Even under the best possible conditions, learning a language can be something that requires work and time.
If you can use your willpower and organize learning schedule to achieve an effective way to learn Arabic in Morocco, you will get very rewarding results.
Learning to communicate with people in Morocco is a unique experience that will open doors and hearts of its warm and friendly people.
Learning arabic can be achieved. It is possible!
The Moroccan Arabic is called “Darija”. Do not forget because I will use this expression several times throughout this Arabic course.
With no doubt, learning Arabic language in Morocco is easier than learning it in your home country, because in Morocco you are surrounded by the language so it is easier to learn by listening.
On this page you will find a practical lessons to learn Arabic online, so that you can communicate and talk Moroccan and Algerian. These lessons are not Arab language used in countries like Egypt, Saudi Arabia or Palestine.
The Algerian and Moroccan Arabic are very specific and different from other Arab dialects.
Lesson 1 – How to speak Arabic, introduction and greetings
Objectives: At the end of this chapter you will be able to greet people and introduce yourself;
use independent pronouns to make simple sentences;
use possessive pronouns to indicate ownership;
distinguish between male and female.
Cultural aspects: Greetings and regards are very important in Moroccan culture.
A greeting in Morocco can not be compared with the simple English “hello”.
Because it takes time for two people to exchange several questions and answers about what interests them, such as asking how is the family and talk about day-to-day life.
The greetings change slightly from region to region of Morocco or depend on situation, and it goes: handshake, kissing, kissing one’s hand and putting on one’s heart after giving a handshake .
If you greet a group of people, then you should greet everyone the same way as you greeted the first one. Do not be surprised if you are greeted by a friend but he did not present you to another friend who speaks the same time.
Also do not be surprised of being in a group and not be greeted like everyone else, some Moroccans are shy to greet a stranger.
Nor is it necessary to give a detailed information of how you feel during the greeting, usually only simple answer is expected. For example – “how are you?” Only to be answered with a “I’m fine thank you, thank God.”
Greeting expressions and appropriate responses
Question: Peace be upon you – salamu aleikum
Answer: And peace upon you – wa salam aleikumu (the sound ‘wa’ pronounce as ‘w’ in William)
Question: good morning – sbah alkhair (the sound ‘kh’ pronounce as ‘rr’ or as ‘r’ in car)
Answer: Morning Light – sbah Annur
Question: Afternoon of well – msa alkhair (the sound ‘kh’ pronounce as ‘rr’ or as ‘r’ in car)
Answer: Afternoon of well – msa alkhair
Useful vocabulary for greetings
- what’s your name? – Shnu smitk
- my name – smiti …
- your name – smitik …
- his name – smitu …
- her name – smita…
- is pleasure to meet you – mtsharfin
- how are you? (For men) – ki deir?
- how are you? (For Women) – ki deira?
- okay? – labas?
- all right? – labas alik?
- And you? – u nta?
- I’m fine, thank God – labas, alhamdulilah
- I’m fine, thank God – birrer, alhamdulilah
- everything is fine thanks – kulshi birrer baraka laufik
- goodbye – bislama
Basic greetings dialogue in Morocco
John: salam aleikum
Mohammed: wa salam aleikumu (the sound of the wah wa reads – ow has the sound of w as in William)
John: ki deir?
Mohammed: labas, hamdolilah, u nta la bas alik?
John: birrér, hamdolilah, baraka laufik
Mohammed: snu smitk?
John: smiti John, u nta?
Mohammed: smiti Mohammed
Personal pronouns in Moroccan Arabic
Personal pronouns are pronouns that are associated with a particular grammatical person.
I – ana
You (m.singular) – nta
You (f.singular) – nti
He – huwa (the sound ‘wah’ like ‘w’ as in William)
She – hiya
We – hna
You – ntuma
They – huma
Note: when personal pronouns are followed by a name or adjective is not necessary to use verb “to be”. Verb is already implicit in pronoun, and a simple phrase can be made using a personal pronoun along with a name or adjective. For example: “I am a teacher” – in Moroccan Arabic would be – “Ana ustad”, so verb is not used.
