100 Darija phrases every expat needs (with pronunciation)

I'm going to skip the part where I tell you how beautiful Morocco is and how learning the language will change your life. You already know that. You're here for the phrases.

These are organized by situation because that's how you'll actually need them. Not alphabetically, not by difficulty, but by "you're standing in a souk and someone is yelling numbers at you." That situation.

As an expat, your needs go beyond tourist basics. You need to talk to your landlord about the water heater, explain symptoms at the pharmacy, and ask your neighbor to please stop parking in front of your door. This guide covers all of it.

Greetings (the long ones)

Moroccans don't just say hi. They ask about your health, your family's health, your work, your day, and they expect the same back. This can go on for a while. Don't rush it. Rushing a greeting in Morocco is like cutting someone off mid-sentence in English. It signals that you don't care, even if you're just in a hurry.

Darija	Arabic	When to use it
salam 3likom	السلام عليكم	Universal hello. Works everywhere, anytime.
labas 3lik?	لاباس عليك	How are you? Literally "no harm on you?"
mr7ba bik	مرحبا بيك	Welcome. You'll hear this a LOT.
nta mn fin?	نتا من فين؟	Where are you from? You'll be asked daily.
ana mn...	أنا من...	I am from... (add your country)
kif dayr/dayra?	كيف داير/دايرة	How are you doing? (masc/fem)
lhamdullah	الحمد لله	Thank God. The standard reply to "how are you?"
bslama	بسلامة	Goodbye. Literally "with peace."
tsbah 3la kher	تصبح على خير	Good night. Use when parting in the evening.

Pro tip: when a Moroccan asks "labas?", they expect you to say "lhamdullah, labas" back and then ask them the same question. It's a verbal handshake. Skip it and things feel cold.

Survival basics

These are the words that will carry you through 80% of daily interactions. Memorize them before anything else.

Darija	Arabic	What it means
wakha	واخا	OK / Alright. The most versatile word in Darija.
yallah	يالله	Let's go! Use it to get things moving.
daba	دابا	Now. Though "now" in Morocco is... flexible.
mashi mushkil	ماشي مشكل	No problem. Very Moroccan attitude.
ma fhemtsh	ما فهمتش	I don't understand. Say it without shame.
tkelem shwiya	تكلم شوية	Speak slowly. Darija is fast.
3afak	عفاك	Please.
shukran	شكرا	Thank you.
sme7 li	سمح لي	Excuse me / Sorry.
iyeh	إيه	Yes.
la	لا	No.
3lash?	علاش	Why? Useful more often than you'd expect.

At the souk (bargaining)

This is where Darija becomes a sport. (Full strategy in our souk bargaining guide.) The rules: ask the price, look horrified, counter at half, walk away if they don't budge. They'll call you back.

Darija	Arabic	Usage
bsh7al?	بشحال	How much? Your most powerful word.
bzzaf!	بزاف	Too much! Say this and watch the price drop.
ktar mn hadi	كتر من هادي	More than that. Push for a better deal.
floos	فلوس	Money.
hak	هاك	Here you go / Take it.
n3tik... derham	نعطيك... درهم	I'll give you... dirhams. Name your counter offer.
ma bghitsh	ما بغيتش	I don't want it. The walk-away phrase.

Food and drink

Eating is central to Moroccan life. Whether you're ordering at a cafe or being invited to someone's home for couscous Friday, these phrases will make the experience much richer. And yes, you will be invited for couscous on a Friday. Say yes.

Darija	English
atay	Mint tea. The national drink. Don't refuse it.
9hwa	Coffee.
7lib	Milk.
l7m	Meat.
zit	Oil (olive oil, usually).
ml7	Salt.
skkar	Sugar.
bnin!	Delicious! Guaranteed to make the cook smile.
b'ssa7a	Enjoy your meal / Bon appetit.
sahha	Cheers / Bless you. Fits everywhere.
bla skkar	Without sugar. You'll need this for tea and coffee.
ma kanakol sh l7m	I don't eat meat. For vegetarians.
3endi l7assasiya mn...	I'm allergic to... (critical for food allergies).

Getting around

Getting lost in the medina is practically a rite of passage. These phrases will help you find your way back, or at least communicate where you're trying to go. For taxi-specific phrases, see our complete taxi guide.

