with a greeting. Opening any exchange with salam alaykum sets a warm tone, whether you are buying bread or asking the way.
- Mix languages freely. Moroccans switch between Darija, French and sometimes English in the same sentence, so you can too.
- Do not worry about mistakes. People are delighted that you are trying, and many will happily teach you a new word.
- Listen for the replies. Even if you cannot follow a full answer, words like limen, lisser and qrib will help you get the gist.
- Write a few phrases down. A small card or a note on your phone is easy to check in the moment.
Frequently asked questions
Do people in Morocco speak English?
In hotels, tourist areas and among younger people in cities, English is increasingly common. French is still more widely understood overall, and in rural areas Darija or an Amazigh language may be the only option.
Is Darija the same as Arabic?
It is a form of Arabic, but it differs a great deal from Modern Standard Arabic and from the dialects of the Middle East. Speakers from other Arab countries sometimes find it hard to follow.
Should I use French or Darija?
Both work well. French is often the easier choice for practical matters such as train tickets, menus and pharmacies, while a few words of Darija are best for greetings, thanks and friendly small talk. Many travellers use French for the details and Darija for the courtesies, and that combination is warmly received almost everywhere.
Are there good ways to practise before I go?
Listening helps more than reading, because Darija is mainly spoken. Short audio lessons or videos made by Moroccan teachers let you hear real pronunciation, and once you arrive, staff at your accommodation are often happy to help you practise.
What is the most useful word to learn?
Probably shukran, thank you, closely followed by la, shukran, no thank you, which is the polite way to decline offers in the souk.
Plan your trip
A few words of Darija make every stop on your journey a little warmer. Each book in our Morocco travel library includes local customs and practical tips for its destination. The Marrakech travel guide is a great place to put your new phrases to work in the souks, and the Chefchaouen travel guide suits a slower trip in the north.
This article was written with the assistance of artificial intelligence, and was reviewed and edited by the Enjoy Agadir Trip team. How we write and check our guides
