Moroccan Arabic Textbook (2011)

123

Health

Dialogue

Sumiya: s-salamu عalaykum.

Christine: wa عalaykum s-salam.

Sumiya:

šftk l-barн f s-sbitar.

weš nti frmliya?

Christine: lla maši frmliya u maši

tbiba.

Sumiya: šnu xdmtk?

Christine: kan-tkllm mعa n-nas عla

sннthum u sннt wladhum.

Sumiya: weš kat-عtihum d-dwa?

Christine:

ma-kan-عtihum-š d-dwa u

ma-kan-dir-š libra.

kan-gul l n-nas šnu xsshum

y-diru baš ma-y-mrdu-š

huma wlla wladhum. u

kan-hdr mعahum عla

l-'ahammiya dyal d-dwa d

l-bir, u bit l-ma u ġsil

l-yddin u d-dwa d l-krš.

Sumiya: mzyan. had š-ši muhim. u

saнbtk šnu kat-dir?

Christine: kat-gul lihum y-jlbu l

wladhum baš ma-y-mrdu-š u

kat-šrн lihum šnu xsshum

y-diru ila ma-bġau-š

y-wldu bzzaf u kat-nsн

l-عyalat l-нamlat baš

y-mšiu l s-sbitar.

Sumiya: had š-ši mzyan. tbark lla

عlikum.

Christine: lla y-bark fik.

Vocabulary and Expressions

health

s-sннa

health clinic

s-sbitar

the importance

l-'ahammiya

the (water)

nurse

l-frmli(ya)

l-bir

well

doctor

t-tbib(a)

diarrhea

l-krš

to be sick

mrd

to immunize

jlb

medicines

d-dwa

to give birth

wld

the shot

libra

pregnant

нamla

124 • Moroccan Arabic

Small Business Development

Dialogue

Chris: s-salamu عalaykum.

l-mعllm: wa عalaykum s-salam.

Chris: smн li n-qddm lik rasi.

l-mعllm: iyeh, tfddl a sidi.

Chris: smiti Chris, ana

mutatawwiع mعa hay'at

s-salam u jit hna baš

n-عawn l-muqawalat

s-sġira.

l-mعllm: u kifaš ġat-عawnha?

Chris: f bzzaf d l-нwayj, bнal

l-нisabat u l-'išhar u

t-tswiq. matalan

kan-sawbu lakart d vizit

l l-muqawala u

kan-عtiuha smiya u

kan-šhhru l-mntuj dyalha

f l-internet.

l-mعllm: had š-ši mumtaz welakin

baš ġat-stafd had

l-muqawala?

Chris: ġat-stafd нit ġat-biع

s-slعa dyalha f l-mġrib

u f l-xarij.

l-mعllm: mzyan. lla y-عawnk.

Chris: šukran a sidi.

Vocabulary and Expressions

tnmiyat l-muqawalat

small business development

s-sġira

enterprise /

l-muqawala

products

l-mntuj

firm

accountancy

l-нisabat

merchandise

s-slعa

lakart d

l-'išhar

business card

vizit

to advertise

šhhr

abroad

l-xarij

to advertise

šhhr b

marketing

t-tswiq

the products

l-mntuj

125

Renting a House

Objective: By the end of the chapter, you will be able to:

• speak about renting and furnishing houses

Finding a House

Vocabulary

building /

عimara

block of flats

floor

tbqa

apartment

brtma

house

dar

stairs

druj

elevator

sansur

balcony

balkun

bath

l-нmmam

rental agent

s-smsar

shower

d-duš

(in cities)

living room

salun

kitchen

l-kuzina

bedroom

bit n-nعas

neighbor

jar(a)

bit l-ma /

bathroom

neighbors

jiran

twalet

Expressions

kan-qllb عla ši dar l

I‟m looking for a house to rent.

l-kra.

weš ymkn lik t-wrriha

Can you show it to me?

liya?

Where is it located?

ašmn blasa?

Give me directions to it.

nععt liya fin jat.

Can I see it?

weš ymkn liya n-šufha?

How many rooms does it have?

šнal fiha mn bit?

Is the roof for common use?

weš s-stн mšruk?

126 • Moroccan Arabic

Dialogue

Mark: s-salamu عalaykum

l-нaj: wa عalaykum s-salam

Mark:

weš kayna ši dar l

l-kra?

l-нaj: weš bġiti maнal kbir

wlla sġir?

Mark:

bġit dar mtwssta, y-kun

fiha salun u bit n-nعas

u d-duš u kuzina u

kat-dxl liha š-šms u

y-kun s-stн dyali

b-wнdi.

l-нaj: kayna wнda welakin

20.000

t-taman dyalha 20.000

ryal.

Mark: lla bzzaf عliya,

عlaнqqaš ana ġir b-wнdi

u ma-ġadi-š n-qdr n-xlls

had t-taman.

l-нaj: šнal bġiti t-xlls?

Mark:

10.000 ryal.

10 000

l-нaj: iwa f had s-saعa

ma-mujuda-š ši нaja b

dak t-taman. welakin

mrra mrra rjع عndi, ila

lqit ši нaja ġadi

n-عlmk.

Mark: waxxa a sidi, barak lla

u fik.

l-нaj: lla y-bark fik.

1. عlaš mša Mark عnd l-нaj?

2. weš bġa dar kbira wlla dar sġira?

3. šnu bġa y-kun f had d-dar?

4. weš šaf Mark d-dar l-li hdr

عliha l-нaj?

5. عlaš ma-kraha-š?

6. weš kayna ši dar xora rxs

mn hadi?

7. fuqaš ġadi y-rjع Mark عnd l-нaj?

127

Furnishing a House

House Furniture

radio / tape

table

tbla

musjjala

recorder

chair

kursi

television

tlfaza

bed

namusiya

electric outlet

priz

mxdda /

pillow

light bulb

bola

usada

floor mat

нsira

electric cord

xit d d-dow

rug

zrbiya

candle

šmعa

msluн /

carpet

mukit

iron

нdida

manta /

blanket

key / switch

sarut

kaša

curtain

xamiya

broom

štaba

jbbada /

sheet

izar

squeegee

jfafa

Moroccan sofa

ponj

water heater

ššufu

couch

sdari

heater

šofaj

Kitchenware

refrigerator

tllaja

spoon

mعlqa

oven

frran

knife

mus

blender

tннana

fork

fršita

saucepan

gamila

glass

kas

cooking pot

tawa

teapot

brrad

plate

tbsil

coffee pot

briq

brazier

mjmr

tray

siniya

grill

šuwaya

bowl

zlafa

strainer

sffaya

kettle

mqraj

pressure

kokot

pitcher

ġrraf

cooker

sifter

ġrbal

couscous pot

brma

frying pan

mqla

ladle

mġrfa

faucet

robini

129

Safety and Security

Objective: By the end of the chapter, you will be able to:

• list some safety and security problems you may face during your service

• describe some strategies for dealing with these issues

• use Moroccan Arabic to implement these strategies

Sexual Harassment

Vocabulary

gazelle*

l-ġzala

to follow someone

tbع

to get in someone's

the beautiful*

z-zwina

tعrrd

way

the beauty*

z-zin

to harass

ngg

a strawberry (girl)*

t-tuta

*These words are used by men to harass women.

Expressions

sexual harassment

taнrruš jinsi

He followed me.

tbعni.

What do you want?

šnu bġiti?

Go away.

sir f нalk.

Get away (far) from me.

bععd mnni.

Let go of me.

tlq mnni.

Don‟t touch me.

ma-t-qisni-š.

Don‟t follow me again.

ma-t-عawd-š t-tbعni.

Give me some space. (go away)

عtini t-tisaع.

Go or you will regret it.

sir wlla ġadi t-ndm.

I will tell the police.

ġadi n-bllġ l-bulis.

ġadi n-عiyt عla

I will call the gendarmes.

j-jadarmiya.

Respect yourself.

нtarm rask.

He doesn‟t want to get away

ma-bġa-š y-bععd mnni.

(far) from me.

I told you: get away (far) from

glt lik: bععd mnni.

me.

I told you: go away.

glt lik: sir f нalk.

130 • Moroccan Arabic

Text - Arabic

Text - Transcription

Cathy xarja mn dar š-šbab

mlli Cathy xarja mn dar š-šbab, kan waнd mul t-tumubil waqf f j-jnb

dyal t-triq. mnin wslat Cathy нdah, gal liha: "tlعi a l-ġzala n-wsslk."

Cathy galt lih: "sir f нalk. weš bġiti ši waнd y-tbع xtk?" bqat Cathy

ġadya u bqa mul t-tumubil tbعha. qtعat Cathy t-triq l j-jiha l-xura. нnat

rasha u kmmlat triqha. f nhar t-tani عawd nfs š-ši mعa mul t-tumubil. f

nhar t-talt galt Cathy l mul t-tumubil: "ila عawdti tbعni ġadi n-bllġ

l-bulis." b l-fiعl عawd tbعha u mšat l l-bulis u bllġat u عtathum rqm

t-tumubil. l-bulis šddu mul t-tumubil u عiytu عla Cathy. tlb mul

t-tumubil s-smaнa mn Cathy u ltazm baš ma-bqi-š y-tعrrd liha mrra xora.

Questions

1. fin kant Cathy?

2. fin kan mul t-tumubil?

3. šnu gal mul t-tumubil l Cathy?

4. weš mšat Cathy mعa mul t-tumubil?

5. šnu dart Cathy mlli عawd tbعha

mul t-tumubil?

6. šnu dar mul t-tumubil mlli šdduh

l-bulis?

Text - English Translation

Cathy coming out of the youth center

When Cathy was coming out of the youth center, there was a man in his car by the side of the

road. As she passed by him, he told her: “Get in gazelle, I will take you home.” Cathy said: “Go

away. Is it okay with you if someone harasses your sister?” Cathy kept walking and the man was

following her with his car. She crossed the road, ignoring him, and continued on her way. The next

day, the same thing happened with that man. The following day Cathy told the man: “If you follow

me again I will tell the police.” In fact, he did follow her again and so she went to the police station.

She told them what happened and gave them the license plate number. The police arrested the

man and called Cathy. The man apologized to Cathy and promised not to get in her way again.

131

At the Taxi Stand

Vocabulary

seat

blasa

windshield

j-jaja

tire

rwida

cracked

mšquqa

smooth

memsuнa

to be afraid

xaf

to happen

wqع

Expressions

Drive slowly please.

sug b š-šwiya عafak.

llahumma slama wala

Better safe than sorry.

ndama.

Dialogue

f maнtta d t-taxiyat

l-kurti: blasa Akka, blasa Akka.

Max: ana ġadi l Akka.

l-kurti: tlع.

Max: bllati, xllini n-šuf

t-taksi bعda. ma-bġit-š

n-mši f had t-taksi.

l-kurti: عlaš?

Max: r-rwayd mmsuнin u j-jaja

l-qddamiya mšquqa.

l-kurti: ġir zid ma-t-xaf-š, ma

ġadi y-wqع walu.

Max: šuf liya ši taxi mzyan

عafak.

l-kurti: xssk t-tsnna šwiya.

Max: l-wqt maši muškil.

llahumma slama wala

ndama.

Questions

1. fin kayn Max?

2. fin ġadi Max?

3. عlaš ma-mša-š f t-taxi l-li šaf?

4. šnu tlb mn l-kurti?

132 • Moroccan Arabic

English Translation

At the taxi stand

l-kurti:

A seat to Aqqa, a seat to Aqqa.

Max:

I am going to Aqqa.

l-kurti:

Get in.

Max:

Wait. Let me see the taxi first

I don‟t want to go in this taxi.

l-kurti:

Why?

Max:

The tires are smooth and the windshield is cracked.

l-kurti:

Come on, don‟t worry. Nothing is going to happen.

Max:

Find me a good taxi.

l-kurti:

You have to wait a little bit.

Max:

Time is not a problem. Better safe than sorry.

At Work

Vocabulary

to bring in

dxxl

to lock to

šdd mعa

(something)

to take out

xrrj

to steal

srq

a lock

qfl

to be stolen

tsrq

Dialogue

f l-xdma

lomolog: s-salamu عalaykum. jiti

bkri l-yum.

Patrick: wa عalaykum s-salam. ši

šwiya.

lomolog: aš hada? عlaš dxxlti

l-bisklit l l-biru.

Patrick: ah, ġadi y-tsrq ila

xllitu brra.

lomolog:

welakin hadi maši blasa d

l-bisklit.

Patrick: iyeh, welakin aš ġadi

n-dir?

lomolog: dir qfl l l-bisklit u

šddu mعa l-bab dyal brra.

Patrick: fikra mzyana. ma-fkkrt-š

fiha.

lomolog: weš عndk qfl?

Patrick: iyeh, عndi. n-xrrju daba

u n-šddu mعa l-bab.

lomolog: sdd t-lqa ma-t-нll.

133

Questions

1. عlaš dxxl Patrick l-bisklit l

l-biru?

2. šnu gal lomolog l Patrick?

3. šnu dar Patrick f t-tali?

English Translation

At work

counterpart: Peace be upon you. You came in early today.

Patrick: Peace be upon you too. A little bit.

counterpart: What‟s this? Why did you bring your bicycle into the office?

Patrick: Oh. It will be stolen if I leave it outside.

counterpart: But this is not the place for bicycles.

Patrick: Yes, but what should I do?

counterpart: Use a lock with the bicycle, and lock it to the gate.

Patrick: Good idea. I didn‟t think about that.

counterpart: Do you have a lock?

Patrick: Yes, I have one. I‟ll take it outside now and lock it to the gate.

counterpart: Lock now what you will find later.

Forgetting a Wallet in a Taxi / Filing a Report

Vocabulary

police

bulis

to lose

wddr

police station

kumisariya

to forget

nsa

to save

wallet

bztam

عtq

(someone)

Expressions

Help me.

عawnni.

I lost my passport.

wddrt l-ppasppor.

I forgot my wallet in...

nsit l-bztam dyali f...

Where‟s the police station?

fin l-kumisariya?

Help me! (use only in extreme danger)

عtqu r-ruн.

134 • Moroccan Arabic

Dialogue

Brian: s-salamu عalaykum.

bulis: wa عalaykum s-salam.

Brian: smн li, nsit l-bztam

dyali f waнd t-taksi.

bulis: waxxa, šnu smitk?

Brian: smiti Brian

bulis: šnu kayn f l-bztam?

Brian: fih l-ppasppor dyali u

500

waнd lakart viza u 500

drhm.

bulis: weš عqlti عla n-nmra

dyal t-taksi?

Brian: 45.

bulis: waxxa, xlli liya r-rqm d

t-tilifun dyalk, ġadi

n-ttaslu bik mn bعd.

Brian: šukran.

bulis: lla šukran عala wajib.

Questions

1. fin mša Brian? عlaš?

