Learn Darija in 7 days · Day 2 of 7
Day 2: Please, thank you and sorry
Polite words open doors in Morocco, from the taxi to the souk. Today: please, thank you, sorry and a polite no.
Today’s phrases
Underlined phrases have their own free page with more examples.
| English | Darija | Arabic script | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Please (m) | 'afak | عافاك | AA-fak |
| Please (f) | 'afaki | عافاكي | AA-fa-kee |
| Thank you | shukran | شكرا | SHOO-kran |
| Thank you very much | shukran bezzaf | شكرا بزاف | SHOO-kran bez-ZAAF |
| You're welcome | bla jmil | بلا جميل | bla JMEEL |
| Excuse me / sorry (m) | smeh liya | سمح ليا | SMEH LEE-ya |
| Excuse me / sorry (f) | smhi liya | سمحي ليا | sm-HEE LEE-ya |
| No thank you | la, shukran | لا، شكرا | la, SHOO-kran |
Today’s pattern
Where please goes
- Please and sorry also change for a man or a woman: 'afak / 'afaki and smeh liya / smhi liya.
- In these requests please comes last, even when English puts it first: l-l-matar 'afak (To the airport, please) and shghel l-kontur 'afak (Please use the meter).
- la, shukran is simply la followed by shukran.
- shukran bezzaf is shukran plus bezzaf, a word you will hear everywhere: a lot, very.
In a real conversation
Taking a petit taxi
- Youl-l-mdina l-qdima 'afak.للمدينة القديمة عافاك.To the medina, please.
- Driverkhamsin derhem.خمسين درهم.Fifty dirhams.
- Youshghel l-kontur 'afak.شغل الكونتور عافاك.Please use the meter.
- Driverwakha.واخا.Okay.
- Youwqef hna 'afak. bshhal?وقف هنا عافاك. بشحال؟Stop here, please. How much?
Good to know
- A few polite words make bargaining and asking for help much easier.
Quick quiz
Say the Darija out loud first, then tap the phrase to check.
Thank you very muchShow the Darija
shukran bezzaf
شكرا بزاف
Say it: SHOO-kran bez-ZAAF
No thank youShow the Darija
la, shukran
لا، شكرا
Say it: la, SHOO-kran
Please (m)Show the Darija
'afak
عافاك
Say it: AA-fak
Please (f)Show the Darija
'afaki
عافاكي
Say it: AA-fa-kee
Excuse me / sorry (f)Show the Darija
smhi liya
سمحي ليا
Say it: sm-HEE LEE-ya
Excuse me / sorry (m)Show the Darija
smeh liya
سمح ليا
Say it: SMEH LEE-ya
You're welcomeShow the Darija
bla jmil
بلا جميل
Say it: bla JMEEL
Thank youShow the Darija
shukran
شكرا
Say it: SHOO-kran
Free finder, flashcards or the book?
Free phrase finder
Free, on this site
- 66 searchable phrases
- 20 free phrase pages with examples
- Latin letters, Arabic script and a “say it” guide
Darija Flashcards
$6, printable PDF
- 175 phrases on cards
- US Letter and A4
- Arabic script and the pronunciation guide on every card
Darija Pocket Phrasebook
$9.99, paperback on Amazon
- 305 phrases in 26 topics
- 6 real-life dialogues
- 131-word mini-dictionary
- Pronunciation guide, 5 x 8 in. pocket size
Take the phrases with you: the printable flashcards help you review, and the pocket phrasebook has every phrase in this course plus the six conversations.
Every phrase in this course comes from the word list of our Darija Pocket Phrasebook, which was checked in two separate passes: one for meaning, one for spelling.
How to read this page: in the "say it" guide, CAPITALS = stressed syllable. In the Darija spelling, ' = ع (a tight throat sound; just pause if you can't). Arabic script: spelling varies; this is common usage. (m) means said to a man, (f) means said to a woman.