Why classical translators are wrong in Darija
Type "how are you" into a general translator and you often get Standard Arabic — the formal language of newspapers and school. A Moroccan understands it in writing, but no one speaks like that in a taxi or a café. Darija borrows from Arabic, Amazigh, French and Spanish, with its own vocabulary and rhythm.
A good Darija translation does not replace words one by one: it chooses what a Moroccan would really say in the situation, with the right level of politeness.
Translate from Moroccan to French
Here are phrases you'll hear all the time, and what they mean in French:
| Darija | Arabic | English |
|---|---|---|
| Labas ? | لاباس؟ | Are you okay? |
| Kifash ? | كيفاش؟ | How? |
| Bsh7al ? | بشحال؟ | How much? |
| Fin ? | فين؟ | Where? |
| Wakha | واخا | Okay |
| Safi | صافي | That's enough / it's good |
| Yallah | يالله | Come on / let's go |
Translate from French to Moroccan
| English | Darija | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | Sbah l-khir | صباح الخير |
| Thank you very much | Shukran bzzaf | شكرا بزاف |
| Please | 3afak | عفاك |
| I want… | Bghit… | بغيت |
| How much does it cost? | Bsh7al hada ? | بشحال هادا؟ |
| I don't understand | Ma fhemtsh | ما فهمتش |
The numbers 3, 7, 9 in written Darija
When Darija is written in Latin letters, we use numbers for sounds that do not exist in French:
- 3 = ع (a guttural “a”) — e.g. 3afak (please)
- 7 = ح (a blown “h”) — e.g. 7al (open)
- 9 = ق (a deep “k”) — e.g. 9hwa (coffee)
- 5 or kh = خ (like the Spanish jota)
A Darija translator who also explains how to say it
SayDarija's AI tutor translates in both directions — French, English or Darija — and returns natural spoken language with Latin transliteration, Arabic script, the meaning and a note on when to use it. Tap Listen to hear it, Speak to practice, and Save to keep it in your notebook.
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