How to say “help!” in Moroccan Darija
To call for help in Moroccan Darija, say 'tqni!. Below are the phrases to call the police or an ambulance, to say you are sick and to ask for a doctor with khassni tbib, plus the emergency numbers.
Help!
'tqni!
عتقني!
Say it: a-TEQ-nee
Said by a man or a woman
Some Darija phrases change with the person who is speaking. Here the labels mark the speaker: the form a man uses and the form a woman uses about themselves.
Said by a man
I'm sick (said by a man)
ana mrid
أنا مريض
Say it: A-na MREED
Said by a woman
I'm sick (said by a woman)
ana mrida
أنا مريضة
Say it: A-na MREE-da
More ways to say it
(m) means said to a man, (f) means said to a woman.
| English | Darija | Arabic script | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Call the police! (m / f) | 'iyyet / 'iyyti l-l-bulis! | عيط / عيطي للبوليس! | AY-yet / ayy-TEE l-l-boo-LEES |
| Call an ambulance! (m / f) | 'iyyet / 'iyyti l-l-is'af! | عيط / عيطي للإسعاف! | AY-yet / ayy-TEE l-l-ees-AAF |
| I need a doctor | khassni tbib | خاصني طبيب | KHAS-nee TBEEB |
| Pharmacy | l-farmasyan | الفارماسيان | l-far-ma-SYAN |
| Hospital | s-sbitar | السبيطار | s-sbee-TAAR |
| I lost my passport | wddert l-paspor dyali | ودرت الپاسپور ديالي | wed-DERT l-pas-POR dya-LEE |
| My bag was stolen | tsreq liya s-sak | تسرق ليا الصاك | TSREQ LEE-ya s-SAK |
| Leave me alone, please | khellini 'afak | خليني عافاك | khel-LEE-nee AA-fak |
In a sentence
The same words in other everyday phrases:
| English | Darija | Arabic script | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| It hurts here | kayderrni hna | كيضرني هنا | kay-DERR-nee HNA |
| I have a headache | kayderrni rasi | كيضرني راسي | kay-DERR-nee RAA-see |
| I have a stomach ache | kayderrni kershi | كيضرني كرشي | kay-DERR-nee KER-shee |
In a real conversation
At the pharmacy
- Yousalam. kayderrni kershi.سلام. كيضرني كرشي.Hello. I have a stomach ache.
- Pharmacistmen imta?من إمتى؟Since when?
- Youmen l-bareh.من البارح.Since yesterday.
- Pharmacistkhud hada, tlata d-l-merrat f-n-nhar.خود هادا، تلاتة د المرات فالنهار.Take this, three times a day.
Good to know
- Emergency numbers in Morocco: police 19, ambulance & fire 15, gendarmerie (outside cities) 177.
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This phrase is on the printable Darija Flashcards and in the Darija Pocket Phrasebook.
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.