Learn Darija in 7 days · Day 4 of 7
Day 4: Find your way
The medina is a maze. Today: ask where a place is, whether it is far, and understand left, right and straight on.
Today’s phrases
Underlined phrases have their own free page with more examples.
| English | Darija | Arabic script | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where is ...? | fin kayn ...? | فين كاين ...؟ | feen KAAYN |
| Where is the toilet? | fin kayna t-twalit? | فين كاينة الطواليت؟ | feen KAAY-na t-twa-LEET |
| Is it far? | wash b'id? | واش بعيد؟ | wash b-EED |
| Is it close? | wash qrib? | واش قريب؟ | wash QREEB |
| Go straight | nishan | نيشان | nee-SHAAN |
| Turn right | dur 'la limen | دور على ليمن | DOOR a-la lee-MEN |
| Turn left | dur 'la lisser | دور على ليسر | DOOR a-la lee-SER |
| I'm lost | tleft | تلفت | TLEFT |
Today’s pattern
Yes/no questions
- Start with wash to ask a yes/no question: wash b'id? (Is it far?) and wash qrib? (Is it close?).
- The answer leaves it out. In the conversation below the local says la, qrib. khamsa d-d-qayeq. (No, it's close. Five minutes.)
- fin? means Where? and starts the questions about places: fin kayn ...?, fin kayna t-twalit?.
- Turn right and turn left begin the same way: dur 'la limen / dur 'la lisser.
In a real conversation
Asking directions
- Yousmeh liya, fin kayn bab bujlud?سمح ليا، فين كاين باب بوجلود؟Excuse me, where is Bab Bou Jeloud?
- Localsir nishan, w dur 'la lisser.سير نيشان، ودور على ليسر.Go straight, then turn left.
- Youwash b'id?واش بعيد؟Is it far?
- Localla, qrib. khamsa d-d-qayeq.لا، قريب. خمسة د الدقايق.No, it's close. Five minutes.
- Youshukran!شكرا!Thank you!
Good to know
- In the medina, everyone will offer to guide you. A polite 'la, shukran' is enough.
Quick quiz
Say the Darija out loud first, then tap the phrase to check.
Where is ...?Show the Darija
fin kayn ...?
فين كاين ...؟
Say it: feen KAAYN
Turn rightShow the Darija
dur 'la limen
دور على ليمن
Say it: DOOR a-la lee-MEN
I'm lostShow the Darija
tleft
تلفت
Say it: TLEFT
Where is the toilet?Show the Darija
fin kayna t-twalit?
فين كاينة الطواليت؟
Say it: feen KAAY-na t-twa-LEET
Go straightShow the Darija
nishan
نيشان
Say it: nee-SHAAN
Is it far?Show the Darija
wash b'id?
واش بعيد؟
Say it: wash b-EED
Is it close?Show the Darija
wash qrib?
واش قريب؟
Say it: wash QREEB
Turn leftShow the Darija
dur 'la lisser
دور على ليسر
Say it: DOOR a-la lee-SER
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.