12 phrases to save before you arrive
If you only learn one small set, make it this one. The spellings below use simple Latin letters rather than academic transliteration so they are easy to read from a phone.
| Situation | Say this | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting | Salam | Hello |
| Checking in | Labas? | How are you? / All good? |
| Courtesy | Afak | Please |
| Thanks | Shukran | Thank you |
| Getting attention | Smeh liya | Excuse me / Sorry |
| Confusion | Ma fhemtsh | I do not understand |
| Directions | Fin kayn…? | Where is…? |
| Shopping | Bshhal, afak? | How much, please? |
| Negotiating | Ghali bzzaf | Too expensive |
| Café | Atini atay, afak | Tea, please |
| Taxi | Wqef hna, afak | Stop here, please |
| Leaving | Beslama | Goodbye |
Languages in Morocco
Morocco is a genuinely multilingual country. Understanding which language to use where saves confusion and gets a warmer reception.
Darija (Moroccan Arabic) is the mother tongue of most Moroccans — the language of daily life, the souk, and the home. It is a dialect of Arabic but differs enough from Modern Standard Arabic that Arabic speakers from the Middle East often struggle to understand it. This guide focuses on Darija.
French is widely used in business, education, administration, and tourist services, although it is not an official language. Menus, hotel communication, and transport information often use French. How widely it is understood varies by place, age, and context.
Tamazight (Berber) is the language of Morocco's indigenous Amazigh people, spoken across the Atlas Mountains, the Rif, and the Sahara edge. It has several dialects (Tachelhit in the south, Tarifit in the Rif, Tamazight in the Middle Atlas). You will hear it in rural areas; a few words go a long way.
English is widely understood in tourist-facing contexts — riads, tour operators, medina shops in Marrakech and Fes. Outside these areas, don't rely on it.
Spanish is spoken in the north — Tangier, Tetouan, and the former Spanish zone — a legacy of Spain's protectorate. Useful in that region.
Pronunciation guide
Darija uses sounds that don't exist in English. These are the ones worth knowing before you start:
| Sound | How to pronounce it |
|---|---|
| kh | A guttural H — like the "ch" in Scottish loch or German Bach. Back of the throat. |
| gh | A gargled, voiced version of kh — like a French r or a soft gurgle. Appears in words like ghali (expensive). |
| ' (apostrophe) | A glottal stop — the catch in the throat between the syllables of "uh-oh." Appears mid-word in many phrases. |
| q | A deep k produced at the very back of the throat, further back than a normal k. Rare in everyday Darija. |
| r | Rolled, like a Spanish r. |
| Double letters | Held slightly longer — bzzaf has a stretched z sound. |
Don't worry too much about perfection — Moroccans are unfailingly patient with foreigners attempting Darija and will understand the spirit of what you're saying long before you've got the sounds right.
Greetings & pleasantries
Greetings are the most important part of Moroccan social interaction. Take them seriously — a Moroccan will always exchange full greetings before getting to the point of any conversation, and skipping them reads as rude.
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| Hello (general) | Salam sah-lam |
| Hello (Islamic, formal) | As-salamu alaykum as-SAH-lah-mu ah-LAY-kum |
| Response to above | Wa alaykum as-salam wa ah-LAY-kum as-SAH-lam |
| Good morning | Sbah l-kheir sbah l-kheer |
| Good morning (response) | Sbah n-nour sbah n-noor — "morning of light" |
| Good evening | Msa l-kheir msah l-kheer |
| Good evening (response) | Msa n-nour msah n-noor |
| How are you? | Labas? / Kif dayr? (m) / Kif dayra? (f) LAH-bas / keef DAY-r / keef DAY-rah |
| I'm fine (response) | Labas, alhamdulillah LAH-bas, al-ham-du-LIL-lah |
| Welcome | Mrhba / Ahlan MER-hba / AH-lan |
| Welcome (response) | Mrhba bik (to man) / Mrhba biki (to woman) MER-hba beek / MER-hba BEE-ki |
| Goodbye | Beslama / Ma'a salama bes-LAH-ma / mah-ah sah-LAH-ma — "go in peace" |
| See you later | Nchoufek men b'ad n-SHOO-fek men b'ahd |
Basics
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| Yes | Iyeh / Wah / Ah ee-YEH / wah / ah |
| No | La lah |
| Please | Afak / 'Afak AH-fak |
| Thank you | Shukran SHOO-kran |
| Thank you very much | Baraka llahu fik bah-RAH-ka LAH-hu feek — "may God bless you" |
| You're welcome | Bla jmil / La shukran ala wajib bla j-MEEL / "no thanks needed" |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Smeh liya / Pardon smeh LEE-ya |
| It's fine / No problem | Mashi mushkil / Ma'leesh MAH-shi MUSH-kil / mah-LEESH |
| I don't understand | Ma fhemtsh mah FHEMT-sh |
| Do you speak French / English? | Wash kat-kellm b-fransawi / b-inglizi? wash kat-KELLM b-fran-SAH-wi / b-in-GLEE-zi |
| Please speak slowly | Kellm bshwiya, afak KELLM b-SHWEE-ya, AH-fak |
| What is your name? | Shnu smiytek? sh-NU smee-YEK |
| My name is… | Smiyti… smee-YEE-ti |
| Where are you from? | Mnin nta? (m) / Mnin nti? (f) m-NIN n-ta / m-NIN n-ti |
Numbers
Numbers are essential for bargaining, taxi fares, and buying food. Moroccans will often quote prices in French numerals in tourist contexts — knowing both helps.