2. weš tsrq lih l-bztam?

English Translation

Brian: Peace be upon you.

police: Peace be upon you too.

Brian: Excuse me, I forgot my wallet in a taxi.

police: Okay, what‟s your name?

Brian: My name is Brian ...

police: What was in the wallet?

Brian: My passport, a Visa card, and 500 dirham.

police: Do you remember the taxi‟s number?

Brian:

45.

police: Okay, leave me your phone number, we‟ll call you later.

Brian: Thanks.

police: It‟s my duty.

135

Butagas

Vocabulary

metal regulator

butane gas

l-buta

between gas

l-magana

tank

tank and hose

gas

l-gaz

to test

jrrb

CO detector

d-ditiktur

to close (tank)

sdd

battery

l-нjra

to open (tank)

нll

gasket

j-jlda d

to turn on /

xddm

(rubber ring)

l-buta

to make work

torn

mqttع(a)

to change

bddl

hose

t-tiyu

to tighten

ziyr

odor / smell

r-riнa

to smell

šmm

ring

l-xatm

Expressions

There is a gas smell.

kayna r-riнa d l-gaz.

Turn on the detector.

xddm d-ditiktur.

Test the butagas tank with

jrrb l-buta b l-ma u

water and soap.

s-sabun.

Change the rubber ring if it‟s

bddl j-jlda d l-buta

torn.

ila tqtعat.

Dialogue

Fatima عnd Caroline

Fatima: ahlan bixir.

Caroline: bixir l-нamdullah, mrнba

bik.

Fatima: šukran. aji šmmit r-riнa d

l-buta.

Caroline: ma-šmmit-š, rah عndi

d-ditiktur d l-gaz welakin

ma-fih-š l-нjra.

Fatima: xssk t-xddmih dima, had

š-ši maši lعb. aji n-šufu

j-jlda d l-buta bعda.

Caroline: waxxa.

Fatima: j-jlda mqttعa. had š-ši

xatar. xssna n-bddluha u

mn bعd n-jrrbu b l-ma u

s-sabun.

Caroline: fikra mzyana.

136 • Moroccan Arabic

Questions

1. عlaš ma-xddmat-š Caroline

d-ditiktur d l-gaz?

2. šnu l-muškil f l-buta dyal

Caroline?

3. šnu xss Caroline u Fatima y-diru?

English Translation

Fatima:

Hello, how are you?

Caroline:

Fine, thanks be to God. Welcome.

Fatima:

Thanks. Come here . . . I smell gas.

Caroline:

I don‟t smell it. I have a gas detector but it ran out of batteries.

Fatima:

You should always have it on. This is no game. Let‟s look at the

rubber gasket ring first.

Caroline:

Okay.

Fatima:

You see, the rubber ring is torn. This is dangerous. We have to

change it, then test it with water and soap.

Caroline:

Good idea.

Hash

Vocabulary

hashish

l-нšiš

to use

stعml

quality

kaliti / nuع

sticking to /

bothering

lasq

to smoke

kma

someone

Dialogue

Jalil: aji axay, weš kat-qllb عla

l-нšiš?

Scott: lla, sir f нalk. ana

ma-kan-stعmlu-š.

Jalil: aji, rah عndi kaliti zwina

mn ktama.

Scott: glt lik sir f нalk. bععd

mnni. ana ma-kan-kmi-š.

Jalil: šuf, n-dir mعak taman

mzyan.

Scott:

šuf nta, ila bqiti lasqni

ġadi n-gulha l l-bulis.

ana ma-kan-kmi-š.

Jalil:

l-bulis! safi lla y-عawnk.

137

Questions

1. mعa mn tlaqa Scott?

2. šnu bġa mnnu Jalil?

3. weš šra Scott l-нšiš?

4. عlaš xaf Jalil u mša b нalu?

English Translation

Jalil:

Come here (brother), are you looking for hash?

Scott:

No, go away. I don‟t use it.

Jalil:

Come on, it‟s good stuff from Ktama.

Scott:

I said go away. I don‟t smoke.

Jalil:

Look, I‟ll give you a good price.

Scott:

You look, if you keep bothering me I‟ll call the police. I don‟t smoke.

Jalil:

Police! Okay, may God help you.

Theft

Vocabulary

šffar /

theft

s-srqa

thief

srraq

danger

xatar

to touch

qas

dangerous

xatir

to forgive

smн l...

make a statement /

sjjl dعwa

he attacked me

tعdda عliya

file a report

summons

stidعa

he snatched my...

xtf liya...

witness

šahd

he slapped me

srfqni

testimony

šahada

he hit me

drbni

police

l-bulis

he spit on me

dfl عliya

he grabbed me

police inspector

l-inspiktur

šddni mn...

from...

police car

fargunit

he cursed me

sbbni

report

rappur

he stole my...

srq liya...

law

l-qanun

he insulted me

عayrni

нuquq

human rights

to call (the police)

عiyt l

l-'insan

lawyer

muнami

court

mнkama

medical certificate /

šahada

report

tibbiya

138 • Moroccan Arabic

Expressions

fin 'aqrab kumisariya /

Where‟s the closest police /

brigad d j-jundarm,

gendarme station, please.

عafak?

I want to make a statement

bġit n-bllġ عla s-srqa

about a theft / an attack / sexual

/ iعtida' / taнrruš

harassment.

jinsi.

What police station should I go

lašmn kumisariya xssni

to?

n-mši?

Take me to the closest police

ddini l 'aqrab

station, please.

kumisariya, عafak.

Be careful!

нdi rask!

Pay attention.

rdd balk.

Come with me to the police.

zid mعaya l l-bulis.

Dialogue

John: s-salamu عalaykum.

bulis: wa عalaykum s-salam. šnu xssk?

John: bġit n-bllġ عla ši srqa.

bulis: weš lik nta?

John: iyeh.

bulis: waxxa, عtini l-ppaspor dyalk.

John: عndi ġir la-kart d sejur, hak.

bulis: нtta hiya mzyana. šnu srq lik? u

fuqaš?

John: sak, f 3:00.

3:00

bulis: kif dar srq lik s-sak?

John: xtfu liya mn ktfi.

bulis: kif dayr had š-šffar? wsfu liya.

John: twil u labs djin u t-šurt нmr.

bulis: šnu kayn f had s-sak b d-dbt?

John:

عndi fih tilifun u futa u ktab u

musjjala sġira (walkman) u 200

200

drhm.

bulis: waxxa, a sidi. ġadi n-diru l-bнt

dyalna u n-taslu bik mn bعd.

John: safi, weš n-mši?

bulis: lla, tsnna нtta t-axud mعak nsxa

mn r-rappur.

John: waxxa šukran.

bulis:

hak, daba n-taslu bik. нdi rask

mrra xura.

139

English Translation

John:

Peace be upon you.

police officer:

Peace be upon you too. Can I help you?

John:

I want to report a theft.

police officer:

Are you the victim?

John:

Yes.

police officer:

Okay, your passport, please.

John:

I have only my “carte de sejour.” Here you are.

police officer:

That‟s okay. What was stolen from you and

when?

John:

A bag at 3:00.

police officer:

How was it stolen?

John:

A man snatched it from my shoulder.

police officer:

Can you describe the thief?

John:

He‟s tall, wearing jeans and a red T-shirt.

police officer:

What exactly did you have in the bag?

John:

A cell phone, a towel, a book, a walkman, and

200 dirham.

police officer:

Okay, sir, we‟ll do our investigation and we‟ll get

in touch with you later.

John:

That‟s it? Can I leave?

police officer:

Wait a minute, you‟ve got to take a photocopy of

the report.

John:

Okay, thanks.

police officer:

Here you are. We‟ll get in touch with you. Be

careful in the future.

House Security / Doors and Windows

Vocabulary

sliding metal bolt

lock

qfl

z-zkrum

for locking doors

sudur /

welder

iron bars

barrat

нddad

hardware

latch / bolt

s-saqta

d-drogri

store

140 • Moroccan Arabic

Dialogue

Jamal: s-salamu عalaykum.

Carlos: wa عalaykum s-salam.

mrнba bik.

Jamal: aš kat-dir f d-dar?

Carlos: walu, ġir gals.

Jamal: yallah n-xrju.

Carlos: waxxa.

Jamal: šnu hada? had l-qfl

عiyan. xssk waнd sнiн. u

xssk saqta baš t-sdd

ldaxl.

Carlos: fikra mzyana. mnin ġadi

n-šrihum?

Jamal: mn d-drugri wlla mn

s-suq ġdda. u нtta had

s-srjm xssu barrat dyal

l-нdid baš thnna. aji

n-mšiu عnd s-sudur

n-sawbu had s-srjm daba.

xssk ġir t-šdd l-عbar

dyalu.

Carlos: hadi fikra muعtabara.

Jamal: iyeh, llahumma slama

wala ndama.

Questions

1. šnu kan Carlos kay-dir?

2. šnu l-muškil dyal Carlos?

3. šnu xss Carlos ydir?

4. mnin ġadi y-šri l-qfl u s-saqta?

5. عnd mn ġadi y-sawb l-barrat?

English Translation

Jamal: Peace be upon you.

Carlos: And peace be upon you too. Welcome.

Jamal: What are you doing at home?

Carlos: Nothing, just sitting around.

Jamal: Let‟s go out.

Carlos: Okay.

Jamal: What is this? This lock is not strong. You need a strong one. You also need a

sliding metal bolt in order to lock the door from the inside.

Carlos: Good idea. Where can I get these from?

Jamal: From the hardware store or from souk tomorrow. Also this window needs iron bars

for you to feel safe. Let‟s go to the welder‟s to fix this window now. You need to

measure it.

Carlos: Excellent idea.

Jamal: It‟s better to be safe than sorry.

141

Political Harassment

Vocabulary

to end

wqf

population,

š-šعb

people

war

l-нrb

citizen

muwatin

for

mعa

normal

عadi

against

dedd

freedom

l-нuriya

to convince

qnع

democracy

d-dimuqratiya

killing

l-qtila

subject

muduع

to kill

qtl

Dialogue

kan John gals f l-qhwa kay-qra

"Newsweek" u kanu n-nas kay-tfrrju f

"Al-Jazira." waнd mn n-nas gal l John:

muwatin: hdr mعa Bush y-wqqf had

l-нrb.

John: ana ġir muwatin عadi mn

mirikan. xdmti hiya n-عawn

n-nas f l-mġrib. had š-ši

l-li kan-عrf. safi.

muwatin: welakin kat-gulu عndkum

l-нuriya u d-dimuqratiya.

John: had š-ši bssн welakin ana

ġir mirikani عadi mn

š-šعb.

muwatin: kulkum bнal bнal, kat-bġiu

l-нrb. f mirikan ktr mn

50% d n-nas mعa l-нrb.

нtta nta mnhum.

John: lla. ana mعa 50% xora l-li

dedd l-нrb.

muwatin: kifaš ġadi n-عrfu?

John: kifaš ġadi n-qnعk?

muwatin: ma-n-عrf welakin mirikan

xssha t-wqqf l-qtila dyal

n-nas.

John: mttafq mعak.

bqat waнd l-mjmuعa d n-nas f l-qhwa

kay-tkllmu عla had l-muduع u kay-šufu

f John. John xlls qhwtu u mša f

нalu.

142 • Moroccan Arabic

Questions

1. fin kan John?

2. šnu kan kay-dir?

3. šnu kanu n-nas kay-diru?

4. šnu hiya l-xdma dyal John f

l-mġrib?

5. weš mirikan kulha mعa l-нrb?

6. weš John mعa wlla ddd l-нrb?

7. šnu dar John f t-tali?

English Translation

John was sitting in a café reading “Newsweek.” Some people there were watching “Al-Jazeera.” One

of the men at the café said to John:

Moroccan citizen: Talk to Bush about stopping this war.

John: I‟m just a normal citizen from America. My job is to help people in Morocco.

That‟s all I know.

Moroccan citizen: But in America you say you have freedom and democracy.

John: That‟s true, but I am just a normal American.

Moroccan citizen: You are all the same. You all like war. In America more than 50% of the people

are for the war. You are one of them.

John: No, I am with the other Americans against the war.

Moroccan citizen: How are we going to know?

John: How can I convince you?

Moroccan citizen: I don‟t know but America must stop killing people.

John: I agree.

A group of people in the café kept talking about the subject of the war. They were looking at John.

John paid for his coffee and left.

144 • Moroccan Arabic

Pronunciation of Moroccan Arabic

Despite what you may think at first, it is indeed possible for you to learn how to pronounce the sounds

of Moroccan Arabic. Learning to pronounce Arabic sounds correctly entails two things: first, becoming

aware of how to make the different sounds and, second, practicing with a native speaker. This chapter

will help you with the first task.

Understanding How Sounds Are Made

Before we move directly into how to pronounce Arabic sounds, let‘s first understand how sounds are

made in general. Then we can use this knowledge in order to work on Arabic sounds.

Fricatives and Stops

Make the /s/ sound. Notice how air is being forced through the space between your tongue and the

gum ridge in your mouth. When a sound is produced like this, by forcing air between some small

opening, that sound is called a fricative. Make the /f/ sound. This sound is also a fricative, because in

order to make it we must force air between our teeth and our bottom lip. Some sounds in English that

are fricatives are: /s/, /z/, /sh/, /th/, /f/, /v/, and others.

Now make the /t/ sound. Here, we are not forcing air through a small opening at a constant pressure,

but rather we completely block the air flow for a moment, and then release the air stream in one big

burst. A sound that is produced by blocking the air flow, and then releasing it, is called a stop. Make

the /k/ sound. This is another ―stop‖ because again, you will notice how we build up a lot of pressure

with air, and then release it. Some stops in English are: /t/, /k/, /g/, /b/, /p/, and others.

Voiced and Voiceless Sounds

We can also categorize consonant sounds according to whether we use our voice box or not. Make the

/s/ sound. While making the sound, hold your hand over your throat. Now make the /z/ sound, still

holding your hand to your throat. You‘ll notice that with /s/, we don‘t use our voice box, but with /z/,

our voice box vibrates. Sounds like /s/ are called voiceless, since we don‘t use our voice box. Sounds

like /z/ are called voiced, since our voice box vibrates. Make the sound /t/. Is it voiceless or voiced?

Now make the sound /d/. Voiceless or voiced?

Let‘s look now at some of the difficult Arabic sounds, using what we know about sounds in general.

Pronunciation of Non-English Consonants

The Sound “q“ ( )

The q sound is similar to the k sound. Both are voiceless ―stops‖ that are made by releasing air

forcefully after completely blocking the air flow momentarily. The only difference is where in the

throat the speaker blocks the air flow. The q sound will be made further back in the throat than the k

sound. Try the following exercise.

