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Weekly Travel Article
Lesson 1: Beginning Darija (Moroccan Arabic) - The Basics
Marrakech Magic
By: Gems Ouziad
Particles:
Prepositions:
Step a thousand years back in time into one of Shaharazard’s tales, weave through the snake charmers and never-ending marketplaces full of vibrant colors and the smells of exotic spices and orange trees. Listen to the deep enchanting notes of the Gnawa musicians and the methodic calls from the vendors as they vie for your attention. Sit on a terrace sipping mint tea and watching acrobats and dancers awe the crowds below. Such is the magic of the Medina in Marrakech.
Yes - nåam / iyeh
No - la
OK - wakha
to / for - l
in / at - f
about / on - åala
with (someone) - måa
with / by - b
without - bla
until - Htta l
of / belonging to - d / dyal
between - bin
behind - mura
above / on - fouq
below / under - taHt
next to - Hda
facing - mqabl måa
before - qbl
after - båad
Personal Pronouns:
I - ana
You (masc. sing.) - nta
You (fem. sing.) - nti
You (plur.) - ntuma
He - huwa
She - hiya
We - Hna
They - huma
Preposition with / b:
with - b/ måa
with me - biya / måaya
with you (sing.) - bik / måak
with you (plur.) - bikum / måakum
with us - bina / måana
with him - bih / måah
with her - biha / måaha
with them - bihum / måahum
Objective Pronouns:
Me - ni
You (sing.) - k
You (plur.) - kum
Him / It - u / h
Her / It - ha
Us - na
Them - hum
Question Words:
Who - chkun
What - ach /chnu / achnu
Whose - dyal mn
How - kifach
Which - ashmn
Where - fin / fayn
From Where - mnin
How Many / Much - chHal
When - imta / fuqach
Why - åalach
With Whom - måa mn
Beginning Darija
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More Moroccan Arabic Lessons:
A Moroccan bride often changes her kaftan (wedding dress) 4 to 7 times when she gets married. Though the traditional color is white, kaftans are made in a variety of colors and designs.
Common Phrases
Moroccan Greetings
Booking a Hotel
Shopping in the Souk
In the Restaurant
Moroccan Arabic, also known as Darija, is not a written language. It is a dialect of Modern Arabic which also has influences from French, Spanish, Berber, and other African languages. Moroccan Arabic (Darija) is only written as communication between friends and is often written using either Arabic or English characters. Since there is no formal writing, spelling varies and is almost always phonetic. Formal Documents, signs, newspapers, magazines, books, advertisement, menus, etc. are all in Classic Arabic. Though Moroccan Arabic (darija) tends to use less vowels in their writing than typical Classic Arabic.