Basic Nouns

1. الما

   l-mā

   Water

   Usage

   To ask for drinking water. The bare word "mā" also means "not", so it is used with the article.

   Grammar Note

   Spelled without the hamza of Standard Arabic "māʾ".

2. الماكلة

   l-mākla

   Food

   Usage

   Covers food in general.

   Grammar Note

   The everyday word for food is "l-mākla"; Standard Arabic "ṭaʿām" mostly means couscous in Darija.

3. الفلوس

   l-flūs

   Money

   Usage

   Money in general; the currency is the "dirham".

   Grammar Note

   Plural in form, used like a singular.

4. بيت الما

   bīt l-mā

   Toilet

   Usage

   Literally "water room". "Ḥammām" means bath or hammam, not toilet.

   Grammar Note

   Two nouns side by side form a genitive construction.

5. منديل ديال الورق

   mndīl dyāl l-wraq

   Tissue

   Usage

   Literally "handkerchief of paper".

   Grammar Note

   "Dyāl" links two nouns and means "of". Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar.

6. الدوا

   d-dwā

   Medicine

   Usage

   The basic word at a pharmacy.

   Grammar Note

   Standard Arabic "dawāʾ" without the hamza.

7. الباڭاج

   l-bagāj

   Luggage

   Usage

   From French "bagage". A suitcase is "l-balīza".

   Grammar Note

   The letter ڭ is /g/; spelling varies between sources.

8. الساروت

   s-sārūt

   Key

   Usage

   For a hotel room key. The Standard Arabic word "miftāḥ" is a different word.

   Grammar Note

   The plural is "swārit".

9. التيكي

   t-tīkī

   Ticket

   Usage

   Used for bus or tram tickets.

   Grammar Note

   From "ticket"; it can also mean a receipt.

10. الباسبور

    l-bāsbūr

    Passport

    Usage

    At hotel check-in and at borders.

    Grammar Note

    From French "passeport".

11. التيليفون

    t-tīlīfūn

    Phone

    Usage

    Both mobile and fixed phones.

    Grammar Note

    From French "téléphone".

12. الشارجور

    sh-shārjūr

    Charger

    Usage

    When buying or borrowing one.

    Grammar Note

    From French "chargeur".

13. المحطة

    l-maḥaṭṭa

    Station

    Usage

    Covers train, bus and taxi stations.

    Grammar Note

    Add "dyāl …" to specify the type.

14. السبيطار

    s-sbīṭār

    Hospital

    Usage

    "S-sbīṭār" is understood everywhere.

    Grammar Note

    From Spanish "hospital".

15. البوليس

    l-bulīs

    Police

    Usage

    Both the police and a police officer.

    Grammar Note

    From "police".

16. الحانوت

    l-ḥānūt

    Shop

    Usage

    A small independent shop.

    Grammar Note

    The word for a small shop.

17. البيت

    l-bīt

    Room

    Usage

    A room in a hotel or a house.

    Grammar Note

    The plural is "byūt".

18. الطريق

    ṭ-ṭrīq

    Road

    Usage

    The basic word when asking for directions.

    Grammar Note

    With "f-" in front it means "on the road".

19. العائلة

    l-ʿāʾila

    Family

    Usage

    Talking about family is a good icebreaker.

    Grammar Note

    Same spelling as in Standard Arabic.

20. السمية

    s-smiya

    Name

    Usage

    "Smītī" means "my name".

    Grammar Note

    Standard Arabic "ism" is a different word; "smiya" is the Darija one.

21. الراس

    r-rās

    Head

    Usage

    To describe a headache etc.

    Grammar Note

    Written without the hamza of Standard Arabic "raʾs".

22. العين

    l-ʿayn

    Eye

    Usage

    To describe an eye problem.

    Grammar Note

    It can also mean a spring.

23. السنان

    s-snān

    Teeth

    Usage

    To describe a tooth problem.

    Grammar Note

    One tooth is "sinna".

24. القرجوطة

    l-qarjūṭa

    Throat

    Usage

    To describe a sore throat.

    Grammar Note

    A different word from Standard Arabic "ḥalq".

25. الكرش

    l-kersh

    Stomach, belly

    Usage

    For stomach ache; it can also mean a big belly.

    Grammar Note

    The medical "stomach" is "l-maʿda".

26. الضهر

    ḍ-ḍhar

    Back

    Usage

    To describe back pain.

    Grammar Note

    Spelled with ض where Standard Arabic has ظ.

27. الرجل

    r-rjel

    Foot

    Usage

    "R-rjel" can mean the whole leg as well as the foot.

    Grammar Note

    The word does not distinguish foot from leg.

28. اليد

    l-yedd

    Hand

    Usage

    To describe a hand injury.

    Grammar Note

    The arm is "d-drāʿ".

29. الصدر

    ṣ-ṣdar

    Chest

    Usage

    To describe chest pain.

    Grammar Note

    The same word as in Standard Arabic.

30. الأوطيل

    l-oṭīl

    Hotel

    Usage

    Handy for telling a taxi driver where to go.

    Grammar Note

    From French "hôtel"; spelling varies.

31. المطار

    l-maṭār

    Airport

    Usage

    In a taxi say "l-l-maṭār" (to the airport).

    Grammar Note

    The same word as in Standard Arabic.

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