First, take a minute to become more familiar with your throat muscles. Open your mouth and say aah,

as if you were at the doctor‘s office. Your tongue should be flat in your mouth. Without raising your

tongue, pull it back so that the base of your tongue closes off air by pulling back against the throat. At

this point, you should not be able to breathe through your mouth, although it is wide open. Practice

doing this first without making a sound. After performing this exercise several times, make a sound by

releasing the air forcefully. The result will be the sound q.

The Sound “x“ ( )

The sound x is a voiceless fricative formed around the same place as the sound q. It is found in many

European languages: the Russian x, the Scottish pronunciation of loch, and the German ch as

^ The /t/ sound is voiceless and the /d/ sound is voiced. Both are ―stops.‖

145

pronounced after a back vowel as in Bach. Some people use this sound to say yech! To pronounce x,

make the sound q and pay attention to where the back of your tongue hits the back of the roof of your

mouth and blocks your windpipe. Instead of closing off the windpipe with the back of your tongue

completely, block it part way, and you will produce this sound.

The Sound “ġ“ ( )

The sound ġ is the same sound as the sound x, except it is ―voiced.‖ In other words, if you can make

the sound x, all you need to do is vibrate your voice box at the same time, and you will produce ġ.

Think of the correspondence between the sounds k (kite) and g (game): k is voiceless and g is voiced.

Pronounce k and g several times, paying attention to how your voice changes when you say g. Now say

x several times, and then ―voice‖ it. The result is ġ.

Alternatively, you may think of ġ as similar to the sound you make when gargling. Gargle for a minute

and pay attention to the muscles you use. The sound ġ is pronounced using these same muscles in

similar fashion.

The Emphatic Sounds “s“ (

), “d“ (

), and “t“ (

)

The sound s is the emphatic counterpart of the sound s. Pronounce the sound s aloud, and note the

position of your tongue. It should be toward the front of the mouth and high, close to the roof. Now,

starting at the back of your teeth, move your tongue back along the roof of your mouth. You will find a

bony ridge just behind the teeth, before the upward curve of the roof. Put your tongue against this

ridge. The rest of your tongue will drop lower inside your mouth. The emphatic or velarized

consonants in Arabic are pronounced by placing the tip of your tongue in this spot and dropping the

rest of the tongue as low as you can. Thus, the sounds s, d, and t are all made with the tongue in this

position.

All the emphatic sounds are lower in pitch than their non-emphatic counterparts. They are

pronounced with greater muscular tension in the mouth and throat and with a raising of the back and

root of the tongue toward the roof of the mouth. You can notice this contraction of the throat easily by

prolonging the ‗l‘ in ―full.‖

One important note about the emphatic sounds: they deepen the sound of surrounding vowels. Pay

attention to the sound of all vowels near these emphatic sounds, because the quality of the vowels gives

the best indication of the presence of emphatic consonants. One important example is عtini, ―give

me‖ in Moroccan Arabic. Most trainees will hear the word and think it is pronounced عtayni, with the

middle vowel sound ay instead of i. This is because the emphatic sound t affects the way the i

sounds, making it sound (to the English speaker‘s ear) like an ay. It is, in fact, an i however.

The Sound “н“ ( )

The sound н is a voiceless fricative pronounced deep in the throat. It has no equivalent in English. In

order to practice this sound, first take a few minutes to become better acquainted with some of your

throat muscles that you use often, but not to speak English. The following exercises are designed to

make you aware of what these muscles can already do, so that you can use them to speak Arabic.

Practice them for a few minutes every day, as often as you can.

1. With your mouth closed, block off your windpipe at your throat. Put your hand on your throat

at the Adam‘s apple and constrict the muscles on the inside. You should be able to feel the

muscles contracting. Alternately tighten and relax them for a few minutes.

2. Repeat this with your mouth open. Try to breathe out through your mouth-if you can, you are

not closing off the windpipe entirely.

3. Constrict those same muscles so that air can just barely squeeze through your throat. Imitate

someone fogging a pair of glasses to clean them. The sound of the air coming through your

constricted throat muscles is н. By now, you should be aware of what your throat muscles are

doing.

146 • Moroccan Arabic

4. Bend your head down so that your chin rests on the top of your chest, and repeat exercise 3.

This position should make it easier for you to feel what you are doing.

Pronouncing н takes practice, first to pronounce the letter alone, and then to pronounce it surrounded

by other letters in a word. You must learn to pronounce it properly to be understood, and at first, this

will take some concentration on your part. However, the more you practice now, the sooner you will be

able to say it easily.

The Sound “ع“ ( )

We now come to one of the most distinctive sounds in Arabic: ع. When pronounced correctly, ع has its

own unique beauty and can be a very expressive sound. It is not as difficult to pronounce as one may

first think, but you need to exercise your throat muscles, the same ones that you use to pronounce н.

You should continually be doing the exercises you learned above for н, in which you constricted your

throat muscles as if you were blocking off the air passage from the inside. You can feel this by putting

your hand on your throat. Say н, and feel the muscles contract. Now pronounce the same sound and

―voice‖ it. That is, say the say sound while vibrating your voice box, changing the breathy sound of н

into the deep, throaty sound of ع. The sounds н and ع are only different because н is voiceless and ع is

voiced.

Some trainees think that ع sounds like a vowel, but it is not a vowel. Because we constrict our throat

muscles and force air through the passageway, the sound ع is a fricative. Vowels do not force air

through a partially blocked passageway, and thus cannot be fricatives.

The Arabic “r“ ( )

The sound r in Arabic is not the same as the English ―r.‖ It is not difficult, like some of the other sounds

above may seem at first. But because it is new, we include here a short description of it. The sound is a

flap, like the Spanish or Italian ―r.‖ You already know how to make this sound: it is the sound

American English speakers make saying gotta as in gotta go. Say gotta several times in a row very

quickly and pay attention to what your tongue is doing. You should feel it flapping against the roof of

your mouth behind your teeth. Now pronounce the sound alone. Another good exercise is to practice

making a whirring sound: rrrrrrrrrrrrrrr. Do these exercises daily until you have mastered this

sound.

Pronunciation of Shedda

In Arabic, a ―shedda‖ is a pronounced stress upon a letter in a word. In transcription, this stress is

indicated by a doubling of a consonant (see page 3). When there is shedda, it indicates that the

consonant is to be held twice as long as a normal consonant. That is, it should be pronounced for twice

the length of time. This is easy with fluid sounds like z or r. With sounds like b or d, however, you

must begin to say them and pause in the middle of pronouncing them for a second. This may take

some practice at first.

In English, this doubling of a consonant sound never occurs in the middle of words, but is very

common from the end of one word to the beginning of another. Compare the difference between the

single ‗d‘ in ―lay down‖ and the double ‗dd‘ in ―laid down.‖ Noticing the difference between the single

‗d‘ and double ‗dd‘ in this example will give you some idea of how a shedda affects pronunciation.

It cannot be stressed enough that shedda affects not only the pronunciation of a word, but

also its meaning, especially for verbs. Recognizing when shedda is used and learning to

pronounce it correctly yourself is an important task in your study of Moroccan Arabic.

147

The Definite Article

In English, the ―definite article‖ is the word ―the.‖ It is different from the ―indefinite articles,‖ which

are ―a‖ and ―an.‖ In English, the definite article speaks about something specific: I washed the dog

today (you know which dog I‘m speaking about). The indefinite articles talk about something non-

specific: I saw a dog today (you don‘t know the dog I‘m speaking about).

In Arabic, the definite article is not always used exactly as in English. When written in Arabic script, it

is composed of two letters, al (

), attached to the beginning of a noun or an adjective. Here is the

Arabic script for ―the book‖:

the definite article

These two letters are always written in Arabic script for a definite article, but they are not always

pronounced. In Moroccan Arabic, the first letter, a ( ), is never pronounced. Two possibilities exist,

therefore, for pronouncing the definite article. Sometimes, the second letter, l ( ), is pronounced.

Other times, instead of pronouncing the l ( ), the first letter of the word is doubled with a ―shedda.‖

Whether the definite article is pronounced with ―l‖ or by doubling the first letter with shedda is

determined by which letter is the first letter of the word. Let‘s look at these two different

possibilities.

The Moon Letters

In the first possibility, the Arabic definite article is pronounced with an l ( ) at the beginning of a word.

All words that begin with the following letters follow this rule:

i/y

u/w

These letters are called moon letters, because the Arabic word for moon, qamar, begins with one of

the letters in the group. Notice in the following examples that the definite article is pronounced by

adding an l to the word:

a book

ktab

a girl

bnt

the book

l-ktab

the girl

l-bnt

a boy

wld

a moon

qamar

the boy

l-wld

the moon

l-qamar

The Sun Letters

In the second possibility, the Arabic definite article is pronounced by doubling the first letter of a word

with a ―shedda.‖ All words that begin with the following letters follow this rule:

These letters are known as sun letters, because the Arabic word for sun, šms, begins with one of the

letters in the group. Notice in the following examples that the definite article is pronounced by

doubling the first letter of the word by using ―shedda.‖

a house

dar

a street

znqa

the house

d-dar

the street

z-znqa

a man

rajl

a sun

šms

the man

r-rajl

the sun

š-šms

148 • Moroccan Arabic

Supplementary Grammar Lessons

These are lessons you can work on by yourself or with your tutor once you arrive at your site. It is

unlikely you will be able to complete them during stage, unless you already have some experience with

Arabic.

Making Intransitive Verbs into Transitive Verbs

Intransitive verbs are verbs that do not require a direct object such as:

to come in

dxl

to be afraid

xaf

to go out

xrj

to drink

šrb

to laugh

dнk

to understand

fhm

to fall

taн

to go up

tlع

to go down

hbt

All these verbs are trilateral (i.e. they are made up of three letters) and they can be made transitive by

doubling their middle consonant (i.e. putting a shedda on it). The new transitive verb normally has the

meaning ―to make someone do something.‖ Look at how the meaning changes when the intransitive

verb dнk ―to laugh‖ is changed into a transitive verb:

You are laughing / you laugh.

kat-dнk.

You make me laugh.

kat-dннkni.

Here is a list of verbs commonly used in their transitive form:

to make (someone or

dxxl

something) enter / to bring in

to make (someone or

xrrj

something) exit / to take out

to make (so/sth) laugh

dннk

to drop / to throw down (i.e. to

tiyн

make something fall)

to frighten (i.e. to make

xuwf

someone afraid)

to water (i.e. to make something

šrrb

“drink”)

to make (someone) understand

fhhm

/ to explain

to make go up / to promote / to

tllع

take up

to bring down / to demote

hbbt

149

Some examples:

I brought in a dog to the house

dxxlt waнd l-klb l d-dar

but my father took it out.

welakin bba xrrju.

The clown makes small kids

l-klun kay-dннk d-drari

laugh.

s-sġar.

Take this table out of here,

xrrj عafak had t-tbla mn

please.

hna.

Passive Verbs

Transitive verbs can be made passive by adding t (

) to them, as shown below:

to write

ktb

to be written (masc.)

tktb

to be written (fem.)

tktbat

to be written (plur.)

tktbu

to understand

fhm

to be understood (masc.)

tfhm

to be understood (fem.)

tfhmat

to be understood (plur.)

tfhmu

to buy

šra

to be bought (masc.)

tšra

to be bought (fem.)

tšrat

to be bought (plur.)

tšrau

to steal

srq

to be stolen (masc.)

tsrq

to be stolen (fem.)

tsrqat

to be stolen (plur.)

tsrqu

Some examples:

Ali ate pizza.

عli kla l-pitza.

The pizza was eaten.

tklat l-pitza.

The teacher wrote the lesson.

l-ustad ktb d-drs.

The lesson was written.

d-drs tktb.

The students understood the

t-tlamd fhmu l-luġz.

riddle.

The riddle was understood.

l-luġz tfhm.

150 • Moroccan Arabic

Laila bought some clothes.

layla šrat l-нwayj.

Some clothes were bought.

l-нwayj tšrau.

Exercise: Put the sentences below in the passive form.

1. lssq t-tswira f l-нit.

2. baعu l-fllaнa l-mнsul dyalhum.

3. sbnat Jamila l-нwayj.

4. hrrs Peter l-kisan.

5. smma Aziz bntu Ibtisam.

6. smعt s-sda عl-barн.

7. jlat Lupe l-purtabl.

8. jrнat Jill sbعha b l-mus.

9. عtat Aicha l-kadu l Malika.

10. kra ši waнd had d-dar.

The Past Progressive

The Moroccan Arabic equivalent for the English past progressive (was doing, were doing) is the past of

kan (

) ―to be‖ followed by the present tense. For example:

He was talking.

kan kay-tkllm.

He wasn‟t talking.

ma-kan-š kay-tkllm.

You were talking.

knti kat-tkllm.

I wasn‟t working

ma-knt-š kan-xdm.

She was writing.

kant kat-ktb.

This construction can also be translated as ―used to.‖ For example:

I used to sell cars.

knt kan-biع t-tumubilat.

Whether a given occurrence of this construction is to be translated as past progressive or ―used to‖

depends upon the context.

I used to travel a lot.

knt kan-safr bzzaf.

mlli knt f s-swira, knt

When I was in Essaouira, I used

kan-akul l-нut kul

to eat fish every day.

nhar.

knt kan-tfrrj f

I was watching TV when

t-tlfaza mlli dqq ši

someone knocked at the door.

waнd f l-bab.

knt kan-xdm f had

I used to work in this school.

l-mdrasa.

I used to run every morning.

knt kan-jri kul sbaн.

151

knt kan-kmi bzzaf,

I used to smoke a lot but I quit

welakin ma-bqit-š

smoking (don‟t smoke anymore).

kan-kmi.

Exercise: Put the verbs in parentheses in the correct form.

mlli ana (kan / qra) f j-jamiعa f

mirikan, (kan / skn) mعa waнd

l-عa'ila mirikaniya. l-عa'ila mعa

mn (kan / skn), عndha juj d l-bnat

(kan / qra) mعaya f j-jamiعa. wнda

mnhum (kan / tعllm) l-عrbiya

l-fusнa, u ana (kan / rajع) mعaha

d-durus dyalha. l-ustad l-li (kan /

qrra) l-عrbiya l-fusнa f dik

j-jamiعa smitu d-duktur Jawad. huwa

msri welakin dar jinsiya mirikaniya.

The Verb “to remain”

The verb bqa (

) ―to remain‖ is followed by the present tense or by the active participle (see section

below) when it corresponds to the English ―kept doing something.‖ Some examples:

She kept waiting for them.

bqat kat-tsnnahum.

He kept on searching in the well bqa kay-qllb f l-bir

until he got tired.

нtta عya.

He kept going (habitually).

bqa kay-mši.

He kept going (continued on his

bqa maši.

way, on one occasion).

When negated, bqa (

) in verb phrases is equivalent to ―no longer, not anymore,‖ with either past or

present meaning. For example:

He didn‟t (doesn‟t) laugh at them

ma-bqa-š kay-dнk عlihum.

anymore.

