Walk into a spice shop in the medina, say “Salam alaykoum” before anything else, and watch the mood change. The seller who was about to launch into his English sales pitch smiles, answers “Wa alaykoum salam” and offers you a glass of tea. A handful of words in the local language will not make you fluent, but in Marrakech they mark you as a guest rather than a target.
This guide covers the essential Darija phrases for travelers, grouped by the situations you will actually face: greetings, taxis, souks, restaurants and asking for help. Each phrase uses simple English spelling, and the tips section explains the local quirks that standard phrasebooks skip, such as why a shopkeeper might quote you a price twenty times higher than you expect.
Moroccan Arabic for Tourists: What Is Darija?
Darija is the everyday Arabic spoken in Morocco. It sounds quite different from the Modern Standard Arabic taught in textbooks and borrows freely from Amazigh, French and Spanish. You will hear taxi drivers ask about “l-compteur” from French, for example. That mix makes Darija for tourists easier than it sounds, since a few loanwords may already feel familiar.
Morocco has two official languages, Arabic and Tamazight, under Article 5 of the 2011 constitution, and French is still widely used on menus, signs and in business. In Marrakech, many people working with tourists also speak some English. Even so, Moroccan Arabic for tourists is less about getting by and more about courtesy. A greeting or a thank you in Darija earns warmth that English alone rarely does.
How to Pronounce the Phrases
The spellings below are simplified for English speakers, which keeps Darija for travelers practical rather than academic. A few sounds are worth knowing.
- kh is a throaty sound, like the ch in the Scottish word loch
- gh is close to a French r, made at the back of the throat
- q is a hard k pronounced deep in the throat
- Doubled letters, as in bzzaf, are held slightly longer
When Moroccans text in Latin letters, they use numbers for Arabic sounds that English lacks. You will see 3 for a guttural “a” sound, 7 for a breathy h and 9 for q, so “how much” often appears as “bch7al”.
Basic Darija Phrases for Greetings and Politeness
These basic Darija phrases will carry you through most short conversations.
| English | Darija |
| Hello (peace be upon you) | Salam alaykoum |
| Reply to hello | Wa alaykoum salam |
| How are you? | Labas? |
| Fine, thank God | Labas, hamdullah |
| Good morning | Sbah l-khir |
| Good evening | Msa l-khir |
| Please | Afak |
| Thank you | Shukran |
| Thank you very much | Shukran bzzaf |
| Excuse me, sorry | Smeh liya |
| Yes / No | Iyeh / La |
| Okay | Wakha |
| Goodbye | Bslama |
How to Say Hello in Moroccan Arabic
If you only learn one phrase, learn how to say hello in Moroccan Arabic. “Salam alaykoum” works with everyone, from shopkeepers to your riad host. Use it when you walk into a shop, a taxi or a café, before you ask anything.
How to Say Thank You in Darija
Knowing how to say thank you in Darija is just as useful. “Shukran” is the everyday word. For a warmer thanks, say “Baraka Allahu fik”, which means “may God bless you” and is a lovely way to thank a host after a meal.
Moroccan Arabic Phrases for Taxis
These Moroccan Arabic phrases for taxis help you agree on the fare before you set off.
| English | Darija |
| I want to go to … | Bghit nmshi l- … |
| How much to …? | Bshhal l- …? |
| Turn on the meter, please | Dir l-compteur, afak |
| Straight ahead | Nishan |
| Right / Left | Limen / Lisser |
| Slowly, please | Bshwiya, afak |
| Stop here | Wqef hna |
Ask for the meter as soon as you get in, and agree on a price first if the driver refuses. If you would rather skip the negotiation, Uber is back in Marrakech and shows the fare upfront.
Moroccan Arabic Phrases for Shopping and Bargaining
The souks are where Moroccan Arabic phrases for shopping pay off most. Start with these.
| English | Darija |
| How much is this? | Bshhal hada? |
| Just looking | Ghir kanshouf |
| I want this one | Bghit hada |
| I’ll take it | Safi, ghadi nakhdo |
| No, thank you | La, shukran |
For Moroccan Arabic phrases for bargaining, such as “too expensive” and “last price?”, see the souk bargaining guide, which pairs each phrase with typical 2026 prices. “Ghir kanshouf” deserves special mention. Said with a smile, it lets you browse without a sales pitch following you down the lane.