Possessive pronouns in Moroccan Arabic
Possessive pronoun is the type of pronoun that shows ownership and possession. Some are used alone; some describe a noun. In Darija a suffix may be added at the end of words to express possession.
My – i /ya
Your – k
His – u / h
Her – a
Our – na
Your – kum
Their – hum
Note: In the case of “my” and “his” the suffix depends on whether the word ends with a vowel or consonant. That is, for pronoun “my” we use “i” at the end if the word is ending with a vowel, and “h” if a word is ending with a consonant. For example, “smiti” (my name), but khuya (my brother).
Examples of possessive pronouns in Darija with the word “book”:
book – ktab
my book – ktabi
your book – ktabk
his book – ktabu
her book – ktabha
our book – ktabna
your book – ktabkum
their book – ktabhum
Male and female nouns
In Arabic, all names are either male or female. In general, the names that end with an “a” are feminine.
For example: “name” – smiya; “city” – mdina; “chicken” – djaja; “television” – tlfaza.
For nouns that indicate professions or for participles, the female form is constructed by adding “a” to the end of the word of the the male form.
For example: “teacher, m.” – ustad; “teacher, f.” – ustada.
Some words without “a” are also female, like some proper nouns and words that has already, by their nature female, feminine form.
For example: “Mother” – om, “Amal” (woman’s name) – Amal.
Also, most parts of the body are female.
For example: “eye” – ain; “hand” – yd; “foot” – rjl; “ear” – udn.
There are still a few nouns that do not fit in the above categories, but are still feminine.
For example: “the house” – dar, “the sun” – shms.
Lesson 2 – Learn how to present yourself
Objectives: At the end of this chapter you will be able to ask, and answer, about nationalities, cities and marital status;
use the possessive pronoun ‘dyal’ to indicate possession or ownership;
use demonstrative and adjectives pronouns in simple sentences;
ask questions about possession.
Cultural aspects: Try not to ask about the age or the salary of the people, especially women. Men should avoid asking questions about women or someone partners, this can be seen as inappropriate for the interest of conversation. People you will not always talk about other aspects of their personal work even when asked. Conversations about religion and politics can make some people feel uncomfortable to develop a conversation or discussion.
Nationality, marital status and cities
Where are you from (man)? – Mnin nta?
Where are you from (woman)? – Mnin nti?
Portugal – l-burtughal or you may say l-burtqiz
Brazil – l-brezil
I’m from Portugal – ana l-burtqiz mn / mn l-ana burtughal
I’m from Brazil – ana min-l brezil
I’m Portuguese (man) – burtqizi ana / ana burtughali
I’m Portuguese (woman) – burtqiziya ana / ana burtughaliya
I’m from Morocco – ana mn l-maghreb
I am Moroccan (man) – ana Maghribi
I am Moroccan (woman) – ana maghribiya
Are you …? – Wesh nta / nti …?
Are you from Portugal? – wesh nta mn l-burtughal?
Are you from Brazil? – wesh nta mn l-brezil?
And you? – u nta / u nti (masc. / Fem.)
City – mdina
Region – wilaya
great – kbir / sbira (masc. / fem.)
small / small – sghir / sghira
Sorry – smh li / smhi li (masc. / Fem.)
I’m not … – ana mashi …
But – welakin
Boyfriend – mkhtuba
Married / married – mzuwj / mzuwja
No, not yet – l-la mazal ou também l-la baqi
Are you a tourist? – Wesh nta / nti turist?
Basic dialogue to present yourself
Fatima: salam aleikum
Peter: wa salam aleikumu (the sound of the ‘wah’ like ‘w’ as in William)
Fatima: smh li, wesh nta fransawi?
Peter: lá, ana burtughali
Fatima: mnin f burtughal?
