🇲🇦 Common Expressions in Darija for Traveling in Morocco

Traveling in Morocco becomes much easier, warmer, and more authentic when you can use a few words of Moroccan Darija.Whether you’re asking for directions, taking a taxi, booking a hotel, or ordering food, these expressions help you connect with people, not just places.

This post is made for travelers, expats, people visiting family, and anyone who wants to experience Morocco from the inside.

🧭 Basic Travel Vocabulary in Moroccan Darija :

Road : Triq (Tri9)
Street : Zanqa (Zan9a)
City : Mdina
Bus : Tobiss
Taxi : Taxi
Train : Tran
Airport : Matar
Ticket : Tiké (warqa / war9a)
Luggage : L-baliza
Hotel : Otel
Reservation : La Réservation

📍 Asking for Directions in Darija :

Where is the train station? : Fin Kayna L-ma7ata dyal tren? (L-ma7ata).
How do I get to the medina? : Kifash Namshi L-mdina? / M-nin Namchi L-mdina ?
Is it far from here? : Wash B3ida man Hna?
Turn right : Dour 3la L-yman.
Turn left : Dour 3la L-issar.
Go straight ahead : Sir Nishan / Sir Direct / Sir Goud.
I’m lost : Ana T-wadart / Ana Mab9itch 3a9el 3la Tri9.

These are lifesavers in cities like Marrakech, Fes, Tangier, where medinas feel like a maze.

🚕 Transportation-Related Expressions :

In a Taxi :

Take me to the airport please : D-ini L-matar, 3afak.
How much is it to the hotel? B-sh7al L-otel ?
Please use the meter : 3afak, dir L-kompteur.
I want a shared taxi : Bghit Taxi Mushtarak.

In a Bus or Train :

When is the next bus? : Imta Ghadi yji Tobiss Jay ?
Where does this bus go? : Fin Ghadi Had Tobiss?
One ticket to Casablanca : Tiké wahed L Casablanca
Is this seat free? : Wash Had L-blassa Khawya?

🏨 Booking & Staying in Accommodation :

I have a reservation : 3andi Reservasyon
I want to book a room : Bghit Bit / Bghit une chambre
For how many nights? : Ch7al man Lila ?
How much is it per night? : B-ch7al L-lila ?
Is breakfast included? : Wash L-ftour Dakhal ?
I want a single/double room : Bghit Chambre liya / Bghit chambre L-jouj dyal Nass.

🍽️ Eating Out – Restaurants & Cafés :

I’m hungry : Jani Jou3.
I would like to order : Bghit N-tleb.
What do you recommend? : Shno Kat-N-Sa7ni ?
No meat, please : Bla L7am, 3afak.
I’m allergic to… : 3andi L-7assasiya man…
The food is delicious! : L-makla Bnina!
Can I have the bill? 3tiini L-7ssab, 3afak.

🏥 Health & Emergencies :

I’m not feeling well : Kan7ass Braasi Mashi Labas / Makan7ess-sh B-rassi labas.
I need a doctor : Khassni T-bib.
Where is the nearest pharmacy? : Fin N-al9a L-saydaliyya Li 9riba? / Fine Nal9a Pharmcy Li 9rib ?
Call an ambulance : 3ayet L-ambulance.

🤝 Cultural Courtesy Expressions :

Thank you : Shukran.
You’re welcome : La Shukra 3ala wajib.
Please : 3afak.
Excuse me : Sma7 liya.
Yes : Ah.
No : La.
I don’t understand : Ma F-hemtch.
Do you speak English? : Kathdar B l'anglais / Kathdar B ingliziya ?

🧠 Practical Phrases in Context :

Ana Sa-i7, bghit Namshi L-mdina l-qdima : (I’m a tourist, I want to go to the old medina.)
Fin kayn taxi L-matar?: (Where is the taxi to the airport?).
Bghit tiké l-Marrakech 3afak : (I want a ticket to Marrakech, please.)

🔊 How to Read Darija (Pronunciation Guide) :

To make reading easier, Darija uses numbers to represent Arabic sounds:

3 → ع (deep sound from the throat)

7 → ح (strong breathy H)

9 → ق (hard Q sound)

2 → ء (glottal stop, short pause)

5 / kh → خ (like “ch” in Bach in German)

gh → غ (deep rolling sound)

ch / sh → ش (like “sh” in shoe)

👉 Don’t worry about perfection. Darija is about confidence, not accents.

💬 Want Personal Help?

If you want personal corrections, real-life practice, or full sentence building,I offer 1-on-1 Darija coaching.