# What Moroccan Arabic phrases should I learn before visiting Morocco?

> Basic Moroccan Arabic (Darija) phrases for tourists in Arabic script and easy pronunciation, plus French and Amazigh basics, souk bargaining and emergency numbers.

- Source: https://clevertourists.com/resources/basic-moroccan-arabic-darija-phrases-for-tourists
- Authors: Evan & Clara, Clever Tourists (first-hand, from years of travel across 20 countries)
- Published: 2026-10-28

Moroccans speak **Darija**, Moroccan Arabic, which is quite different from the Modern Standard Arabic of textbooks, news and road signs. **French** is widely used in cities, on menus and in business, and **Amazigh** (Berber) languages are spoken across the Atlas, the south and the Rif. English is common in the tourist trade and among younger people. The two things that matter most: **shukran** for thank you, and a calm **la, shukran** for the steady stream of offers in the medinas.

## Greetings and goodbyes

Each phrase below is shown in Arabic script with a Latin transliteration in brackets. In the respellings, **kh** is the rough sound in Scottish *loch*, **gh** is like a French *r*, and **h** in *bshhal* or *lhamdullah* is a breathy *h* from the throat.

**As-salamu alaykum** (peace be upon you) is the standard greeting and works with everyone, Muslim or not; the reply is **wa alaykum salam**. **Labas?** (all good?) is the everyday follow-up, and the answer usually includes **lhamdullah**, thanks be to God.

| English | Darija | Say it like | When to use it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hello (peace be upon you) | السلام عليكم (salamu alikum) | sah-LAH-moo ah-LEE-koom | The standard greeting, to anyone. |
| Reply to the above | وعليكم السلام (wa alikum salam) | wah ah-LEE-koom sah-LAHM | When someone greets you first. |
| Hi (casual) | سلام (salam) | sah-LAHM | Quick hello in shops and cafés. |
| Good morning | صباح الخير (sbah lkhir) | SBAH l-KHEER | Mornings. |
| Good afternoon / evening | مسا الخير (msa lkhir) | MSAH l-KHEER | Afternoon onwards. |
| All good? / How are you? | لاباس؟ (labas?) | lah-BAHS | The everyday follow-up to hello. |
| Fine, thanks be to God | لاباس، الحمد لله (labas, lhamdullah) | lah-BAHS, lham-doo-LAH | The usual answer. |
| How are you? (to a man / woman) | كيف داير؟ / كيف دايرة؟ (kif dayr? / kif dayra?) | keef DIE-er / keef DIE-rah | Slightly warmer than labas. |
| Nice to meet you | متشرفين (mtsharfin) | m-tshar-FEEN | When you are introduced. |
| Goodbye | بالسلامة (bslama) | b-SLAH-mah | Leaving a shop, a taxi, anyone. |

## Polite essentials

**La, shukran** (no, thank you) is the phrase you will use most in Marrakech and Fes. Faux guides, shop callers and henna sellers will start conversations constantly; a smile, *la shukran* and walking on is polite and enough. Stopping to argue only extends it.

**Afak** (please) is attached to almost every request, and **wakha** (OK) seals any agreement.

| English | Darija | Say it like | When to use it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Please | عفاك (afak) | AH-fak | On the end of any request. |
| Thank you | شكرا (shukran) | SHOO-kran | All the time. |
| Thank you very much | شكرا بزاف (shukran bzzaf) | SHOO-kran b-ZAF | After real help. |
| You're welcome | بلا جميل (bla jmil) | blah j-MEEL | Replying to thanks. |
| Sorry / excuse me (to a man / woman) | سمح لي / سمحي لي (smeh li / smhi li) | SMEH-lee / SMEH-hee lee | Getting past, getting attention, small apologies. |
| Yes | إيه (iyeh) | EE-yeh | Everywhere. |
| No | لا (la) | lah | Everywhere. |
| No, thank you | لا، شكرا (la, shukran) | lah, SHOO-kran | Touts, faux guides, anyone selling. Keep walking. |
| OK / agreed | واخا (wakha) | WAH-khah | Agreeing to a price or a plan. |

## Eating and drinking

Meals start with *bismillah* (in the name of God) and food is eaten and passed with the right hand. Mint tea, **atay**, is offered constantly; accepting a glass is polite.

**We have left toasting out on purpose.** Alcohol is legal in licensed hotels, bars and some restaurants, but most Moroccans don't drink and there is no everyday Darija toast to learn. Raising a glass and toasting at a table of Moroccans you don't know can be awkward.