Darija	Arabic	Usage
fin kayn...?	فين كاين	Where is...? Add the place after.
wesh kayn...?	واش كاين	Is there...? For checking if something exists.
n9dr n3awn?	نقدر نعاون	Can I help? Moroccans love when foreigners offer.
b3id?	بعيد	Is it far? Essential before you start walking.
9rib	قريب	Close / nearby.
limen / liser	ليمن / ليسر	Right / left. For directions.
nishan	نيشان	Straight ahead.

At the pharmacy

Morocco's pharmacies are remarkably accessible. You can walk in, describe symptoms, and often get what you need without a prescription for minor things. But you need to describe what's wrong. Pointing at your stomach only goes so far.

Darija	Arabic	Meaning
3endi wja3	عندي وجع	I have pain.
rassi kayder7ni	راسي كيضرحني	My head hurts (headache).
kershi kayder7ni	كرشي كيضرحني	My stomach hurts.
3endi ss7an	عندي سخان	I have a fever.
3endi lberd	عندي لبرد	I have a cold.
3endi l7assasiya	عندي لحساسية	I have allergies.
bghit dwa dyal...	بغيت دوا ديال	I want medicine for... (add symptom).
sh7al mn merra nakhod had dwa?	شحال من مرة ناخد هاد الدوا	How many times should I take this medicine?

Pharmacists in Morocco often speak French, so you can mix. But leading with Darija gets you better service and often lower prices on non-regulated items.

At the bank

Opening an account, exchanging money, or dealing with the ATM that just ate your card. Banking in Morocco requires patience and a few key phrases. Most bank staff speak French, but Darija smooths everything.

Darija	Arabic	Meaning
bghit n7el kont	بغيت نحل كونت	I want to open an account.
bghit nsarraf floos	بغيت نصرف فلوس	I want to exchange money.
l carte dyali t7abssat	الكارت ديالي تحبسات	My card is stuck (in the ATM).
bghit nkhrej floos	بغيت نخرج فلوس	I want to withdraw money.
fin kayn l guichet?	فين كاين لكيشي	Where is the counter/window?
wesh l virement wsel?	واش لفيرمو وصل	Has the transfer arrived?

With your neighbors

Your neighbors are your first community in Morocco. Get this right and you'll have people looking out for you, bringing you food during Ramadan, and warning you when the water is getting cut off. Get it wrong and... well, just get it right.

Darija	Arabic	When to use it
ana jar/jara jdid/jdida	أنا جار/جارة جديد/جديدة	I'm your new neighbor (masc/fem).
smiyti...	سميتي...	My name is... Introduce yourself first day.
wesh n9dr nslf mnk...?	واش نقدر نسلف منك	Can I borrow...? (sugar, a tool, etc.)
sme7 li 3la l3iyaq	سمح لي على العياق	Sorry about the noise.
wesh kolshi bikhir?	واش كلشي بخير	Is everything ok? Great for building rapport.
allah ybarek fik	الله يبارك فيك	God bless you. A warm thank-you for favors.
tfdl/tfdli	تفضل/تفضلي	Please come in / go ahead (masc/fem).

Cultural note: in Morocco, when you move into a new place, it's common to bring something sweet to your immediate neighbors. Pastries from the local 7lwa shop work perfectly. This small gesture opens doors that Darija alone can't.

At the mechanic

If you drive in Morocco, you will eventually need a mechanic. And Moroccan mechanics are genuinely skilled, but the communication barrier can lead to expensive misunderstandings. These phrases help you explain the problem and understand the diagnosis.

Darija	Arabic	Meaning
ttomobi dyali fiha mushkil	طوموبيل ديالي فيها مشكل	My car has a problem.
l frein ma khedamsh	الفرين ما خدامش	The brakes aren't working.
kayn shi swt ghrib	كاين شي صوت غريب	There's a strange noise.
bghit nbddel zit	بغيت نبدل الزيت	I want to change the oil.
l roda tfergat	الرودا تفرقات	The tire is flat.
sh7al ghadi tkhlsni?	شحال غادي تخلصني	How much will it cost me?
imta tkun sahla?	إمتى تكون ساهلة	When will it be ready?

Dealing with your landlord

The landlord relationship in Morocco is different from what you might be used to. Things are often informal, agreements are sometimes verbal, and maintenance requests require a certain diplomatic approach. Here's the Darija you need to navigate it.