The active participle baqi preceding the present tense is equivalent to the English ―still.‖

He‟s still working with us.

huwa baqi kay-xdm mعana.

Verb Participles

Verb participles are adjectives derived from verbs. They agree in gender and number, like all

adjectives, but not in person (I, you, he) or tense (past, present). Transitive verbs have two participles,

an active and a passive participle. Intransitive verbs have only an active participle.

The Active Participle

Verb Stem

Active Participle

to write

ktb

having written

katb(a)

to open

нll

having opened

нall(a)

to sell

baع

having sold

bayع(a)

to buy

šra

having bought

šari(a)

152 • Moroccan Arabic

Some examples:

He had written he lessons.

kan katb d-durus dyalu.

She had sold her house.

kant bayعa d-dar dyalha.

I found him standing at the door. lqitu waqf f l-bab.

He is wearing a new shirt today. huwa labs qamija jdida.

I saw her wearing a green coat. šftha labsa kbbut xdr.

Everyday I see him walking on kul nhar kan-šufu maši f

this street.

had z-znqa.

For a small group of verbs, the active participle must be used in order to express a current (i.e.

progressive) activity. For these verbs, the present tense expresses only a habitual activity

Verb Stem

Active Participle

to sit / stay

gls

sitting

gals

to wear

lbs

wearing

labs

to sleep

nعs

sleeping

naعs

to leave / exit

xrj

leaving

xarj

to enter

dxl

entering

daxl

to return

rjع

returning

rajع

to stand

wqf

standing

waqf

to travel

safr

traveling

msafr

to rent

kra

renting

kari

to regret

ndm

regretting

nadm

to be quiet

skt

being quiet

sakt

to be afraid

xaf

being afraid

xayf

to spend the

spending the

bat

bayt

night

Some examples:

He wears a green shirt every

kay-lbs qamija xdra kul

day. (habitual → present tense)

nhar.

He is wearing a green shirt.

huwa labs qamija xdra.

(now→ participle)

She goes to sleep at 10:00.

kat-nعs f 10:00.

10:00

(habitual → present tense)

She is sleeping.

hiya naعsa.

(now→ participle)

153

Passive Participle

Verb Stem

Passive Participle

(having been)

to write

ktb

mktub(a)

written

(having been)

to open

нll

mнlul(a)

opened

(having been)

to sell

baع

mbiuع(a)

sold

(having been)

to buy

šra

mšri(a)

bought

(having been)

to make

snع

made /

msnuع(a)

(manufacture)

manufactured

Some examples:

had s-siniya msnuعa mn

This tray is made of silver.

l-fdda.

These boxes have something

had snadq mktub عlihum ši

written on them.

l-нaja.

This letter is written; I need only had l-bra mktuba, xssni

a stamp to send it.

ġir t-tanbr baš n-siftha.

Go to my room, the door is

sir l l-bit dyali rah

open.

l-bab mнlul.

Intransitive Verbs with Only One Participle

Verb Stem

Participle

having garnished

to garnish

xddr

mxddr(a)

having been garnished

having covered

to cover

ġtta

mġtti(a)

having been covered

having traveled

to travel

safr

msafr(a)

having been traveled

having rested

to rest

rtaн

mrtaн(a)

having been rested

having gone flat

to go flat

tfš

mfšuš(a)

having been gone flat

having hidden

to hide

xbba

mxbbi(a)

having been hidden

Some examples:

She is traveling now because

hiya msafra daba нit

she is on vacation.

عndha عutla.

I‟m relaxed since I finished my

ana mrtaн mlli kmmlt

work.

l-xdma dyali.

154 • Moroccan Arabic

The tajine is garnished with

t-tajin mxddr b l-brquq

prunes and almonds.

u l-luz.

He is covered with a blanket

huwa mġtti b l-kaša нit

because he is cold.

jah l-brd.

She was hidden behind the

kant mxbbya mur l-bab.

door.

Exercise: In the sentences below, supply the proper form of the participle of the verb

written in parentheses.

1. Aicha (safr) l fransa.

2. kant Sara (нll) l-bab.

3. d-dar dyal нsn (baع)

4. kant Layla (mša) s-suq.

5. عlaš xlliti s-srjm (нll).

6. l-barн mlli jit kant xti (nعs).

7. l-qamija dyali (wssx).

8. weš (sdd) l-bab dyal l-kuzina?

9. kant Suعad (ġab) l-barн.

10. tiybt d-djaj (عmmr) b l-luz.

11. had l-kas (snع) f fransa.

12. weš kant Erika (gls) f d-dar?

13. had l-ktab (trjm) mn l-عrbiya l

n-ngliziya.

14. ana (عrf) blli djun (rjع)

l-mġrib.

Conjunctions

either ... or

imma ... wlla

imma sift liya bra wlla

Either send a letter or call me.

عiyt liya f t-tilifun.

in order to

baš

I am learning Arabic in order to

kan-tعllm l-عrbiya baš

talk to people.

n-tkllm mعa n-nas.

weš

I want to know if you read this

bġit n-عrf weš qriti had

book.

l-ktab.

155

when / since

mlli / mnin

When I came to Rabat I took the mlli / mnin jit l r-rbat

train.

šddit t-tran.

I have been sick since I came to

mlli jit l r-rbat u ana

Rabat.

mrida.

who / whom / which / that

l-li

The man who is sitting at that

r-rajl l-li gals f dik

table is my friend.

t-tbla saнbi.

The book that I read is

l-ktab l-li qrit muhimm.

important.

until

нtta

I won‟t sleep until I finish this

ma-ġadi-š n-nعs нtta

book.

n-kmml had l-ktab.

as soon as

ġir

As soon as I finished my work I ġir kmmlt l-xdma dyali u

went out.

xrjt.

whenever

wqt mma

Whenever I am upset I cry.

wqt mma tqllqt kan-bki.

although / even though

waxxa

Although John is not a Muslim

waxxa John maši muslim

he fasts.

kay-sum.

but

welakin

bġit n-عawnk welakin

I want to help you but I can‟t.

ma-qddit-š.

before

qbl ma

This conjunction requires the present tense without the prefix ka (

), even if the past is referred to.

dima kan-qra qbl ma

I always read before I sleep.

n-nعs.

after

bعd ma

In sentences having this conjunction, the verb of the subsequent phrase has to be in the same tense as

the first one.

bعd ma mšit l d-dar,

After I went home, I showered.

duwšt.

that

blli

I knew that you weren‟t there.

عrft blli ma-knti-š.

156 • Moroccan Arabic

since / when / because

нit

Since you had a lot of work, why нit عndk l-xdma bzzaf

did you go to the cinema?

عlaš mšiti l s-sinima?

When I was in Marrakech I went нit knt f Marrakech mšit

to the Menara.

l l-Menara.

I went to the doctor because I

mšit l t-tbib нit knt

was sick.

mrid.

because

عlaнqqaš

He didn‟t go to school because ma-mša-š l l-mdrasa

he didn‟t wake up early.

عlaнqqaš ma-faq-š bkri.

without

bla ma

They talked without thinking.

hdru bla ma y-fkru.

wherever

fin mma

Wherever there is water there is fin mma kayn l-ma, kayna

life.

l-нayat.

then

عad

I ate then slept.

klit عad nعst.

Exercise: Fill in the blanks with the appropriate conjunction from the list.

baš

нit

mlli

عlaнqqaš عad нtta blli weš bla ma l-li welakin qbl

1. ma-ġadi-š n-safr

____

t-ji.

2. xssk t-عrfi

____

нtta ši нaja masعiba.

3. bġit n-duwš

____

n-rtaн.

4. bġau y-عrfu

____

kayna ši mdrasa hna.

5. d-dwa

____

stعmlt mzyan.

____

kant mrida mšat l عnd t-tbib.

7. bġat t-šufu

____

ma-عndha-š l-wqt.

8. fkkr

____

jawb.

9. l-mdina

____

knt sakn fiha kbira.

10. ktbt bra

____

nعst.

11. kay-akul

____

y-ġsl yddih

____

kay-akul b l-fršita.

12. ma-safrat-š

____

ma-عndha-š l-flus.

157

More Useful Expressions

You were given some useful expressions on pages 19 to 21. Here are more expressions, including many

―God phrases.‖

God Phrases

May God bless your parents.

(used often when asking for a service /

lla y-rнm l-walidin.

information or to express gratitude to

someone)

Our parents and yours. (a

walidina u walidik.

response to the above)

May God cure you. (used to show

lla y-šafi.

sympathy toward a sick person)

May God not show you any

lhla y-wrrik bas.

harm. (a response to the above)

May God magnify the good

deeds. (used to offer condolences for

ajarakum llah.

someone‟s death)

May God make your child a

good person. (used to complement a

lla y-slн.

parent on his/her child)

May God grant you grace. (used

when saying goodbye to a friend or

tbark llah عlik.

congratulating him/her on a job well

done)

May God grant you grace.

lla y-bark fik.

(response to the above)

I swear to God. (expresses that

ullah.

what you said was true)

Used to express “excuse me” when

someone does something for you, such

as: hands you socks or shoes, pours

нašak.

water over your hands to wash them,

etc. It is also used when the speaker

mentions words like “donkey” or “trash.”

May God grant you pride and

honor. (used as a response to the

عzzk llah.

above)

Used on the arrival of somebody

عla slamtk.

after a trip.

Response to the above.

lla y-sllmk.

May God make your life easier.

lla y-shl.

(said to beggars)

Other Expressions

Would you please help me?

weš ymkn lik t-عawnni?

If you don‟t mind.

ila jat عla xatrk.

159

Moroccan Holidays

Holidays in Morocco are extremely important and festive occasions. Women and girls have henna

parties and come out of their houses to celebrate. Visitors are entertained and gifts are exchanged

among friends. Particular religious rites are performed. Special sweets and foods are washed down by

glass after glass of mint tea as everyone gets caught up in the socializing and celebrating.

Religious Holidays

There are both religious and civil holidays in Morocco. The Gregorian calendar, based on solar

computation, is used for civil purposes. This is the calendar Westerners generally use.

The Islamic calendar, based on lunar computation, divides the year into twelve months which

reoccur in varying relationship to the Gregorian year and complete their cycle every thirty years of 355

days. These thirty-year cycles consist of nineteen years of 354 days and eleven years of 355 days. Thus,

the Islamic calendar gains 10 to 11 days a year on the Gregorian year.

This calendar is called the Hegiran calendar because its starting point was the hegira, when

Mohamed fled from Mecca in 622 of the Gregorian calendar. This calendar is used for religious

purposes in Morocco.

Transcription

Month

Arabic

Festivals

Name

1^st

muнarram

10^th of the month: عašura

2^nd

safar

3^rd

rabiع l-luwl

12^th of the month: l diع-mulud

4^th

rabiع t-tani

5^th

jumada l-luwla

6^th

jumada t-tanya

7^th

rajab

8^th

šaعban

15^th of the month: šعbana

9^th

ramadan

10^th

šuwal

1^st of the month: l-عid s-sġir

11^th

du l-qiعda

12^th

du l-нijja

10^th of the month: l-عid l-kbir

Here are descriptions of the major festivals:

عašura

muнarram, the first month of the Islamic year, is in Morocco called šhr عašura, the month of the

arušaع. It has derived this name from the feast on the tenth day of the month. This day, called nhar

عašura is the Islamic New Year‘s Day. It is said that Allah created Adam and Eve, heaven and hell, and

life and death on the 10^th.

The month of arušaع is rich in magical qualities. The ninth and particularly the tenth day are

blessed days, and on the latter, many sacred or wonderful events are said to have taken place in the

160 • Moroccan Arabic

past. In Morocco, baraka is also generally ascribed to those days. Magic, good, or evil is extensively

practiced on the arušaع day and on the preceding night which is said to favor witches. People gather

and many wear masks and costumes and speak in disguised voices on the night before the arušaع. It is

believed that magic practiced at this time of year will produce an effect which lasts for the whole year.

Good food has a place in the rejoicing of arušaع, in accordance with the traditional saying of the

Prophet, ―Who give the plenty to his household on the arušaع day, God will bestow plenty upon him

throughout the remainder of the year.‖ Cow, bullock, goat, sheep, dried dates, and eggs are fixed

according to local custom. Visits to the graves of relatives and alms-giving are common at this time.

Of great interest are the fire and water rites practiced at arušaع, to which purificatory and other

beneficial effects are ascribed. On arušaع eve, ―the bonfire night‖ fires are built throughout the town

and the people sing and dance around them. The chief object of the rite is to purify men and animals or

to protect them from evil influences, since there is ―baraka‖ (blessings) from those fires.

Similar effects are attributed to the water rites which even more frequently are practiced on the

following morning. It is a general belief that there is baraka in all water on this morning. To take a bath

on the morning of the arušaع day is a very wide-spread custom, and in many cases it was expressly

said that it must be done before sunrise. Children are traditionally involved in this festival. They

dress-up, play small drums, and are given gifts during this holiday.

عid l-mulud

In Morocco, the third month of the Islamic year is called šhr l-mulud, the month of the mulud.

These names are given because of the feast celebrating the birth of the Prophet which commences on

the twelfth day of the month and lasts for several days. The mulud is a particularly blessed month and

all children born during it are considered fortunate.

The Prophet‘s Birthday has more significance in Morocco because Morocco is a Kingdom rather

than a republic, and King Mohamed VI is a descendant of the Prophet. The anniversary is brilliantly

celebrated at the Imperial Palace in Rabat and in the evening in Sale a great procession of candles takes

place.

In Meknes the Aissaoua brotherhood has its own unique celebration worth seeing. Followers of the

holy man, l-hadi Ben Aissa throng to Meknes and play music, dance, celebrate and make what is called

―the small pilgrimage‖ to nearby saints‘ tombs.

šعbana

The eighth month of the Moroccan year is called šعban. On the fifteenth day a festival known as

šعbana takes place. According to legend, this is the day that Allah ―registers all the actions of mankind

which they are to perform during the year and all the children of men who are to be born and die in the

year.‖

Traditionally, barren women gather in homes in the neighborhood and cook a couscous meal with

special spices. This meal is eaten by the women and children at home or in the mosque. The barren

women in the group hope this will help them to give birth during the upcoming year.

šعbana is also the month before the month of fasting, Ramadan. People think of the difficult

month ahead and have a feast. Craftsmen guilds often have parties on this night involving music and

feasting.

laylatu l-qadr

Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic year. The most important feature of Ramadan is the

complete abstinence from food, drink and sexual activity from daybreak to sunset. Every Muslim who

has reached the age of puberty must fast. Pregnant women, menstruating women, travelers, and those

who are ill are exempt from fasting, but should make it up at a later date.

