# Moroccan Arabic > Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Moroccan_Arabic > Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Moroccan_Arabic.md > Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan_Arabic > Source revision: 1356853659 > License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/) Vernacular Arabic spoken in Morocco Moroccan Arabic Darija العربية المغربية الدارجة Pronunciation [ddɛɾiʒə] Native to Morocco Ethnicity Moroccan Arabs, also used as a second language by other ethnic groups in Morocco Speakers L1: 31 million (2020)[1] L2: 9.6 million (2020)[1] Total: 40 million (2020)[1] Language family Afro-Asiatic Semitic West Central Arabic Maghrebi Moroccan Arabic Dialects Hilalian: • West Moroccan Arabic • East Moroccan Arabic Pre-Hilalian: • Fessi dialect • Judeo-Moroccan • Jebli Arabic Writing system Arabic alphabet Language codes ISO 639-3 ary – Moroccan Arabic Glottolog moro1292 Map of Moroccan Arabic[2] This article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA. Nawal speaking Moroccan Arabic. Decorations written in Moroccan Arabic at Chez Ali palace in [Marrakesh](/source/Marrakesh) **Moroccan Arabic** ([Arabic](/source/Arabic_language): العربية المغربية الدارجة, [romanized](/source/Romanization_of_Arabic): *al-ʻArabiyyah al-Maghribiyyah ad-Dārija*[3] lit. 'Moroccan vernacular Arabic'), also known as **Darija** (الدارجة or الداريجة[3]), is the [dialectal](/source/Varieties_of_Arabic), [vernacular](/source/Vernacular) form or forms of [Arabic](/source/Arabic) [spoken in Morocco](/source/Languages_of_Morocco).[4][5] It is part of the [Maghrebi Arabic](/source/Maghrebi_Arabic) [dialect continuum](/source/Dialect_continuum) and as such is mutually intelligible to some extent with [Algerian Arabic](/source/Algerian_Arabic) and to a lesser extent with [Tunisian Arabic](/source/Tunisian_Arabic). It is spoken by 91.9% of the population of [Morocco](/source/Morocco), with 80.6% of Moroccans considering it their native language.[6] While [Modern Standard Arabic](/source/Modern_Standard_Arabic) is used to varying degrees in formal situations such as religious sermons, books, newspapers, government communications, news broadcasts and political talk shows, Moroccan Arabic is the predominant spoken language of the country and has a strong presence in Moroccan television entertainment, cinema and commercial advertising. Moroccan Arabic has many regional dialects and accents as well, with its mainstream dialect being the one used in metropolitan cities, such as [Casablanca](/source/Casablanca), [Rabat](/source/Rabat), [Meknes](/source/Meknes) and [Fez](/source/Fez%2C_Morocco). Therefore, the metropolitan dialects dominate the media and eclipse most of the other regional accents. ## Dialects A Moroccan person from the city of [Salé](/source/Sal%C3%A9) speaking Moroccan Arabic Moroccan Arabic was formed by two dialects of Arabic belonging to two genetically different groups: [pre-Hilalian](/source/Pre-Hilalian_Arabic_dialects) and [Hilalian](/source/Hilalian_dialects) dialects.[7][8][9] There is a growing consensus that modern Moroccan Arabic is undergoing a process of [koineization](/source/Koineization).[10] This *koine* emerged in the past fifty years due to urbanization, increased mobility and the influence of radio and television and is based of the [Bedouin dialects of the Atlantic coast](/source/Western_Morocco_Arabic).[11] This new dialect is the one that is socially dominant and is used in popular singing, in theatre and cinema, in radio and TV announcements and most notably in publicity marketing. In the literature, this dialect has been named Average Moroccan Arabic, General Moroccan Arabic and Mainstream Moroccan Arabic but Moroccans only refer to it as Darija.[12] The growth of Mainstream Moroccan Arabic has affected the speaker count of several local dialects, especially the [Hilalian dialects](/source/Hilalian_dialects). ### Pre-Hilalian dialects Ethno-linguistic map of northern Morocco: Pre-Hilalian speaking areas in purple (Mountain Arabic) and blue (old urban, village). Pre-Hilalian dialects are a result of early [Arabization](/source/Arabization) phases of the [Maghreb](/source/Maghreb), from the 7th to the 12th centuries, concerning the main urban settlements, the harbors, the religious centres (*[zaouias](/source/Zawiya_(institution))*) as well as the main trade routes. The dialects are generally classified in three types: (old) urban, "village" and "mountain" sedentary and Jewish dialects.[8][13] In Morocco, several pre-Hilalian dialects are spoken: - [Urban dialects](/source/Pre-Hilalian_Urban_Arabic_dialects): Old dialects of [Fez](/source/Fez%2C_Morocco), [Casablanca](/source/Casablanca), [Rabat](/source/Rabat), [Salé](/source/Sal%C3%A9), [Taza](/source/Taza), [Tétouan](/source/T%C3%A9touan), [Ouazzane](/source/Ouazzane), [Chefchaouen](/source/Chefchaouen), [Tangier](/source/Tangier), [Asilah](/source/Asilah), [Larache](/source/Larache), [Ksar el-Kebir](/source/Ksar_el-Kebir), [Meknes](/source/Meknes) and [Marrakesh](/source/Marrakesh).[14][9][15] - [Jebli dialects](/source/Jebli_Arabic): Dialects of northwestern Morocco, spoken by the [Jebala](/source/Jebala) people.[9][16] - Sedentary ("village") dialects of [Zerhoun](/source/Moulay_Idriss_Zerhoun) and [Sefrou](/source/Sefrou) and their neighboring tribes (Zerahna tribe for Zerhoun; Kechtala, Behalil and Yazgha tribes for Sefrou), remnants of pre-Hilalian dialects that were more widely spoken before the 12th century. - [Judeo-Moroccan](/source/Judeo-Moroccan_Arabic), nearly extinct, formerly spoken by [Moroccan Jews](/source/Moroccan_Jews).[17] The [pre-Hilalian](/source/Pre-Hilalian_Arabic_dialects) dialects are descended from [Arabic](/source/Arabic) dialects brought to the region by [Qurashi](/source/Quraysh) families, such as the [Idrissids](/source/Idrisid_dynasty) and the [Umayyads](/source/Umayyad_dynasty), as well as dialects brought by [Arabs](/source/Arabs) and [Amazighs](/source/Berbers) from [al-Andalus](/source/Al-Andalus). When [al-Andalus](/source/Al-Andalus) fell, many of its [Muslim](/source/Muslims) inhabitants migrated back to [North Africa](/source/North_Africa), particularly to cities along the [Mediterranean](/source/Mediterranean_Sea) coast. ### Hilalian dialects [Hilalian dialects](/source/Hilalian_dialects) ([Bedouin dialects](/source/Bedouin_Arabic)) were introduced following the migration of Arab nomadic tribes to Morocco in the 11th century, particularly the [Banu Hilal](/source/Banu_Hilal), which the Hilalian dialects are named after.[18][13] The Hilalian dialects spoken in Morocco belong to the [Maqil](/source/Maqil) subgroup,[13] a family that includes three main dialectal areas: - ['Aroubi Arabic](/source/Western_Morocco_Arabic) ([Western Moroccan Arabic](/source/Western_Morocco_Arabic)): spoken in the western plains of Morocco by [Doukkala](/source/Doukkala), [Abda](/source/Abda_(Morocco)), [Tadla](/source/Tadla), [Chaouia](/source/Chaouia_(Morocco)), [Gharb](/source/Gharb_(Morocco)), and [Zaër](/source/Za%C3%ABr), and in the area north of [Fez](/source/Fez%2C_Morocco) by [Hyayna](/source/Hyayna), Cheraga, Awlad Jama', etc. - [Eastern Moroccan Arabic](/source/Eastern_Morocco_Arabic): spoken in [Oujda](/source/Oujda), the [Oriental](/source/Oriental_(Morocco)) region[19]) - New urban dialects: predominantly Hilalian urban dialects, resulting from the migration movements from the countryside to cities in 20th century.[15] - [Hassaniya Arabic](/source/Hassaniya_Arabic): spoken in southern Morocco, [Western Sahara](/source/Western_Sahara) and [Mauritania](/source/Mauritania).[20] Among the dialects, Hassaniya is often considered as distinct from Moroccan Arabic. The [Hilalian dialects](/source/Hilalian_dialects) are descended from [Arabic](/source/Arabic) dialects brought to the region by [Hilalian](/source/Banu_Hilal) tribes, such as the [Athbaj](/source/Athbaj) and [Riyah](/source/Riyah). Although the [Hilalians](/source/Banu_Hilal) did interact and intermarry with the local [Amazigh](/source/Berbers) populations, it occurred to a much lesser extent compared to the [Qurashi](/source/Quraysh) families. Since the [Hilalians](/source/Banu_Hilal) came to the region in large numbers, alongside their women and children, unlike the [Qurashis](/source/Quraysh), who were typically descended from a single [Qurashi](/source/Quraysh) male who had migrated to the region alone. ## Phonology This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (October 2022) (Learn how and when to remove this message) ### Vowels Monophthong phonemes of Moroccan Arabic Short Long Front Back Front Back Close u iː uː Open ə aː One of the most notable features of Moroccan Arabic is the collapse of short vowels. Initially, short /a/ and /i/ were merged into a phoneme /ə/ (however, some speakers maintain a difference between /a/ and /ə/ when adjacent to pharyngeal /ʕ/ and /ħ/). This phoneme (/ə/) was then deleted entirely in most positions; for the most part, it is maintained only in the position /...CəC#/ or /...CəCC#/ (where C represents any consonant and # indicates a word boundary), i.e. when appearing as the last vowel of a word. When /ə/ is not deleted, it is pronounced as a very short vowel, tending towards [ɑ] in the vicinity of [emphatic consonants](/source/Emphatic_consonants), [a] in the vicinity of pharyngeal /ʕ/ and /ħ/ (for speakers who have merged /a/ and /ə/ in this environment), and [ə] elsewhere. Original short /u/ usually merges with /ə/ except in the vicinity of a labial or velar consonant. In positions where /ə/ was deleted, /u/ was also deleted, and is maintained only as [labialization](/source/Labialization) of the adjacent labial or velar consonant; where /ə/ is maintained, /u/ surfaces as [ʊ]. This deletion of short vowels can result in long strings of consonants (a feature shared with Amazigh and certainly derived from it). These clusters are never simplified; instead, consonants occurring between other consonants tend to syllabify, according to a sonorance hierarchy. Similarly, and unlike most other Arabic dialects, doubled consonants are never simplified to a single consonant, even when at the end of a word or preceding another consonant. Some dialects are more conservative in their treatment of short vowels. For example, some dialects allow /u/ in more positions. Dialects of the Sahara, and eastern dialects near the border of Algeria, preserve a distinction between /a/ and /i/ and allow /a/ to appear at the beginning of a word, e.g. /aqsˤarˤ/ "shorter" (standard /qsˤərˤ/), /atˤlaʕ/ "go up!" (standard /tˤlaʕ/ or /tˤləʕ/), /asˤħaːb/ "friends" (standard /sˤħab/). Long /aː/, /iː/ and /uː/ are maintained as semi-long vowels, which are substituted for both short and long vowels in most borrowings from Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Long /aː/, /iː/ and /uː/ also have many more allophones than in most other dialects; in particular, /aː/, /iː/, /uː/ appear as [ɑ], [e], [o] in the vicinity of [emphatic consonants](/source/Emphatic_consonants) and [[q](/source/Voiceless_uvular_plosive)], [[χ](/source/Voiceless_uvular_fricative)], [[ʁ](/source/Voiced_uvular_fricative)], [[r](/source/Voiced_alveolar_trill)], but [æ], [i], [u] elsewhere. (Most other Arabic dialects only have a similar variation for the phoneme /aː/.) In some dialects, such as that of [Marrakesh](/source/Marrakesh), front-rounded and other allophones also exist. Allophones in vowels usually do not exist in [loanwords](/source/Loanwords). Emphatic spreading (i.e. the extent to which emphatic consonants affect nearby vowels) occurs much less than in [Egyptian Arabic](/source/Egyptian_Arabic). Emphasis spreads