Darija for everyday situations
Moroccan Darija at a hotel or riad: check in and ask for help
Darija hotel phrases and Moroccan Arabic accommodation vocabulary: checking in at a riad, breakfast times, wifi, towels, hot water and checkout, with polite alternatives and a short dialogue.
Short answer
To check in using Darija, say 3endi réservation, smiti… (I have a reservation, my name is…). Ask wash l-ftur dakhel? (is breakfast included?) and shnu huwa l-code dyal l-wifi? (what’s the wifi code?). For requests, mumkin…? (could you…?) sounds softer than a direct 3tini (give me): mumkin tjib liya fouta okhra? (could you bring me another towel?).
Short dialogue: checking in at a riad
A riad is a traditional house built around a courtyard, often run as a guesthouse.
| Speaker | Darija | English |
|---|---|---|
| Staff | Mrehba bikom f r-riyad.مرحبا بيكم فالرياض. | Welcome to the riad. |
| You | L-lah ybarek fik. 3endi réservation, smiti Sarah.الله يبارك فيك. عندي ريزيرفاسيون، سميتي سارة. | Thank you. I have a reservation, my name is Sarah. |
| Staff | Mzyan. 3tini l-paspor, 3afak.مزيان. عطيني الباسبور عفاك. | Good. Your passport, please. |
| You | Hak. Wash l-ftur dakhel?هاك. واش الفطور داخل؟ | Here you are. Is breakfast included? |
| Staff | Ah, mn t-tmenya 7tta l-3ashra.آه، من الثمنية حتى العشرة. | Yes, from eight to ten. |
| You | W shnu huwa l-code dyal l-wifi?وشنو هو الكود ديال الويفي؟ | And what’s the wifi code? |
| Staff | Ha huwa mktub hna.ها هو مكتوب هنا. | It’s written here. |
Key hotel vocabulary
Darija has no single official Latin spelling. Here, 3 stands for ع (a tight sound from the throat), 7 for ح (a breathy h), gh for غ (like a French r), kh for خ (like Scottish loch) and q for ق (a k pronounced further back). Pronunciation varies by city and speaker.
| English | Darija |
|---|---|
| Room | l-bit — البيت |
| Key | s-sarut — الساروت |
| Towel | l-fouta — الفوطة |
| Rooftop terrace | s-sta7 — السطح |
| The hot water isn’t working | l-ma s-skhun ma khddamsh — الما السخون ما خدامش |
| Can I leave my bags here? | wash nqder nkhlli l-valizat dyali hna? — واش نقدر نخلي الفاليزات ديالي هنا؟ |
| What time do I need to check out? | f wqtash khassni nkhwi l-bit? — فوقتاش خاصني نخوي البيت؟ |
Polite alternatives for requests
The same request can sound direct or soft. Both are understood; the softer forms suit guesthouse staff and anyone you don’t know.
| Request | Direct | Softer |
|---|---|---|
| Another towel | 3tini fouta okhra — عطيني فوطة أخرى | mumkin tjib liya fouta okhra? — ممكن تجيب ليا فوطة أخرى؟ |
| Help with bags | 3awni f l-valizat — عاوني فالفاليزات | ila ma kan mushkil, t3awni? — إلا ما كان مشكل، تعاوني؟ |
| A taxi | 3iyet liya 3la taxi — عيط ليا على طاكسي | mumkin t3iyet liya 3la taxi, 3afak? — ممكن تعيط ليا على طاكسي عفاك؟ |
Pronunciation notes
- Sarut (key) has an emphatic s: say it with the tongue low and the mouth slightly rounded.
- Skhun (hot) starts with s + kh and no vowel between them: “skhoon”.
- Many accommodation words come from French — réservation, valiza, code — and are pronounced the Moroccan way.
Riads, hotels and language
Reception staff in tourist areas usually speak French and often English, so you can always switch language. Using Darija for greetings, thanks and small requests is appreciated, especially with staff who look after you during your stay.
Add ila ma kan mushkil (if it’s no trouble) or 3afak to any request, and thank staff with l-lah y3tik s-se77a.
Your next step
Combine this guide with the airport and taxi guides to prepare a full arrival. Lisanova Academy teaches Moroccan Darija online from Morocco, in private 60-minute video lessons with Moroccan teachers who can role-play this situation with you and correct your pronunciation live. The first trial lesson is free; one private hour is $20, and private packages are 8 hours $120, 12 hours $170 and 16 hours $200. Darija group classes are 2 one-hour classes per week, maximum 4 learners, $50 per month.
Lessons can be explained in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese or Arabic, depending on the teacher; not every teacher speaks every one of these languages.
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Related guides
- Moroccan Darija at the airport: phrases for arrival
- Moroccan Darija at cafés and restaurants: how to order food
- Polite expressions in Moroccan Darija: how to sound respectful
See also Modern Standard Arabic lessons, Moroccan Arabic lessons, group Darija classes and pricing.
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