Darija Dictionary: Comprehensive Moroccan Arabic Reference

Q: What is Darija?

Darija (الدارجة) is Moroccan Arabic — the everyday spoken language of 40 million Moroccans. It is distinct from Modern Standard Arabic (MSA/Fusha) and incorporates French, Spanish, and Amazigh (Berber) vocabulary. Darija is not formally taught in schools, making resources like this dictionary essential for learners.

Q: How many words are in Moroccan Darija?

The active spoken vocabulary of Darija is estimated at 15,000–25,000 words, with a total lexicon including regional variants and loanwords reaching 40,000–60,000+. This dictionary currently contains 10,000 words and 1,500 phrases, making it the most comprehensive Darija reference available online.

Q: Is Darija the same as Arabic?

Darija shares roots with Arabic but is a distinct spoken language. A speaker of Egyptian Arabic or Gulf Arabic would struggle to understand Darija without exposure. Key differences include heavy French and Spanish loanwords, unique verb conjugations, dropped vowels creating consonant clusters, and vocabulary borrowed from Amazigh (Berber) languages.

Q: How do you say hello in Moroccan Arabic?

The most common greeting in Darija is 'Salam' (سلام) meaning peace, often followed by 'labas?' (لاباس؟) meaning 'how are you?'. The full greeting 'Salam, labas?' is the standard way Moroccans greet each other. The response is typically 'Labas, lhamdullah' (Fine, thank God).

Q: How do you say thank you in Darija?

Thank you in Darija is 'Shukran' (شكراً). For a deeper, more Moroccan expression of gratitude, use 'Llah yr7m lwalidin' (الله يرحم الوالدين), literally 'God bless your parents' — one of the most heartfelt ways to express thanks in Moroccan culture.

Dancing with Lions; Jacqueline Ng, Dancing with Lions

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Survival Kit

Your first
day words

These 43 words get you through Day 1 in Morocco. Say them badly — Moroccans will love you for trying.

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Greetings & Social

سلامsalam/sa-LAM/

hello / peace

لاباسlabas/la-BAS/

fine / how are you

صباح الخيرsbah lkhir/SBAH l-KHIR/

good morning

مسا الخيرmsa lkhir/MSA l-KHIR/

good evening

بسلامةbslama/b-SLA-ma/

goodbye

شكراًshukran/SHUK-ran/

thank you

عافاك3afak/AA-fak/

please

كيف دايرkif dayer/KIF DAY-er/

how are you (to a man)

كيف دايرةkif dayra/KIF DAY-ra/

how are you (to a woman)

بخيرbikhir/b-KHIR/

fine / well

الحمد للهlhamdullah/l-HAM-du-LAH/

thank God

إن شاء اللهinshallah/in-SHA-lah/

God willing

واخاwakha/WA-kha/

OK / alright / even though

واهwah/WAH/

yes

لاlla/LLA/

no

سميتيsmiyti/SMI-yti/

my name is

شنو سميتكshno smiytek/SHNO smi-YTEK/

what's your name

متشرفينmtsharfin/mt-SHAR-fin/

nice to meet you

تصبح على خيرtsbah 3la khir/ts-BAH 3la KHIR/

good night

مرحباmarhba/MAR-hba/

welcome

سمح لياsmh liya/SMEH li-YA/

excuse me / sorry

بزافbzzaf/b-ZAF/

a lot / very much / too much

شويةshwiya/SHWI-ya/

a little / some

ياللهyallah/YAL-lah/

let's go / come on

شحالsh7al/sh-HAL/

how much / how many

مافهمتشmafhemtsh/ma-FHEMT-sh/

I don't understand

مزيانmzyan/mz-YAN/

good / fine / beautiful

Food & Drink

أتايatay/a-TAY/

mint tea

خبزkhobz/KHOBZ/

bread

طاجينtajin/TA-jin/

tagine

لماlma/l-MA/

water

قهوةqhwa/QH-wa/

coffee

نص نصnoss noss/NOSS NOSS/

half-half (coffee with milk)

سكارsukkar/SUK-kar/

sugar

مسمنmsemmen/m-SEM-men/

flaky layered flatbread

بغريرbeghrir/begh-RIR/

Moroccan pancake (thousand holes)

بنينbnin/b-NIN/

delicious

لماكلةlmakla/l-MAK-la/

food / the meal

At the Souk

سوقsuq/SUQ/

market / souk

فلوسflus/FLUS/

money

غاليghali/GHA-li/

expensive

More Essentials

طاكسيtaxi/TAK-si/

taxi

مدينة قديمةmdina qdima/mdi-NA qdi-MA/

old medina / old town

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Greetings & Social

Food & Drink

At the Souk

More Essentials

Your first
day words