Culture & Etiquette

1. ڭناوة

   gnāwa

   Gnawa

   Usage

   A spiritual music and ritual tradition with roots in West Africa, played on the guembri (bass lute) and metal castanets. Essaouira is a centre.

   Grammar Note

   The /g/ sound is written ڭ (the Darija Wikipedia writes ݣناوا).

2. عيطة

   ʿayṭa

   Aita

   Usage

   A folk song and poetry tradition of the Atlantic plains, marked by powerful voices and drums, sung at festivals and weddings.

   Grammar Note

   A noun naming the item. The spelling is checked against dictionaries, Wikipedia and DODa; said alone it works as the name.

3. أحيدوس

   aḥīdūs

   Ahidous

   Usage

   A group dance and song of the Amazigh of the Middle Atlas, in which people form a circle or line and sing to hand-claps and frame drums.

   Grammar Note

   A noun naming the item. The spelling is checked against dictionaries, Wikipedia and DODa; said alone it works as the name.

4. الملحون

   l-melḥūn

   Malhun

   Usage

   Sung poetry composed in Darija, passed down in craftsmen's guilds, about love, faith and daily life.

   Grammar Note

   Melḥūn means "set to melody".

5. الطرب الأندلسي

   ṭ-ṭarab l-andalusī

   Andalusi classical music

   Usage

   Classical music that came from al-Andalus; conservatories in Fès, Tétouan and Rabat keep the tradition.

   Grammar Note

   Ṭarab means musical delight; andalusī means "of al-Andalus".

6. ناس الغيوان

   nās l-ghīwān

   Nass El Ghiwane

   Usage

   A legendary band formed in Casablanca in the early 1970s. They sing in Darija and greatly influenced Moroccan youth music.

   Grammar Note

   Nās means "people"; the band name is a fixed spelling.

7. جيل جيلالة

   jīl jīlāla

   Jil Jilala

   Usage

   A legendary band from Casablanca in the 1970s, ranked with Nass El Ghiwane among Morocco's popular music pioneers.

   Grammar Note

   A noun naming the item. The spelling is checked against dictionaries, Wikipedia and DODa; said alone it works as the name.

8. جلابة

   jellāba

   Djellaba

   Usage

   A loose long hooded robe worn by men and women; the most common traditional garment seen in the street.

   Grammar Note

   Fit is described with جاتك وسعة ("it's loose on you") or جاتك مضيقة ("it's tight").

9. قفطان

   qafṭān

   Caftan

   Usage

   A long, embroidered formal dress that women wear at weddings and celebrations.

   Grammar Note

   A noun naming the item. The spelling is checked against dictionaries, Wikipedia and DODa; said alone it works as the name.

10. تكشيطة

    takshīṭa

    Takchita

    Usage

    A woman's formal dress made of two pieces, a sheer outer robe over an inner gown, worn at weddings.

    Grammar Note

    A noun naming the item. The spelling is checked against dictionaries, Wikipedia and DODa; said alone it works as the name.

11. سلهام

    selhām

    Selham

    Usage

    A long hooded cloak worn over the djellaba on formal or festive occasions.

    Grammar Note

    Confirmed in DODa's clothing list and example sentences.

12. بلغة

    blgha

    Babouche

    Usage

    Flat leather slippers worn with the heel folded down; yellow is the classic colour, bought at the souk.

    Grammar Note

    Confirmed in DODa's clothing list.

13. طربوش

    ṭarbūsh

    Tarbouch (fez hat)

    Usage

    A red felt cylindrical hat. Its English name "fez" comes from the city of Fès.

    Grammar Note

    Confirmed in DODa's clothing list.

14. زليج

    zlīj

    Zellij

    Usage

    Mosaic made by fitting hand-cut coloured tiles into geometric patterns, used on walls, fountains and floors, famous in Fès and Meknès.

    Grammar Note

    A noun naming the item. The spelling is checked against dictionaries, Wikipedia and DODa; said alone it works as the name.

15. زربية

    zerbīya

    Rug (zerbiya)

    Usage

    Hand-woven Amazigh rugs. Patterns differ by region, and prices are negotiated at the souk.

    Grammar Note

    Confirmed in DODa (example sentences).

16. الحمام

    l-ḥammām

    Hammam

    Usage

    A steam bathhouse. Men and women use separate hours or houses, and scrubbing with a glove and black soap is customary.

    Grammar Note

    Ḥammām means "bathhouse/bathroom"; the pigeon is a different word, ḥmām.

17. البراد

    l-barrād

    Teapot

    Usage

    The metal pot for tea; pouring from a height into the glass is part of the ritual.

    Grammar Note

    A word confirmed in dictionaries with the meaning "teapot".

18. السوق

    s-sūq

    Souk (market)

    Usage

    The covered market of an old town, with shops grouped by trade along each lane. Prices are negotiated.

    Grammar Note

    Attested in 49 DODa example sentences.

19. أمازيغ

    amāzīgh

    Amazigh (Berber)

    Usage

    The indigenous people of North Africa. Morocco has three main Amazigh languages (Tarifit, Central Atlas, Tashelhit).

    Grammar Note

    The title on the Darija Wikipedia.

20. تيفيناغ

    tīfīnāgh

    Tifinagh script

    Usage

    The script used to write Amazigh; it appears on public buildings and signs beside Arabic and French.

    Grammar Note

    A noun naming the item. The spelling is checked against dictionaries, Wikipedia and DODa; said alone it works as the name.

21. الصناعة التقليدية

    ṣ-ṣināʿa t-taqlīdīya

    Traditional crafts

    Usage

    Handwork such as pottery, leather, metalwork and weaving. Some state-run craft centres sell at fixed prices.

    Grammar Note

    Close to standard Arabic; the title of the Arabic Wikipedia article.

22. زيت الأرڭان

    zīt l-argān

    Argan oil

    Usage

    Oil pressed from the nut of the argan tree of the Souss region, sold for cooking, cosmetics and hair care.

    Grammar Note

    The /g/ sound is written ڭ.

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