How to say “please” in Moroccan Darija
In Moroccan Darija, please changes with the person you speak to: say 'afak to a man and 'afaki to a woman. In the examples below it comes at the end of the sentence: asking for the menu, a table or the bill, and telling a taxi driver where to go.
(m) means said to a man, (f) means said to a woman.
To a man
Please (m)
'afak
عافاك
Say it: AA-fak
To a woman
Please (f)
'afaki
عافاكي
Say it: AA-fa-kee
More ways to say it
| English | Darija | Arabic script | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| The menu, please | l-menu 'afak | المنيو عافاك | l-me-NOO AA-fak |
| A table for two, please | tabla l-juj 'afak | طابلة لجوج عافاك | TAB-la l-JOOJ AA-fak |
| The bill, please | l-hsab 'afak | الحساب عافاك | l-HSAAB AA-fak |
| To the airport, please | l-l-matar 'afak | للمطار عافاك | l-l-ma-TAAR AA-fak |
| Please use the meter | shghel l-kontur 'afak | شغل الكونتور عافاك | SHGHEL l-kon-TOOR AA-fak |
In a sentence
The same words in other everyday phrases:
| English | Darija | Arabic script | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| Speak slowly, please | hder b-shwiya 'afak | هضر بشوية عافاك | HDER b-SHWEE-ya AA-fak |
| Say it again, please | 'awed 'afak | عاود عافاك | AA-wed AA-fak |
| Can you lower the price? | nqes shwiya 'afak | نقص شوية عافاك | NQES SHWEE-ya AA-fak |
| Give me a receipt, please | 'tini l-fatura 'afak | عطيني الفاتورة عافاك | a-TEE-nee l-fa-TOO-ra AA-fak |
| Slowly, please | b-shwiya 'afak | بشوية عافاك | b-SHWEE-ya AA-fak |
| One ticket to Fes, please | wahed l-biyyi l-fas 'afak | واحد البيي لفاس عافاك | WAA-hed l-bee-YEE l-FAAS AA-fak |
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.
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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.