Basic Moroccan Arabic dictionary: words to travel like a pro

If you’re travelers who respect the cultures that will host you, and you love fully immersing yourselves in the places and traditions of an unfamiliar land, you’re surely thinking about how to get ready for your next trip to Morocco.

Having well-organized luggage isn’t enough, nor is gathering all the useful information on itineraries and sights, whether you’re traveling solo, as a couple, in a group or with kids. To travel like a real pro, you’ll need to know the language.

Of course, you can’t sign up for an Arabic course if you’re spending a week in Morocco or going there for New Year’s, but you can focus on learning a few useful travel phrases that will make communicating with locals much easier.

Here I’ve collected the words to know when traveling in Morocco, the most common, everyday ones for greeting people, shopping and bargaining, ordering food and asking for information. And… no, if you already know hammam, harissa, tagine, harira, henna, kohl and hookah (which in Morocco is called shisha), I’ll tell you right away that those words aren’t enough, but you’ll definitely use them!

The languages spoken in Morocco

Besides Standard Arabic, Morocco’s administrative language, there’s a second official language, Berber, or more precisely Tamazight, the language of the country’s indigenous people, spoken mostly by those living in rural areas.

The language you’ll hear most from locals in the streets and villages, at markets and in homes, is Moroccan Arabic (also called Darija), a dialect that mixes Standard Arabic, Berber and French, and is very different from the other Arabic dialects in the region. It’s considered the hardest to understand for Arabs from the Middle East, but don’t let that discourage you. On the contrary: if you manage to make yourself understood and understand what’s said to you, you’ll truly earn your pro traveler badge!

That said, most Moroccans also speak French, and in some regions, especially in the north, many people speak Spanish too. English is widely spoken in tourist areas.

In the eyes of Moroccans, a tourist who can get by with a few words of Arabic comes across as much more welcome and respectful, since so many mass tourists are only interested in taking photos, going on a hot-air balloon ride or riding a camel (without even bothering to learn that the ones in Morocco are dromedaries).

So here’s a list of useful words to help you communicate with Moroccans during your trip, which you can practice in the days before you leave.

Greetings and courtesy in Morocco

Let’s start with greetings and all the polite expressions used when introducing yourself, saying goodbye or meeting someone in the street. But let’s also learn how to say good night, ask and answer “how are you?”, say thank you and apologize.

• Marhaba – Welcome.
• Sabah al khair – Good morning.
• Sabah al noor – The reply to “good morning”.
• Massa al khair – Good evening.
• Massa al noor – The reply to “good evening”.

• Saalam aleikum (or simply Saalam) – Hello/Peace be upon you.
• Kidair? – How are you? (to a man).
• Kidaira? – How are you? (to a woman).
• Alhamdullilah – Thank God/Praise be to God, in reply to “good morning” or “how are you?”.

• Kulshi bekher, or hania – Everything’s fine.
• Laila saida – Good night.
• Naasti mzyan? – Did you sleep well?
• Beslama – Goodbye/Bye.
• Insha-allah – God willing.
• Chno smitek? – What’s your name?

• Esmi… – My name is…
• Menin nta? – Where are you from?
• Wach nta marrakshi? – Are you from Marrakech?
• Fin kateskon? – Where do you live?
• Shal f omrek? – How old are you?
• Fin katekhdem?/Fin Khedam? – What do you do for work?
• Aji lhna – Come here.
• Ana jay – I’m coming.
• Shoukran (bezaf) – Thank you (very much).

• Baraka allah ufik – Thank you so much.
• La choukran aâla ouajib/Marhba – You’re welcome.
• Afek – Please.
• Smahli – Excuse me.
• Ah/Na’am – Yes.
• La – No.
• La shoukran – No, thank you.
• Smeh-lia – I’m sorry.
• Meshi mushkil – No problem.

• Safi – All clear/That’s it.
• Wakha – OK/All right.
• Fhamt/Ma Fhamtch – I understand/I don’t understand.
• Fhemtini? – Do you understand me?

Shopping and bargaining in Morocco

When you’re in Morocco’s souks, the famous markets where you can buy just about anything, bargaining over the price is a must, so these phrases will come in handy.

• Esh hal hada? – How much is it?
• Hada rali bezzaf – It’s too expensive.
• N-kass taman afak – Can you lower the price?
• Taman diali houwa… – My price is…
• La, hadshi bezzaf – No, that’s too much.
• R-khiss – That’s a good price.
• Radi narjaa radda – I’ll come back tomorrow.
• Khasni… – I need…
• Brit nchri hada – I’d like to buy this.
• Ashnu hadda? – What is it?
• Ana kankalab alla – I’m looking for…
• Ma brit walu – I don’t want anything.
• Ghir tan chouf – I’m just looking.
• Aâjabni/Ma aâjabnich – I like it/I don’t like it.

Out and about in Morocco

If you need to ask for directions in the street, these phrases will come in handy.

• Fin temma…? – Where is…?
• Kif nemchi li…? – How do I get to…?

• Fin kain l’hotel? – Where’s the hotel?
• Kankalab alla medina – I’m looking for the old town.
• Ana bari kahwa – I’d like a coffee.
• Brit nakull – I’d like to eat.
• Brit nemshi – I’d like to go.
• Ouech krib/biîd – Is it near/far?
• Nichan – Straight ahead.
• Lissar/Limen – Left/Right.
• Ana hna fil outla/Ana mssafra – I’m here on vacation/I’m traveling.
• Ana hna li el khadma – I’m here for work/on a business trip.
• Katehdr b-elinglizya? – Do you speak English?
• Jlit rassi – I’m lost.

At the restaurant in Morocco

To order food in Moroccan restaurants, mention any allergies or a vegetarian diet, or compliment the cook, learn these phrases.

• Bssaha! – Enjoy your meal/Cheers!
• Ach tat oussi? – What do you recommend?
• Makan akoulch el lham – I’m vegetarian (literally: I don’t eat meat).
• Fiya al hassassiya – I have an allergy.
• Fiya Jouû/Fiya el êtach – I’m hungry/I’m thirsty.
• B-ghit – I’d like…
• S-khoun bezaf! – It’s too hot!
• Lay i âtik ssaha! – That was delicious!
• Bch-hal aâfak – The check, please.
• El Maa – Water.
• Atay/Kahwa – Tea/Coffee.

If this rundown of Arabic words has given you a touch of performance anxiety, relax: Moroccans are very welcoming and understanding people, and they’ll be able to work out any request or phrase even if your pronunciation isn’t perfect.