Adjectives

37 phrases · Moroccan Arabic (Darija) with romanization, English and audio

  1. كبير

    kbīr

    Big

    Usage

    For stating a size, such as clothes or a room. Use "kbīra" for a feminine noun.

    Grammar Note

    Adjectives follow the noun and agree with it (m. kbīr, f. kbīra, pl. kbār).

  2. صغير

    ṣghīr

    Small

    Usage

    For stating a size. For "smaller" Moroccan Arabic uses the form "ṣghar".

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "ṣghīra", plural "ṣghār".

  3. تقيل

    tqīl

    Heavy

    Usage

    For the weight of a bag or luggage.

    Grammar Note

    Unlike Standard Arabic "thaqīl", Darija writes this word with ت, not ث.

  4. خفيف

    khfīf

    Light (weight)

    Usage

    For saying something is light in weight, such as a bag.

    Grammar Note

    It can also mean "agile".

  5. غالي

    ghālī

    Expensive

    Usage

    When a price feels high; a handy opener when bargaining.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "ghālya". Add "bzāf" for "very expensive".

  6. رخيص

    rkhīṣ

    Cheap

    Usage

    For a low price.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "rkhīṣa".

  7. سخون

    skhūn

    Hot

    Usage

    For the temperature of tea, food or water. Avoid it for people, where it takes another meaning.

    Grammar Note

    A different word from Standard Arabic "sākhin". Feminine "skhūna".

  8. بارد

    bārd

    Cold

    Usage

    For cold drinks or food.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "bārda". Said of a person it can mean "dull".

  9. جديد

    jdīd

    New

    Usage

    For a new object, shop or place.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "jdīda"; the plural is "jdād".

  10. قديم

    qdīm

    Old (thing)

    Usage

    For an old thing or building.

    Grammar Note

    It appears in place names such as "l-mdīna l-qdīma", the old town.

  11. صغير فالسن

    ṣghīr f-s-sinn

    Young

    Usage

    For saying a person is young.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "small in age"; "ṣghīr" alone just means small. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

  12. كبير فالسن

    kbīr f-s-sinn

    Old (person)

    Usage

    A polite way to describe an older person.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "big in age". For things use "qdīm" instead. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

  13. نقي

    nqī

    Clean

    Usage

    For checking a room, toilet or glass.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "nqiyya"; it works for things and people.

  14. موسخ

    mūssakh

    Dirty

    Usage

    For a dirty room or dish.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "mūssakha". Used for the dirt of things and places.

  15. مزيان

    mizyān

    Good

    Usage

    The everyday word for good in Darija; it works for things, people and as an adverb (well).

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "mizyāna". Standard Arabic "jayyid" is rarely used.

  16. خايب

    khāyb

    Bad

    Usage

    For something bad or unfortunate: "hādshī khāyb" (that is too bad).

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "khāyba". Said of a person it is a harsh judgement.

  17. قريب

    qrīb

    Near

    Usage

    When asking or telling how close a place is.

    Grammar Note

    "qrīb mn…" means "near …". Feminine "qrība".

  18. بعيد

    bʿīd

    Far

    Usage

    For saying a place is far.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "bʿīda". "bshḥāl bʿīda?" asks how far it is.

  19. بكري

    bkrī

    Early

    Usage

    For being early in time: "jīt bkrī" (I came early).

    Grammar Note

    Used as both adverb and adjective; the form does not change.

  20. معطل

    mʿeṭṭel

    Late

    Usage

    For being late: "ana mʿeṭṭel" (I am late).

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "mʿeṭṭela".

  21. بزاف

    bzāf

    Many

    Usage

    For a large amount; after another adjective it means "very".

    Grammar Note

    Before a noun it takes "dyāl": "bzāf dyāl n-nās".

  22. قليل

    qlīl

    Few

    Usage

    For a small number or amount; "qlīl fāsh…" means "it is rare that…".

    Grammar Note

    "shwiyya" (a little) is more common in everyday speech.

  23. الجو سخون

    l-jaw skhūn

    Hot (weather)

    Usage

    A standard weather remark.

    Grammar Note

    Noun plus adjective makes a full sentence; Darija has no present-tense "be".

  24. الجو بارد

    l-jaw bārd

    Cold (weather)

    Usage

    A standard weather remark.

    Grammar Note

    "l-jaw" means weather; an adjective alone completes the sentence.

  25. زوين

    zwīn

    Cute

    Usage

    A compliment for a person, a baby, a view or an object.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "zwīna".

  26. بنين

    bnīn

    Delicious

    Usage

    For praising food.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "bnīna". Unrelated to Standard Arabic "banīn" (sons).

  27. مبرّع!

    mbrreʿ!

    Amazing

    Usage

    A reaction to good news or a good result.

    Grammar Note

    Feminine "mbrreʿa". Often heard as "hādshī mbrreʿ!" (that is great).

  28. ممتع

    mumtiʿ

    Fun

    Usage

    For an enjoyable or interesting activity.

    Grammar Note

    A somewhat formal word; in speech people often say "mizyān".

  29. كتر

    ktar

    More

    Usage

    To ask for more or to say "more than".

    Grammar Note

    Comparison uses "ktar mn…" (more than …).

  30. غير شوية

    ghīr shwiyya

    Just a little

    Usage

    To ask for a small portion or to decline more.

    Grammar Note

    "ghīr" means just or only; "shwiyya" works for amount and time.

  31. نص

    nṣṣ

    Half

    Usage

    For half of an amount or time: "nṣṣ sāʿa" (half an hour).

    Grammar Note

    For durations it follows the number: "sāʿa u-nṣṣ" (an hour and a half).

  32. كولشي

    kūlshī

    All of it

    Usage

    For "all" or "everything".

    Grammar Note

    A contraction of "kull shī", written as one word.

  33. صافي، شكرا

    ṣāfī, shukran

    That is enough

    Usage

    To decline more food or drink politely.

    Grammar Note

    "ṣāfī" can mean enough, OK or finished, depending on context. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

  34. دابا

    dāba

    Right now

    Usage

    For "now" or "right away".

    Grammar Note

    Used instead of Standard Arabic "al-ān".

  35. شخص واحد

    shakhṣ wāḥed

    One person

    Usage

    For giving a headcount, such as for a seat or a room.

    Grammar Note

    The number follows the noun: "shakhṣ wāḥed".

  36. جوج ديال الناس

    jūj dyāl n-nās

    Two people

    Usage

    For giving a headcount.

    Grammar Note

    Two is "jūj"; the pattern is number + "dyāl" + "n-nās". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

  37. تلاتة ديال الناس

    tlāta dyāl n-nās

    Three people

    Usage

    For giving a headcount.

    Grammar Note

    Three is "tlāta". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

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