161

According Islam, there is one night in Ramadan which is more important than any other, namely,

laylatu l-qadr, ―the night of power.‖ The Koran is said to have been sent down to the Prophet on

that night. This night is one of the last ten nights of Ramadan, but its exact date has not been

discovered by anyone but the Prophet himself. Tradition fixes it to be one of the odd nights-the 21^st,

23^rd, 25^th, 27^th, or 29^th-and in Morocco it is celebrated on the 27^th day.

On the night of the 27^th, the men go to the mosque to pray. From sundown to daybreak, the imam

(the prayer leader) reads the Koran. The complete Koran is read before the sun rises. It is believed by

some that the sky will open up during this night and wishes will ascend directly to Allah and be

granted. During the night, special meals of couscous are prepared and brought to the mosques. Those

unable to go to the mosque eat specially prepared meals at home. Each family gives part of the meal to

the poor.

l-عid s-sġir

Immediately following Ramadan is l-عid s-sġir, or ―the little feast.‖ Everyone stays up very late

hoping to hear the announcement that the new moon has been sighted and Ramadan and fasting are

over. When it has officially been sighted, a three-day festival ensues in which alms-giving plays a major

role. The alms usually consist of food items like wheat or barley, and each family does the best it can.

The chief religious rite of the feast is a prayer service at the mosque.

l-عid l-kbir

On the tenth day of the month du l-нijja, the last month of the year, the Islamic world

celebrates its yearly sacrificial feast. In Morocco it is known as l-عid l-kbir or ―the great feast.‖

This is the central feast in Islam, comparable to and derived from the feast of the atonement,

Abraham‘s substitute sacrifice, for the remission of sins. Hence, the animal sacrificed must be mature

and without blemish.

Every family must have its own sheep just as Americans need turkeys for the proper celebration of

Thanksgiving. Those who cannot afford a sheep buy a lamb or another less expensive animal. In

Morocco, the animal cannot be slain until the King has killed his sheep. Then in each household, the

head of the family kills the sheep (sometimes a butcher is asked to come to the house and perform the

ritual). The sheep is eaten in an orderly fashion determined by local custom. For example, on the first

day, the liver, heart, stomach, and lungs are eaten. On the second day, normally the head and feet are

eaten. However, the head and feet can be eaten on the first day if that is the local custom. There are

purification and sanctification customs and rites that prepare the people for the holy feast and its

principal feature, the sacrifice. People must purify and sanctify themselves in order to benefit from the

holy feast and its sacrifice. Personal cleanliness should be observed. Men and boys visit the barber and

often make a trip to the hammam as well.

Henna is used not merely as a cosmetic, but as a means of protection against evil influences.

Women paint their hands with it and, in many cases, also their feet. Among some ethnic groups, henna

is also applied to domestic animals.

Alms-giving and prayer are two other purification rites practiced during the great feast. Gifts are

exchanged between family members and a portion of the meal is given to the poor. The day begins with

prayer. The chief praying ceremony takes place in the morning at the mosque.

Moussems

Many Moroccan communities commemorate local saints, or ―marabous,‖ in a yearly festival or

―moussem.‖ Most moussems are held near the tomb of the marabou and involve music, dancing and

fantasia. For a very famous marabou‘s moussem, people will come from very far away. Some very

famous moussems celebrate Moulay Bouchaib (near El Jadida), Moulay Brahim (near Marrakech),

Moulay Yaعqub (Fes), and Moulay Idriss (Moulay Idriss). Many towns have their own moussems

known only to those in the region.

162 • Moroccan Arabic

National Holidays

In addition to the religious holidays, some important civil holidays commemorating significant

events in Morocco‘s recent history are celebrated. The most important of these are Independence Day,

the Throne feast, Green March Day, and King Mohamed‘s birthday.

The Festival of the Throne, or عid l-عrš, is the biggest of the civil holidays. This festival

commemorates the coming to power of the King on July 30, 1999. Celebrations including parades with

nationalistic anthems, usually occur in the cities with local government officials, like the governor,

making appearances. Traditionally during this holiday, country people come to visit their city relatives,

who are expected to feed and house them for the duration of the festival. There is often a special

emphasis on improving the appearance of the town prior to this holiday. City employees clean streets

and paint walls, and townspeople are sometimes required by government officials to paint their doors,

whitewash their houses, and display flags.

Green March Day is also celebrated by large parades in most of Morocco. This day commemorates

one of the greatest achievements of King Hassan II: the mobilization of 350,000 Moroccans for the

march into the Sahara territory. On November 6, 1975, the first Moroccan marchers, under the

leadership of the then Prime Minister Ahmed Osman, set out from Tarfaya and entered the Spanish

territory. During the celebration, those who went on the actual march once again dress up in green and

re-enact the march.

Independence Day, or l diع-istiqlal, commemorates the November 18, 1956 return of

Mohamed V from his French-imposed exile in Madagascar. This day gives rise to receptions at the

Imperial Palace and parades and celebrations all over Morocco.

The last of these major national holidays celebrates the King‘s Birthday, August 21, 1962. There are

many organized celebrations in Rabat and broadcasts on the radio praising the King.

Regional Festivals

There are also many regional festivals which are centered around a particular product in which a

region specializes. The product is displayed and sold; music and other activities take place in an

atmosphere similar to a country fair.

Some famous regional festivals are the Cherry Festival in Sefrou, the Date Festival in Erfoud, the

Rose Festival in El-Kelaa M‘Gouna (near Ouarzazate), the Marrakech Folklore and Music Festival, and

the Immouzer Honey Festival (near Agadir).

One of the most interesting festivals in Morocco is the re-enactment of an ancient market in the

High Atlas mountains. At one time, these very isolated High Atlas tribes would gather yearly at a

specific point near Imilchil where many mountain paths met for the yearly ―market.‖ Provisions for

many months were bought and sold and at one time one of the reasons for coming was to acquire a

bride. Men would meet a girl for the first time and pay her dowry then take her home. Some say this

practice still exists and others say it is just a re-enactment for tourists, but in any case, it is a large

market where many Berbers still buy many of the coming year‘s provisions.

Religious, civil, and regional festivals are an excellent chance to get out and see interesting things,

meet people on an informal basis, and have fun. Dates of these celebrations can be obtained from the

national tourist office branches in many cities, but people in your community will usually provide you

with the information about your region.

It should be noted that the same festival may be celebrated somewhat differently in various sections

of the country. For example, in Errachidia Province, a far greater emphasis is put on Green March Day

than in other sections of Morocco because that province provided the first contingent for the march.

Be sure to check out the expectations of your community for a particular holiday, particularly in

terms of visitation, entertaining, gift-giving, and participation, so you can get as involved as possible

and enjoy the holidays.

163

Glossary of Verbs

This glossary provides both the present tense and past tense conjugations for the subject ―I,‖ making it

possible for you to determine how to conjugate irregular verbs.

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

absent, to be

ġab

kan-ġib

ġbt

able, to be

qdr

kan-qdr

qdrt

absorb

šrb

kan-šrb

šrbt

abort (a fetus)

sqqt

kan-sqqt

sqqtt

qbl

kan-qbl

qblt

accomplish

нqqeq

kan-нqqeq

нqqeqt

accuse

ttahm

kan-ttahm

ttahmt

accustom

tعuwd

kan-tعuwd

tعuwdt

wllf

kan-wllf

wllft

ache

wjع

kan-wjع

wjعt

drr

kan-drr

drrit

acknowledge

عtarf b

kan-عtarf

عtarft

acquaint with, become

tعarf mعa

kan-tعarf

tعarft

acquainted with, sth/sb

tعrrf mعa

kan-tعrrf

tعrrft

add

zad

kan-zid

zdt

adopt (a child, an idea)

tbnna

kan-tbnna

tbnnit

advance

tqddm

kan-tqddm

tqddmt

advise

nsн

kan-nsн

nsнt

affect

attr عla

kan-attr

attrt

afraid (of), to be

xaf (mn)

kan-xaf

xft

age (get old)

šrf

kan-šrf

šrft

agree (with)

ttafq (mعa)

kan-ttafq

ttafqt

amuse

nššt

kan-nššt

nšštt

dннk

kan-dннk

dннkt

analyze

нllel

kan-нllel

нllelt

angry, to be

tqllq

kan-tqllq

tqllqt

annoy

sddع

kan-sddع

sddعt

answer

jawb

kan-jawb

jawbt

appear

ban

kan-ban

bnt

applaud

sffq

kan-sffq

sffqt

164 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

apply (a rule, an idea)

tbbq

kan-tbbq

tbbqt

apply for (a job)

qddm talab

kan-qddm

qddmt

appoint

عiyn

kan-عiyn

عiynt

approach

qrrb mn

kan-qrrb

qrrbt

argue (with)

txasm (mعa)

kan-txasm

txasmt

arrange

rttb

kan-rttb

rttbt

arrest sb

šdd

kan-šdd

šddit

нbs

kan-нbs

нbst

qbt عla

kan-qbt

qbtt

arrive

wsl

kan-wsl

wslt

arrive, to make

wssl

kan-wssl

wsslt

ascend

tlع

kan-tlع

tlعt

ask

suwl

kan-suwl

suwlt

ask (in marriage)

xtb

kan-xtb

xtbt

assemble (parts)

rkkb

kan-rkkb

rkkbt

attack

hjm عla

kan-hjm

hjmt

attempt

нawl

kan-нawl

нawlt

attend

нdr f

kan-нdr

нdrt

attention, pay

rdd l-bal

kan-rdd l-bal

rddit l-bal

нda rasu

kan-нdi rasi

нdit rasi

avoid

tjnnb

kan-tjnnb

tjnnbt

banter

tflla

kan-tflla

tfllit

bargain

tšttr

kan-tšttr

tšttrt

bark

nbн

kan-nbн

nbнt

bathe

ġsl

kan-ġsl

ġslt

tнmmem

kan-tнmmem

tнmmemt

kan

kan-kun

knt

beat (drum)

tbbl

kan-tbbl

tbblt

beat sb (in a game)

ġlb

kan-ġlb

ġlbt

become

wlla

kan-wlli

wllit

become accustomed

wllf

kan-wllf

wllft

befriend

tsaнb mعa

kan-tsaнb

tsaнbt

beg

rġb

kan-rġb

rġbt

tlb

kan-tlb

tlbt

165

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

begin

bda

kan-bda

bdit

belch/burp

tgrrع

kan-tgrrع

tgrrعt

believe sb

tiyq

kan-tiyq

tiyqt

believe (in)

amn (b)

kan-amn

amnt

benefit (from)

stafd (mn)

kan-stafd

stafdt

betray

xan

kan-xun

xnt

bigger, to make

kbbr

kan-kbbr

kbbrt

birth, to give

wld

kan-wld

wldt

bite

عdd

kan-عdd

عddit

blow up (with air)

nfx

kan-nfx

nfxt

blow up (explode)

frgع

kan-frgع

frgعt

boil

ġlla

kan-ġlli

ġllit

born, to be

tzad

kan-tzad

tzadt

borrow

tsllf

kan-tsllf

tsllft

bow

нdr

kan-нdr

нdrt

break

hrrs

kan-hrrs

hrrst

broken, to be

thrrs

kan-thrrs

thrrst

break down (machine)

txssr

kan-txssr

txssrt

breathe

tnffs

kan-tnffs

tnffst

bring

jab

kan-jib

jbt

brush (hair)

mšt

kan-mšt

mštt

build

bna

kan-bni

bnit

burn

нrq

kan-нrq

нrqt

burnt, to be

tнrq

kan-tнrq

tнrqt

burst (pipe)

tfrgع

kan-tfrgع

tfrgعt

bury

dfn

kan-dfn

dfnt

buy

šra

kan-šri

šrit

call

عiyt l/عla

kan-عiyt

عiytt

drb t

call on the phone

kan-drb

drbt

tilifun

عiyt l

kan-عiyt

عiytt

calm, to be (to not

thnna

kan-thnna

thnnit

worry)

can

qdr

kan-qdr

qdrt

camp

xiym

kan-xiym

xiymt

166 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

capture

qbt

kan-qbt

qbtt

care of, to take

thla f

kan-thla

thlat

carry

hzz

kan-hzz

hzzit

carve (wood)

nqš

kan-nqš

nqšt

cash

srrf

kan-srrf

srrft

catch

šdd

kan-šdd

šddit

qbt

kan-qbt

qbtt

catch up (with)

xlt عla

kan-xlt

xltt

lнq عla

kan-lнq

lнqt

cause

sbbeb

kan-sbbeb

sbbebt

tsbbeb f

kan-tsbbeb

tsbbebt

celebrate

нtafl b

kan-нtafl

нtaflt

censor (prices, film)

raqb

kan-raqb

raqbt

change

bddl

kan-bddl

bddlt

change (money)

srrf

kan-srrf

srrft

change (weather)

tbddl

kan-tbddl

tbddlt

charge of, to be in

tkllf b

kan-tkllf

tkllft

cheat

ġšš

kan-ġšš

ġššit

cheat (exam)

nql

kan-nql

nqlt

cheat out of

šmt

kan-šmt

šmtt

chew

mdġ

kan-mdġ

mdġt

choose

xtar

kan-xtar

xtarit

churn

mxd

kan-mxd

mxdt

clap

sffq

kan-sffq

sffqt

clarify

šrн

kan-šrн

šrнt

wddн

kan-wddн

wddнt

clean

nqqa

kan-nqqi

nqqit

clean (pipes)

srrн

kan-srrн

srrнt

climb

tlع

kan-tlع

tlعt

clog

xnq

kan-xnq

xnqt

sdd

kan-sdd

sddit

close eyes

ġmmd

kan-ġmmd

ġmmdt

cold, to make

brrd

kan-brrd

brrdt

collapse

rab

kan-rib

rbt

167

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

collect

jmع

kan-jmع

jmعt

come

kan-ji

jit

comment

عllq

kan-عllq

عllqt

compare

qarn bin

kan-qarn

qarnt

complain about

tškka mn

kan-tškka

tškkit

complain to

tškka عla

kan-tškka

tškkit

complete

kmml

kan-kmml

kmmlt

concentrate

rkkz

kan-rkkz

rkkzt

concern

hmm

kay-hmm

hmm

concerned with, to be

httm b

kan-httm

httmt

confess

عtarf

kan-عtarf

عtarft

confuse

нiyr

kan-нiyr

нiyrt

confused, to be

нar

kan-нir

нrt

congratulate

hnna

kan-hnni

hnnit

conjugate

srrf

kan-srrf

srrft

connect

rbt

kan-rbt

rbtt

consult (with)

tšawr (mعa)

kan-tšawr

tšawrt

contact

tasl b

kan-tasl

taslt

content with, to be (give

rda عla

kan-rdi

rdit

your blessing to)

continue in sth

stamr f

kan-stamr

stamrt

continue studies

tabع

kan-tabع

tabعt

contribute

sahm

kan-sahm

sahmt

control

tнkkm f

kan-tнkkm

tнkkmt

raqb

kan-raqb

raqbt

cook

tiyb

kan-tiyb

tiybt

cooperate (with)

tعawn (mعa)

kan-tعawn

tعawnt

cope

sllk

kan-sllk

sllkt

copy (by hand)

nql

kan-nql

nqlt

copy (photocopy)

nsx

kan-nsx

nsxt

correct

sннeн

kan-sннeн

sннeнt

cost

swa

kan-swa

swit

cough

kнн

kan-kнн

kннit

kнb

kan-kнb

kнbt

count

нsb

kan-нsb

нsbt

168 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

cram into

xša

kan-xši

xšit

crazy, to be

нmq

kan-нmq

нmqt

crazy, to make

нmmq

kan-нmmq

нmmqt

create

xlq

kan-xlq

xlqt

cross (road)

qtع

kan-qtع

qtعt

cross-breed

lqqm

kan-lqqm

lqqmt

cry

bka

kan-bki

bkit

cry, to make

bkka

kan-bkki

bkkit

cure

dawa

kan-dawi

dawit

cured, to be

bra

kan-bra

brit

cut

qtع

kan-qtع

qtعt

cut (hair)