Darija	Arabic	Meaning
l ma ma kaynsh	الما ما كاينش	There's no water.
ddo ma skhn ma khedamsh	الدو ما سخن ما خدامش	The water heater isn't working.
kayn tssrb dl ma	كاين تسرب دل ما	There's a water leak.
l bab ma kaytsddsh	الباب ما كيتسدش	The door won't close.
bghit nkhlss l kra	بغيت نخلص الكرا	I want to pay the rent.
wesh ymkn tsswb had lmushkil?	واش يمكن تصوب هاد المشكل	Can you fix this problem?
l contrat fih...	الكونترا فيه	The contract says... (for disputes).
bghit nmshi mn ddar	بغيت نمشي من الدار	I want to move out.

Tip: always get things in writing, even if your landlord says "mashi mushkil." A WhatsApp message confirming what was agreed counts. Morocco's rental disputes can get complicated, and having a paper trail in any language helps.

The emotional ones

Darija	Arabic	Meaning
kanhibbak	كنحبك	I love you (to a man). kanhibbik (to a woman).
zwina	زوينة	Beautiful. For people and things. zwin (masc).
dyal bladi	ديال بلادي	From my country / local. Identity phrase.
allah y3tik ss7a	الله يعطيك الصحة	"May God give you health." The Moroccan thank-you-plus.
twahshtek	توحشتك	I missed you. Powerful when said to locals.
rak f galbi	راك ف قلبي	You are in my heart.

Emergency phrases

Nobody wants to need these. But if you do, you'll be glad you memorized them. For a deeper dive, check our complete emergency Darija guide.

Darija	Arabic	When to use it
3awnuni!	عاونوني	Help me! Use loudly in an emergency.
3yit tbib!	عيط طبيب	Call a doctor!
3yit l bolice!	عيط لبوليس	Call the police!
fin kayn sbitar?	فين كاين سبيطار	Where is the hospital?
3endi 7assasiya khtira	عندي حساسية خطيرة	I have a serious allergy.
tsrq liya...	تسرق ليا	Someone stole my... (phone, wallet, etc.)
l3afiya!	العافية	Fire! Yell this if you see one.

Common expat frustrations (and the Darija that fixes them)

Every expat in Morocco hits the same walls. The bureaucracy, the "inshallah" timeline, the mysterious utility bills. Here's how Darija helps you push through the most common ones.

Frustration: nobody understands your French. Many expats arrive thinking their French will carry them. It won't, at least not everywhere. Shopkeepers, taxi drivers, and tradespeople often speak Darija first and French second (if at all). The fix: kantkelem shwiya d darija (I speak a little Darija). Even this small effort completely changes how people respond to you. You go from "tourist" to "someone making an effort."

Frustration: things take forever. The concept of time in Morocco is famously flexible. When someone says "ghda" (tomorrow) or "mn b3d" (later), they might mean next week. The fix: imta bddbt? (when exactly?). And if you want to gently push: wesh ymkn daba? (is it possible now?). Don't get frustrated. Smile and persist.

Frustration: getting overcharged. The "foreigner tax" is real for taxis, souks, and services. The fix is simple: know the phrases. bsh7al l meter? (what does the meter say?) for taxis. bsh7al l mghribi? (how much for a Moroccan?) at the souk, said with a smile. People respect that you know the game.

Frustration: dealing with admin and paperwork. Renewing your carte de sejour, registering at the commune, dealing with any government office. The universal phrase: ash khasni ndir? (what do I need to do?). Follow it with ash mn wra9 khasni? (what documents do I need?). Go early, bring copies of everything, and be endlessly patient.

Frustration: feeling isolated. Expat life can be lonely, especially when you don't speak the local language well. The fix is social Darija. wesh n9dro ntla9aw? (can we meet up?). bghit nt3lm darija (I want to learn Darija). Moroccans are incredibly warm to foreigners who try. One genuine attempt at a conversation in Darija can turn a stranger into a friend who invites you for couscous.

That's your expat survival kit. Every phrase here comes from our database of verified Marrakech Darija, with audio pronunciation available on the platform. This isn't textbook Arabic or formal Modern Standard Arabic. This is what people actually speak in the streets, shops, and homes of Morocco.

Practice them at darija.love. Hear the pronunciation, test yourself with spaced repetition, and actually remember them when you need them.