Greetings

1. سلام

   salām

   Hello

   Usage

   A short greeting for any time of day, in shops or on the street.

   Grammar Note

   "marḥba" means welcome or you're welcome in Moroccan Arabic, not a plain hello.

2. السلام عليكم

   s-salāmu ʿalaykum

   Peace be upon you

   Usage

   A warm, courteous greeting used with people you meet and when entering a place.

   Grammar Note

   The reply is "w-ʿalaykum s-salām".

3. وعليكم السلام

   w-ʿalaykum s-salām

   And upon you peace

   Usage

   The reply to "s-salāmu ʿalaykum".

   Grammar Note

   It is always said in this order.

4. صباح الخير

   ṣbāḥ l-khīr

   Good morning

   Usage

   A morning greeting.

   Grammar Note

   A common reply is "ṣbāḥ n-nūr".

5. صباح النور

   ṣbāḥ n-nūr

   Good morning (reply)

   Usage

   The reply to "ṣbāḥ l-khīr".

   Grammar Note

   Literally "morning of light".

6. مساء الخير

   msā l-khīr

   Good evening

   Usage

   A greeting for late afternoon and evening.

   Grammar Note

   The reply is the same, "msā l-khīr".

7. لاباس؟

   lābās?

   How are you?

   Usage

   The shortest way to ask how someone is, right after the greeting.

   Grammar Note

   Answer with "lābās" or "l-ḥamdu lillāh".

8. كيداير؟ / كيدايرة؟

   kīdāyer? / kīdāyra?

   How are you?

   Usage

   Asks how someone is: "kīdāyer" to a man, "kīdāyra" to a woman.

   Grammar Note

   "kī" means how and "dāyer" means doing.

9. بيخير الحمد لله، شكرا

   bīkhīr l-ḥamdu lillāh, shukran

   Fine, thank you

   Usage

   The standard answer to "kīdāyer?"; "l-ḥamdu lillāh" (thank God) is almost always added.

   Grammar Note

   "bīkhīr" is "bi" (with) plus "khīr" (goodness).

10. شكرا بزاف

    shukran bzāf

    Thank you very much

    Usage

    To thank someone warmly.

    Grammar Note

    Used instead of Standard Arabic "shukran jazīlan".

11. مرحبا

    marḥba

    You're welcome

    Usage

    A reply to thanks, with the sense of "gladly".

    Grammar Note

    It is not a hello; it means welcome or you're welcome.

12. مرحبا بيك

    marḥba bīk

    Welcome

    Usage

    To welcome a visitor or guest; use "marḥba bīkum" for several people.

    Grammar Note

    "bīk" is "bi" plus "-k" (you).

13. بسلامة

    b-slāma

    Goodbye

    Usage

    The most common way to say goodbye.

    Grammar Note

    "slāma" means safety or well-being.

14. مع السلامة

    mʿa s-slāma

    Goodbye (go in peace)

    Usage

    A courteous farewell.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "with safety".

15. ليلة سعيدة

    līla saʿīda

    Good night

    Usage

    Said at night when parting or before bed.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "a happy night".

16. تصبح على خير

    tṣbaḥ ʿla khīr

    Good night

    Usage

    Said before sleeping; "tṣbaḥī ʿla khīr" to a woman, "tṣbaḥu ʿla khīr" to several people.

    Grammar Note

    Literally "may you wake up in goodness".

17. نهارك مبروك

    nhārek mbrūk

    Have a nice day

    Usage

    A set phrase when parting or leaving a shop.

    Grammar Note

    "mbrūk" also means congratulations.

18. هادي ساعة مبروكة ملي تلاقيت معاك

    hādī sāʿa mbrūka mlli tlāqīt mʿāk

    What a pleasure to meet you

    Usage

    Said when meeting someone for the first time; it is a set sentence.

    Grammar Note

    Roughly "this is a blessed moment since I met you".

19. ساعة سعيدة ملي شفناك

    sāʿa saʿīda mlli shefnāk

    It's good to see you

    Usage

    To someone you are meeting again.

    Grammar Note

    "shefnāk" is the past of "shāf" (see) with "you" attached.

20. ماكانهضرش الدارجة مزيان

    mā kānhḍer-sh d-dārija mizyān

    I don't speak Darija well

    Usage

    To tell locals you are not good at the language so that they speak slowly.

    Grammar Note

    Negation wraps the verb in "mā…sh". "d-dārija" is Moroccan colloquial Arabic. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

21. غادي نرجع

    ghādī nrjeʿ

    I'll come again

    Usage

    To say you will come back when leaving a shop or a guesthouse.

    Grammar Note

    The future is "ghādī" plus the first-person verb. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

22. دوزت وقت مزيان

    dewwezt waqt mizyān

    I had a great time

    Usage

    As a remark after hospitality or a trip.

    Grammar Note

    "dewwez waqt" means to spend time. Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

23. شكرا، نشوفك من بعد

    shukran, nshūfek mn baʿd

    Thanks, see you later

    Usage

    When you will meet again the same day.

    Grammar Note

    "nshūfek" is "I will see you". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

24. أنا غادي نمشي

    ana ghādī nmshī

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    When getting up to leave or heading out.

    Grammar Note

    "ghādī" plus a verb expresses a near future.

25. أنا رجعت

    ana rjeʿt

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said on returning.

    Grammar Note

    The past tense takes a personal ending (rjeʿt).

26. سمح ليا، خاصني نمشي

    smaḥ lia, khāṣṣni nmshī

    Excuse me, I need to get going

    Usage

    To leave a conversation or gathering politely.

    Grammar Note

    "khāṣṣni" plus a verb means "I must".

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