| English | Darija | Say it like | When to use it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Is there a table for two? | واش كاينة شي طبلة ديال جوج؟ (wash kayna shi tbla dyal juj?) | wash KAY-nah shee TBLAH dyal JOOJ | Arriving at a restaurant. |
| The menu | le menu (l-menu, from French) | l-meh-NOO | Most restaurant menus are in French anyway. |
| This one (masculine / feminine) | هادا / هادي (hada / hadi) | HAH-dah / HAH-dee | Pointing at a dish or a pastry. |
| Mint tea | أتاي (atay) | ah-TIE | Ordering tea. |
| Delicious | بنين بزاف (bnin bzzaf) | b-NEEN b-ZAF | To the cook or host. Always appreciated. |
| The bill, please | الحساب عفاك (lhsab afak) | l-HSAB AH-fak | When you are ready to pay. |
| I don't eat meat | ما كناكلش اللحم (ma kanakulsh lhem) | mah kah-nah-KOOLSH l-LHAM | The clearest way to say vegetarian. |
| I'm allergic to... | عندي الحساسية د... (andi lhassasiya d...) | AHN-dee l-hah-sah-SEE-yah d... | Follow with the food; show it written down too. |

## Shopping and markets

**Bargaining in the souks is normal and expected**, and it is a conversation, not a fight. Ask the price, offer well below it, and meet somewhere in the middle; walking away politely is part of the game, and the price often follows you. Don't start bargaining for something you have no intention of buying, and if a guide brings you to a shop, his commission is in the price. More tactics are in our [souk haggling guide](https://clevertourists.com/resources/morocco-souk-haggling-etiquette-and-scams-guide).

**Listen for rials.** Many Moroccans count money in *rial*, an informal unit worth one twentieth of a dirham. If a stallholder says *mia* (100) for a few oranges, it may mean 100 rial, which is 5 dirhams. When in doubt, ask for the price in dirhams or have it written down.

The souks run on cash (*flus*, money). Supermarkets, malls and larger shops take cards; say *la carte*, the French word, if you want to pay by card.

| English | Darija | Say it like | When to use it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| How much is this? | بشحال هادا؟ (bshhal hada?) | b-SHHAL HAH-dah | Pointing at anything in a souk. |
| It's too expensive | غالي بزاف (ghali bzzaf) | GHAH-lee b-ZAF | The opening line of every bargain. |
| Lower the price a bit | نقص شوية (nqes shwiya) | n-KUSS SHWEE-yah | Once you have heard the first price. |
| What's the last price? | آخر ثمن؟ (akhir taman?) | AH-kher tah-MAN | When you are close to agreeing. |
| OK, deal | واخا (wakha) | WAH-khah | Accepting the price. Then pay. |
| Money / cash | فلوس (flus) | FLOOS | Souks, taxis, small cafés. |

## Getting around

Petit taxis inside cities should use the meter (*le compteur*). Grand taxis between towns are shared and run on fixed fares. Intercity buses leave from the bus station, and CTM and Supratours run their own depots. Train stations are called by the French word *la gare*.

| English | Darija | Say it like | When to use it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Where is...? | فين كاين...؟ (fin kayn...?) | feen KAY-en | Followed by the place you want. |
| Where is the toilet? | فين بيت الما؟ (fin bit lma?) | feen beet l-MAH | Cafés, restaurants, stations. |
| Bus station | المحطة ديال الكيران (lmahatta dyal lkiran) | l-mah-HAT-tah dyal l-kee-RAN | Intercity buses. Say CTM if you want that company. |
| Train station | لاكار (la gar) | lah GAR | From the French *la gare*. |
| Airport | المطار (lmatar) | l-mah-TAR | The Arabic word, also on signs. *L'aéroport* in French works too. |
| Turn left | دور على ليسر (dur ala lisser) | door AH-lah lee-SER | Following directions. |
| Turn right | دور على ليمن (dur ala limen) | door AH-lah lee-MEN | Following directions. |
| Go straight | سير نيشان (sir nishan) | seer nee-SHAN | Following directions. |
| I want to go to this address | بغيت نمشي لهاد العنوان (bghit nmshi l-had lunwan) | BGHEET n-MSHEE l-HAD l-oon-WAN | Taxis. Show the address at the same time. |
| Stop here, please | وقف هنا عفاك (wqef hna afak) | WKEF hnah AH-fak | Taxis. |

## Numbers

Darija numbers differ from Standard Arabic: two is **juj**, not *ithnayn*. Prices are written in Western digits, so you only need these for spoken prices, and remember the rial trap above.

| English | Darija | Say it like | When to use it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| 1 | واحد (wahed) | WAH-hed |  |
| 2 | جوج (juj) | jooj | Standard Arabic *ithnayn* is not used for counting. |
| 3 | تلاتة (tlata) | TLAH-tah |  |
| 4 | ربعة (rbaa) | RUB-ah |  |
| 5 | خمسة (khamsa) | KHAM-sah |  |
| 6 | ستة (setta) | SET-tah |  |
| 7 | سبعة (sebaa) | SEB-ah |  |
| 8 | تمنية (tmenya) | TMEN-yah |  |
| 9 | تسعود (tesud) | tess-OOD |  |
| 10 | عشرة (ashra) | ASH-rah |  |
| 100 | مية (mya) | MEE-yah | Could be 100 rial (5 dirhams). Check. |
| 1,000 | ألف (alf) | alf |  |

## Help and emergencies

From a mobile, **112** connects to emergency services. The direct numbers are **19** for police in cities, **177** for the Gendarmerie Royale in rural areas and on highways, and **15** for ambulance and fire.