нssn

kan-нssn

нssnt

cut/injure (skin)

jrн

kan-jrн

jrнt

cut/injured, to be

tjrн

kan-tjrн

tjrнt

cut( a pattern from cloth)

fssl

kan-fssl

fsslt

damage

xssr

kan-xssr

xssrt

dampen

fzzg

kan-fzzg

fzzgt

damp, to get

fzg

kan-fzg

fzgt

dance

štн

kan-štн

štнt

deafen

smmk

kan-smmk

smmkt

deal with sb

tعaml mعa

kan-tعaml

tعamlt

decide

qrrer

kan-qrrer

qrrert

declare

عln

kan-عln

عlnt

decrease

nqs

kan-nqs

nqst

dedicate

hda

kan-hdi

hdit

defeat

ġlb

kan-ġlb

ġlbt

defend

dafع عla

kan-dafع

dafعt

define

нdded

kan-нdded

нddedt

defy

tнdda

kan-tнdda

tнddit

delay

عttl

kan-عttl

عttlt

deprive

нrm

kan-нrm

нrmt

descend

hbt

kan-hbt

hbtt

nzl

kan-nzl

nzlt

describe

wsf

kan-wsf

wsft

169

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

deserve

staнq

kan-staнq

staнqt

design

xttet

kan-xttet

xttett

desire strongly

mat عla

kan-mut

mtt

destroy

hddm

kan-hddm

hddmt

develop

tuwr

kan-tuwr

tuwrt

develop (film)

xrrj

kan-xrrj

xrrjt

die

mat

kan-mut

mtt

differ (from)

xtalf (mعa)

kan-xtalf

xtalft

dig

нfr

kan-нfr

нfrt

digest

hdm

kan-hdm

hdmt

dinner, to have

tعšša

kan-tعšša

tعššit

direct

wjjh

kan-wjjh

wjjht

direct (as an order)

amr

kan-amr

amrt

dirty, to make

wssx

kan-wssx

wssxt

dirty, to get

tussx

kan-tussx

tussxt

disappear

ġbr

kan-ġbr

ġbrt

discipline

addb

kan-addb

addbt

rbba

kan-rbbi

rbbit

discover

ktašf

kan-ktašf

ktašft

discuss (a topic)

naqš

kan-naqš

naqšt

dislike

ma-нml-š

ma-kan-нml-š

ma-нmlt-š

krh

kan-krh

krht

dissolve sth

duwb

kan-duwb

duwbt

distribute

frrq

kan-frrq

frrqt

distance oneself (from)

bععd (mn)

kan-bععd

bععdt

divide

qsm

kan-qsm

qsmt

divorce

tllq

kan-tllq

tllqt

dizzy, to get

dax

kan-dux

dxt

dizzy, to make

duwx

kan-duwx

duwxt

dar

kan-dir

drt

drag

jrr

kan-jrr

jrrit

draw

rsm

kan-rsm

rsmt

draw up (water from a

jbd

kan-jbd

jbdt

well)

dream (about)

нlm (b)

kan-нlm

нlmt

170 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

dress

lbs

kan-lbs

lbst

dress up (slang)

tfrks

kan-tfrks

tfrkst

drink

šrb

kan-šrb

šrbt

drink, to make

šrrb

kan-šrrb

šrrbt

drip

qtr

kan-qtr

qtrt

drive

sag

kan-sug

sgt

drive crazy

нmmq

kan-нmmq

нmmqt

drop sth

tiyн

kan-tiyн

tiyнt

drown

ġrq

kan-ġrq

ġrqt

drunk, to get

skr

kan-skr

skrt

dry, to get

nšf

kan-nšf

nšft

ybs

kan-ybs

ybst

dry sth

nššf

kan-nššf

nššft

ybbs

kan-ybbs

ybbst

dry (a wet floor)

jffef

kan-jffef

jffeft

dye

sbġ

kan-sbġ

sbġt

earn (money)

suwr

kan-suwr

suwrt

easy, to make

shhl

kan-shhl

shhlt

eat

kla

kan-akul

klit

eat breakfast

ftr

kan-ftr

ftrt

eat lunch

tġdda

kan-tġdda

tġddit

eat dinner

tعšša

kan-tعšša

tعššit

economize

qtasd

kan-qtasd

qtasdt

elect

ntaxb

kan-ntaxb

ntaxbt

embarrass sb

нššm

kan-нššm

нššmt

embarrassed, to be

нšm

kan-нšm

нšmt

embrace

عanq

kan-عanq

عanqt

embrace Islam

slm

kan-slm

slmt

emigrate

hajr

kan-hajr

hajrt

empty

xwa

kan-xwi

xwit

encourage

šjjع

kan-šjjع

šjjعt

enjoy sth

tbrع

kan-tbrع

tbrعt

enroll

tsjjl

kan-tsjjl

tsjjlt

enter

dxl

kan-dxl

dxlt

171

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

envy

нsd

kan-нsd

нsdt

erase

msн

kan-msн

msнt

mнa

kan-mнi

mнit

escape

hrb

kan-hrb

hrbt

estimate

qddr

kan-qddr

qddrt

evacuate

xwa

kan-xwi

xwit

(house/country)

evict

xrrj

kan-xrrj

xrrjt

evolve

ttuwr

kan-ttuwr

ttuwrt

exaggerate (slang)

balġ

kan-balġ

balġt

exchange

tbadl mعa

kan-tbadl

tbadlt

exhibit

عrd

kan-عrd

عrdt

exit

xrj

kan-xrj

xrjt

expensive, to get

ġla

kay-ġla

ġla

experience

jrrb

kan-jrrb

jrrbt

expire

tqada

kay-tqada

tqada

explain

šrн

kan-šrн

šrнt

fssr

kan-fssr

fssrt

explode

tfrgع

kan-tfrgع

tfrgعt

exploit

staġl

kan-staġl

staġlt

export

sddr

kan-sddr

sddrt

express

عbbr

kan-عbbr

عbbrt

exterminate

txlls mn

kan-txlls

txllst

face

tqabl mعa

kan-tqabl

tqablt

facilitate

shhl

kan-shhl

shhlt

fail

sqt

kan-sqt

sqtt

faint

sxf

kan-sxf

sxft

fall

taн

kan-tiн

tнt

fall, to make

tiyн

kan-tiyн

tiyнt

fake

zuwr

kan-zuwr

zuwrt

fart

нzq

kan-нzq

нzqt

falsify

zuwr

kan-zuwr

zuwrt

fast

sam

kan-sum

smt

fear

xaf

kan-xaf

xft

feed

wkkl

kan-wkkl

wkklt

172 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

feed fodder

عllf

kan-عllf

عllft

feel

нss

kan-нss

нssit

ferment

xmr

kan-xmr

xmrt

fight (physically)

tdabz

kan-tdabz

tdabzt

fill (intransitive)

عmr

kan-عmr

عmrt

fill out

عmmr

kan-عmmr

عmmrt

fill up

عmmr

kan-عmmr

عmmrt

filter

sffa

kan-sffi

sffit

finance

muwl

kan-muwl

muwlt

find

lqa

kan-lqa

lqit

finish

kmml

kan-kmml

kmmlt

sala

kan-sali

salit

finished, to be

tsala

kan-tsala

tsalit

fish

siyd

kan-siyd

siydt

fix

sawb

kan-sawb

sawbt

slн

kan-slн

slнt

flatten (bread)

grrs

kan-grrs

grrst

flatter (a female)

tġzzl b

kan-tġzzl

tġzzlt

flee

hrb

kan-hrb

hrbt

flip

qlb

kan-qlb

qlbt

fly

tar

kan-tir

trt

fold

twa

kan-twi

twit

tbع

kan-tbع

tbعt

forbid

нrrm

kan-нrrm

нrrmt

force open

frع

kan-frع

frعt

forge (signature)

zuwr

kan-zuwr

zuwrt

forget

nsa

kan-nsa

nsit

forgive

smн l

kan-smн

smнt

foretell

tnbba

kan-tnbba'

tnbba't

free

нrrer

kan-нrrer

нrrert

tlq

kan-tlq

tlqt

freeze

jmd

kan-jmd

jmdt

freeze sth

jmmd

kan-jmmd

jmmdt

fry

qla

kan-qli

qlit

173

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

fulfill sth

нqqeq

kan-нqqeq

нqqeqt

full (of food), to be

šbع

kan-šbع

šbعt

fun, to make

dнk

kan-dнk

dнkt

nšt

kan-nšt

nštt

fun of, to make

dннk عla

kan-dннk

dннkt

tflla عla

kan-tflla

tfllit

gain

ksb

kan-ksb

ksbt

rbн

kan-rbн

rbнt

gamble

qmmr

kan-qmmr

qmmrt

gather

jmع

kan-jmع

jmعt

gather (with people)

jtamع

kan-jtamع

jtamعt

gaze

нnzez

kan-нnzez

нnzezt

generalize

عmmem

kan-عmmem

عmmemt

generate

wlld

kan-wlld

wlldt

get

xda

kan-axud

xdit

šdd

kan-šdd

šddit

get down

hbt

kan-hbt

hbtt

get off

nzl

kan-nzl

nzlt

get on

rkb

kan-rkb

rkbt

tlع

kan-tlع

tlعt

get rid of

thnna mn

kan-thnna

thnnit

txlls mn

kan-txlls

txllst

get sick

mrd

kan-mrd

mrdt

get through

daz mn

kan-duz

dzt

get up

nad

kan-nud

ndt

get used to

wllf

kan-wllf

wllft

give

عta

kan-عti

عtit

give a ride

dda

kan-ddi

ddit

wssl

kan-wssl

wsslt

give a speech

xtb

kan-xtb

xtbt

give back

rjjع

kan-rjjع

rjjعt

rdd

kan-rdd

rddit

give off

tllq

kan-tllq

tllqt

give pain

drr

kan-drr

drrit

174 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

glare at

xnzr f

kan-xnzr

xnzrt

gleam

lmع

kan-lmع

lmعt

dwa

kan-dwi

dwit

glue

lssq

kan-lssq

lssqt

mša

kan-mši

mšit

go ahead of/in front of

sbq

kan-sbq

sbqt

go by

daz عla

kan-duz

dzt

go out

xrj

kan-xrj

xrjt

go through

daz mn

kan-duz

dzt

go up

tlع

kan-tlع

tlعt

gossip about

hdr f

kan-hdr

hdrt

govern

нkm عla

kan-нkm

нkmt

grab

qbt

kan-qbt

qbtt

šdd

kan-šdd

šddit

graze

rعa

kay-rعa

rعa

greet

sllm عla

kan-sllm

sllmt

greet one another

tsalm

kan-tsalm

tsalmt

grill

šwa

kan-šwi

šwit

grind

tнn

kan-tнn

tнnt

grow (get older/bigger)

kbr

kan-kbr

kbrt

guarantee

dmn

kan-dmn

dmnt

guard

عss

kan-عss

عssit

hand

mdd

kan-mdd

mddit

hang

عllq

kan-عllq

عllqt

hang to dry

nšr

kan-nšr

nšrt

happen

wqع

kay-wqع

wqع

jra

kay-jra

jra

tra

kay-tra

tra

happy, to be

frн

kan-frн

frнt

happy, to make

frrн

kan-frrн

frrнt

harvest

нsd

kan-нsd

нsdt

hatch

tfqqs

kay-tfqqs

tfqqs

hate

krh

kan-krh

krht

have

عnd

عndi

kan عndi

175

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

hear

smع

kan-smع

smعt

heat

sxxn

kan-sxxn

sxxnt

help

عawn

kan-عawn

عawnt

herd

srн

kan-srн

srнt

hesitate

trdded

kan-trdded

trddedt

hide sth

xbba

kan-xbba

xbbit

hide (oneself)

txbba

kan-txbba

txbbit

hire (a car)

kra

kan-kri

krit

hit

drb

kan-drb

drbt

hit, to be

tdrb

kan-tdrb

tdrbt

hold

šdd

kan-šdd

šddit

honor

šrrf

kan-šrrf

šrrft

hope

tmnna

kan-tmnna

tmnnit

house

skkn

kan-skkn

skknt

hug

عnnq

kan-عnnq

عnnqt

hug one another

tعanq

kan-tعanq

tعanqt

hungry, to be

jaع

kan-juع

jعt

hunt

siyd

kan-siyd

siydt

hurry

zrb

kan-zrb

zrbt

hurt

drr

kan-drr

drrit

ignore (slang)

miyk عla

kan-miyk

miykt

ill, to be

mrd

kan-mrd

mrdt

ill, to make

mrrd

kan-mrrd

mrrdt

imagine

tsuwr

kan-tsuwr

tsuwrt

txayl

kan-txayl

txaylt

imitate

qlld

kan-qlld

qlldt

import

stawrd

kan-stawrd

stawrdt

impose

frd

kan-frd

frdt

imprison

sjn

kan-sjn

sjnt

šdd f l нbs

kan-šdd

šddit

improve

нssn

kan-нssn

нssnt

tнssn

kan-tнssn

tнssnt

improvise

rtajl

kan-rtajl

rtajlt

increase

zad

kan-zid

zdt

176 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

indicate

biyn

kan-biyn

biynt

infect

عada

kan-عadi

عadit

inform

عlm

kan-عlm

عlmt

xbr

kan-xbr

xbrt

inherit

wrt

kan-wrt

wrtt

injure

jrн

kan-jrн

jrнt

inspect (education)

fttš

kan-fttš

fttšt

install

blasa

kan-blasi

blasit

rkkb

kan-rkkb

rkkbt

insult

عayr

kan-عayr

عayrt

sbb

kan-sbb

sbbit

integrate

dmj

kan-dmj

dmjt

interest

httm

kay-httm

httm

interfere

tdxxl

kan-tdxxl

tdxxlt

interrupt

qatع

kan-qatع

qatعt

introduce

qddm

kan-qddm

qddmt

invent

xtarع

kan-xtarع

xtarعt

invite

عrd عla

kan-عrd

عrdt

iron

нdded

kan-нdded

нddedt

irrigate

sga

kan-sgi

sgit

sqa

kan-sqi

sqit

irritate

qllq

kan-qllq

qllqt

irritated, to be

tqllq

kan-tqllq

tqllqt

isolate

hmmš

kan-hmmš

hmmšt

عzl

kan-عzl

عzlt

jealous, to be

ġar عla

kan-ġir

ġrt

joke

dнk

kan-dнk

dнkt

tflla

kan-tflla

tfllit

judge

нkm عla

kan-нkm

нkmt

нasb

kan-нasb

нasbt

jump

nqqz

kan-nqqz

nqqzt

justify

brrer

kan-brrer

brrert

keep

нtafd b

kan-нtafd

нtafdt

нafd عla

kan-нafd

нafdt

177

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

keep house

qabl d-dar

kan-qabl

qablt

gabl d-dar

kan-gabl

gablt

kick (a ball)

