The official language in Morocco is Arabic, but it is quite different
from classical Arabic. The country also has three different Berber
dialects. French is widely taught in schools, and some Moroccans speak
several languages fluently, including English and Spanish. The following
is a phonetic transliteration from the Arabic script. Words or letters
in brackets indicate the different form that is required when
addressing, or speaking as, a woman.
GREETINGS AND COMMON WORDS
Yes Eeyeh, naam
No La
Please Min fadlak (fadlik) I Afek
Thank you Shukran I Baraka allah
Oofeek
You're welcome AI Alow
Hello to Muslims As Salaam walaykum
(formal)
Response Wa alaykum salaam
Hello (informal) La bes
Response Bikheer
Welcome Ahlan wa sahlan
Response Ahlan bik(i)
Good bye Bislemah
Good morning Sbah 'khir
Good evening Msa I'khir
Good night Leela saieeda
How are you? La bes?
Fine, thank you Bikheer hamdulillaah
God Willing Inshallah
Sorry Smeh lee
My name is ... Smeele ...
Do you speak English? Ana macken Hdersh ngliziya
I don't understand Mafhemsh
I understand Fhaml
I don't speak Arabic Ana macken Hdersh Arbiya
Mail Barid
Cheque Cheque
Traveller's cheque Traveller's cheque
Credit card Cart visa
How much is that? Bsh hal hadeek
GLOSSARY TO THE TEXT
Aim spring Ait tribe Arabesque geometrical and floral
decoration, including caligraphy
Bab gate in city walls Babouche traditional leather slipper
Baraka blessing of a saint, sought
at
his marabout Berbers the first inhabitants of
Morocco and North Africa
Borj fort/tower Caid district administrator Caleche horse-drawn carriage
Caravanserai lodgings for travellers
and animals, around a courtyard
Cherif (or shrifl descendant of the
Prophet Mohammed Djellaba (or lellaba) hooded outer
dress worn by men and women
Djemaa/jamaa mosque Drar house Ensemble artisanal fixed-price government shop Eye sand dune Fantasia spectacular party tradition-ally held at Berber festivals
Fassi inhabitant of Fes
Fondouk inn,
caravanserai Gnaoua brotherhood descended from slaves from Mali and Senegal Haik traditional veil Hammam steam bath, usually near
mosques for ablutions before prayers
Harira rich meat soup linn genie, good or evil spirit
loutia flea market Khanqah Sufi monastery
Kasbah fortified village Kif cannabis Kissaria covered market where more expensive goods are sold Koran (Qu'ran) Muslim holy book
Koubba tomb of a saint! dome (see
marabout) Ksar tribal stronghold
Ksour plural of ksar
Makhzen government Marabout holy man, as well as his tomb (see koubba) Maristan (Islamic) hospital
Mechouar large square for official
gatherings Medersa Koranic school
Medina old part of the city
Mellah Jewish quarter
of a
Moroccan town
Midan square Minaret slender tower of a mosque
Minzah the garden in old
Moroccan houses Moulay descendant of Mohammed, title of Moroccan sultans Mouloud birthday of the Prophet
Moussem pilgrimage and festival for
a Muslim saint
Mstani Christian
Muhayyem campsite
Oud Moroccan music
Oued river or river bed Pise building material of packed
clay and stones from river bed
Ramadan Islamic month of fasting
Ras
source/head Sahn courtyard of a mosque
Sawiris inhabitants of Essaouira
Sharia
street Shereef descendant of Mohammed
Shouaf witchdoctor Souk street market/bazaar Sufi Islamic brotherhood of ascetics and mystics Tagine traditional stew of spiced meat or fish and vegetables or fruit
Tizi mountain pass Touaref Berber nomad from the Western Sahara known for their blue
clothes Vizier chief minister of Islamic ruler