Peter: mn mdina Braga. U nti?
Fatima: mn Rabat
Peter: Shal f umrk?
Fatima: tnayn u ashrin aam. U nta?
Peter: rbaa u tlatin aam.
Fatima: Wesh nta mzuwj wlla mazal?
Peter: mazal. U nti?
Fatima: lla, baqiya. Wesh nta turist?
Peter: ii-ê, ana turist.
Peter: n-shufk mn baád.
Use of the word “dyal” to describe possession or membership
In Moroccan Arabic, as you have noticed in the examples above, describing possession or membership can be done by simply adding a possessive pronoun’s suffix at the end of the word.
Another very common way to decribe possession is to use the word “dyal.” This word is placed after the name with the definite article.
Using possessive pronoun
Book – ktab
My book – ktabi
The book – l-ktab
My book – l-ktab dyali
John’s book – l-ktab dyal John
Here is a list of “dyal” and all expressions with the personal pronouns in order
mine – dyali
yours – dyalk
his – dyalu
her – dyalha
ours – dyalna
yours – dyalkum
Example: “the pen is mine” – had s-stilo dyali, “this carpet is yours” – dik z-zrbiya dyalk.
The demonstrative pronouns stand in for a person, place or thing that must be pointed to.
The demonstrative pronouns come in varying forms, depends on gender and number, and also in proper form.
“This, that, these, these and those” are words widely used in Arabic. We have to take care if these words take the place of adjectives or demonstrative pronouns.
If we used it before a noun, they are called demonstrative adjectives
This is John’s car. -> I like these towels.
I want this book. -> Those flowers smell good.
If we use only them, they are called demonstrative pronouns
This is John’s. -> I like these.
I want this. -> These smell good.
Demonstrative pronouns in Arabic
this / that (male) – hada
this / that (fem.) – hadi
these – hadu
this / that (male) – hadak
this / that (fem.) – hadik
these – haduk
Note: These forms can be used in the beginning, middle or at the end of a sentence. They can also be used to ask questions. In Arabic, the pronouns can represent people.
This is a chair – hada Kursi
This is a table – hadi tabla
This is Abdallah – Abdallah hada
This is Aicha – hadi Aicha
What is this? (male) – shnu / ash hada
What is this? (fem.) – shnu / ash hadi
Who is this? (male) – Shkun hada?
Who is this? (fem.) – Shkun hadi?
What is that? – Shnu / ash hadak?
Who is that? (male) – Shkun hadak?
Who is that? (fem.) – Shkun hadik?
Note: At the beginning it can be difficult to know which if word has feminine or masculine forms, or how to use it properly. The Moroccans will figure out what you mean, even if you make mistakes.
Demonstrative adjectives in Arabic
this / that / these / those (object near you) – had
That (male)- dak
that (fem.)- dik
these / those – duk
How you can notice, “this / that / these / those” are always used with with form “had”. For all demonstrative adjectives you have to use the definite article before the name that follow. This means you will have to add an “l” before the “lunar letters” or duplicate the first letter of “solar letters.” I will explain this later.
This man – had r-rajl
This gentleman – had s-sid
This woman – had l-mra
This lady – had s-sida
These Males – had r-rjal
These women – had l-ayalat
This city is great – had l-mdina kbira
That house is great – dik d-dar kbira
Talking about a general situation
Sometimes we use words “this” and “that” not only to talk about specific situations but also to talk about general situations.
Example: Some students are always late for classes. I am not like that.
In Arabic some expressions are used for these general cases
This (general situation) – had shi
What (general situation) – dak shi
Note: After you have some experience in listening to Moroccan Arabic, you can recognize the appropriate use of these situations. See the difference in the use of these expressions to objects and situations:
What is this? (For things and objects) – ash hada?
What is this? (In a situation) – ash had shi?
I want it (that thing or object) – bghit hadak
It’s what I want (for a future event or situation) – dak shi li bghit