| Number | Darija |
|---|---|
| 0 | Sifr SEE-fer |
| 1 | Wahed WAH-hed |
| 2 | Juj / Tnin jooj / t-NEEN |
| 3 | Tlata t-LAH-ta |
| 4 | Rb'a r-BAH |
| 5 | Khamsa KHAM-sa |
| 6 | Stta s-TA |
| 7 | Sb'a s-BAH |
| 8 | Tmanya t-MAN-ya |
| 9 | Ts'ud t-SOOD |
| 10 | 'Ashra ASH-ra |
| 20 | 'Ashrin ash-REEN |
| 50 | Khamsin kham-SEEN |
| 100 | Miya MEE-ya |
| 200 | Miatayn mee-ah-TAYN |
| 1,000 | Alf alf |
Directions
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| Where is…? | Feen kayn…? (m) / Feen kayna…? (f) feen KAYN / feen KAY-na |
| Left | L-ysar / Liser l-y-SAR / lee-SER |
| Right | L-ymin / Limon l-y-MEEN / lee-MON |
| Straight ahead | Nishan / Tout droit (Fr.) nee-SHAN |
| Near | Qrib q-REEB |
| Far | B'id b-EED |
| Here | Hna h-NA |
| There | Temma / Hemma TEM-ma |
| Street / alley | Zanqa / Derb ZAN-qa / derb |
| Square | Sahat / Place (Fr.) SAH-hat |
| Mosque | Jami' / Masjid JAH-mi / MAS-jid |
| Market / souk | Souk / Joutiya sook |
Transport
| English | Darija / French |
|---|---|
| How much to…? | Bshal bghit nemshi l…? b-SHAL b-GHIT nem-SHI l… |
| Take me to… | Weddni l… / Emmeni l… (Fr: Amenez-moi à…) WED-ni l… |
| Stop here | Wqef hna WO-qef h-NA |
| The meter, please | Le compteur, s'il vous plaît (Fr.) Always use this with petit taxi drivers |
| Train station | Gare / Mahatta gare / mah-HAT-ta |
| Bus station | Gare routière (Fr.) / Mahatt tobian gare roo-TYAIR |
| Airport | Matar mah-TAR |
| Ticket | Biya / Ticket (Fr.) BEE-ya |
| What time does it leave? | Fmen sa'a ghadi ymshi? f-MEN SAH-'a GHA-di y-MSHI |
Shopping & haggling
Bargaining is common in souks and many medina shops selling handicrafts, clothing, leather goods, and artisan products. Fixed-price shops and supermarkets are different: the displayed price is the price. Where bargaining is expected, ask the price, make a calm counter-offer, and be willing to leave if the amount does not work for you; there is no universal “correct” discount.