šat

kan-šut

štt

qdf

kan-qdf

qdft

kidnap

xtf

kan-xtf

xtft

kiss

bas

kan-bus

bst

knead

عjn

kan-عjn

عjnt

know

عrf

kan-عrf

عrft

last (time)

bqa

kan-bqa

bqit

dam

kan-dum

dmt

late, to be

tعttl

kan-tعttl

tعttlt

late, to make

عttl

kan-عttl

عttlt

laugh

dнk

kan-dнk

dнkt

laugh, to make

dннk

kan-dннk

dннkt

lay down

нtt

kan-нtt

нttit

lay eggs

biyd

kan-biyd

biydt

lead

tzععm

kan-tzععm

tzععmt

leak

sal

kan-sil

slt

qtr

kan-qtr

qtrt

lean

tkka عla

kan-tkka

tkkit

learn

tعllm

kan-tعllm

tعllmt

leave

xrj

kan-xrj

xrjt

leave (a house/city for

rнl

kan-rнl

rнlt

another)

leave alone

xlla

kan-xlli

xllit

leave behind

xlla

kan-xlli

xllit

lend

sllf

kan-sllf

sllft

lengthen

tuwl

kan-tuwl

tuwlt

lessen

qllel

kan-qllel

qllelt

let

xlla

kan-xlli

xllit

let go of

tlq mn

kan-tlq

tlqt

liberate

нrrer

kan-нrrer

нrrert

lie

kdb

kan-kdb

kdbt

lift

hzz

kan-hzz

hzzit

light

šعl

kan-šعl

šعlt

178 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

bġa

kan-bġi

knt baġi

عjb

kay عjbni

عjbni

lighten (weight)

xffef

kan-xffef

xffeft

limit

нdded

kan-нdded

нddedt

нbs

kan-нbs

нbst

limp

عrj

kan-عrj

عrjt

line, to draw a

sttr

kan-sttr

sttrt

live (reside)

skn

kan-skn

sknt

loan

sllf

kan-sllf

sllft

lock

sdd

kan-sdd

sddit

surt

kan-surt

surtt

look

šaf

kan-šuf

šft

look after

thlla f

kan-thlla

thllat

нda

kan-нdi

нdit

look alike

tšabh

kan-tšabh

tšabht

look behind

tlfft

kan-tlfft

tlfftt

look down (on sb)

нgr

kan-нgr

нgrt

look for

qllb عla

kan-qllb

qllbt

look like

šbh

kan-šbh

šbht

ban bнal

kan-ban

bnt

look out (window)

tll

kan-tll

tllit

loosen

tlq

kan-tlq

tlqt

rxa

kan-rxi

rxit

rxf

kan-rxf

rxft

lose

wddr

kan-wddr

wddrt

tllf

kan-tllf

tllft

lost, to be

twddr

kan-twddr

twddrt

love

bġa

kan-bġi

knt baġi

mat عla

kan-mut

mtt

lower

nzzl

kan-nzzl

nzzlt

hbbt

kan-hbbt

hbbtt

nqs

kan-nqs

nqst

magnify

kbbr

kan-kbbr

kbbrt

maintain

нafd عla

kan-нafd

нafdt

179

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

make

sawb

kan-sawb

sawbt

dar

kan-dir

drt

snع

kan-snع

snعt

make difficult for sb

tkrfs عla

kan-tkrfs

tkrfst

maltreat (destroy)

krfs

kan-krfs

krfst

manipulate

tнkkm

kan-tнkkm

tнkkmt

manufacture

snع

kan-snع

snعt

mark

nqqt

kan-nqqt

nqqtt

ršm

kan-ršm

ršmt

marry (with)

tzuwj (b)

kan-tzuwj

tzuwjt

marry off (daughter, etc.)

zuwj

kan-zuwj

zuwjt

massage (hammam)

kssl

kan-kssl

ksslt

mean

عna

kan-عni

عnit

measure

عbr

kan-عbr

عbrt

mediate

twsst

kan-twsst

twsstt

meet

tlaqa

kan-tlaqa

tlaqit

meeting, to have

jtamع

kan-jtamع

jtamعt

melt

dab

kan-dub

dbt

memorize

нfd

kan-нfd

нfdt

menace

hdded

kan-hdded

hddedt

mess up

krfs

kan-krfs

krfst

migrate

hjr

kan-hjr

hjrt

milk

нlb

kan-нlb

нlbt

mistake, to make a

ġlt

kan-ġlt

ġltt

miss (a bus) 3rd person

mša عla

kay-mši عliya

mša عliya

mix

xllt

kan-xllt

xlltt

monitor (exam)

нda

kan-нdi

нdit

нrs

kan-нrs

нrst

monopolize

нtakr

kan-нtakr

нtakrt

motivate

нffz

kan-нffz

нffzt

move sth

нrrk

kan-нrrk

нrrkt

kннz

kan-kннz

kннzt

move

tнrrk

kan-tнrrk

tнrrkt

tkннz

kan-tkннz

tkннzt

180 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

move away from

bعd mn

kan-bعd

bعdt

move residence

tнuwl

kan-tнuwl

tнuwlt

rнl

kan-rнl

rнlt

murder

qtl

kan-qtl

qtlt

name

smma

kan-smmi

smmit

need

нtaj

kan-нtaj

нtajt

neglect

smн f

kan-smн

smнt

frrt

kan-frrt

frrtt

noise, to make

sdع

kan-sdع

sdعt

nominate

rššн

kan-rššн

rššнt

notice

laнd

kan-laнd

laнdt

obey

taع

kan-tiع

tعt

object

عard

kan-عard

عardt

oblige

frd عla

kan-frd

frdt

bzzez عla

kan-bzzez

bzzezt

observe

laнd

kan-laнd

laнdt

occupy

нtll

kan-нtll

нtllt

occur

wqع

kay wqع

wqع

jra

kay jra

jra

offer

hda

kan-hdi

hdit

oil

ziyt

kan-ziyt

ziytt

old, to get

šrf

kan-šrf

šrft

open

нll

kan-нll

нllit

ftн

kan-ftн

ftнt

operate (surgical)

ftн

kan-ftн

ftнt

oppress

عddb

kan-عddb

عddbt

order sth

tlb

kan-tlb

tlbt

order sb

amr

kan-amr

amrt

organize

nddm

kan-nddm

nddmt

overcome

tġllb عla

kan-tġllb

tġllbt

owe

tsal

kan-tsal

tsalt

owed, to be

sal

kan-sal

slt

own

mlk

kan-mlk

mlkt

pacify

hddn

kan-hddn

hddnt

181

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

pack

jmع

kan-jmع

jmعt

paint

sbġ

kan-sbġ

sbġt

park (a car)

blasa

kan-blasa

blasit

participate

šark

kan-šark

šarkt

party

нtafl

kan-нtafl

нtaflt

pass

daz

kan-duz

dzt

fat

kan-fut

ftt

pass (exam)

njн f

kan-njн

njнt

pass by

daz عla

kan-duz

dzt

paste

lssq

kan-lssq

lssqt

patient, to be

sbr

kan-sbr

sbrt

pay

xlls

kan-xlls

xllst

paid, to be

txlls

kan-txlls

txllst

pay back

rdd l

kan-rdd

rddit

peel

qššr

kan-qššr

qššrt

peel (skin)

tqššr

kan-tqššr

tqššrt

permit

xlla

kan-xlli

xllit

smн l

kan-smн

smнt

persuade

qnع

kan-qnع

qnعt

photograph

suwr

kan-suwr

suwrt

photographed, to be

tsuwr

kan-tsuwr

tsuwrt

pick (light fruit)

jna

kan-jni

jnit

pierce

tqb

kan-tqb

tqbt

pile up

عrrm

kan-عrrm

عrrmt

plan

xttet

kan-xttet

xttett

plant

zrع

kan-zrع

zrعt

play

lعb

kan-lعb

lعbt

please

عjb

kan-عjb

عjbt

plow

нrt

kan-нrt

нrtt

pluck

riyš

kan-riyš

riyšt

poison

smmem

kan-smmem

smmemt

poisoned, to be

tsmmem

kan-tsmmem

tsmmemt

pollute

luwt

kan-luwt

luwtt

possess

mlk

kan-mlk

mlkt

182 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

postpone

ajjl

kan-ajjl

ajjlt

pour

kbb

kan-kbb

kbbit

xwa

kan-xwi

xwit

practice

tbbq

kan-tbbq

tbbqt

praise

mdн

kan-mdн

mdнt

pray

slla

kan-slli

sllit

precede

sbq

kan-sbq

sbqt

prefer

fddl

kan-fddl

fddlt

prepare

wjjd

kan-wjjd

wjjdt

sawb

kan-sawb

sawbt

pressure

dġt

kan-dġt

dġtt

pretend

dar bнal

kan-dir

drt

biyn blli

kan-biyn

biynt

prevent

mnع

kan-mnع

mnعt

tbع

kan-tbع

tbعt

produce

ntj

kan-ntj

ntjt

profit

rbн

kan-rbн

rbнt

stafd

kan-stafd

stafdt

progress

tqddm

kan-tqddm

tqddmt

prohibit

mnع

kan-mnع

mnعt

promise

waعd

kan-waعd

waعdt

pronounce

ntq

kan-ntq

ntqt

propose

qtarн

kan-qtarн

qtarнt

proud, to be

ftaxr

kan-ftaxr

ftaxrt

prune

zbr

kan-zbr

zbrt

publish

nšr

kan-nšr

nšrt

pull

jrr

kan-jrr

jrrit

jbd

kan-jbd

jbdt

punish

عaqb

kan-عaqb

عaqbt

push

dfع

kan-dfع

dfعt

push (a button)

wrrk عla

kan-wrrk

wrrkt

brk عla

kan-brk

brkt

put

нtt

kan-нtt

нttit

put down

нtt

kan-нtt

нttit

183

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

put out (light)

tfa

kan-tfi

tfit

put together (parts)

rkkb

kan-rkkb

rkkbt

quarrel

txasm

kan-txasm

txasmt

quiet, to be

skt

kan-skt

sktt

quiet, to make

skkt

kan-skkt

skktt

quit

mša bнalu

kan-mši bнali

mšit bнali

rain

taн (l-šta)

kat-tiн

taнt

raise

hzz

kan-hzz

hzzit

raise (children)

rbba

kan-rbbi

rbbit

raised, to be

trbba

kan-trbba

trbbit

rape

ġtasb

kan-ġtasb

ġtasbt

read

qra

kan-qra

qrit

receive (a letter)

šdd

kan-šdd

šddit

recognize

tعrrf

kan-tعrrf

tعrrft

record

sjjl

kan-sjjl

sjjlt

reduce

nqs

kan-nqs

nqst

reform

slн

kan-slн

slнt

refuse

rfd

kan-rfd

rfdt

refute

nfa

kan-nfi

nfit

regret

ndm

kan-ndm

ndmt

reimburse

عuwd

kan-عuwd

عuwdt

rejoice

frн

kan-frн

frнt

relax

rtaн

kan-rtaн

rtaнt

release

tlq

kan-tlq

tlqt

rely on

عuwl عla

kan-عuwl

عuwlt

remain

bqa

kan-bqa

bqit

remember

عql عla

kan-عql

عqlt

tfkkr

kan-tfkkr

tfkkrt

remind

fkkr

kan-fkkr

fkkrt

remove

нiyd

kan-нiyd

нiydt

zuwl

kan-zuwl

zuwlt

renew

jdded

kan-jdded

jddedt

rent

kra

kan-kri

krit

184 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

repair

sawb

kan-sawb

sawbt

slн

kan-slн

slнt

repeat

عawd

kan-عawd

عawdt

repent

tab

kan-tub

tbt

rdd

kan-rdd

rddit

request

tlb mn

kan-tlb

tlbt

require

ttlb

kan-ttlb

ttlbt

resemble

šbh

kan-šbh

šbht

resign

staql

kan-staql

staqlt

resist

qawm

kan-qawm

qawmt

respect

нtarm

kan-нtarm

нtarmt

respond

jawb

kan-jawb

jawbt

rest

rtaн

kan-rtaн

rtaнt

retire

tqaعd

kan-tqaعd

tqaعdt

return (to a place)

rjع

kan-rjع

rjعt

return sth

rdd

kan-rdd

rddit

rjjع

kan-rjjع

rjjعt

review

rajع

kan-rajع

rajعt

ride

rkb

kan-rkb

rkbt

ride, to give a

dda

kan-ddi

ddit

rkkb

kan-rkkb

rkkbt

wssl

kan-wssl

wsslt

rinse

šllel

kan-šllel

šllelt

rise (like the sun)

tlع

kan-tlع

tlعt

rise (to wake up)

faq

kan-fiq

fqt

rot

fsd

kan-fsd

fsdt

round, to go

duwr

kan-duwr

duwrt

rub

нkk

kan-нkk

нkkit

run

jra

kan-jri

jrit

run away

hrb

kan-hrb

hrbt

run out of

tqada

kan-tqada

tqadit

rush

zrb

kan-zrb

zrbt

sacrifice

dннa

kan-dннi

dннit

satisfy

qnع

kan-qnع

qnعt

185

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

save

xbba

kan-xbbi

xbbit

xzn

kan-xzn

xznt

xbbع

kan-xbbع

xbbعt

save (money)

jmع l flus

kan-jmع

jmعt

wffr

kan-wffr

wffrt

say

gal

kan-gul

glt

scratch

нkk

kan-нkk

нkkit

scream

ġuwt

kan-ġuwt

ġuwtt

screw

ziyr

kan-ziyr

ziyrt

see

šaf

kan-šuf

šft

see one another

tšawf

kan-tšawf

tšawft

sell

baع

kan-biع

bعt

send

sift

kan-sift

siftt

separate

frrq

kan-frrq

frrqt

serve

srba

kan-srbi

srbit

set a bone

jbbr

kan-jbbr

jbbrt

set (the sun)

