Travelling to Morocco? Maybe its time for some basic Berber – Tamazight Travel Phrases!
If you have already been to Morocco, then you know that French, although not being official language of Morocco, will get you a long way in communication with locals. If you have some knowledge of Arabic, even better. Those dependent on English language will notice that English is emerging in Morocco, specially in urban areas, yet you might still have problems when it comes to communication.
Although Berber Tamazight is not a mandatory language to grab on for Morocco trip, maybe some basic, basic words will come handy, special when travelling Atlas region and Sahara.
Tamazight Language
Berber language also known as Tamazight has different varieties of languages spoken in Morocco and some parts of Northern Africa.
The varieties of Berber languages include Tarifit spoken in northern Morocco region of Rif, Tashelhiyt spoken in the south, and some part of south west which includes High Atlas, Anti Atlas, and it also spoken in regions outside of High Atlas. Tamazight is also spoken in central Morocco. All in all, according to statistics, Tanazight is spoken by 20 to 25 million people.
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The Berber languages have had a written tradition for over 2,000 years, they are written in the Tifinagh alphabet,the oldest dated inscription is from about 200 BC.
So below are few phrases that were translated by original Berber!
Berber Tamazight Greetings
- Hi/ Hello: azul
- How are you? : mataànit ?
- I am great! : labas
- Good morning : sbah Lkhir
- Good afternoon: ms lkhir
- Good evening :ms lkhir
- Good night : temsiwin
- Good bye: layàwn
- See you later : ar netmezra
- Yes : ah
- No : oho
- Maybe : imken
- I dont know : our ain’t
- My name is…. : manismank
- I come from Usa, uk : nkin sg USA U.K.
- Thank you! : tanmert, Saha
- You are welcome: mrehba
Numbers
- 0 sifr
- 1 wahd
- 2 jouj
- 3 tlata
- 4 rebaà
- 5 khemsa
- 6 seta
- 7seb3a
- 8 tmanya
- 9 tesaà
- 10 àachra
&
- 11 hdaàch
- 12 tnaàch
- 13 tletaàch
- 14 rbaàtaàch
- 15 khemastaàch
- 16 staàch
- 17 sbaàtach
- 18 tmentaàch
- 19 tsaàtach
- 20 aàchrin
- 30 tlatin
- 40 rabàin
- 50 Khersin
- 60 stin
- 70 Sebàin
- 80 tmanyin
- 90 tesàin
- 100 meya
Drinks, Food and Moroccan Dishes
- Coffee (with sugar / milk): lqehwa (nes nes / slehlib )
- Tea (without sugar) : atag bla sukar
- Orange juice : laàsir n limoun
- Avocado juice : laàsir n lavoca
- Olives : zitoun
- Water : Amanda
- Vegetable tagine : tagin s lekhdart
- Beef tagine: tagin slbagri
- Chicken tagine : tagin soufoulous
- Bread : aghroum
- Omelette: reflate
- Dinner: Imenssi
- Breakfast: leftour
- Lunch: inklli
- Moroccan salad : chalada
- Other Moroccan dishes: àfak kan lamakla Yasmin n marroc, Tgalya, Seksou
- Ahrir : soup
- Cheers! : besha ,stsant
- Spices: laàtrya
- Cinnamon : lqerfa
- Saffron : zaàfran
- Cumin : takamimt
- Salt : tesant
- Sugar : Sukar
Shopping
- How much is it? Mechta
- Its too expensive! Ighla bezaf
- Can I get a discount? Imkan atnaqst
- Deal! : Netafq
- How much is this carpet: chehal taxrbit
- leather shoes: idoukan ifsousn
- bag : sack
- scarf: zif
Also read:
Days of the week
- Saturday : sbit
- Sunday: lhed
- Monday : Letnin
- Tuesday : tllati
- Wednesday: latbeà
- Thursday : lekhmis
- Friday : jemaà
- Tomorrow : asks
- Today : adder
- Yesterday: asnat
Travel
- Bus : lcar
- Taxi : taxi
- Grand taxi station : taxi takhatart
- Bus station : lmahta nlkiran
- Desert : Sehrra
- i got lost. : Zlir
- Canyon : Agni
- Gorge: taghya
- Road : abrid
Compliments
- You are beautiful.: tehlit
- I like you. Tehlit ghori
- I love you. Righk
Translations provided by Ilias,Mountain Bereber Guide.
I love this post! Thanks for sharing!
Great post! Tanmirt for sharing
Hi Nina,
I would love to chat to you about Morocco and your experiences. Pls email me ☺️
Hi Chels, thanks for stopping by. I wish i could, but I am very busy and really dont have time atm, If you are looking latest experiences from Morocco from this year, i saw many fellow travel bloggers publishing online tones of material on just about every destination in Morocco.