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| How much? | Bshal? / Shhal? b-SHAL / sh-HAL |
| That's expensive | Ghali GHA-li |
| Very expensive / too much | Ghali bzzaf GHA-li b-ZZAF |
| Cheaper? | Arkhes? / Bkheir shwiya? ar-KHES / b-KHEER shwee-YA |
| I'll give you… | Ghadi n'tik… GHA-di n-TEEK… |
| Final price? | Akhir taman? AH-khir tah-MAN |
| I don't want it | Ma bghitsh mah b-GHEET-sh |
| I'm just looking | Ghir kanchuf ghir kan-SHOOF |
| Do you have…? | Wash 'andek…? wash AN-dek |
| I'll take it | Ghadi nakhdo GHA-di nakh-DO |
Food & drink
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| Restaurant | Restaurant (Fr.) / Matam mah-TAM |
| I'm hungry | Ana jyan (m) / jyana (f) AH-na j-YAN / j-YA-na |
| I'm thirsty | Ana 'atshan (m) / 'atshana (f) AH-na at-SHAN |
| Water | Lma l-MA |
| Bread | Khobz khobz (the kh is guttural) |
| Mint tea | Atay b-na'na' ah-TAY b-nah-NAH |
| Without sugar | Bla sukkar bla SOOK-kar |
| The bill please | L-hsab, afak l-HSAB, AH-fak |
| Delicious | Bnin bzzaf b-NEEN b-ZZAF |
| No meat / no pork | Bla lhem / Bla khinzir bla l-HEM / bla KHIN-zeer |
| I don't eat… | Ma-kaklsh… mah-KAK-l-sh |
| Spicy | Har har |
| Not spicy please | Bla har, afak bla har, AH-fak |
Accommodation
| English | Darija / French |
|---|---|
| Do you have a room? | Wash 'andkum bit? wash AN-dkum beet |
| How much per night? | Bshal l-lila? b-SHAL l-LEE-la |
| One night / two nights | Lila wehda / juuj liyal LEE-la WEH-da / jooj lee-YAL |
| Single room | Bit l-wehd / Chambre simple (Fr.) beet l-WEHD |
| Double room | Bit juj / Chambre double (Fr.) beet JOOJ |
| Is breakfast included? | Wash l-ftur dakhel? wash l-FTOOR DAH-khel |
| Where is the bathroom? | Feen kayn l-hammam? feen KAYN l-ham-MAM |
Emergencies
| English | Darija / French |
|---|---|
| Help! | 'Awniyya! / Au secours! (Fr.) aw-NEE-ya |
| Call the police! | 'Iyyet l-bolis! EE-yet l-bo-LEES |
| Call a doctor! | 'Iyyet tbib! EE-yet t-BEEB |
| I'm sick | Ana mrid (m) / mrida (f) AH-na m-REED / m-REE-da |
| Where is the hospital? | Feen kayna s-sbitar? feen KAY-na s-SBEE-tar |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Feen kayna l-farmasia? feen KAY-na l-far-MAH-sya |
| I've been robbed | Srguni ser-GOO-ni |
| I'm lost | Tweddert twe-DERT |
| Leave me alone | Khellini / Sir men hna KHEL-li-ni / seer men h-NA |
| Police | Police / Bolis bo-LEES |
Cultural phrases
These are expressions you will hear constantly throughout Morocco. Understanding what they mean — and using them yourself — signals cultural awareness and gets a warmer reception than almost anything else.
| Phrase | Meaning & when it's used |
|---|---|
| Inshallah in-sha-LAH — "if God wills it" | Used constantly. Can mean genuine commitment ("I'll definitely be there, inshallah") or polite uncertainty ("probably not, but I won't say no"). Context and tone reveal which. Don't be surprised when "inshallah" turns out to have meant the latter. |
| Alhamdulillah al-HAM-du-LIL-lah — "praise God" | Said after eating, when asked how you are, after a safe journey, when something good happens. The standard response to Labas? is Labas, alhamdulillah. Use it freely after finishing a meal and you will get an approving smile. |
| Mashallah mah-sha-LAH — "what God has willed" | Expressed in admiration — for a beautiful child, a fine carpet, a good meal. Also said to ward off the evil eye when admiring something. If a Moroccan says mashallah after you admire something of theirs, it is a gesture of protection, not modesty. |
| Bismillah bis-MIL-lah — "in the name of God" | Said before eating, before starting a task, before a journey. If a Moroccan says it before serving you food, saying it before you eat is a respectful acknowledgement. |
| Hamdullah / Alhamdulillah ham-DUL-lah | Shortened form of alhamdulillah, used after finishing a meal to signal you are satisfied. |
| B'ssaha b-SSAH-ha — "to your health" | Said to someone who has just eaten, bathed, had a haircut, or bought something new. The response is Allah y'tik s-saha ("may God give you health too"). |
| Mrhba bik / Ahlan MER-hba beek | Welcome. Said when someone enters a home, shop, or gathering. Responding with Mrhba bik back expresses mutual warmth. |