Moroccan expressions with the voice

wakhaواخا

okay

The answer to almost everything: yes, okay, deal. “Wakha, nchoufek ghedda”: okay, see you tomorrow.

safiصافي

that's it, enough

To close things: when you're done, when it's enough, when the deal is made. Often doubled: “safi, safi”.

yakياك

right?

At the end of a sentence, asking for a yes: “nta mghribi, yak?”, you're Moroccan, right?

labasلاباس

fine / how are you

Question and answer at once: “labas?” “labas, l7amdulillah” (fine, thank God).

dabaدابا

now

And “daba daba”, right now. In Morocco, “daba” can mean in five minutes… or in an hour.

bezzafبزّاف

a lot, too much

“Ghali bezzaf!”, that's too expensive: the most useful sentence at the souk.

chwiyaشوية

a little

And “chwiya b chwiya”, little by little: the motto of anyone learning Darija.

mzyanمزيان

good

For a thing, a person, a piece of news. “Mzyan bezzaf”, very good.

zwinزوين

beautiful, nice

“Zwina” for the feminine. For a place, a dish, an outfit, a person.

yallahيلّاه

come on, let's go

To leave, to hurry someone, to cheer someone on.

3afakعافاك

please

Everyday please: “3tini lma, 3afak”, give me some water, please.

allah ykhellikالله يخلّيك

please (heartfelt)

Literally “may God keep you”. For a request that really matters.

chokranشكرا

thank you

And for a big thank you: “chokran bezzaf”.

llah y3tik ess7aالله يعطيك الصحة

thank you (for your work)

“May God give you health”: to the waiter, the driver, anyone who just worked for you. It's also the reply to “bssa7a”.

sme7liaسمحليا

sorry, excuse me

To get past, to apologise, to catch someone's attention in the street.

bslamaبسلامة

goodbye

Literally “with peace”.

3la slamaعلى السلامة

welcome back

To someone back from a trip or out of hospital: glad you're here, safe. The reply is “allah ysellmek”.

inchallahإن شاء الله

God willing

For anything in the future. An “inchallah” can be a real yes… or a polite no: the tone tells you which.

tbarkllah 3likتبارك الله عليك

well done, God bless

To praise a child, a success, a good dish. It also wards off the evil eye: a compliment without “tbarkllah” can sound envious.

bssa7aبالصحة

to your health

After a meal, for new clothes, a haircut, coming out of the hammam. Reply: “llah y3tik ess7a”.

mabroukمبروك

congratulations

A wedding, a birth, a degree, a new car. The reply is “allah ybarek fik”.

allah yrdi 3likالله يرضي عليك

may God be pleased with you

The big thank you, the one parents give their children. Also to ask a favour with affection.

llah ijazik bkhirالله يجازيك بخير

may God reward you

To thank someone for a real favour.

allah y3awnkالله يعاونك

may God help you

To someone working hard or going through a hard time.

khelliha 3la llahخلّيها على الله

leave it to God

To let go: what has to happen will happen.

sa7biصاحبي

my friend, bro

And “sa7bti” for a female friend.

khawaخاوة

like brothers

“7na khawa”: we're brothers, we stick together.

wld nnasولد الناس

a good person

Literally “son of the people”: well raised, from a good family. One of the best compliments.

7chakحشاك

pardon my words

Before naming something rude or dirty (the toilet, shoes, a donkey): politeness requires it.

blatiبلاتي

wait, easy

To make someone wait: “blati chwiya”, hold on a bit.

zidزيد

go on, more

“Zid zid!” to cheer someone on.

barakaبركا

enough

“Baraka!”, stop. Not to be confused with baraka, blessing: same sound, different word.

7choumaحشومة

shame, what isn't done

The invisible social rule: what you don't do, say or wear in front of others.

lli bgha l3sel ysbr l9rss nn7lاللي بغا العسل يصبر لقرص النحل

who wants honey must bear the bee stings

Nothing good comes without effort.

ddif dif llahالضيف ضيف الله

the guest is God's guest

Which explains why you get served tagine three times.

jjar 9bel ddarالجار قبل الدار

the neighbour before the house

Choose your neighbours before your home.

sb3 snay3 w rrz9 day3سبع صنايع والرزق ضايع

seven trades and no income

Jack of all trades, master of none.

lmktoub ma mnou mhroubالمكتوب ما منو مهروب

you can't escape what's written

Fate, the Moroccan way: “it was written”.

klchi bw9to zwinكلشي بوقتو زوين

everything is beautiful in its time

A way of saying: patience.

lklam lli khrej ma kayrj3الكلام اللي خرج ما كيرجع

words once spoken don't come back

Think before you speak.

lli bghak bghih, wlli krhk khllihاللي بغاك بغيه واللي كرهك خلّيه

love who loves you, leave who hates you

Don't waste your time trying to be liked by everyone.

3rf rask t3rf nnasعرف راسك تعرف الناس

know yourself and you'll know people

Moroccan grandmothers' “know thyself”.