ġrb

kan-ġrb

ġrbt

set up

rkkb

kan-rkkb

rkkbt

settle

staqr

kan-staqr

staqrt

sew

xiyt

kan-xiyt

xiytt

shake (palsy)

trععd

kan-trععd

trععdt

rjf

kan-rjf

rjft

shake hands with

sllm عla

kan-sllm

sllmt

shake out

нrrk

kan-нrrk

нrrkt

qsm

kan-qsm

qsmt

sharpen

njr

kan-njr

njrt

mdda

kan-mddi

mddit

shave

нssn

kan-нssn

нssnt

shepherd

srн

kan-srн

srнt

shine

lmع

kan-lmع

lmعt

shiver

trععd

kan-trععd

trععdt

rjf

kan-rjf

rjft

shop (weekly market)

tsuwq

kan-tsuwq

tsuwqt

shop (food)

tqdda

kan-tqdda

tqddit

186 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

shorten

qssr

kan-qssr

qssrt

shout

ġuwt

kan-ġuwt

ġuwtt

shovel

hzz b l bala

kan-hzz

hzzit

show

wrra

kan-wrri

wrrit

shower

duwš

kan-duwš

duwšt

shut

sdd

kan-sdd

sddit

shut eyes

ġmmd

kan-ġmmd

ġmmdt

shut up

skt

kan-skt

sktt

sift

ġrbl

kan-ġrbl

ġrblt

sightsee

tsara

kan-tsara

tsarit

sign

sna

kan-sni

snit

wqqع

kan-wqqع

wqqعt

silence sb

skkt

kan-skkt

skktt

silent, to be

skt

kan-skt

sktt

simplify

shhl

kan-shhl

shhlt

sing

ġnna

kan-ġnni

ġnnit

sink

ġts

kan-ġts

ġtst

ġrq

kan-ġrq

ġrqt

sit

gls

kan-gls

glst

skin

slx

kan-slx

slxt

skip

nqqz

kan-nqqz

nqqzt

slap (in the face)

srfq

kan-srfq

srfqt

trrš

kan-trrš

trršt

slaughter

dbн

kan-dbн

dbнt

sleep

nعs

kan-nعs

nعst

sleep, to make

nععs

kan-nععs

nععst

slide

zlq

kan-zlq

zlqt

slip

zlq

kan-zlq

zlqt

smear

lttx

kan-lttx

lttxt

smell

šmm

kan-šmm

šmmit

smile

btasm

kan-btasm

btasmt

smoke

kma

kan-kmi

kmit

smuggle

hrrb

kan-hrrb

hrrbt

sneeze

عts

kan-عts

عtst

187

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

solder

lннm

kan-lннm

lннmt

solve

нll

kan-нll

нllit

speak

tkllm

kan-tkllm

tkllmt

hdr

kan-hdr

hdrt

dwa

kan-dwi

dwit

specialize

txsses

kan-txsses

txssest

spend money

srf

kan-srf

srft

spend the night

bat

kan-bat

btt

spend time

duwz

kan-duwz

duwzt

spin

ġzl

kan-ġzl

ġzlt

spit

dfl

kan-dfl

dflt

splash

ršš

kan-ršš

rššit

spoil (a child)

fššeš

kan-fššeš

fššešt

sprain

dfع

kan-dfع

dfعt

spray

ršš

kan-ršš

rššit

squeeze

عsr

kan-عsr

عsrt

ziyr

kan-ziyr

ziyrt

stamp

tbع

kan-tbع

tbعt

stand

wqf

kan-wqf

wqft

stare angrily

xnzr f

kan-xnzr

xnzrt

start

bda

kan-bda

bdit

startle

xlع

kan-xlع

xlعt

startled, to be

txlع

kan-txlع

txlعt

stay

bqa

kan-bqa

bqit

gls

kan-gls

glst

stay up late

shr

kan-shr

shrt

steal

srq

kan-srq

srqt

šffr

kan-šffr

šffrt

step on

عft

kan-عft

عftt

عfs

kan-عfs

عfst

sting

qrs

kan-qrs

qrst

stink

xnz

kan-xnz

xnzt

stir

нrrk

kan-нrrk

нrrkt

188 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

stop

wqf

kan-wqf

wqft

нbs

kan-нbs

нbst

stop speaking with

txasm mعa

kan-txasm

txasmt

store

xzn

kan-xzn

xznt

strangle

qjj

kan-qjj

qjjit

xnq

kan-xnq

xnqt

strike (from work)

dar l idrab

kan-dir

drt

stroll

tmšša

kan-tmšša

tmššit

stretch

jbbd

kan-jbbd

jbbdt

kssl

kan-kssl

ksslt

study

qra

kan-qra

qrit

drs

kan-drs

drst

succeed at

njн f

kan-njн

njнt

suck

mss

kan-mss

mssit

sue

dعa

kan-dعi

dعit

suffer

tعddb

kan-tعddb

tعddbt

suggest

qtarн

kan-qtarн

qtarнt

sunbathe

tšmmš

kan-tšmmš

tšmmšt

surprise

faj'a

kan-faj'a

faj'at

surrender

staslm

kan-staslm

staslmt

survive

nja

kan-nja

njit

عaš

kan-عiš

tعš

swallow

srt

kan-srt

srtt

swarm (bees)

rtع

kan-rtع

rtعt

swear

нlf b llah

kan-нlf

нlft

عahd

kan-عahd

عahdt

swear (oath)

qsm

kan-qsm

qsmt

sweat

عrg

kan-عrg

عrgt

عrq

kan-عrq

عrqt

sweep

šttb

kan-šttb

šttbt

swell

tnffx

kan-tnffx

tnffxt

swim

عam

kan-عum

tعm

switch (off)

tfa

kan-tfi

tfit

switch (on)

šعl

kan-šعl

šعlt

189

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

sympathize with

tعatf mعa

kan-tعatf

tعatft

take

xda

kan-axud

xdit

take away/off

нiyd

kan-нiyd

нiydt

zuwl

kan-zuwl

zuwlt

take care of

thlla f

kan-thlla

thllat

take charge of

tkllf b

kan-tkllf

tkllft

talk

tkllm

kan-tkllm

tkllmt

hdr

kan-hdr

hdrt

talk nonsense

xrbq

kan-xrbq

xrbqt

tame

ruwd

kan-ruwd

ruwdt

tape (record)

sjjl

kan-sjjl

sjjlt

tape (scotch)

lssq

kan-lssq

lssqt

taste

daq

kan-duq

dqt

teach

qrra

kan-qrri

qrrit

عllm

kan-عllm

عllmt

tear something

qttع

kan-qttع

qttعt

tear (to be torn)

tqttع

kan-tqttع

tqttعt

tease

qššb

kan-qššb

qššbt

tflla

kan-tflla

tfllit

telephone

عiyt f

kan-عiyt

عiytt

drb t

kan-drb

drbt

tilifun

tell

gal

kan-gul

glt

عawd

kan-عawd

عawdt

thaw

dab

kan-dub

dbt

think

fkkr

kan-fkkr

fkkrt

xmmem

kan-xmmem

xmmemt

think that

dnn blli

kan-dnn

dnnit

threaten

hdded

kan-hdded

hddedt

thresh

drs

kan-drs

drst

throw

laн

kan-luн

lнt

rma

kan-rmi

rmit

tickle

hrr

kan-hrr

hrrit

tie

rbt

kan-rbt

rbtt

tie (belt)

нzm

kan-нzm

нzmt

190 • Moroccan Arabic

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

tighten

ziyr

kan-ziyr

ziyrt

tired, to be

عya

kan-عya

عyit

tired, to make

عiya

kan-عiya

عiyit

torture

عddb

kan-عddb

عddbt

touch

qas

kan-qis

qst

mss

kan-mss

mssit

trade

tajr

kan-tajr

tajrt

train

drrb

kan-drrb

drrbt

translate

trjm

kan-trjm

trjmt

travel

safr

kan-safr

safrt

treat (people)

tعaml mعa

kan-tعaml

tعamlt

trick

šmt

kan-šmt

šmtt

trip

عtr

kan-عtr

عtrt

trust

taq f

kan-tiq

tqt

try (to attempt to do sth)

нawl

kan-нawl

нawlt

try (to experience sth)

jrrb

kan-jrrb

jrrbt

try on

qiys

kan-qiys

qiyst

turn

dar

kan-dur

drt

turn around

duwr

kan-duwr

duwrt

turn down (volume)

nqs mn

kan-nqs

nqst

turn off

tfa

kan-tfi

tfit

turn on

šعl

kan-šعl

šعlt

turn over sth

qlb

kan-qlb

qlbt

glb

kan-glb

glbt

twist

lwa

kan-lwi

lwit

understand

fhm

kan-fhm

fhmt

understand, to make

fhhm

kan-fhhm

fhhmt

unite

wннd

kan-wннd

wннdt

upset

qllq

kan-qllq

qllqt

upset, to be

tqllq

kan-tqllq

tqllqt

use

staعml

kan-staعml

staعmlt

use (land)

staġl

kan-staġl

staġlt

use to, to be of

slн l

kan-slн

slнt

used to, to become

wllf

kan-wllf

wllft

191

First Person

English

Transcription

Arabic

Present Tense

Past Tense

useful, to be

nfع

kan-nfع

nfعt

vaccinate

lqqн

kan-lqqн

lqqнt

visit

zar

kan-zur

zrt

vomit

tqiya

kan-tqiya

tqiyit

rdd

kan-rdd

rddit

wait

tsnna

kan-tsnna

tsnnit

عayn

kan-عayn

عaynt

wake someone

fiyq

kan-fiyq

fiyqt

wake up

faq

kan-fiq

fqt

walk

tmšša

kan-tmšša

tmššit

walk around

tsara

kan-tsara

tsarit

tmšša

kan-tmšša

tmššit

want

bġa

kan-bġi

bġit

warm / heat

sxxn

kan-sxxn

sxxnt

warm, to be

sxn

kan-sxn

sxnt

warn

нddr

kan-нddr

нddrt

water

sqa

kan-sqi

sqit

sga

kan-sgi

sgit

wash

ġsl

kan-ġsl

ġslt

wash (clothes)

sbbn

kan-sbbn

sbbnt

wash (floor)

siyq

kan-siyq

siyqt

waste

diyع

kan-diyع

diyعt

watch (TV)

tfrrj

kan-tfrrj

tfrrjt

wave

šiyr l

kan-šiyr

šiyrt

wear

lbs

kan-lbs

lbst

weave

nsj

kan-nsj

nsjt

weep

bka

kan-bki

bkit

weigh

عbr

kan-عbr

عbrt

wzn

kan-wzn

wznt

welcome

rннb

kan-rннb

rннbt

staqbl

kan-staqbl

staqblt

weld

suda

kan-sudi

sudit

well, to be

bra

kan-bra

brit

wet, to make

fzzg

kan-fzzg

fzzgt

193

Grammar Index

Active Participles, 151

Participles, 151

Adjectives

Active, 151

Comparative, 81

ġadi, 104

Masculine and Feminine, 78

Kayn, 37

Singular and Plural, 78

Passive, 153

Superlative, 82

Passive Participles, 153

Comparative Adjectives, 81

Passive Verbs, 149

Comparing Like Objects, 81

Past Progressive, 150

Conditional, 111

Past Tense

Conjunctions, 154

Irregular Verbs, 48

Definite Article, 147

Regular Verbs, 46

Demonstrative Adjectives, 16

Possession

Demonstrative Pronouns, 14

Dyal, 13

Duration, 17

Pronouns, 8

Dyal, 13

Questions, 17

Future Tense, 102

Possessive Pronouns, 8

Negation, 103

Prepositions, 42

ġadi, 104

With Pronoun Endings, 115

Have you ever..., 54

With Verbs, 115

I‘ve never..., 54

Present Tense

Imperative, 69

Irregular Verbs with Final ‗a‘, 64

In order to, 68

Irregular Verbs with Middle ‗a‘, 60

Independent Pronouns, 7

Regular Verbs, 58

Infinitive, 46

Pronouns

Intransitive Verbs

Independent, 7

Making into Transitive Verbs, 148

Object, 55

With Only One Participle, 153

Possessive, 8

Kayn, 37

Question Words, 56

Moon Letters, 147

Sun Letters, 147

Negation, 52

Superlative Adjectives, 82

Nouns

There is, 37

Masculine and Feminine, 9

Time, 30

Numbers

Using One Verb after Another, 68

1 thru 10, 22

Verbs

100, 200, 300 ... 999, 26

Participles, 151

1000, 2000, 3000 ..., 27

to have, 40

11 thru 19, 24

to need/have to/should, 95

20, 30, 40 ... 99, 25

to please, 92

Fractions, 30

to remain, 151

Ordinal, 29

to want, 36

Object Pronouns, 55

to want/like, 96

Using One after Another, 68

194 • Moroccan Arabic

Vocabulary Index

Adjectives, 78

Meat, 88

Bargaining, 72

Money, 33

Body Parts, 97

Months, 45

Bus, 108

Nationalities, 10

Butagas, 135

Nighttime, 20

Butcher, 88

Peace Corps, 120

Buying Produce, 86

Places in Town, 43

Café, 89

Police Station, 137

Cities, 10

Political Harassment, 141

City bus, 108

Post Office, 113

Clothing, 73

Prepositions, 42

Colors, 75

Question Words, 56

Communication, 21

Restaurant, 90

Congratulations, 21

Seasons, 45

Days of the Week, 45

Sexual Harassment, 129

Directions, 43

Shopping, 34

Doors and Windows, 139

Sick, 21, 98

Drinks, 89

Site Visit, 100

Environment Sector, 122

Sleeping, 20

Family, 38

Small Business Development, 124

Finding a House, 125

Spices, 88

Food, 34, 84, 85, 88, 89

Taxi, 107, 131

Fruit, 85

Thanking, 19

Furniture, 127

Theft, 137

God Phrases, 157

Time Expressions

Greetings, 5

Future, 105

Hanoot Items, 34

Past, 46

Health, 98

Present, 59

Health Sector, 123

Toiletries, 34

Help, 20

Train, 109

Hotel, 110

Transportation, 21

Household Items, 127

Travel, 107

Hygiene, 20

Units of Measurement, 86

Islamic Calendar, 159

Vegetables, 84

Kitchenware, 127

Verbs, 47, 49, 50, 51, 61, 62, 63, 64, 66, 67

Marital Status, 10

Youth Development, 121

Mealtime, 19

Moroccan Arabic Textbook (2011) - page 2