The answer in a few words
To learn Algerian Arabic, choose a regional variety, listen to a short phrase and use it in a conversation. Start with Wesh rak ? or Wesh raki ? to ask how someone is, then learn to understand the reply.
Which Algerian darija to learn?
Algerian Darija is the Arabic spoken in Algeria. Vocabulary, sounds and certain expressions vary according to regions and families. If your loved ones are from Oran, start with their usage; If your stay takes place in Algiers, first choose recordings from this region.
Kabyle is an Amazigh language: an Algerian Darija course does not therefore replace a Kabyle course. Choose the Kabyle section if this is the language of your conversations. Moroccan and Algerian share traits, but their expressions are not always interchangeable.
Four sentences for your first exchange
| Location | Algerian Darija | English |
|---|---|---|
| Greeting in the morning | Sba7 elkhir | Good morning. |
| Ask how someone is | Wesh rak ? / Wesh raki ? | How are you? Addressed to a man / to a woman. |
| Reply | Rani mli7. / Rani mli7a. | I'm fine. Said by a man/by a woman. |
| Ask for price | Sh7al yaswa hada ? | How much does this cost? For an object designated in the masculine gender. |
These transcriptions are reading guides. The number 7 represents a sound that does not exactly exist in French. Listen to the oral model before trying to read each letter like French.
A simple program for the first seven days
- Day 1: Choose a greeting and listen to it several times.
- Day 2: Add a question and its answer.
- Day 3: Record your voice and compare the rhythm to the model.
- Day 4: redo the exchange without reading.
- Day 5: Prepare a useful question at the cafe or market.
- Day 6: Ask a loved one what variation they use.
- Day 7: Replay the two situations and note what remains difficult.
Ten minutes is a practical working window, not a promise of results. Repeat the week if you still have difficulty recognizing the answers. Keep each sentence with its meaning and context.
Can you learn for free online?
Our guides are accessible free of charge. The Algerian sentences with recordings from Autolingual also allow you to listen to examples, mainly in Algiers dialect. Combine this work with exchanges with speakers: reading alone does not prepare the speed of a conversation.
SayDarija offers Algerian darija in its application. Consult our guide to choosing a application to organize your sessions and check the offer that meets your needs.
Sources and benchmarks
Resources accessed October 23, 2026. Forms may vary by region and transcription conventions.