fairly rigorously towards the beginning of a word and into prefixes, but much less so towards the end of a word. Emphasis spreads consistently from a consonant to a directly following vowel, and less strongly when separated by an intervening consonant, but generally does not spread rightwards past a full vowel. For example, /bidˤ-at/ [bedɑt͡s] "eggs" (/i/ and /a/ both affected), /tˤʃaʃ-at/ [tʃɑʃæt͡s] "sparks" (rightmost /a/ not affected), /dˤrˤʒ-at/ [drˤʒæt͡s] "stairs" (/a/ usually not affected), /dˤrb-at-u/ [drˤbat͡su] "she hit him" (with [a] variable but tending to be in between [ɑ] and [æ]; no effect on /u/), /tˤalib/ [tɑlib] "student" (/a/ affected but not /i/). Contrast, for example, Egyptian Arabic, where emphasis tends to spread forward and backward to both ends of a word, even through several syllables. Emphasis is audible mostly through its effects on neighboring vowels or syllabic consonants, and through the differing pronunciation of /t/ [t͡s] and /tˤ/ [t]. Actual pharyngealization of "emphatic" consonants is weak and may be absent entirely. In contrast with some dialects, vowels adjacent to emphatic consonants are pure; there is no diphthong-like transition between emphatic consonants and adjacent front vowels. ### Consonants Consonant phonemes of Moroccan Arabic[21] Labial Dental-Alveolar Palatal Velar Uvular Pharyngeal Glottal plain emphatic plain emphatic Nasal m mˤ n Plosive voiceless (p) t tˤ k q ʔ voiced b bˤ d dˤ ɡ Fricative voiceless f (fˤ) s sˤ ʃ χ ħ h voiced (v) z zˤ ʒ ʁ ʕ Tap ɾ ɾˤ Trill r rˤ Approximant l lˤ j w Phonetic notes: - Non-emphatic /t/ in normal circumstances, is pronounced with noticeable [affrication](/source/Affrication), [tˢ], almost like [t͡s] (still distinguished from a sequence of /t/ + /s/), and hence is easily distinguishable from emphatic /tˤ/ which can be pronounced as [t]. However, in some recent loanwords from European languages, a non-affricated, non-emphatic [[t](/source/Voiceless_alveolar_plosive)] appears, distinguished from emphatic /tˤ/ primarily by its lack of effect on adjacent vowels (see above; an alternative analysis is possible). - /mˤʷ, bˤʷ, fˤʷ/ are very distinct consonants that only occur geminated, and almost always come at the beginning of a word. They function completely differently from other emphatic consonants: They are pronounced with heavy pharyngealization, affect adjacent short/unstable vowels but not full vowels, and are pronounced with a noticeable diphthongal off-glide between one of these consonants and a following front vowel. Most of their occurrences can be analyzed as underlying sequences of /mw/, /fw/, /bw/ (which appear frequently in diminutives, for example). However, a few lexical items appear to have independent occurrences of these phonemes, e.g. /mˤmˤʷ-/ "mother" (with attached possessive, e.g. /mˤmˤʷək/ "your mother"). - /[p](/source/Voiceless_bilabial_plosive)/ and /[v](/source/Voiced_labiodental_fricative)/ occur mostly in recent borrowings from European languages, and may be assimilated to /b/ or /f/ in some speakers. - Unlike in most other Arabic dialects (but, again, similar to Amazigh), non-emphatic /r/ and emphatic /rˤ/ are two entirely separate phonemes, almost never contrasting in related forms of a word. - /lˤ/ is rare in native words; in nearly all cases of native words with vowels indicating the presence of a nearby emphatic consonant, there is a nearby triggering /tˤ/, /dˤ/, /sˤ/, /zˤ/ or /rˤ/. Many recent European borrowings appear to require ([lˤ](/source/Velarized_alveolar_lateral_approximant)) or some other unusual emphatic consonant in order to account for the proper vowel allophones; but an alternative analysis is possible for these words where the vowel allophones are considered to be (marginal) phonemes on their own. - Original /q/ splits lexically into /q/ and /ɡ/ in many dialects (such as in [Casablanca](/source/Casablanca)) but /q/ is preserved all the time in most big cities such as [Rabat](/source/Rabat), [Fez](/source/Fez%2C_Morocco), [Marrakesh](/source/Marrakesh), etc. and all of northern Morocco ([Tangier](/source/Tangier), [Tetouan](/source/Tetouan), [Chefchaouen](/source/Chefchaouen), etc.); for all words, both alternatives exist. - Original /dʒ/ normally appears as /ʒ/, but as /ɡ/ (sometimes /d/) if a sibilant, lateral or rhotic consonant appears later in the same stem: /ɡləs/ "he sat" (MSA /dʒalas/), /ɡzzar/ "butcher" (MSA /dʒazzaːr/), /duz/ "go past" (MSA /dʒuːz/) like in western [Algerian](/source/Algerian_Arabic) dialects. - Original /s/ is converted to /ʃ/ if /ʃ/ occurs elsewhere in the same stem, and /z/ is similarly converted to /ʒ/ as a result of a following /ʒ/: /ʃəmʃ/ "sun" vs. MSA /ʃams/, /ʒuʒ/ "two" vs. MSA /zawdʒ/ "pair", /ʒaʒ/ "glass" vs. MSA /zudʒaːdʒ/, etc. This does not apply to recent borrowings from MSA (e.g. /mzaʒ/ "disposition"), nor as a result of the negative suffix /ʃ/ or /ʃi/. - The gemination of the flap /ɾ/ results in a trill /r/. ## Writing A 1922 issue of the newspaper *[El Horria](/source/El_Horria_-_La_Libert%C3%A9)* in Darija with [Hebrew script](/source/Hebrew_alphabet). Through most of its history, Moroccan vernacular Arabic has usually not been written.[22]: 59 Due to the [diglossic](/source/Diglossia) nature of the [Arabic language](/source/Arabic), most literate Muslims in Morocco would write in Standard Arabic, even if they spoke Darija as a first language.[22]: 59 However, since Standard Arabic was typically taught in Islamic religious contexts, [Moroccan Jews](/source/Moroccan_Jews) usually would not learn Standard Arabic and would write instead in Darija, or more specifically a variety known as [Judeo-Moroccan Arabic](/source/Judeo-Moroccan_Arabic), using [Hebrew script.](/source/Hebrew_alphabet)[22][: 59](/source/Hebrew_alphabet) A *[risala](/source/Risalah_(fiqh))* on Semitic languages written in Maghrebi Judeo-Arabic by [Judah ibn Quraish](/source/Judah_ibn_Kuraish) to the Jews of Fez dates back to the ninth-century.[22]: 59 [Al-Kafif az-Zarhuni's](/source/Al-Kafif_az-Zarhuni) epic 14th century *[zajal](/source/Zajal)* *[Mala'bat al-Kafif az-Zarhuni](/source/Mala'bat_al-Kafif_az-Zarhuni)*, about [Abu al-Hasan Ali ibn Othman al-Marini's](/source/Abu_al-Hasan_Ali_ibn_Othman) campaign on [Hafsid](/source/Hafsid_dynasty) [Ifriqiya](/source/Ifriqiya), is considered the first [literary work](/source/Moroccan_literature) in Darija.[23][24] Most books and magazines are in [Modern Standard Arabic](/source/Modern_Standard_Arabic); [Qur'an](/source/Qur'an) books are written and read in [Classical Arabic](/source/Classical_Arabic), and there is no universally standard written system for Darija. There is also a loosely standardized [Latin system](/source/Arabic_chat_alphabet) used for writing Moroccan Arabic in electronic media, such as texting and chat, often based on sound-letter correspondences from French, English or Spanish ('sh' or 'ch' for English 'sh', 'u' or 'ou' for English 'oo', etc.) and using numbers to represent sounds not found in French or English (2-3-7-9 used for ق-ح-ع-ء, respectively.). In the last few years, there have been some publications in Moroccan Darija, such as [Hicham Nostik](/source/Hicham_Nostik)'s *[Notes of a Moroccan Infidel](/source/Notes_of_a_Moroccan_Infidel)*, as well as basic science books by Moroccan physics professor [Farouk El Merrakchi](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Farouk_El_Merrakchi&action=edit&redlink=1).[25] Newspapers in Moroccan Arabic also exist, such as Souq Al Akhbar, Al Usbuu Ad-Daahik,[26] the regional newspaper Al Amal (formerly published by [Latifa Akherbach](/source/Latifa_Akherbach)), and [Khbar Bladna](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Khbar_Bladna&action=edit&redlink=1) (news of our country), which was published by Tangier-based American painter Elena Prentice between 2002 and 2006.[27] The latter also published books written in Moroccan Arabic, mostly novels and stories, written by authors such as [Kenza El Ghali](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kenza_El_Ghali&action=edit&redlink=1) and [Youssef Amine Alami](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Youssef_Amine_Alami&action=edit&redlink=1).[27] ## Vocabulary ### Substrates Moroccan Arabic is characterized by a strong [Berber](/source/Amazigh_languages), as well as [Latin](/source/Latin) ([African Romance](/source/African_Romance)), [substratum](/source/Substrata_(linguistics)).[28] Following the [Arab conquest](/source/Arab_conquest_of_North_Africa), [Berber languages](/source/Amazigh_languages) remained widely spoken. During their [Arabisation](/source/Arabisation), some Berber tribes became bilingual for generations before abandoning their language for Arabic; however, they kept a substantial Berber stratum that increases from the east to the west of the Maghreb, making Moroccan Arabic dialects the ones most influenced by Berber. Arabian tribes that inhabited the plains of Morocco also adopted [Amazigh](/source/Berbers) loanwords, though much less compared to the [pre-Hilalian dialects](/source/Pre-Hilalian_Arabic_dialects) spoken by [city-dwellers](/source/Urban_area) and [Amazighs](/source/Berbers). For the most part, the [Hilalian Dialects](/source/Hilalian_dialects) of the western plains remained mostly unaffected until the beginning of urbanization after the [French colonization](/source/French_protectorate_in_Morocco) period. More recently, the influx of [Andalusi people](/source/Al_Andalus) and Spanish-speaking–[Moriscos](/source/Moriscos) (between the 15th and the 17th centuries) influenced urban dialects with Spanish substrate (and loanwords). ### Vocabulary and loanwords The vocabulary of Moroccan Arabic is mostly [Semitic](/source/Semitic_languages) and derived from [Classical Arabic](/source/Classical_Arabic).[29] It also contains some [Berber](/source/Berber_languages), [French](/source/French_language) and [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language) loanwords. There are noticeable lexical differences between Moroccan Arabic and most other Arabic languages. Some words are essentially unique to Moroccan Arabic: *daba* "now". Many others, however, are characteristic of Maghrebi Arabic as a whole including both innovations and unusual retentions of Classical vocabulary that disappeared elsewhere, such as *hbeṭ'* "go down" from Classical *habaṭ*. Others are shared with [Algerian Arabic](/source/Algerian_Arabic) such as *hḍeṛ* "talk", from Classical *hadhar* "babble", and *temma* "there", from Classical *thamma*. There are a number of Moroccan Arabic dictionaries in existence: - *A Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic: Moroccan-English*, ed. [Richard S. Harrell](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Richard_S._Harrell&action=edit&redlink=1) & Harvey Sobelman. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press, 1963 (reprinted 2004.) - *Mu`jam al-fuṣḥā fil-`āmmiyyah al-maghribiyyah* معجم الفصحى في العامية المغربية, Muhammad Hulwi, Rabat: al-Madaris 1988. - *Dictionnaire Colin d'arabe dialectal marocain* (Rabat, éditions Al Manahil, ministère des Affaires Culturelles), by a Frenchman named Georges Séraphin Colin, who devoted nearly all his life to it from 1921 to 1977. The dictionary contains 60,000 entries and was published in 1993, after Colin's death. #### Examples of words inherited from Classical Arabic This section may contain original research. The vast majority of 'example words' below lack citations. Please improve it by verifying the claims made and adding inline citations. