20 Darija Words and Phrases to Know When Travelling to Morocco

Standard Arabic is generally used in an official capacity, while Darija is the language on the street. In addition to pronunciation differences and alternate grammar forms, there are also many words that are different in Darija. Some are loan words—or corruptions of loan words—often from Amazigh, French, and Spanish, while others were created in Morocco.

Pronounce it like this: Khi-zu

Pronounce it like this: Biz-ev

Pronounce it like this: Twang

Pronounce it like this: For-sheet-a

Pronounce it like this: Breek-ah

Pronounce it like this: Kid-ay-er

Pronounce it like this: Brree-tee

Pronounce it like this: A-tay

Pronounce it like this: Deb-bah

Pronounce it like this: Mack-lah

Pronounce it like this: Lim-oun-ah

Pronounce it like this: Zou-in (masculine) or Zou-in-ah (feminine)

Pronounce it like this: Cwis-een-ah

Pronounce it like this: Mersh

Pronounce it like this: Disk

Pronounce it like this: Wack-ah

Pronounce it like this: Kaa-Dar

Pronounce it like this: Shant-ee

Pronounce it like this: Tak-sheet-ah

Pronounce it like this: Feen