Greetings are quite warm in Morocco, that you’ll find a person you meet for the first time asking you about your health, family, work and so on. When two persons meet, their greetings can be long depending on how close they are to one another. Even when you come across somebody in the street, you manage to ask them quickly about their family.
Situational dialogue:
Sara: Sbâ7 lkhîr.
Fatima: Sbâ7 nnôr
Sara: Kî dâyra? Lâ bâs 3lîk?
Fatima: Lâ bâs l7mdo lillah, w ntî?
Sara: Kol shî bîkhîr, Rbbi ykhllîk.
سارة: صْباح لخير
فاطمة: صْباح النور
سارة: كي دايرة؟ لا باس عليك؟
فاطمة: لا باس، لحمدُ لله. و نْتي؟
سارة: كُل شي بِخير، ربي يخليك
Moroccan Darija
Arabic Writing
Translation
Explanation and Comments
Sbâ7 lkhîr
صْباح لخير
Good morning
Literally (morning of wealth/grace).
Sbâ7 nnôr
صْباح النور
Good morning
Literally (morning of light).
Kî dâyra?
كي دايرة؟
How are you doing?
Composed of two words:
- Kif shortened to kî: How.
- Dâyra: you do, conjugated to the singular feminine.
Lâ bâs 3lîk?
لا باس عليك؟
No harm on you?
It’s used to mean (are you okay?).
L7mdo lillah
لحمدُ لله
Praise be to Allah.
W ntî?
و نْتي؟
And you?
[See lesson about pronouns.]
Kol shî bîkhîr
كُل شي بِخير
All is fine.
Kol shi is exactly like everything, it’s composed of two parts:
- Kol : every/all.
- Shî : thing.
Rbbî ykhllîk
ربي يخليك
May Allah protect you.
Ssalâmo 3alîkom
السلام عليكم
Peace be upon you
This can be shortened to just (ssalam السلام) sometimes. For which the answer is (w “likom ssalam و عليكم السلام).
Msâ lkhîr/nnôr
مسا لخير/ النور
Good evening
Bîkhîr
بخير
Fine
Mmâlîn ddâr?
مّالين الدّار؟
And your family?
Literally (the house owners?).
Lwlîdât?
لْولِيدات؟
The kids?
Bslâma
بْسْلامة
Goodbye
Ntshâwfô ghddâ
نْتشاوْفو غْدّا
See you tomorrow
شكرا جزيلا بالمساعدة يا صديقي سأذهب إلى المغرب قريباً وأمل سيكون الفصحى كافي هاها