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed. (June 2023) (Learn how and when to remove this message) - *kəlb*: dog (orig. kalb كلب) - *qəṭ*: cat (orig. qiṭṭ قط)[30] - *qərd*: monkey (orig. qird قرد) - *bḥar*: sea (orig. baḥr بحر) - *šəmš*: sun (orig. šams شمس) - *bab*: door (orig. bāb باب) - *ḥiṭ*: wall (orig. ḥā'iṭ حائط) - *bagra/baqra*: cow (orig. baqarah بقرة) - *kul*: eat (orig. kul كل) - *fikra*: idea (orig. fikra فكرة) - *ḥub*: love (orig. ḥubb حب) - *dhab*: gold (orig. ḏahab ذهب) - *ḥdid*: metal (orig. ḥadīd حديد) - *ržəl*: foot (orig. rijl رجل) - *ras*: head (orig. ra's رأس) - *wžəh*: face (orig. wajh وجه) - *bit*: room (orig. bayt بيت) - *ḵiṭ*: wire (orig. ḵayṭ خيط) - *bənti*: my daughter (orig. ibnati ابنتي) - *wəldi*: my son (orig. waladi ولدي) - *ražəl*: man (orig. rajul رجل) - *mra*: woman (orig. imra'ah امرأة) - colors=red/green/blue/yellow: *ḥmər/ḵdər/zrəq/ṣfər* (orig. aḥmar/aḵdar/azraq/aṣfar أحمر/أخضر/أزرق/أصفر) - *šḥal*: how much (orig. ayyu šayʾ ḥāl أَيُّ شَيْء حَال)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - *ʕlaš*: why (orig. ʿalā ʾayyi šayʾ, عَلَى أَيِّ شَيْء)[*[citation needed](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_needed)*] - *fin*: where (orig. ʿfī ʾaynaʾ فِي أَيْنَ) - *ʕṭini: give me (orig. aʕṭinī أعطني)* #### Examples of loanwords from Tamazight - *Awriz*: heel ([Jebli](/source/Jebli_Arabic) and northern urban dialects) - *Bexxuš*: insect - *Bra*: letter - *Deġya*: hurry - *Dmir*: hard work - *Dšar* or *tšar*: zone, region [tʃɑɾ] - *Fazeg*: wet - *Fekron*: turtle - *Henna*: grandmother (jebli and northern urban dialects) / "jeda" :southern dialect - *Kermos*: figs - *Lalla*: lady, madam - *Mesus*: tasteless - *Mezlot*: poor - *Muš*: cat (orig. Amouch), pronounced [\[muʃ\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Arabic) - *Neggafa*: wedding facilitator (orig. tamneggaft) [nɪɡɡafa][31] - *sarred*: synonym of send (Jebli and northern urban dialects) - *Sarut*: key - *Sebniya*: veil (Jebli and northern urban dialects) - *Sifet*: send[32] - *šlaɣem*: mustache - *Tebrori*: hail - *Tammara*: hardship, worries - *Tekšita*: typical Moroccan dress - *Tburiš*: goosebumps - *Xizzu*: carrots [xizzu] - *Zezon*: deaf - *Zgel*: miss, overlook[32] - *žaada*: carrots (Jebli and northern urban dialects) #### Examples of loanwords from French - *forshita/forsheta*: fourchette (fork), pronounced [\[foɾʃitˤɑ\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Arabic) - *tonobil/tomobil*: automobile (car) [tˤonobil] - *telfaza*: télévision (television) [tlfazɑ] - *radio*: radio [ɾɑdˤjo], *rādio* is common across most varieties of Arabic - *bartma*: appartement (apartment) [bɑɾtˤmɑ] - *rompa*: rondpoint (roundabout) [ɾambwa] - *tobis*: autobus (bus) [tˤobis] - *kamera*: caméra (camera) [kɑmeɾɑ] - *portable*: portable (cell phone) [poɾtˤɑbl] - *tilifūn*: téléphone (telephone) [tilifuːn] - *brika*: briquet (lighter) [bɾike] - *parisiana*: a French baguette, more common is *komera*, from spanish - *disk*: song - *tran*: train (train) [træːn] - *serbita*: serviette (napkin) [srbitɑ] - *tabla* : table (table) [tɑblɑ] - *ordinatūr/pc*: ordinateur / pc - *boulis*: police #### Examples of loanwords from Spanish Some loans might have come through [Andalusi Arabic](/source/Andalusi_Arabic) brought by [Moriscos](/source/Moriscos) when they were expelled from [Spain](/source/Spain) following the [Christian Reconquest](/source/Reconquista) or, alternatively, they date from the time of the [Spanish protectorate in Morocco](/source/Spanish_protectorate_in_Morocco). - *rwida*: rueda (wheel), pronounced [\[ɾwedˤɑ\]](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Help:IPA/Arabic) - *kuzina*: cocina (kitchen) [kuzinɑ] - *simana*: semana (week) [simɑnɑ], may be borrowed from the french word for week (semaine) - *manta*: manta (blanket) [mɑntˤɑ] - *rial*: real (five centimes; the term has also been borrowed into many other Arabic dialects) [ɾjæl] - *fundo*: fondo (bottom of the sea or the swimming pool) [fundˤo] - *karrossa*: carrosa (carriage) [kɑrosɑ] - *kama* (in the north only): cama (bed) [kɑmˤɑ] - *blassa*: plaza (place) [blɑsɑ] - *komir*: comer (but Moroccans use the expression to name the Parisian bread) [komeɾ] - *elmaryo*: El armario (the cupboard) [elmɑɾjo] - *karratera*: carretera (road) [karateɾa] #### Examples of regional differences - Now: "daba" in the majority of regions, but "druk" or "druka" is also used in some regions in the centre and south and "drwek" or "durk" in the east. - When?: "fuqāš" in most regions,"fuyāx" in the Northwest (Tangier-Tetouan) but "imta" in the Atlantic region and "weqtāš" in Rabat region. - What?: "ašnu", "šnu" or "āš" in most regions, but "šenni", "šennu" in the north, "šnu", "š" in Fez, and "wašta", "wasmu", "wāš" in the far east. #### Some useful sentences Note: All sentences are written according to the transcription used in Richard Harrell, *A Short Reference Grammar of Moroccan Arabic* [(Examples with their pronunciation)](http://www.morocco-guide.com/language/useful-moroccan-phrases/).:[33] - *a i u* = full vowels = normally [æ i u], but [ɑ e o] in the vicinity of an emphatic consonant or *q* ("vicinity" generally means not separated by a full vowel) - *e* = /ə/ - *q* = /q/ - *x ġ* = /x ɣ/ - *y* = /j/ - *t* = [tˢ] - *š ž* = /ʃ ʒ/ - *ḥ ʿ* = /ħ ʕ/ - *ḍ ḷ ṛ ṣ ṭ ẓ* = emphatic consonants = /dˤ lˤ rˤ sˤ tˤ zˤ/ (*ṭ* is not [affricated](/source/Affricate), unlike *t*) English Western Moroccan Arabic Northern (Jebli, Tanjawi and Tetouani) Moroccan Arabic Eastern (Oujda) Moroccan Arabic Western Moroccan Arabic (Transliterated) Northern (Jebli, Tetouani) Moroccan Arabic (Transliterated) Eastern (Oujda) Moroccan Arabic (Transliterated) How are you? لا باس؟ كيف نتينا؟/لا باس؟ بخير؟ راك شباب؟ /لا باس؟/ راك غايَ؟ la bas? la bas? / bi-xayr?/ kif ntina? / amandra? la bas? / rak ġaya / rak šbab? Can you help me? يمكن لك تعاونني؟ تقدر تعاونني؟/ واخا تعاونني؟ يمكن لك تعاونني؟ yemken-lek tʿaweni? teqder dʿaweni? waxa dʿaweni? yemken-lek tʿaweni? Do you speak English? واش كَتهدر بالانّڭليزية؟/ واش كتدوي بالانّڭليزية؟ واش كَتهدر بالانّڭليزية؟/كتهدر الانّڭليزية؟ واش تهدر الانّڭليزية؟ waš ka-tehder lengliziya / waš ka-tedwi be-l-lengliziya? waš ka-tehder be-l-lengliziya? / ka-tehder lengliziya? waš tehder lengliziya? Excuse me سمح ليَ سمح لي سمح لِيَ smaḥ-liya smaḥ-li smaḥ-liya Good luck الله يعاون/الله يسهل allah y'awn / allah ysahel Good morning صباح الخير/صباح النور ṣbaḥ l-xir / ṣbaḥ n-nur Good night تصبح على خير الله يمسيك بخير تصبح على خير teṣbaḥ ʿla xir lay ymsik be-xer teṣbaḥ ʿla xir Goodbye بالسلامة / تهلا بالسلامة بالسلامة be-slama / tḥălla be-slama be-slama Happy new year سنة سعيدة sana saʿida Hello السلام عليكم/اهلاً السلام عليكم/اهلاً السلام عليكم s-salam ʿalikum / as-salamu ʿalaykum (Classical) / ʔahlan as-salamu ʿalaykum (Classical) / ʔahlan s-salam ʿlikum How are you doing? لا باس؟ la bas (ʿlik)? How are you? كي داير؟/كي دايرة؟ كيف نتين؟/كيف نتينا؟ كي راك؟ ki dayer ? (masculine) / ki dayra ? (feminine) kif ntin? (Jebli) / kif ntina [ki tina] ? (Northern urban) ki rak? Is everything okay? كل شي مزيان؟ كل شي مزيان؟ /كل شي هو هداك؟؟ كل شي مليح؟ kul-ši mezyan ? kul-ši mezyan ? / kul-ši huwa hadak ? kul-ši mliḥ? / kul-ši zin? Nice to meet you متشرفين metšaṛṛfin [mət.ʃɑrˤrˤ.fen] No thanks لا شكراً la šukran Please الله يخليك/عفاك الله يعزك / الله يخليك / عفاك الله يعزك / الله يخليك ḷḷa yxallik / ʿafak ḷḷa yxallik / ḷḷa yʿizek / ʿafak ḷḷa yxallik / ḷḷa yʿizek Take care تهلا فراسك تهلا تهلا فراسك tḥălla f-ṛaṣek tḥălla tḥălla f-ṛaṣek Thank you very much شكراً بزاف šukran bezzaf What do you do? فاش خدام/شنو كتدير؟ faš xddam? / chno katdir škatʿăddel? / šenni xaddam? (masculine) / šenni xaddama? (feminine) / š-ka-dexdem? / šini ka-teʿmel/tʿadal f-hyatak? faš texdem? (masculine) / faš txedmi ? (feminine) What's your name? شنو اسمك؟ / شنو سميتك؟ ašnu smiytek? / šu smiytek šenni ʔesmek? /šenno ʔesmek? / kif-aš msemy nta/ntinah? wašta smiytek? Where are you from? منين نتا؟ mnin nta? (masculine) / mnin nti? (feminine) mnayn ntina? min ntaya? (masculine) / min ntiya? (feminine) Where are you going? فين غادي؟ fin ġhadi? fayn machi? (masculine) / fayn mašya? (feminine) f-rak temchi? / f-rak rayaḥ You are welcome بلا جميل/مرحبا/دّنيا هانية/ماشي مشكل / العفو bla žmil/merḥba/ddenya hania/maši muškil/l'afo bla žmil/merḥba/ddunya hania/maši muškil/l'afo bla žmil/merḥba/ddenya hania/maši muškil/l'afo #### Further useful phrases English[34] Moroccan Arabic Latin Transliteration Yes. .ايه eyeh. Yes please. .وخا شكراً wakha shoukran. No. .لا la. Thank you. .شكراً shoukran. I'd like a coffee please. .واحد القهوة عفاك wahed lqahoua afak. What time is it? شحال فالساعة؟ ch-hal fssa-a? Can you repeat that please? وخا تعاود عافاك؟ wakha t-awoud afak? Please speak more slowly. .هضر بشويا عافاك hder bshwiya afak. I don't understand. .ما فهمتش ma fhamtch. Sorry. .سمح لي smeh li. Where are the toilets? فين الطواليط؟ fin toilettes? How much does this cost? بشحال هادا؟ bch-hal hada? Welcome! !تفضّل tfdel! Good evening. .مسا الخير msa lkheir. ## Grammar ### Verbs #### Introduction The regular Moroccan Arabic verb conjugates with a series of prefixes and suffixes. The stem of the conjugated verb may change a bit, depending on the conjugation: The stem of the Moroccan Arabic verb for "to write" is *kteb*. #### Past tense The past tense of *kteb* (write) is as follows: I wrote: *kteb-t* You wrote: *kteb-ti* (some regions tend to differentiate between masculine and feminine, the masculine form is *kteb-t*, the feminine *kteb-ti*) He/it wrote: *kteb* (can also be an order to write; kteb er-rissala: Write the letter) She/it wrote: *ketb-et* / *ketb-at* We wrote: *kteb-na* You (plural) wrote: *kteb-tu* / *kteb-tiu* They wrote: *ketb-u* The stem *kteb* turns into *ketb* before a vowel suffix because of the process of *inversion* described above. #### Present tense The present tense of *kteb* is as follows: I am writing: *ka-ne-kteb* You are (masculine) writing: *ka-te-kteb* You are (feminine) writing: *ka-t-ketb-i* He's/it is writing: *ka-ye-kteb* She is/it is writing: *ka-te-kteb* We are writing: *ka-n-ketb-u* You (plural) are writing: *ka-t-ketb-u* They are writing: *ka-y-ketb-u* The stem *kteb* turns into *ketb* before a vowel suffix because of the process of *inversion* described above. Between the prefix *ka-n-, ka-t-, ka-y-* and the stem *kteb*, an *e* appears but not between the prefix and the transformed stem *ketb* because of the same restriction that produces inversion. In the north, "you are writing" is always *ka-de-kteb* regardless of who is addressed. This is also the case of *de* in *de-kteb* as northerners prefer to use *de* and southerners prefer *te*. However, there is an exception, which is the northern dialectof Tangier, where they use *te* instead of *de* . Instead of the prefix *ka*, some speakers prefer the use of *ta* (*ta-ne-kteb* "I am writing"). The coexistence of these two prefixes is from historic differences. In general, *ka* is more used in the north and *ta* in the south, some other prefixes like *la*, *a*, *qa* are less used. In some regions like in the east (Oujda), most speakers use no preverb (*ne-kteb*, *te-kteb*, *y-kteb*, etc.). #### Other tenses To form the future tense, the prefix *ka-/ta-* is removed and replaced with the prefix *ġa-*, *ġad-* or *ġadi* instead (e.g. *ġa-ne-kteb* "I will write", *ġad-ketb-u* (north) or *ġadi t-ketb-u* "You (plural) will write") It is worth noting that in northern Morocco, such as Tangier and Tetouan, they use "ha" instead of ""gha/ġa"" most of the time, and also "ʕa" (عا) to a lesser extent. Also "aa" can be used as an abbreviation for "Gha/Ġa" in the general Moroccan dialect in rapid speech especially. For the subjunctive and infinitive, the *ka-* is removed (*bġit ne-kteb* "I want to write", *bġit te-kteb* "I want 'you to write"). The imperative is conjugated with the suffixes of the present tense but without any prefixes or preverbs: *kteb* Write! (masculine singular) *ketb-i* Write! (feminine singular) *ketb-u* Write! (plural) #### Negation Main article: [Negation in Arabic](/source/Negation_in_Arabic) One characteristic of Moroccan Arabic syntax, which it shares with other North African varieties as well as some southern Levantine dialect areas, is in the two-part negative verbal circumfix /ma-...