| English | Darija | Say it like | When to use it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Help! | عتقوني! (atquni!) | AT-koo-nee | Real emergencies only. |
| Call the police! | عيط على البوليس! (ayyet ala lbulis!) | AY-yet AH-lah l-boo-LEES | Then dial 19, or 112 from a mobile. |
| I want to see a doctor | بغيت نشوف طبيب (bghit nshuf tbib) | BGHEET n-SHOOF TBEEB | Pharmacies and hotel reception. |
| I'm lost | تلفت (tleft) | t-LEFT | Asking for directions in a medina. |
| I don't understand | ما فهمتش (ma fhemtsh) | mah FHEMTSH | Any time. |
| Do you speak English? | واش كتهدر النڭليزية؟ (wash kathder ngliziya?) | wash kat-HDER n-glee-ZEE-yah | Ask this first; many people will also offer French. |
| Slowly, please | بشوية عفاك (bshwiya afak) | b-SHWEE-yah AH-fak | When the answer comes back fast. |

## French and Amazigh basics

**French** is understood by most people in cities and is the language of menus, train tickets, banks and pharmacies. If your Darija runs out, French is the natural fallback.

**Amazigh** (Berber) languages, Tashelhit in the south, Central Atlas Tamazight in the Atlas and Tarifit in the Rif, are official alongside Arabic and written in the Tifinagh alphabet on public signs. Two words are recognised widely: **azul** (ⴰⵣⵓⵍ, hello, *ah-ZOOL*) and **tanmmirt** (ⵜⴰⵏⵎⵎⵉⵔⵜ, thank you, *tan-MEERT*). Both are modern revivals that many speakers use proudly, though plenty of Amazigh speakers simply say *salam*.

| English | French | Say it like | When to use it |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Hello | Bonjour | bohn-ZHOOR | Shops, hotels, offices. |
| Thank you | Merci | mair-SEE | Everywhere. |
| Please | S'il vous plaît | seel voo PLEH | Any request. |
| How much is it? | C'est combien ? | seh kohm-BYAN | Fixed-price shops and cafés. |
| The bill, please | L'addition, s'il vous plaît | lah-dee-SYOHN, seel voo PLEH | Restaurants. |
| Where are the toilets? | Où sont les toilettes ? | oo sohn lay twah-LET | Cafés and stations. |
| I don't understand | Je ne comprends pas | zhuh nuh kohm-PRAHN pah | Any time. |
| Do you speak English? | Vous parlez anglais ? | voo par-LAY ahn-GLEH | Ask this before switching. |

## Etiquette that matters more than words

**Greet first, then ask.** Starting with *salamu alikum* before a question, even to a shopkeeper, changes the tone of the whole exchange.

**Right hand for eating, giving and taking.** The left hand is associated with the bathroom. Eat from the shared tagine with your right hand, and pay and receive change with it.

**Accept the tea.** Mint tea is the default welcome in homes, shops and riads. One glass is polite, and accepting tea in a shop does not commit you to buy.

**Ask before photographing people.** Many Moroccans, especially women and older people, don't want to be photographed. Musicians and performers in Jemaa el-Fnaa expect a tip if you do.

**Respect prayer and Ramadan.** Most mosques are closed to non-Muslims (Hassan II in Casablanca is the main exception). During Ramadan, avoid eating, drinking or smoking in public in daytime; see [visiting Morocco during Ramadan](https://clevertourists.com/resources/visiting-morocco-during-ramadan-2027-guide).

Our [24-day route from Tangier to the Sahara](https://clevertourists.com/resources/morocco-itinerary-our-24-day-route-tangier-to-the-sahara) passes through most of the places mentioned here. More on customs is in [what is considered rude in Morocco](https://clevertourists.com/resources/what-is-considered-rude-in-morocco).

## Frequently asked questions

### How do you say thank you in Moroccan Arabic?

Shukran (SHOO-kran), written شكرا. Shukran bzzaf means thank you very much, and the reply is bla jmil, you're welcome.

### Do people speak French in Morocco?

Yes. French is understood by most people in cities and is used on menus, train tickets, in banks and in pharmacies. Darija is the everyday language, but French is the natural fallback.

### Is Moroccan Arabic different from standard Arabic?

Yes. Darija is Moroccan Arabic, with its own vocabulary and many French and Amazigh loanwords, for example juj for two. Modern Standard Arabic is used on signs and in the news, and Moroccans understand it, but it is not what people speak day to day.

### How do you say how much in Morocco?

Bshhal? (b-SHHAL), or bshhal hada? for how much is this. Listen for rial: many people count in rial, and 20 rial make one dirham.

### How do you say no thank you in Morocco?

La, shukran (lah, SHOO-kran). Said with a smile while you keep walking, it is the polite way to turn down touts and shop callers.

### What is the emergency number in Morocco?

112 from a mobile. The direct numbers are 19 for police in cities, 177 for the Gendarmerie Royale in rural areas and 15 for ambulance and fire.