Present-tense pattern with kteb
Kteb means to write. Present forms commonly use a person prefix; exact pronunciation may contract in fast speech.
| Darija Latin | Arabic script | Meaning | Usage note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana kankteb | أنا كنكتب | I write / I am writing | — |
| nta katkteb | نتا كتكتب | you write (one man) | — |
| nti katktebi | نتي كتكتبي | you write (one woman) | — |
| huwa kaykteb | هو كيكتب | he writes | — |
| hiya katkteb | هي كتكتب | she writes | — |
| 7na kanktebu | حنا كنكتبو | we write | — |
| huma kayktebu | هوما كيكتبو | they write | — |
Past-tense endings
| Darija Latin | Arabic script | Meaning | Usage note |
|---|---|---|---|
| ana ktebt | أنا كتبت | I wrote | — |
| nta ktebti | نتا كتبتي | you wrote (one man) | — |
| hiya ktbat | هي كتبات | she wrote | — |
| huwa kteb | هو كتب | he wrote | — |
| 7na ktebna | حنا كتبنا | we wrote | — |
| ntuma ktebtu | نتوما كتبتو | you wrote (plural) | — |
| huma ktebu | هوما كتبو | they wrote | — |
Future and commands
A common future pattern uses ghadi before a present-style verb. Commands use shorter forms and still distinguish singular, feminine, and plural.
| Darija Latin | Arabic script | Meaning | Usage note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghadi nkteb | غادي نكتب | I will write | — |
| Ghadi tkteb | غادي تكتب | you will write | — |
| Kteb! | كتب! | Write! (to one man) | — |
| Ktbi! | كتبي! | Write! (to one woman) | — |
| Ktebu! | كتبو! | Write! (to several people) | — |
- Irregular verbs such as ja, to come, need their own pattern.
- Practice one verb across several subjects before adding another tense.
- Regional speech may change vowels while preserving the main person markers.
Try it yourself
Read each Darija example aloud, then recall its meaning before opening the answer. Repeat without looking at the table above.
1. ana kankteb
أنا كنكتب
Show meaning and usage
I write / I am writing
2. nta katkteb
نتا كتكتب
Show meaning and usage
you write (one man)
3. nti katktebi
نتي كتكتبي
Show meaning and usage
you write (one woman)
Frequently asked questions
Does Darija have an infinitive?
Dictionaries usually cite a compact base form such as kteb. In real sentences, the verb is conjugated for person and tense.
How is the future formed in Moroccan Darija?
A common pattern places ghadi before a present-style conjugation, such as ghadi nkteb, I will write.
Are all Darija verbs regular?
No. This guide shows a productive regular pattern, but frequent verbs can change their stem or use irregular forms.
Continue with related Darija guides
Use the next guides to connect this topic with vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation, and real conversation.
Sources and editorial note
These references offer further reading on Moroccan Arabic. Their inclusion does not imply endorsement or individual review of this guide. Spelling and pronunciation vary by region and speaker.