-ʃi/. (In many regions, including Marrakesh, the final /i/ vowel is not pronounced so it becomes /ma-...-ʃ/.)[35] - Past: /kteb/ "he wrote" /ma-kteb-ʃi/ "he did not write" - Present: /ka-j-kteb/ "he writes" /ma-ka-j-kteb-ʃi/ "he does not write" /ma-/ comes from the Classical Arabic negator /ma/. /-ʃi/ is a development of Classical /ʃajʔ/ "thing". The development of a circumfix is similar to the French circumfix *ne ... pas* in which *ne* comes from Latin *non* "not" and *pas* comes from Latin *passus* "step". (Originally, *pas* would have been used specifically with motion verbs, as in "I did not walk a step". It was generalised to other verbs.) The negative circumfix surrounds the entire verbal composite, including direct and indirect object pronouns: - /ma-kteb-hom-li-ʃi/ "he did not write them to me" - /ma-ka-j-kteb-hom-li-ʃi/ "he does not write them to me" - /ma-ɣadi-j-kteb-hom-li-ʃi/ "he will not write them to me" - /waʃ ma-kteb-hom-li-ʃi/ "did he not write them to me?" - /waʃ ma-ka-j-kteb-hom-li-ʃi/ "does he not write them to me?" - /waʃ ma-ɣadi-j-kteb-hom-li-ʃi/ "will he not write them to me?" Future and interrogative sentences use the same /ma-...-ʃi/ circumfix (unlike, for example, in Egyptian Arabic). Also, unlike in Egyptian Arabic, there are no phonological changes to the verbal cluster as a result of adding the circumfix. In Egyptian Arabic, adding the circumfix can trigger stress shifting, vowel lengthening and shortening, elision when /ma-/ comes into contact with a vowel, addition or deletion of a short vowel, etc. However, they do not occur in Moroccan Arabic (MA): - There is no phonological stress in MA. - There is no distinction between long and short vowels in MA. - There are no restrictions on complex consonant clusters in MA and hence no need to insert vowels to break up such clusters. - There are no verbal clusters that begin with a vowel. The short vowels in the beginning of Forms IIa(V), and such, have already been deleted. MA has first-person singular non-past /ne-/ in place of Egyptian /a-/. Negative pronouns such as **walu** "nothing", **ḥta ḥaja** "nothing" and **ḥta waḥed** "nobody" can be added to the sentence without **ši** as a suffix: - **ma-ġa-ne-kteb walu** "I will not write anything" - **ma-te-kteb ḥta ḥaja** "Do not write anything" - **ḥta waḥed ma-ġa-ye-kteb** "Nobody will write" - **wellah ma-ne-kteb** *or* **wellah ma-ġa-ne-kteb** "I swear to God I will not write" Note that **wellah ma-ne-kteb** could be a response to a command to write **kteb** while **wellah ma-ġa-ne-kteb** could be an answer to a question like **waš ġa-te-kteb?** "Are you going to write?" In the north, "'you are writing" is always *ka-de-kteb* regardless of who is addressed. It is also the case of **de** in *de-kteb*, as northerners prefer to use *de* (Tangier is an exception) and southerners prefer *te*. Instead of the prefix *ka*, some speakers prefer the use of *ta* (*ta-ne-kteb* "I am writing"). The co-existence of these two prefixes is from historical differences. In general *ka* is more used in the north and *ta* in the south. In some regions like the east (Oujda), most speakers use no preverb: - *ka ma-ġadi-ši-te-kteb?!* #### In detail Verbs in Moroccan Arabic are based on a [consonantal root](/source/Consonantal_root) composed of three or four consonants. The set of consonants communicates the basic meaning of a verb. Changes to the vowels between the consonants, along with prefixes and/or suffixes, specify grammatical functions such as tense, person and number in addition to changes in the meaning of the verb that embody grammatical concepts such as [causative](/source/Causative), [intensive](/source/Intensive), [passive](/source/Passive_voice) or [reflexive](/source/Reflexive_verb). Each particular [lexical verb](/source/Lexical_verb) is specified by two stems, one used for the past tense and one used for non-past tenses, along with [subjunctive](/source/Subjunctive_mood) and [imperative](/source/Imperative_mood) moods. To the former stem, suffixes are added to mark the verb for person, number and gender. To the latter stem, a combination of prefixes and suffixes are added. (Very approximately, the prefixes specify the person and the suffixes indicate number and gender.) The third person masculine singular past tense form serves as the "dictionary form" used to identify a verb like the [infinitive](/source/Infinitive) in English. (Arabic has no infinitive.) For example, the verb meaning "write" is often specified as *kteb*, which actually means "he wrote". In the paradigms below, a verb will be specified as *kteb/ykteb* (*kteb* means "he wrote" and *ykteb* means "he writes"), indicating the past stem (*kteb-*) and the non-past stem (also *-kteb-*, obtained by removing the prefix *y-*). The verb classes in Moroccan Arabic are formed along two axes. The first or *derivational* axis (described as "form I", "form II", etc.) is used to specify grammatical concepts such as [causative](/source/Causative), [intensive](/source/Intensive), [passive](/source/Passive_voice) or [reflexive](/source/Reflexive_verb) and mostly involves varying the consonants of a stem form. For example, from the root K-T-B "write" are derived form I *kteb/ykteb* "write", form II *ketteb/yketteb* "cause to write", form III *kateb/ykateb* "correspond with (someone)" etc. The second or *weakness* axis (described as "strong", "weak", "hollow", "doubled" or "assimilated") is determined by the specific consonants making up the root, especially whether a particular consonant is a "w" or " y", and mostly involves varying the nature and location of the vowels of a stem form. For example, so-called *weak* verbs have one of those two letters as the last root consonant, which is reflected in the stem as a final vowel instead of a final consonant (**ṛma/yṛmi** "throw" from Ṛ-M-Y). Meanwhile, *hollow* verbs are usually caused by one of those two letters as the middle root consonant, and the stems of such verbs have a full vowel (/a/, /i/ or /u/) before the final consonant, often along with only two consonants (*žab/yžib* "bring" from Ž-Y-B). It is important to distinguish between strong, weak, etc. *stems* and strong, weak, etc. *roots*. For example, X-W-F is a hollow *root*, but the corresponding form II stem *xuwwef*/*yxuwwef* "frighten" is a strong *stem*: - Weak roots are those that have a *w* or a *y* as the last consonant. Weak stems are those that have a vowel as the last segment of the stem. For the most part, there is a one-to-one correspondence between weak roots and weak stems. However, form IX verbs with a weak root will show up the same way as other root types (with doubled stems in most other dialects but with hollow stems in Moroccan Arabic). - Hollow roots are triliteral roots that have a *w* or a *y* as the last consonant. Hollow stems are those that end with /-VC/ in which V is a long vowel (most other dialects) or full vowel in Moroccan Arabic (/a/, /i/ or /u/). Only triliteral hollow roots form hollow stems and only in forms I, IV, VII, VIII and X. In other cases, a strong stem generally results. In Moroccan Arabic, all form IX verbs yield hollow stems regardless of root shape: *sman* "be fat" from S-M-N. - Doubled roots are roots that have the final two consonants identical. Doubled stems end with a geminate consonant. Only Forms I, IV, VII, VIII, and X yield a doubled stem from a doubled root. Other forms yield a strong stem. In addition, in most dialects (but not Moroccan), all stems in Form IX are doubled: Egyptian Arabic **iḥmáṛṛ/yiḥmáṛṛ** "be red, blush" from Ḥ-M-R. - Assimilated roots are those where the first consonant is a *w* or a *y*. Assimilated stems begin with a vowel. Only Form I (and Form IV?) yields assimilated stems and only in the non-past. There are none In Moroccan Arabic. - Strong roots and stems are those that fall under none of the other categories described above. It is common for a strong stem to correspond with a non-strong root but the reverse is rare. #### Table of verb forms In this section, all verb classes and their corresponding stems are listed, excluding the small number of irregular verbs described above. Verb roots are indicated schematically using capital letters to stand for consonants in the root: - F = first consonant of root - M = middle consonant of three-consonant root - S = second consonant of four-consonant root - T = third consonant of four-consonant root - L = last consonant of root Hence, the root F-M-L stands for all three-consonant roots, and F-S-T-L stands for all four-consonant roots. (Traditional Arabic grammar uses F-ʕ-L and F-ʕ-L-L, respectively, but the system used here appears in a number of grammars of spoken Arabic dialects and is probably less confusing for English speakers since the forms are easier to pronounce than those involving /ʕ/.) The following table lists the prefixes and suffixes to be added to mark tense, person, number, gender and the stem form to which they are added. The forms involving a vowel-initial suffix and corresponding stem PAv or NPv are highlighted in silver. The forms involving a consonant-initial suffix and corresponding stem PAc are highlighted in gold. The forms involving no suffix and corresponding stem PA0 or NP0 are not highlighted. Tense/Mood Past Non-Past Person Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st PAc-t PAc-na n(e)-NP0 n(e)-NP0-u/w 2nd masculine PAc-ti PAc-tiw t(e)-NP0 t(e)-NPv-u/w feminine t(e)-NPv-i/y 3rd masculine PA0 PAv-u/w y-NP0 y-NPv-u/w feminine PAv-et t(e)-NP0 The following table lists the verb classes along with the form of the past and non-past stems, active and passive participles, and verbal noun, in addition to an example verb for each class. Notes: - Italicized forms are those that follow automatically from the regular rules of deletion of /e/. - In the past tense, there can be up to three stems: - When only one form appears, this same form is used for all three stems. - When three forms appear, these represent first-singular, third-singular and third-plural, which indicate the PAc, PA0 and PAv stems, respectively. - When two forms appear, separated by a comma, these represent first-singular and third-singular, which indicate the PAc and PA0 stems. When two forms appear, separated by a semicolon, these represent third-singular and third-plural, which indicate the PA0 and PAv stems. In both cases, the missing stem is the same as the third-singular (PA0) stem. - Not all forms have a separate verb class for hollow or doubled roots. In such cases, the table below has the notation "(use strong form)", and roots of that shape appear as strong verbs in the corresponding form; e.g. Form II strong verb *dˤáyyaʕ/yidˤáyyaʕ* "waste, lose" related to Form I hollow verb *dˤaʕ/yidˤiʕ* "be lost", both from root Dˤ-Y-ʕ. Form Strong Weak Hollow Doubled Past Non-Past Example Past Non-Past Example Past Non-Past Example Past Non-Past Example I FMeL; FeMLu yFMeL, yFeMLu kteb/ykteb "write", ʃrˤeb/yʃrˤeb "drink" FMit, FMa yFMi rˤma/yrˤmi "throw", ʃra/yʃri "buy" FeLt, FaL yFiL baʕ/ybiʕ "sell", ʒab/yʒib "bring" FeMMit, FeMM yFeMM ʃedd/yʃedd "close", medd/ymedd "hand over" yFMoL, yFeMLu dxel/ydxol "enter", sken/yskon "reside" yFMa nsa/ynsa "forget" yFuL ʃaf/yʃuf "see", daz/yduz "pass" FoMMit, FoMM yFoMM koħħ/ykoħħ "cough" yFMu ħba/yħbu "crawl" yFaL xaf/yxaf "sleep", ban/yban "seem" FoLt, FaL yFuL qal/yqul "say", kan/ykun "be" (the only examples) II FeMMeL; FeMMLu yFeMMeL, yFeMMLu beddel/ybeddel "change" FeMMit, FeMMa yFeMMi werra/ywerri "show" (same as strong) FuwweL; FuwwLu yFuwweL, yFuwwLu xuwwef/yxuwwef "frighten" Fuwwit, Fuwwa yFuwwi luwwa/yluwwi "twist" FiyyeL; FiyyLu yFiyyeL, yFiyyLu biyyen/ybiyyen "indicate" Fiyyit, Fiyya yFiyyi qiyya/yqiyyi "make vomit" III FaMeL; FaMLu yFaMeL, yFaMLu sˤaferˤ/ysˤaferˤ "travel" FaMit, FaMa yFaMi qadˤa/yqadˤi "finish (trans.)", sawa/ysawi "make level" (same as strong) FaMeMt/FaMMit, FaM(e)M, FaMMu yFaM(e)M, yFaMMu sˤaf(e)f/ysˤaf(e)f "line up (trans.)" Ia(VIIt) tteFMeL; ttFeMLu ytteFMeL, yttFeMLu ttekteb/yttekteb "be written" tteFMit, tteFMa ytteFMa tterˤma/ytterˤma "be thrown", ttensa/yttensa "be forgotten" ttFaLit/ttFeLt/ttFaLt, ttFaL yttFaL ttbaʕ/yttbaʕ "be sold" ttFeMMit, ttFeMM yttFeMM ttʃedd/yttʃedd "be closed" ytteFMoL, yttFeMLu ddxel/yddxol "be entered" yttFoMM ttfekk/yttfokk "get loose" IIa(V) tFeMMeL; tFeMMLu ytFeMMeL, ytFeMMLu tbeddel/ytbeddel "change (intrans.)" tFeMMit, tFeMMa ytFeMMa twerra/ytwerra "be shown" (same as strong) tFuwweL; tFuwwLu ytFuwweL, ytFuwwLu txuwwef/ytxuwwef "be frightened" tFuwwit, tFuwwa ytFuwwa tluwwa/ytluwwa "twist (intrans.)" tFiyyeL; tFiyyLu ytFiyyeL, ytFiyyLu tbiyyen/ytbiyyen "be indicated" tFiyyit, tFiyya ytFiyya tqiyya/ytqiyya "be made to vomit" IIIa(VI) tFaMeL; tFaMLu ytFaMeL, ytFaMLu tʕawen/ytʕawen "cooperate" tFaMit, tFaMa ytFaMa tqadˤa/ytqadˤa "finish (intrans.)", tħama/ytħama "join forces" (same as strong) tFaMeMt/tFaMMit, tFaM(e)M, tFaMMu ytFaM(e)M, ytFaMMu tsˤaf(e)f/ytsˤaf(e)f "get in line", twad(e)d/ytwad(e)d "give gifts to one another" VIII FtaMeL; FtaMLu yFtaMeL, yFtaMLu ħtarˤem/ħtarˤem "respect", xtarˤeʕ/xtarˤeʕ "invent" FtaMit, FtaMa yFtaMi ??? FtaLit/FteLt/FtaLt, FtaL yFtaL xtarˤ/yxtarˤ "choose", ħtaʒ/yħtaʒ "need" FteMMit, FteMM yFteMM htemm/yhtemm "be interested (in)" IX FMaLit/FMeLt/FMaLt, FMaL yFMaL ħmarˤ/yħmarˤ "be red, blush", sman/ysman "be(come) fat" (same as strong) X steFMeL; steFMLu ysteFMeL, ysteFMLu steɣrˤeb/ysteɣrˤeb "be surprised" steFMit, steFMa ysteFMi stedʕa/ystedʕi "invite" (same as strong) stFeMMit, stFeMM ystFeMM stɣell/ystɣell "exploit" ysteFMa stehza/ystehza "ridicule", stăʕfa/ystăʕfa "resign" Iq FeSTeL; FeSTLu yFeSTeL, yFeSTLu tˤerˤʒem/ytˤerˤʒem "translate", melmel/ymelmel "move (trans.)", hernen/yhernen "speak nasally" FeSTit, FeSTa yFeSTi seqsˤa/yseqsˤi "ask" (same as strong) FiTeL; FiTLu yFiTeL, yFiTLu sˤifetˤ/ysˤifetˤ "send", ritel/yritel "pillage" FiTit, FiTa yFiTi tira/ytiri "shoot" FuTeL; FuTLu yFuTeL, yFuTLu suger/ysuger "insure", suret/ysuret "lock" FuTit, FuTa yFuTi rula/yruli "roll (trans.)" FiSTeL; FiSTLu yFiSTeL, yFiSTLu birˤʒez??? "cause to act bourgeois???", biznes??? "cause to deal in drugs" F...Tit, F...Ta yF...Ti blˤana, yblˤani "scheme, plan", fanta/yfanti "dodge, fake", pidˤala/ypidˤali "pedal" Iqa(IIq) tFeSTeL; tFeSTLu ytFeSTeL, ytFeSTLu tˤtˤerˤʒem/ytˤtˤerˤʒem "be translated", tmelmel/ytmelmel "move (intrans.)" tFeSTit, tFeSTa ytFeSTa tseqsˤa/ytseqsˤa "be asked" (same as strong) tFiTeL; tFiTLu ytFiTeL, ytFiTLu tsˤifetˤ/ytsˤifetˤ "be sent", tritel/ytritel "be pillaged" tFiTit, tFiTa ytFiTa ttira/yttiri "be shot" tFuTeL; tFuTLu ytFuTeL, ytFuTLu tsuger/ytsuger "be insured", tsuret/ytsuret "be locked" tFuTit, tFuTa ytFuTa trula/ytruli "roll (intrans.)" tFiSTeL; tFiSTLu ytFiSTeL, ytFiSTLu tbirˤʒez "act bourgeois", tbiznes "deal in drugs" tF...Tit, tF...Ta ytF...Ta tblˤana/ytblˤana "be planned", tfanta/ytfanta "be dodged", tpidˤala/ytpidˤala "be pedaled" #### Sample Paradigms of Strong Verbs #### Regular verb, form I, fʕel/yfʕel Example: **kteb/ykteb** "write" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st kteb-t kteb-na ne-kteb n-ketb-u ka-ne-kteb ka-n-ketb-u ɣa-ne-kteb ɣa-n-ketb-u 2nd masculine kteb-ti kteb-tiw te-kteb t-ketb-u ka-te-kteb ka-t-ketb-u ɣa-te-kteb ɣa-t-ketb-u kteb ketb-u feminine t-ketb-i ka-t-ketb-i ɣa-t-ketb-i ketb-i 3rd masculine kteb ketb-u y-kteb y-ketb-u ka-y-kteb ka-y-ketb-u ɣa-y-kteb ɣa-y-ketb-u feminine ketb-et te-kteb ka-te-kteb ɣa-te-kteb Some comments: - Boldface, here and elsewhere in paradigms, indicate unexpected deviations from some previously established pattern. - The present indicative is formed from the subjunctive by the addition of /ka-/. Similarly, the future is formed from the subjunctive by the addition of /ɣa-/. - The imperative is also formed from the second-person subjunctive, this by the *removal* of any prefix /t-/, /te-/, or /d-/. - The stem /kteb/ changes to /ketb-/ before a vowel. - Prefixes /ne-/ and /te-/ keep the vowel before two consonants but drop it before one consonant; hence singular /ne-kteb/ changes to plural /n-ketb-u/. Example: **kteb/ykteb** "write": non-finite forms Number/Gender Active Participle Passive Participle Verbal Noun Masc. Sg. kateb mektub ketaba Fem. Sg. katb-a mektub-a Pl. katb-in mektub-in #### Regular verb, form I, fʕel/yfʕel, assimilation-triggering consonant Example: dker/ydker "mention" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st dker-t dker-na n-dker n-dekr-u ka-n-dker ka-n-dekr-u ɣa-n-dker ɣa-n-dekr-u 2nd masculine dker-ti dker-tiw d-dker d-dekr-u ka-d-dker ka-d-dekr-u ɣa-d-dker ɣa-d-dekr-u dker dekr-u feminine d-dekr-i ka-d-dekr-i ɣa-d-dekr-i dekr-i 3rd masculine dker dekr-u y-dker y-dekr-u ka-y-dker ka-y-dekr-u ɣa-y-dker ɣa-y-dekr-u feminine dekr-et d-dker ka-d-dker ɣa-d-dker This paradigm differs from **kteb/ykteb** in the following ways: - /ne-/ is always reduced to /n-/. - /te-/ is always reduced to /t-/, and then all /t-/ are assimilated to /d-/. Reduction and assimilation occur as follows: - Before a coronal stop /t/, /tˤ/, /d/ or /dˤ/, /ne-/ and /te-/ are always reduced to /n-/ and /t-/. - Before a coronal fricative /s/, /sˤ/, /z/, /zˤ/, /ʃ/ or /ʒ/, /ne-/ and /te-/ are *optionally* reduced to /n-/ and /t-/. The reduction usually happens in normal and fast speech but not in slow speech. - Before a voiced coronal /d/, /dˤ/, /z/, /zˤ/, or /ʒ/, /t-/ is assimilated to /d-/. Examples: - Required reduction /n-them/ "I accuse", /t-them/ "*you* accuse". - Optional reduction /n-skon/ or /ne-skon/ "I reside", /te-skon/ or /t-skon/ "*you* reside". - Optional reduction/assimilation /te-ʒberˤ/ or /d-ʒberˤ/ "*you* find". #### Regular verb, form I, fʕel/yfʕol Example: **xrˤeʒ/yxrˤoʒ** "go out" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st xrˤeʒ-t xrˤeʒ-na ne-xrˤoʒ n-xerˤʒ-u ka-ne-xrˤoʒ ka-n-xerˤʒ-u ɣa-ne-xrˤoʒ ɣa-n-xerˤʒ-u 2nd masculine xrˤeʒ-ti xrˤeʒ-tiw te-xrˤoʒ t-xerˤʒ-u ka-te-xrˤoʒ ka-t-xerˤʒ-u ɣa-te-xrˤoʒ ɣa-t-xerˤʒ-u xrˤoʒ xerˤʒ-u feminine t-xerˤʒ-i ka-t-xerˤʒ-i ɣa-t-xerˤʒ-i xerˤʒ-i 3rd masculine xrˤeʒ xerˤʒ-u y-xrˤoʒ y-xerˤʒ-u ka-y-xrˤoʒ ka-y-xerˤʒ-u ɣa-y-xrˤoʒ ɣa-y-xerˤʒ-u feminine xerˤʒ-et te-xrˤoʒ ka-te-xrˤoʒ ɣa-te-xrˤoʒ #### Regular verb, form II, feʕʕel/yfeʕʕel Example: **beddel/ybeddel** "change" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st beddel-t beddel-na n-beddel n-beddl-u ka-n-beddel ka-n-beddl-u ɣa-n-beddel ɣa-n-beddl-u 2nd masculine beddel-ti beddel-tiw t-beddel t-beddl-u ka-t-beddel ka-t-beddl-u ɣa-t-beddel ɣa-t-beddl-u beddel beddl-u feminine t-beddl-i ka-t-beddl-i ɣa-t-beddl-i beddl-i 3rd masculine beddel beddl-u y-beddel y-beddl-u ka-y-beddel ka-y-beddl-u ɣa-y-beddel ɣa-y-beddl-u feminine beddl-et t-beddel ka-t-beddel ɣa-t-beddel Boldfaced forms indicate the primary differences from the corresponding forms of **kteb**, which apply to many classes of verbs in addition to form II strong: - The prefixes /t-/, /n-/ always appear without any stem vowel. This behavior is seen in all classes where the stem begins with a single consonant (which includes most classes). - The /e/ in the final vowel of the stem is elided when a vowel-initial suffix is added. This behavior is seen in all classes where the stem ends in /-VCeC/ or/-VCCeC/ (where /V/ stands for any vowel and /C/ for any consonant). In addition to form II strong, this includes form III strong, form III Due to the regular operation of the stress rules, the stress in the past tense forms ***beddel-et*** and ***beddel-u*** differs from ***dexl-et*** and ***dexl-u***. #### Regular verb, form III, faʕel/yfaʕel Example: **sˤaferˤ/ysˤaferˤ** "travel" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st sˤaferˤ-t sˤaferˤ-na n-sˤaferˤ n-sˤafrˤ-u ka-n-sˤaferˤ ka-n-sˤafrˤ-u ɣa-n-sˤaferˤ ɣa-n-sˤafrˤ-u 2nd masculine sˤaferˤ-t sˤaferˤ-tiw t-sˤaferˤ t-sˤafrˤ-u ka-t-sˤaferˤ ka-t-sˤafrˤ-u ɣa-t-sˤaferˤ ɣa-t-sˤafrˤ-u sˤaferˤ sˤafrˤ-u feminine t-sˤafrˤ-i ka-t-sˤafrˤ-i ɣa-t-sˤafrˤ-i sˤafrˤ-i 3rd masculine sˤaferˤ sˤafrˤ-u y-sˤaferˤ y-sˤafrˤ-u ka-y-sˤaferˤ ka-y-sˤafrˤ-u ɣa-y-sˤaferˤ ɣa-y-sˤafrˤ-u feminine sˤafrˤ-et t-sˤaferˤ ka-t-sˤaferˤ ɣa-t-sˤaferˤ The primary differences from the corresponding forms of **beddel** (shown in boldface) are: - The long vowel /a/ becomes /a/ when unstressed. - The /i/ in the stem /safir/ is elided when a suffix beginning with a vowel follows. #### Regular verb, form Ia, ttefʕel/yttefʕel Example: **ttexleʕ/yttexleʕ** "get scared" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st ttexleʕ-t ttexleʕ-na n-ttexleʕ n-ttxelʕ-u ka-n-ttexleʕ ka-n-ttxelʕ-u ɣa-n-ttexleʕ ɣa-n-ttxelʕ-u 2nd masculine ttexleʕ-ti ttexleʕ-tiw (te-)ttexleʕ (te-)ttxelʕ-u ka-(te-)ttexleʕ ka-(te-)ttxelʕ-u ɣa-(te-)ttexleʕ ɣa-(te-)ttxelʕ-u ttexleʕ ttxelʕ-u feminine (te-)ttxelʕ-i ka-(te-)ttxelʕ-i ɣa-(te-)ttxelʕ-i ttxelʕ-i 3rd masculine ttexleʕ ttxelʕ-u y-ttexleʕ y-ttxelʕ-u ka-y-ttexleʕ ka-y-ttxelʕ-u ɣa-y-ttexleʕ ɣa-y-ttxelʕ-u feminine ttxelʕ-et (te-)ttexleʕ ka-(te-)ttexleʕ ɣa-(te-)ttexleʕ #### Sample Paradigms of Weak Verbs Weak verbs have a W or Y as the last root consonant. #### Weak, form I, fʕa/yfʕa Example: **nsa/ynsa** "forget" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st nsi-t nsi-na ne-nsa ne-nsa-w ka-ne-nsa ka-ne-nsa-w ɣa-ne-nsa ɣa-ne-nsa-w 2nd masculine nsi-ti nsi-tiw te-nsa te-nsa-w ka-te-nsa ka-te-nsa-w ɣa-te-nsa ɣa-te-nsa-w nsa nsa-w feminine te-nsa-y ka-te-nsa-y ɣa-te-nsa-y nsa-y 3rd masculine nsa nsa-w y-nsa y-nsa-w ka-y-nsa ka-y-nsa-w ɣa-y-nsa ɣa-y-nsa-w feminine nsa-t te-nsa ka-te-nsa ɣa-te-nsa The primary differences from the corresponding forms of **kteb** (shown in ) are: - There is no movement of the sort occurring in **kteb** vs. **ketb-**. - Instead, in the past, there are two stems: **nsi-** in the first and second persons and **nsa-** in the third person. In the non-past, there is a single stem **nsa**. - Because the stems end in a vowel, normally vocalic suffixes assume consonantal form: - Plural **-u** becomes **-w**. - Feminine singular non-past **-i** becomes **-y**. - Feminine singular third-person past **-et** becomes **-t**. #### Weak verb, form I, fʕa/yfʕi Example: **rˤma/yrˤmi** "throw" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st rˤmi-t rˤmi-na ne-rˤmi ne-rˤmi-w ka-ne-rˤmi ka-ne-rˤmi-w ɣa-ne-rˤmi ɣa-ne-rˤmi-w 2nd masculine rˤmi-ti rˤmi-tiw te-rˤmi te-rˤmi-w ka-te-rˤmi ka-te-rˤmi-w ɣa-te-rˤmi ɣa-te-rˤmi-w rˤmi rˤmi-w feminine 3rd masculine rˤma rˤma-w y-rˤmi y-rˤmi-w ka-y-rˤmi ka-y-rˤmi-w ɣa-y-rˤmi ɣa-y-rˤmi-w feminine rˤma-t te-rˤmi ka-te-rˤmi ɣa-te-rˤmi This verb type is quite similar to the weak verb type **nsa/ynsa**. The primary differences are: - The non-past stem has /i/ instead of /a/. The occurrence of one vowel or the other varies from stem to stem in an unpredictable fashion. - **-iy** in the feminine singular non-past is simplified to **-i**, resulting in homonymy between masculine and feminine singular. Verbs other than form I behave as follows in the non-past: - Form X has either /a/ or /i/. - Mediopassive verb forms—i.e. Ia(VIIt), IIa(V), IIIa(VI) and Iqa(IIq) – have /a/. - Other forms—i.e. II, III and Iq—have /i/. Examples: - Form II: **wedda/yweddi** "fulfill"; **qewwa/yqewwi** "strengthen" - Form III: **qadˤa/yqadˤi** "finish"; **dawa/ydawi** "treat, cure" - Form Ia(VIIt): **ttensa/yttensa** "be forgotten" - Form IIa(V): **tqewwa/ytqewwa** "become strong" - Form IIIa(VI): **tqadˤa/ytqadˤa** "end (intrans.)" - Form VIII: (no examples?) - Form IX: (behaves as a strong verb) - Form X: **stedʕa/ystedʕi** "invite"; but **stehza/ystehza** "ridicule", **steħla/ysteħla** "enjoy", **steħya/ysteħya** "become embarrassed", **stăʕfa/ystăʕfa** "resign" - Form Iq: (need example) - Form Iqa(IIq): (need example) #### Sample Paradigms of Hollow Verbs Hollow verbs have a W or Y as the middle root consonant. Note that for some forms (e.g. form II and form III), hollow verbs are conjugated as strong verbs (e.g. form II *ʕeyyen/yʕeyyen* "appoint" from ʕ-Y-N, form III *ʒaweb/yʒaweb* "answer" from ʒ-W-B). #### Hollow verb, form I, fal/yfil Example: **baʕ/ybiʕ** "sell" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st beʕ-t beʕ-na n-biʕ n-biʕ-u ka-n-biʕ ka-n-biʕ-u ɣa-n-biʕ ɣa-n-biʕ-u 2nd masculine beʕ-ti beʕ-tiw t-biʕ t-biʕ-u ka-t-biʕ ka-t-biʕ-u ɣa-t-biʕ ɣa-t-biʕ-u biʕ biʕ-u feminine t-biʕ-i ka-t-biʕ-i ɣa-t-biʕ-i biʕ-i 3rd masculine baʕ baʕ-u y-biʕ y-biʕ-u ka-y-biʕ ka-y-biʕ-u ɣa-y-biʕ ɣa-y-biʕ-u feminine baʕ-et t-biʕ ka-t-biʕ ɣa-t-biʕ This verb works much like **beddel/ybeddel** "teach". Like all verbs whose stem begins with a single consonant, the prefixes differ in the following way from those of regular and weak form I verbs: - The prefixes /t-/, /j-/, /ni-/ have elision of /i/ following /ka-/ or /ɣa-/. - The imperative prefix /i-/ is missing. In addition, the past tense has two stems: **beʕ-** before consonant-initial suffixes (first and second person) and **baʕ-** elsewhere (third person). #### Hollow verb, form I, fal/*yfu*l Example: **ʃaf/yʃuf** "see" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st ʃef-t ʃef-na n-ʃuf n-ʃuf-u ka-n-ʃuf ka-n-ʃuf-u ɣa-n-ʃuf ɣa-n-ʃuf-u 2nd masculine ʃef-ti ʃef-tiw t-ʃuf t-ʃuf-u ka-t-ʃuf ka-t-ʃuf-u ɣa-t-ʃuf ɣa-t-ʃuf-u ʃuf ʃuf-u feminine t-ʃuf-i ka-t-ʃuf-i ɣa-t-ʃuf-i ʃuf-i 3rd masculine ʃaf ʃaf-u y-ʃuf y-ʃuf-u ka-y-ʃuf ka-y-ʃuf-u ɣa-y-ʃuf ɣa-y-ʃuf-u feminine ʃaf-et t-ʃuf ka-t-ʃuf ɣa-t-ʃuf This verb class is identical to verbs such as **baʕ/ybiʕ** except in having stem vowel /u/ in place of /i/. #### Sample Paradigms of Doubled Verbs Doubled verbs have the same consonant as middle and last root consonant, e.g. **ɣabb/yiħebb** "love" from Ħ-B-B. #### Doubled verb, form I, feʕʕ/yfeʕʕ Example: **ħebb/yħebb** "love" Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st ħebbi-t ħebbi-na n-ħebb n-ħebb-u ka-n-ħebb ka-n-ħebb-u ɣa-n-ħebb ɣa-n-ħebb-u 2nd masculine ħebbi-ti ħebbi-tiw t-ħebb t-ħebb-u ka-t-ħebb ka-t-ħebb-u ɣa-t-ħebb ɣa-t-ħebb-u ħebb ħebb-u feminine t-ħebb-i ka-t-ħebb-i ɣa-t-ħebb-i ħebb-i 3rd masculine ħebb ħebb-u y-ħebb y-ħebb-u ka-y-ħebb ka-y-ħebb-u ɣa-y-ħebb ɣa-y-ħebb-u feminine ħebb-et t-ħebb ka-t-ħebb ɣa-t-ħebb This verb works much like **baʕ/ybiʕ** "sell". Like that class, it has two stems in the past, which are **ħebbi-** before consonant-initial suffixes (first and second person) and **ħebb-** elsewhere (third person). Note that /i-/ was borrowed from the weak verbs; the Classical Arabic equivalent form would be ***ħabáb-**, e.g. ***ħabáb-t**. Some verbs have /o/ in the stem: **koħħ/ykoħħ** "cough". As for the other forms: - Form II, V doubled verbs are strong: **ɣedded/yɣedded** "limit, fix (appointment)" - Form III, VI doubled verbs optionally behave either as strong verbs or similar to **ħebb/yħebb**: **sˤafef/ysˤafef** or **sˤaff/ysˤaff** "line up (trans.)" - Form VIIt doubled verbs behave like **ħebb/yħebb**: **ttʕedd/yttʕedd** - Form VIII doubled verbs behave like **ħebb/yħebb**: **htemm/yhtemm** "be interested (in)" - Form IX doubled verbs probably don't exist, and would be strong if they did exist. - Form X verbs behave like **ħebb/yħebb**: **stɣell/ystɣell** "exploit". #### Sample Paradigms of Doubly Weak Verbs "Doubly weak" verbs have more than one "weakness", typically a W or Y as both the second and third consonants. In Moroccan Arabic such verbs generally behave as normal weak verbs (e.g. **ħya/yħya** "live" from Ħ-Y-Y, **quwwa/yquwwi** "strengthen" from Q-W-Y, **dawa/ydawi** "treat, cure" from D-W-Y). This is not always the case in standard Arabic (cf. *walā/yalī* "follow" from W-L-Y). #### Paradigms of Irregular Verbs The irregular verbs are as follows: - **dda/yddi** "give" (inflects like a normal weak verb; active participle **dday** or **meddi**, passive participle **meddi**) - **ʒa/yʒi** "come" (inflects like a normal weak verb, except imperative **aʒi** (sg.), **aʒiw** (pl.); active participle **maʒi** or **ʒay**) - **kla/yakol** (or **kal/yakol**) "eat" and **xda/yaxod** (or **xad/yaxod**) "take" (see paradigm below; active participle **wakel, waxed**; passive participle **muwkul, muwxud**): Tense/Mood Past Present Subjunctive Present Indicative Future Imperative Person Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural Singular Plural 1st kli-t kli-na na-kol na-kl-u ka-na-kol ka-na-kl-u ɣa-na-kol ɣa-na-kl-u 2nd masculine kli-ti kli-tiw ta-kol ta-kl-u ka-ta-kol ka-ta-kl-u ɣa-ta-kol ɣa-ta-kl-u kul kul-u feminine ta-kl-i ka-ta-kl-i ɣa-ta-kl-i kul-i 3rd masculine kla kla-w ya-kol ya-kl-u ka-ya-kol ka-ya-kl-u ɣa-ya-kol ɣa-ya-kl-u feminine kla-t ta-kol ka-ta-kol ɣa-ta-kol ## Social features An interview with [Salma Rachid](/source/Salma_Rachid), a Moroccan singer while she speaks Moroccan Arabic. ### Evolution In general, Moroccan Arabic is one of the least conservative of all Arabic languages. Now, Moroccan Arabic continues to integrate new French words, even English ones due to its influence as the modern [lingua franca](/source/Lingua_franca), mainly [technological](/source/Technology) and modern words. However, in recent years, constant exposure to [Modern Standard Arabic](/source/Modern_Standard_Arabic) on television and in print media and a certain desire among many Moroccans for a revitalization of an [Arab identity](/source/Arab_identity) has inspired many Moroccans to integrate words from Modern Standard Arabic, replacing their [French](/source/French_language), [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language) or otherwise non-[Arabic](/source/Arabic) counterparts, or even speaking in Modern Standard Arabic[*[dubious](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Accuracy_dispute#Disputed_statement) – [discuss](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Talk:Moroccan_Arabic#Dubious)*] while keeping the Moroccan [accent](/source/Accent_(dialect)) to sound less formal.[36] Though rarely written, Moroccan Arabic is currently undergoing an unexpected and pragmatic revival. It is now the preferred language in Moroccan chat rooms or for sending [SMS](/source/SMS), using [Arabic Chat Alphabet](/source/Arabic_Chat_Alphabet) composed of Latin letters supplemented with the numbers *2*, *3*, *5*, *7* and *9* for coding specific Arabic sounds, as is the case with other Arabic speakers. The language continues to evolve quickly as can be noted by consulting the Colin dictionary. Many words and idiomatic expressions recorded between 1921 and 1977 are now obsolete. ### Code-switching Some Moroccan Arabic speakers, in the parts of the country [formerly ruled by France](/source/French_Morocco), practice [code-switching](/source/Code-switching) with [French](/source/French_language). In parts of northern Morocco, such as in [Tetouan](/source/Tetouan) and [Tangier](/source/Tangier), it is common for code-switching to occur between Moroccan Arabic, [Modern Standard Arabic](/source/Modern_Standard_Arabic), and [Spanish](/source/Spanish_language), as [Spain](/source/Spain) had [previously controlled part of the region](/source/Spanish_Morocco) and has a presence in the nearby cities of [Ceuta](/source/Ceuta) and [Melilla](/source/Melilla). On the other hand, some [Arab nationalist](/source/Arab_nationalism) Moroccans generally attempt to avoid French and Spanish in their speech. ### Literature Although most [Moroccan literature](/source/Moroccan_literature) has traditionally been written in the classical Standard Arabic, the first record of a work of literature composed in Moroccan Arabic was [Al-Kafif az-Zarhuni](/source/Al-Kafif_az-Zarhuni)'s *al-Mala'ba*, written in the [Marinid](/source/Marinid_Sultanate) period.[37] There exists some poetry written in Moroccan Arabic like the [Malhun](/source/Malhun). In the troubled and autocratic Morocco of the 1970s, [Years of Lead](/source/Years_of_Lead_(Morocco)), the [Nass El Ghiwane](/source/Nass_El_Ghiwane) band wrote lyrics in Moroccan Arabic that were very appealing to the youth even in other [Maghreb](/source/Maghreb) countries. Another interesting movement is the development of an original [rap music](/source/Moroccan_hip_hop) scene, which explores new and innovative usages of the language. [Zajal](/source/Zajal), or improvised poetry, is mostly written in Moroccan Darija, and there have been at least dozens of Moroccan Darija poetry collections and anthologies published by Moroccan poets, such as [Ahmed Lemsyeh](/source/Ahmed_Lemsyeh)[38] and [Driss Amghar Mesnaoui](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Driss_Amghar_Mesnaoui&action=edit&redlink=1). The later additionally wrote a novel trilogy in Moroccan Darija, a unique creation in this language, with the titles تاعروروت "Ta'arurut", عكاز الريح (the Wind's Crutch), and سعد البلدة (The Town's Luck).[39] ### Scientific production The first known scientific productions written in Moroccan Arabic were released on the Web in early 2010 by Moroccan teacher and physicist Farouk Taki El Merrakchi, three average-sized books dealing with physics and mathematics.[40] ### Newspapers There have been at least three [newspapers](/source/Newspaper) in Moroccan Arabic; their aim was to bring information to people with a low level of [education](/source/Education), or those simply interested in promoting the use of Moroccan Darija. From September 2006 to October 2010, *[Telquel](/source/Telquel_(Morocco))* Magazine had a Moroccan Arabic edition [Nichane](/source/Nichane). From 2002 to 2006 there was also a free weekly newspaper that was entirely written in "standard" Moroccan Arabic: *[Khbar Bladna](https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Khbar_Bladna&action=edit&redlink=1)* ('News of Our Country'). In [Salé](/source/Sal%C3%A9), the regional newspaper Al Amal, directed by [Latifa Akherbach](/source/Latifa_Akherbach), started in 2005.[41] The Moroccan online newspaper *Goud* or "ݣود" has much of its content written in Moroccan Arabic rather than Modern Standard Arabic. Its name "Goud" and its slogan "dima nishan" (ديما نيشان) are Moroccan Arabic expressions that mean almost the same thing "straightforward".[42] ## See also - [Varieties of Arabic](/source/Varieties_of_Arabic) - [Dialect continuum](/source/Dialect_continuum) - [Maghrebi Arabic](/source/Maghrebi_Arabic) - [Algerian Arabic](/source/Algerian_Arabic) - [Tunisian Arabic](/source/Tunisian_Arabic) - [Libyan Arabic](/source/Libyan_Arabic) - [Fessi dialect](/source/Fessi_dialect) - [Tetuani](/source/Tetuani) ## References 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-eth_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-eth_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-eth_1-2) [Moroccan Arabic](https://www.ethnologue.com/language/ary) at *[Ethnologue](/source/Ethnologue)* (28th ed., 2025) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** Ennaji, Moha (1998). [*Arabic Varieties in North Africa*](https://books.google.com/books?id=R_QZAQAAIAAJ). Centre for Advanced Studies of African Soc. p. 6. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-919799-12-4](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-919799-12-4). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-medlaoui_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-medlaoui_3-1) Manbahī, Muḥammad al-Madlāwī; منبهي، محمد المدلاوي. (2019). *al-ʻArabīyah al-Dārijah : imlāʼīyah wa-naḥw* العربية الدارجة : إملائية ونحو (1st ed.). Zākūrah. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-9920-38-197-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-9920-38-197-0). [OCLC](/source/OCLC_(identifier)) [1226918654](https://search.worldcat.org/oclc/1226918654).{{[cite book](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Template:Cite_book)}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher ([link](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:CS1_maint:_location_missing_publisher)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-4)** Abdel-Massih, Ernest Tawfik (1973). [*An Introduction to Moroccan Arabic*](https://books.google.com/books?id=6pUOAAAAYAAJ). Center for Near Eastern and North African Studies, University of Michigan. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780932098078](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780932098078). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-5)** Yabiladi.com. ["Darija, a lingua franca influenced by both Arabic Tamazight and"](https://en.yabiladi.com/articles/details/83458/darija-lingua-franca-influenced-both.html). *en.yabiladi.com*. Retrieved 4 June 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-RGPH_2024_6-0)** Gauthier, Christophe. ["كلمة افتتاحية للسيد المندوب السامي للتخطيط بمناسبة الندوة الصحفية الخاصة بتقديم معطيات الإحصاء العام للسكان والسكنى 2024"](https://www.hcp.ma/%D9%83%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%81%D8%AA%D8%AA%D8%A7%D8%AD%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A8-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%A7%D9%85%D9%8A-%D9%84%D9%84%D8%AA%D8%AE%D8%B7%D9%8A%D8%B7-%D8%A8%D9%85%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%B3%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%AF%D9%88%D8%A9_a4025.html). *Site institutionnel du Haut-Commissariat au Plan du Royaume du Maroc* (in French). Retrieved 23 December 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Bern_7-0)** A. Bernard & P. Moussard, « Arabophones et Amazighophones au Maroc », *[Annales de Géographie](/source/Annales_de_G%C3%A9ographie)*, no.183 (1924), pp.267-282. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Caubet_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Caubet_8-1) D. Caubet, [Questionnaire de dialectologie du Maghreb](http://ieiop.unizar.es/pub/05caubet.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20131112033226/http://ieiop.unizar.es/pub/05caubet.pdf) 2013-11-12 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), in: EDNA vol.5 (2000-2001), pp.73-92 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Levy1_9-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Levy1_9-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Levy1_9-2) S. Levy, Repères pour une histoire linguistique du Maroc, in: EDNA no.1 (1996), pp.127-137 1. **[^](#cite_ref-10)** Turner, Mike (18 February 2019). ["Moroccan Arabic"](https://www.taylorfrancis.com/chapters/edit/10.4324/9780429025563-18/moroccan-arabic-mike-turner). In [Huehnergard, John](/source/John_Huehnergard); Pat-El, Na’ama (eds.). [*The Semitic Languages*](https://books.google.com/books?id=yD6IDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA459). [Routledge](/source/Routledge). p. 459. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.4324/9780429025563-18](https://doi.org/10.4324%2F9780429025563-18). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0-429-65538-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0-429-65538-8). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-11)** Boumans, Louis; de Ruiter, Jan Jaap (13 May 2013). ["Moroccan Arabic in the European diaspora"](https://research.tilburguniversity.edu/en/publications/moroccan-arabic-in-the-european-diaspora/). In Rouchdy, Aleya (ed.). [*Language Contact and Language Conflict in Arabic*](https://books.google.com/books?id=8yBHo0I96a0C&pg=PA262). [Routledge](/source/Routledge). p. 262. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-136-12218-7](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-136-12218-7). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** Dahbi, Mohammed (28 July 2023). ["Language Choice, Literacy, and Education Quality in Morocco"](https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-031-26250-0_9). In Joshi, R. Malatesha; [McBride, Catherine A.](/source/Catherine_McBride); Kaani, Bestern; Elbeheri, Gad (eds.). [*Handbook of Literacy in Africa*](https://books.google.com/books?id=EwTOEAAAQBAJ&dq=%22average%20moroccan%20arabic%22&pg=PA170). Literacy Studies. Vol. 24. [Springer Nature](/source/Springer_Nature). p. 170. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1007/978-3-031-26250-0_9](https://doi.org/10.1007%2F978-3-031-26250-0_9). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-031-26250-0](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-031-26250-0). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Versteegh_13-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Versteegh_13-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-Versteegh_13-2) K. Versteegh, [Dialects of Arabic: Maghreb Dialects](http://acc.teachmideast.org/texts.php?module_id=1&reading_id=113&sequence=5) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150715181940/http://acc.teachmideast.org/texts.php?module_id=1&reading_id=113&sequence=5) 2015-07-15 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), teachmideast.org 1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** The dialects of Ouezzane, Chefchaouen, Asilah, Larache, Ksar el-Kebir and Tangiers are influenced by the neighbouring mountain dialects. The dialects of Marrakesh and Meknes are influenced by Bedouin dialects. The old urban dialect formerly spoken in [Azemmour](/source/Azemmour) is extinct. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-A_15-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-A_15-1) L. Messaoudi, Variations linguistiques: images urbaines et sociales, in: Cahiers de Sociolinguistique, no.6 (2001), pp.87-98 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Zunz_16-0)** A. Zouggari & J. Vignet-Zunz, Jbala: Histoire et société, dans Sciences Humaines, (1991) ([ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [2-222-04574-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/2-222-04574-6)) 1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** ["Glottolog 4.6 - Judeo-Moroccan Arabic"](https://glottolog.org/resource/languoid/id/jude1265). *glottolog.org*. Retrieved 27 September 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-18)** François Decret, Les invasions hilaliennes en Ifrîqiya 1. **[^](#cite_ref-19)** J. Grand'Henry, [Les parlers arabes de la région du Mzāb](https://books.google.com/books?id=Orc3AAAAIAAJ&pg=PA5), Brill, 1976, pp.4-5 1. **[^](#cite_ref-ElhimerZones_20-0)** M. El Himer, [Zones linguistiques du Maroc arabophone: contacts et effets à Salé](http://elhimer.com/images/publications/zones.pdf) [Archived](https://web.archive.org/web/20150413105654/http://elhimer.com/images/publications/zones.pdf) 2015-04-13 at the [Wayback Machine](/source/Wayback_Machine), in: Between the Atlantic and Indian Oceans, Studies on Contemporary Arabic, 7th AIDA Conference, 2006, held in Vienna 1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** Caubet (2007), p. 3 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-:1_22-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-:1_22-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-:1_22-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-:1_22-3) Gottreich, Emily (2020). [*Jewish Morocco*](https://dx.doi.org/10.5040/9781838603601). I.B. Tauris. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.5040/9781838603601](https://doi.org/10.5040%2F9781838603601). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-1-78076-849-6](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-1-78076-849-6). [S2CID](/source/S2CID_(identifier)) [213996367](https://api.semanticscholar.org/CorpusID:213996367). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-:0_23-0)** ["الخطاب السياسي لدة العامة في مغرب العصر المريني - ملعبة الكفيف الزرهوني نموذجا"](https://web.archive.org/web/20191205231337/http://www.hesperis-tamuda.com/2/data/2014/arabe/3.pdf) (PDF). هيسبريس تمودا العدد XLIX، 2014، ص 13-32. Archived from [the original](http://www.hesperis-tamuda.com/2/data/2014/arabe/3.pdf) (PDF) on 5 December 2019. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["الملعبة، أقدم نص بالدارجة المغربية"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180627005942/http://zamane.ma/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A9%D8%8C-%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%B5-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9/). Archived from [the original](https://zamane.ma/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A9%D8%8C-%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%B5-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9/) on 27 June 2018. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-farouk_25-0)** ["Farouk El Merrakchi Taki, professeur de physique en France, s'est lancé dans la rédaction de manuels scientifiques en darija"](https://www.medias24.com/SOCIETE/6642-Une-premiere-Un-Marocain-redige-des-manuels-scientifiques-en-darija.html) (in French). 26 November 2013. Retrieved 8 April 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Moha Ennaji (20 January 2005). [*Multilingualism, Cultural Identity, and Education in Morocco*](https://books.google.com/books?id=DXsF7fT318QC&dq=%22Souq+Al+akhbar%22&pg=PA219). Springer Science & Business Media (published 5 December 2005). p. 2019. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [9780387239804](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/9780387239804). 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-propos_27-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-propos_27-1) Valentina Ferrara (2017). ["À propos de la darija"](https://www.academia.edu/35306901) (in French). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-HaspelmathTadmor2009_28-0)** Martin Haspelmath; Uri Tadmor (22 December 2009). [*Loanwords in the World's Languages: A Comparative Handbook*](https://books.google.com/books?id=HnKeVbwTwyYC&pg=PA195). Walter de Gruyter. p. 195. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-3-11-021844-2](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-3-11-021844-2). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-Abdou_Elimam_29-0)** Elimam, Abdou (2009). [*Du Punique au Maghribi : Trajectoires d'une langue sémito-méditerranéenne*](http://gerflint.fr/Base/Tunisie1/elimam.pdf) (PDF). Synergies Tunisie. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** [Sadiqi, Fatima](/source/Fatima_Sadiqi) (2003). [*Women, Gender, and Language in Morocco*](https://www.google.co.uk/books/edition/Women_Gender_and_Language_in_Morocco/yOyHWEtePycC?hl=en&gbpv=1&pg=PA102&printsec=frontcover). [Brill](/source/Brill_Publishers). p. 102. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-90-04-12853-8](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-90-04-12853-8). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** [Chafik, Mohamed](/source/Mohamed_Chafik) (1999). [*الدارجة المغربية مجال توارد بين الأمازيغية والعربية*](https://www.freemorocco.com/eddarija.pdf) [*Moroccan Darija: a space of exchange between Amazigh and Arabic*] (PDF) (in Arabic and Moroccan Arabic). Moroccan Royal Academy. p. 170. 1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-zam1_32-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-zam1_32-1) ["هكذا أصبحنا نتكلم الدارجة"](https://ar.zamane.ma/%D9%87%D9%83%D8%B0%D8%A7-%D8%A3%D8%B5%D8%A8%D8%AD%D9%86%D8%A7-%D9%86%D8%AA%D9%83%D9%84%D9%85-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9/) [this is how we started speaking Darija]. *[Zamane](/source/Zamane)*. 6 September 2024. Retrieved 30 May 2026. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-33)** Morocco-guide.com. ["Helpful Moroccan Phrases with pronunciation - Moroccan Arabic"](http://www.morocco-guide.com/language/useful-moroccan-phrases/). 1. **[^](#cite_ref-34)** ["Learn Moroccan Arabic with uTalk"](https://utalk.com/en/store/arabic-moroccan). *utalk.com*. Retrieved 9 April 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-35)** Boujenab, Abderrahmane (2011). [*Moroccan Arabic*](http://friendsofmorocco.org/learnarabic.htm). Peace Corps Morocco. p. 52. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-36)** Kamusella, Tomasz (December 2017). ["The Arabic Language: A Latin of Modernity?"](https://research-repository.st-andrews.ac.uk/bitstream/handle/10023/12443/_Journal_of_Nationalism_Memory_Language_Politics_The_Arabic_Language_A_Latin_of_Modernity.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y) (PDF). *Journal of Nationalism, Memory & Language Politics*. **11** (2): 117–145. [doi](/source/Doi_(identifier)):[10.1515/jnmlp-2017-0006](https://doi.org/10.1515%2Fjnmlp-2017-0006). Retrieved 11 March 2024. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-37)** ["الملعبة، أقدم نص بالدارجة المغربية"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180627005942/http://zamane.ma/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A9%D8%8C-%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%B5-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9/). 27 May 2018. Archived from [the original](https://zamane.ma/ar/%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%84%D8%B9%D8%A8%D8%A9%D8%8C-%D8%A3%D9%82%D8%AF%D9%85-%D9%86%D8%B5-%D8%A8%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AF%D8%A7%D8%B1%D8%AC%D8%A9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A%D8%A9/) on 27 June 2018. Retrieved 2 March 2020. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-lemsyeh_38-0)** ["Publications by Ahmed Lemsyeh"](https://www.zajal-lemsyeh.ma/isdarat.php#) (in Moroccan Arabic and Arabic). Retrieved 25 September 2021. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-39)** ["رواية جديدة للمغربي إدريس أمغار المسناوي"](https://www.alraimedia.com/article/514709/%D9%85%D8%AD%D9%84%D9%8A%D8%A7%D8%AA/%D8%B1%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AC%D8%AF%D9%8A%D8%AF%D8%A9-%D9%84%D9%84%D9%85%D8%BA%D8%B1%D8%A8%D9%8A-%D8%A5%D8%AF%D8%B1%D9%8A%D8%B3-%D8%A3%D9%85%D8%BA%D8%A7%D8%B1-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%A7%D9%88%D9%8A) [A new novel by Moroccan (writer) Driss Amghar Mesnaoui]. 24 August 2014. Retrieved 11 July 2022. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-40)** ["Une première: Un Marocain rédige des manuels scientifiques en…"](http://www.medias24.com/SOCIETE/6642-Une-premiere-Un-Marocain-redige-des-manuels-scientifiques-en-darija.html). *Medias24.com*. 26 November 2013. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-41)** ["Actualité : La "darija" ou correctement la langue marocaine sort ses griffes"](https://www.lavieeco.com/culture/la-adarijaa-sort-ses-griffes-6783/). *lavieeco.com* (in French). 9 June 2006. 1. **[^](#cite_ref-42)** ["كود"](http://www.goud.ma). *Goud*. ## Bibliography - Ernest T. Abdel Massih. *Introduction to Moroccan Arabic*. Washington: Univ. of Michigan, 1982. - Jordi Aguadé. ‘Notes on the Arabic Dialect of Casablanca’, in: *AIDA, 5th Conference Proceedings*. Universidad de Cadiz, 2003, pp. 301–8. - Jordi Aguadé. ‘[Morocco (dialectological survey)](https://www.academia.edu/9064836/Morocco_dialectological_survey_)’, in *Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics*, vol. 3, Brill, 2007, pp. 287–97. - Bichr Andjar & Abdennabi Benchehda. *Moroccan Arabic Phrasebook*, Lonely Planet, 1999. - Louis Brunot. *Introduction à l'arabe marocain*. Paris: Maisonneuve, 1950. - Dominique Caubet. *L'arabe marocain*. Publ. Peeters, 1993. - Dominique Caubet. ‘[Moroccan Arabic](https://www.academia.edu/6640986/Moroccan_Arabic)’, in *Encyclopedia of Arabic Language and Linguistics*, vol. 3, Brill, 2007, pp. 274–287 - Olivier Durand. *L'arabo del Marocco: elementi di dialetto standard e mediano*. Rome: Università degli Studi La Sapienza, 2004. - Richard S. Harrel. *A short reference grammar of Moroccan Arabic*. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown Univ. Press, 1962. - Richard S. Harrel. *A Dictionary of Moroccan Arabic*. Washington, D.C.: Georgetown Univ. Press, 1966. - Jeffrey Heath. *Ablaut and Ambiguity: Phonology of a Moroccan Arabic Dialect*. Albany: State Univ. of New York Press, 1987. - Angela Daiana Langone. ‘Khbar Bladna, une expérience journalistique en arabe dialectal marocain’, in *Estudios de dialectologia norteafricana y andalusi*, no. 7, 2003, pp. 143–151. - Angela Daiana Langone. ‘Jeux linguistiques et nouveau style dans la masrahiyya en-Neqsha, Le déclic, écrite en dialecte marocain par Tayyeb Saddiqi’, in *Actes d'AIDA 6*. Tunis, 2006, pp. 243–261. - Francisco Moscoso García. *Esbozo gramatical del árabe marroquí*. Cuenca: Universidad de Castilla-La Mancha, 2004. - Abderrahim Youssi. ‘La triglossie dans la typologie linguistique’, in *La Linguistique*, no. 19, 1983, pp. 71–83. - Abderrahim Youssi. *Grammaire et lexique de l'arabe marocain moderne*. Casablanca: Wallada, 1992. - Annamaria Ventura & Olivier Durand. *Grammatica di arabo marocchino: Lingua dārija*. Milan: Hoepli, 2022. ## External links ***[Moroccan Arabic edition](https://ary.wikipedia.org/wiki/)*** of [Wikipedia](/source/Wikipedia), the free encyclopedia ***[Moroccan Arabic test](https://incubator.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wt/ary)*** of [Wiktionary](/source/Wiktionary) at [Wikimedia Incubator](https://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Incubator) Wikivoyage has a phrasebook for ***[Moroccan Arabic](https://en.wikivoyage.org/wiki/Moroccan_Arabic_phrasebook#Q56426)***. - [Friends of Morocco](http://www.friendsofmorocco.org/learnarabic.htm) - [Mazyan Bizaf Show](https://web.archive.org/web/20180823031551/https://mazyanbizaf.com/) - [Moroccan Thobe](https://menthobes.co.uk/product-category/mens-moroccan-thobe) - [Moroccan Arabic Swadesh List](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Moroccan_Arabic_Swadesh_list) - [Moroccan Arabic Swadesh List](https://en.m.wiktionary.org/wiki/Appendix:Moroccan_Arabic_Swadesh_list) v t e Arabic language Overviews Language Alphabet History Romanization Numerals Influence on other languages Scripts Nabataean script Arabic script Ancient North Arabian Ancient South Arabian script Arabic numerals Eastern numerals Arabic Braille Algerian Braille Maltese Braille Diacritics i‘jām Tashkil Harakat Nunation (tanwin) Shaddah Hamza Dagger alif Maltese alphabet Letters ʾAlif Bāʾ Tāʾ Ṯāʾ Ǧīm Ḥāʾ Ḫāʾ Dāl Ḏāl Rāʾ Zāy Sīn Šīn Ṣād Ḍād Ṭāʾ Ẓāʾ ʿAyn Ġayn Fāʾ Qāf Kāf Lām Mīm Nūn Hāʾ Wāw Yāʾ Varieties Pre-Islamic Proto-Arabic Nabataean Arabic Old Arabic Old Hijazi Arabic Pre-classical Arabic Literary Classical Modern Standard Modern spoken Maghrebi Pre-Hilalian Andalusi Sicilian Maltese Australian Cottenera Gozitan Qormi Żejtun Żurrieqi Urban Tunis (North-Eastern Tunisian) Fessi Village Eastern Sahili (Sahel) Sfaxian Jijel (Lesser Kabylia) Western Traras-Msirda Jebli (Mountain) Judeo-Maghrebi Judeo-Moroccan Judeo-Tripolitanian Judeo-Tunisian Hilalian Central Hilal Algerian koiné Judeo-Algerian Algerian Saharan Eastern Algerian Eastern Hilal Tunisian koiné Maqil Hassaniya Nemadi Moroccan koiné Eastern Western Western Algerian Sulaym Libyan koiné Western Egyptian Bedawi Nile Valley Egyptian Saʽidi Sudanese Levantine North Cilician Lebanese Syrian Aleppine Damascene South Jordanian Palestinian Mesopotamian Gilit Baghdadi Khuzestani Shawi South North (Qeltu) Anatolian Cypriot Judeo-Iraqi Baghdadi Peninsular Bahrani Bareqi Bedawi Dhofari Gulf Bahraini Emirati Kuwaiti Khamseh Hejazi /-k/ group Yāfiʿī Najdi Omani Shihhi Yemeni Hadhrami Indonesian Sanʽani Taʽizzi-Adeni Tihami Judeo-Yemeni Others Central Asian Bactrian Bukhara Kashkadarya Khorasani Shirvani Chadian Nigerian Sociological Bedouin Arabic Judeo-Arabic Judeo-Algerian Judeo-Egyptian Judeo-Iraqi Baghdadi Judeo-Moroccan Kjal Wqal Judeo-Palestinian Judeo-Syrian Judeo-Tripolitanian Judeo-Tunisian Tunisene Judeo-Yemeni Adeni Beda Habban Sanʽani Creoles and pidgins Bimbashi Bongor Gulf Pidgin Jordanian Bengali Pidgin Juba Maridi Nubi Pidgin Madam Turku Academic Literature Names Linguistics Standard Arabic phonology Sun and moon letters Tajwid Imāla ʾIʿrāb (case) Grammar Triliteral root Mater lectionis IPA Quranic Arabic Corpus Calligraphy · Script Ajami script Diwani Hijazi script Jawi script Jeli Thuluth Kairouani Kufic Maghrebi Mashq Muhaqqaq Naskh (script) Nastaliq Rasm Ruqʿah script Shahmukhi Sini (script) Taliq script Tawqi Thuluth Technical Arabic keyboard Arabic script in Unicode ISO/IEC 8859-6 Windows-1256 MS-DOS codepages 708 709 710 711 720 864 MacArabic encoding Other Islam and Arabic language Italics indicate extinct languages Languages between parentheses are varieties of the language on their left. Category v t e Languages of Morocco Official languages Berber Arabic1 Native vernaculars Arabic Pre-Hilalian Northern Judeo-Moroccan Hilal-Mâqil Western Eastern Hassaniya Koiné Darija Berber Atlas Central Atlas Tashelhit Judeo-Berber Senhaja de Srair Ghomara Gharbi† Zenati Tarifit Tabeldit Eastern Middle Atlas Eastern Morocco Romance Western Sabir† Haketia Spanish†,4 Undescribed African Latin† Main foreign languages French Spanish4 English Main liturgical languages Arabic1 2 Hebrew3 1 Modern Standard Arabic 2 Classical Arabic 3 Medieval Hebrew 4 Formerly native to Moriscos, extinct as native in Morocco † Extinct v t e Languages of the Maghreb Vernacular Arabic Literary Classical Modern Standard Maltese Pre-Hilalian Urban North-Eastern Tunisian Eastern Village Sahel Sfaxian Lesser Kabylia Western Village Traras-Msirda Mountain Jewish Moroccan Tripolitanian Tunisian Hilalian Sulaym Libyan koiné Eastern Hilal Tunisian koiné Central Hilal Algerian koiné Central and Saharan Eastern Algerian Western Algerian Maqil Western Moroccan Eastern Moroccan Moroccan koiné Hassānīya Berber Eastern Awjila Fezzan Ghadamès Kufra Nafusi Siwa Northern Non-Zenatic Atlas Kabyle Zenatic Eastern Middle Atlas Northern Saharan Riffian Shawiya Tunisian-Zuwara Western Algerian Tuareg Tamahaq Tamashek Tawellemmet Tayart Southwestern Tetserret Zenaga Nilo-Saharan Korandje Teda Niger-Congo Wolof Soninké Pulaar Bambara Romance French Italian Spanish Haketia Historical Proto-Berber Numidian Phoenician Punic Romance African Latin African Romance Sabir Vandalic language Greek Ottoman Turkish Authority control databases International GND Other Yale LUX --- Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Moroccan Arabic](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan_Arabic) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moroccan_Arabic?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.