How To Learn Moroccan Arabic – Moroccan Arabic is a variation of Maghrebi Arabic spoken in Morocco by about 20 million people. It is mainly used in everyday speech, while Modern Standard Arabic is used in official communication with governments and other public organizations, and a mixture of French and Moroccan Arabic is used in business.
There is no standard way of writing Moroccan Arabic and it is rarely written down, although it is used to some extent in poetry, newspapers and magazines. The vocabulary is mostly of Arabic origin, with many words borrowed from Berber, French and Spanish. The native names for Moroccan Arabic include Morocco and Darija.
How To Learn Moroccan Arabic
Moroccan Arabic is more or less mutually intelligible with other varieties of Maghrebi Arabic spoken in Tunisia, Algeria and Libya, but speakers of Arabic from other regions find it difficult to understand.
Learning Arabic And The Challenge Of Diglossia
Everyone is born free and proud of their rights. They have reason and conscience and it is incumbent upon them to interact with some of them with some of their souls.
Kul ən-nās yətzādu ḥuṛṛīn w mətqaddīn f əl-həmma w əl-ḥūquq. ʕənd hum əl-ʕaqəl w əḍ-ḍamīr w wajəb ʕalī-hum yətʕāmlu mʕa baʕd-hum baʕdbṛūḥ əl-xawā.
All people are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed with reason and conscience and must act towards each other in a spirit of brotherhood.
Information on Moroccan Arabic | Phrase | Number | Tower of Babel | Arabic learning material | Books on Arabic script | Arabic electronic dictionary and translation
Why You Should Learn Darija While In Morocco
Akkadian, Amharic, Arabic (Algeria), Arabic (Bedawi), Arabic (Chad), Arabic (Egypt), Arabic (Gulf), Arabic (Hassaniya), Arabic (Hejazi), Arabic (Lebanon), Arabic (Modern Standard), Arabic (Moroccan), Arabic (Najdi), Arabic (Syriac), Aramaic, Argobba, Assyrian/Neo-Assyrian, Canaanite, Chaha, Chaldean Neo-Aramaic, Geez, Hadhramautian, Harari, Hebrew, Himyarite, Jewish Neo-Aramaic, Maltese , Mandaic, Nabataean, Neo-Mandaic, Phoenician, Punic, Qatabanic, Sabaean, Sabaic, Siltean, Syriac, Tiger, Tigrinya, Turoyoan, Ugaritic, Western Neo-Aramaic
If you like this site and find it useful, you can support it by making a donation via PayPal or Patreon, or by contributing in other ways. is how I make a living.
Is an affiliate link. This means I get a commission if you click on one of them and buy something. So by clicking on this link you can help support this site. I have always thought that one of the greatest cultural assets is one’s own language or dialect. What can identify a place other than having its own language rules? For this reason, I think it is necessary to talk about Moroccan Arabic.
Don’t be put off by the length of this article, it will be fun and not delve into the topic too much. This is just an introduction to a way to learn more about a culture that is so interesting to us and so different at the same time. Let’s get started!
List Of 20 Arabic Words Taught In This Study Via The Oavd
Morocco has two official languages: Arabic (Modern Standard Arabic) and Berber, which are very different from each other
There are also several local languages such as Tarifit or Tashelhit, although the most spoken language by far is colloquial Arabic, also known as Darija. So much so that people use it more than an official language, Modern Standard Arabic, which is the only language used for formal situations such as official speeches or trials. It is a spoken dialect based on classical Arabic, but also with influences from other languages that have left their mark on Morocco throughout history (Berber, other varieties of Arabic, French, and even Spanish).
In short, classical Arabic is the original, laid down in the Koran, while Darija is a modified version impregnated by other linguistic cultures and preferred by Moroccans for everyday communication.
So should we take an English-Darija dictionary with us when we travel to Morocco? Of course not. Let’s be honest, no Moroccan entrepreneur worth his salt will let language get in the way of offering his product or service. Also, as a result of colonialism, Moroccans have some knowledge of French and Spanish, but in most places, especially if they live in tourist areas, they are fluent in English.
Teach You Darija Moroccan Dialect And Useful Travel Tips By Jihadelouizi
However, since our interest lies primarily in establishing relations with the local population, we will focus on the colloquial Arabic.
The Arabic alphabet is used in all types of Arabic and consists of 28 letters. One of its distinguishing features that usually catches the eye, apart from the fact that most of the letters of each word (except six) are connected to each other as italics, is that they are written from right to left.
As strange as it may seem to us, this is due to a very simple technical problem that we see in other ancient alphabets such as Hebrew and Chinese. Before paper existed, writing was done on a medium such as wax. While the left hand strikes the cutting tool, the right hand controls the tip. So it is more practical to write from right to left so that you can clearly see what you are writing.
Despite this, I can’t help but think that Arabic writing is the greatest testimony to how different Arab culture is from Western culture (read in the opposite direction) and the emphasis on a sense of community over individualism (italics) . ). write with the letters “hand in hand”)).
Hassaniya Arabic Language And Language
Don’t get your hopes up too high: after learning these phrases and words, you won’t be fully prepared to show off your conversational skills in every possible situation.
But even learning a little bit of the language goes a long way. It can be the perfect bridge between cultures and a great way to break the ice. If you learn a little of the local language, it shows that you accept their culture. Soon they will teach you Arabic and you will teach them some English. You never know what interesting words you will end up learning or teaching others.
The following are some of the most common words and phrases that will spark a connection with locals. It is divided into themes, and each table includes three functions:
The list is quite extensive, so don’t try to take everything at once. Feel free to add it to your favorites and check back in time.
Arabic Dialects Compared: Maghrebi, Egyptian, Levantine, Hejazi, Gulf, And Msa
I have to thank my friend Salah for his help with the audio recording, and Miriam Berenguer, for her wise advice.
I hope this post will help you and, most importantly, awaken your interest in Moroccan culture. See you another time!
There are several ways to say “hello” in Moroccan Arabic, some requiring the same response as a greeting and others requiring a different response. These are the most common:
About the author My name is Mariluz Bejarano, I was born in the Spanish enclave of Morocco in Ceuta and Morocco has been one of my main interests since I was a child in Morocco.
Learn Darija, Classical Arabic And Moroccan Culture., Language Classes Casablanca Settat In Morocco
This website uses cookies to improve your experience when you navigate through the website. In addition to these cookies, the cookies categorized as necessary are stored in your browser because they are essential for the basic functionality of the website. We also use third-party cookies to help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies are only stored in your browser with your consent. You also have the option to opt out of these cookies. However, opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are essential for the website to function properly. This category only contains cookies that guarantee basic functionality and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
All cookies that may not be strictly necessary for the functioning of the website and are specifically used to collect personal data from users through analytics, advertisements, other embedded content are referred to as non-necessary cookies. You must obtain user consent before implementing these cookies on your website.