Moroccan Arabic Phrases for Restaurants
From food stalls to riad dinners, these Moroccan Arabic phrases for restaurants cover the basics.
| English | Darija |
| The menu, please | L-menu, afak |
| Water | L-ma |
| Mint tea | Atay b-naanaa |
| Without sugar | Bla sukkar |
| I don’t eat meat | Ma kanakulsh l-lham |
| Delicious | Bnin |
| The bill, please | L-hsab, afak |
Moroccan mint tea is traditionally served very sweet, so “bla sukkar” or “shwiya d sukkar” (a little sugar) is worth remembering. Put these phrases to work at the street food stalls of Jemaa el-Fnaa, where a “bnin” for the cook is always appreciated.
Most sit-down restaurants in Marrakech have menus in French and often English, so you will rarely need to order in Darija. Still, greeting the staff with a few Moroccan Arabic phrases and thanking the cook on the way out tends to earn better service and a warmer goodbye.
Darija Numbers for Prices
Numbers help you understand prices without asking twice. A Darija learning guide lists them like this.
| Number | Darija | Number | Darija |
| 1 | Wahed | 6 | Setta |
| 2 | Jouj | 7 | Sebaa |
| 3 | Tlata | 8 | Tmenya |
| 4 | Rebaa | 9 | Tesaoud |
| 5 | Khamsa | 10 | Ashra |
| 20 | Ashrin | 100 | Mya |
Useful Darija Phrases for Getting Help
These useful Darija phrases come in handy when something goes wrong.
| English | Darija |
| I don’t understand | Ma fhemtsh |
| Do you speak English? | Wash kat-hder l-ingliziya? |
| Where is …? | Fin kayn …? |
| Where is the toilet? | Fin kayn t-twalit? |
| I need a doctor | Bghit tbib |
| I know the way, thank you | Kanaaref t-triq, shukran |
For minor health problems, a pharmacy in Marrakech is often the quickest first stop, and pharmacists usually speak French.
Darija Phrases to Know Before Visiting Morocco: What Phrasebooks Miss
These are the Darija phrases to know before visiting Morocco that rarely appear in standard guides, along with the habits behind them.
Prices in Rials
Some sellers, especially in markets, still quote prices in rials, an old unit where 20 rials equal 1 dirham. Morocco World News explains that a kilo of potatoes priced at 6 dirhams may be quoted as 120. If a price sounds absurd, ask “b dirham?” to check the unit.
Labas Is a Greeting, Not a Question
“Labas?” works like “all good?” and the expected answer is “labas, hamdullah”, even on a bad day. It is polite to ask in return.
Inshallah Can Mean Maybe
“Inshallah” means “God willing”. You will hear it after almost any plan, from “see you tomorrow” to “your rug will arrive next week”. It is sincere, but it is not a guarantee.
Some Words Change for Women
Darija adjusts some words depending on who you speak to. “Smeh liya” becomes “smhi liya” when addressed to a woman, for example. Nobody will mind if you mix them up.
Learn Two Amazigh Words for the Mountains
In the Atlas villages around Imlil, many people speak Tashelhit, an Amazigh language. “Azul” means hello and “tanmirt” means thank you. They are a nice touch on a private tour into the Atlas.
Use Your Phrases With Confidence
Use these Moroccan Darija phrases even if your accent is rough. Moroccans are used to switching languages, and an attempt in Darija is almost always met with warmth, and often a quick lesson.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Darija the same as Arabic?
Darija is a form of Arabic, but it differs a lot from Modern Standard Arabic and from Middle Eastern dialects. Speakers of other Arabic dialects sometimes find it hard to follow.
Do people speak English in Marrakech?
Many people working in tourism speak some English, especially younger Moroccans. French is more widely understood, particularly in shops, offices and pharmacies.
Is it better to speak French or Darija?
French works for practical tasks. Darija works better for greetings and building rapport. Using both is ideal.
How can I learn more Darija before my trip?
Beyond these useful Moroccan Arabic phrases for travel, the free Peace Corps Moroccan Arabic textbook on the Internet Archive is a thorough starting point, and listening to Moroccan radio or music helps with pronunciation.
How long does it take to learn the basics?
Most visitors can learn the basic Darija phrases for tourists in this guide in an evening or two. Practice the greetings out loud, and the rest will come once you start using them.
Will people laugh if I get it wrong?
They might smile, but in a friendly way. Effort is what counts.
Start With a Greeting
You do not need fluency to enjoy Marrakech, but a few words go a long way. Learn the greetings first, then the taxi and shopping phrases, and practice “shukran” until it comes naturally. These essential Darija phrases for travelers will make every conversation, from the souk to the riad, a little easier and a lot friendlier. Save this list of Darija phrases to your phone before you fly.
Want to understand the customs behind the words? Read the guide to Moroccan culture before you go.
