Useful Expressions#
Here are some expressions to help you with homestay, travel, and other situations where your language may not yet be at a point where you are able to communicate well in Moroccan Arabic. If you follow the pronunciation of the transcriptions, Moroccans should understand you. More expressions can be found in the appendix. See page 153. Mealtime Expressions In the name of God (said when you bismillahاهلل سمب meal, or after expressing that all is well in life).l-7amdullahاهلل مد ُ الح َ I don’t eat … meat eggs fish chickenma-kan-akul-sh…l-l7m l-biD l-7ut d-djajI drink tea / coffee without sugar.kan-shrb atay / l-qhwa bla skkar.I eat everything.kan-akul kulshi.I eat vegetables only.kan-akul ghir l-khuDra.I don’t feel like eating.ma-fiya ma-y-akul..لكُ يا ما افيّ ما I want just/only …bghit ghir …… غير بغيت I don’t want to have breakfast.ma-bghit-sh n-ftr..نفطر بغيتش ما The food is delicious.l-makla bnina.I’m full.shb3t.I want to learn how to cook.bghit n-t3llm n-tiyb. begin an activity: eating, drinking, working, studying, traveling, etc.). Thanks to God (said after finishing a May God replenish / reward you. llah y-khlf. (said after a meal to thank host) / الحوت / البيض / اللحم ناكلشكَ ما .الدجاج .ركَ س بال القهوة / أتاي نشربكَ .لشيكُ ناكلكَ .الخضرة غير ناكلكَ .ينةبن الماكلة .شبعت .بنطي ّ نتعلّم بغيت .يخلف اهلل To your health (said to someone after eating, drinking, coming out of the hammam, wearing new clothes, having a hair cut, etc.)bSS7a. May God grant you health too.llah y-3tik SS7a. (response to the above) .ةالصح ب ّ .ةالصح يعطيك اهلل ّ Thanking Expressions Thank you.shukran.را كشُ You’re welcome.bla jmil..جميل بال20 • Moroccan Arabic Expressions for Nighttime / Sleeping I’m tired. (male speaker)ana 3iyan..انعي ّ أنا I’m tired. (female speaker)ana 3iyana..انةعي ّ أنا I want to read a little bit.bghit n-qra shwiya.I want to go to bed.bghit n-n3s.Where I am going to sleep?fin ghadi n-n3s.Excuse me, I want to go to bed.(addressing a group of people)sm7u li, bghit n-mshi n-n3s.I want to go to bed early.bghit n-n3s bkri..بكري عسنّ بغيت I want to get up early.bghit n-fiq bkri..بكري نفيق بغيت I want a blanket.bghit wa7d l-manTa..المانطة واحد بغيت .شوية نقرى بغيت .عسنّ بغيت عس؟نّ غادي فين .عسنّ نمشي بغيت ،لي سمحو Hygiene/Cleanliness Expressions I want to wash my hands with soap.bghit n-ghsl yddi b S-Sabun..الصابون ب ييد ّ نغسل بغيت I want to brush my teeth.bghit n-ghsl snani..سناني نغسل بغيت I want hot water, please.bghit l-ma s-skhun 3afak..السخون الما بغيت I want to take a shower.bghit n-duwsh.I want to go to the hammam.bghit n-mshi l-7mmam..امالحم ّ نمشي بغيت I want to change my clothes.bghit n-bddl 7wayji..حوايجي لنبد ّ بغيت Where is the toilet?fin bit l-maa?I want to do laundry.bghit n-Sbbn 7wayji.Where can I do laundry?fin ymkn n-Sbbn 7wayji. .شندو ّ بغيت الما؟ بيت فين .حوايجي ننصب ّ بغيت .حوايجي ننصب ّ يمكن فين Offering Help / Asking for Favors نعاونك؟ واش Can I help you?wesh n-3awnk?Excuse me. (to a man)sm7 li..لي سمح Excuse me. (to a woman)Sm7i li..لي سمحي Give me … please.3Tini …3afak. .فاكعَ … عطينيPeace Corps / Morocco • 21 Being Sick I’m sick. (male speaker)ana mriD..مريض أنا I’m sick. (female speaker)ana mriDa..مريضة أنا I want to rest a bit.bghit n-rta7 shwiya..ةسوي ّ نرتاح بغيت Do you feel better?(wesh) briti shwiya?ة؟شوي ّ بريتي واش Transportation Expressions I want to go to …bghit n-mshi l …… ل نمشي بغيت Take me to … please.ddini l …3afak..فاكعَ … ل ينيدّ Stop here, please.wqf hna 3afak.Is the meter on?wesh l-kuntur khddam?ام؟خد ّ الكونتور واش Turn on the meter, please.khddm l-kuntur 3afak..فاكعَ الكونتور مخد ّ .فاكعَ هنا وقف Responses to Problems/Difficulties/Apologies It’s not a problem.mashi mushkil..لشكمُ ماشي There is no problem.ma-kayn mushkil..لشكمُ كاين ما Congratulations مبروك Congratulations.mbrukHappy holiday.mbruk l-3id..العيد مبروك May God grant you grace.llah y-bark fik..فيك يبارك اهلل (response to the above) Communication I don’t understand.ma-fhmt-sh..فهمتش ما I don’t know.ma-n-3rf..نعرف ما Slowly please.b shwiya 3afak.Repeat please. (to a man)3awd 3afak..فاكعَ عاود Repeat please. (to a woman)3awdi 3afak..فاكعَ عاودي What did you say?shnu glti?گلتي؟ شنو .فاكعَ شوية ب