LANGUAGE BASICS

Moroccan Darija Grammar: A Practical Introduction

You do not need to master every rule before speaking. Start with reusable patterns and replace one element at a time.

Reviewed learning guide

10 min read

Latin + Arabic script

Updated Jul 12, 2026

Useful sentence patterns

Darija LatinArabic scriptMeaningUsage note
Ana mn...أنا من...I am from...
3ndi...عندي...I have...
Bghit...بغيت...I want...
Kayn... / Kayna...كاين... / كاينة...There is... (masculine / feminine)
Fin kayn...?فين كاين...؟Where is...?
Wach...?واش...؟Introduces many yes/no questions

Negation with ma...sh

A common negative frame places ma before the verb or expression and sh after it. Spoken forms may contract.

Darija LatinArabic scriptMeaningUsage note
Ma fhemtshما فهمتشI didn't understand
Ma 3ndishما عنديشI don't have
Ma bghitshما بغيتشI don't want
Ma kaynshما كاينشThere is not / unavailable

Possession with dyal

Darija LatinArabic scriptMeaningUsage note
lktab dyaliالكتاب دياليmy book
telefon dyalkالتلفون ديالكyour phone
ddar dyalnaالدار ديالناour house

Continue with related Darija guides

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Sources and editorial note

This guide was prepared from established Moroccan Arabic learning references and checked for practical beginner use. Darija is a living spoken language, so spelling, vocabulary, and pronunciation can vary by region and speaker.

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