Darija for everyday situations
Moroccan Darija at a pharmacy or clinic: explain a simple need
Darija pharmacy phrases and Moroccan Arabic health vocabulary for language learners: saying what hurts, since when, allergies and appointments. Language learning only, not medical advice.
Short answer
To explain a simple need at a Moroccan pharmacy, say what hurts with … kayderrni (… hurts me): rassi kayderrni (my head hurts). Say since when with mn l-bare7 (since yesterday), and mention allergies with 3endi l-7assasiya mn… (I’m allergic to…). This guide is language practice only; for anything serious, contact a doctor or the local emergency services.
Short dialogue: at the pharmacy
A simple exchange for a mild headache. It is a language example, not health advice.
| Speaker | Darija | English |
|---|---|---|
| Pharmacist | Salam, shnu khassek?سلام، شنو خاصك؟ | Hello, what do you need? |
| You | Rassi kayderrni.راسي كيضرني. | My head hurts. |
| Pharmacist | Mn imta?من إمتى؟ | Since when? |
| You | Mn l-bare7.من البارح. | Since yesterday. |
| Pharmacist | Wash 3endek l-7assasiya mn shi dwa?واش عندك الحساسية من شي دوا؟ | Are you allergic to any medicine? |
| You | La, walu.لا، والو. | No, none. |
| Pharmacist | Hak. Qra t-tarika 3la l-bwata.هاك. قرا الطريقة على البواطة. | Here you are. Read the instructions on the box. |
Key health 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 |
|---|---|
| My stomach hurts | kershi katderrni — كرشي كتضرني |
| Fever | s-skhana — السخانة |
| Cough | l-k7ba — الكحبة |
| I’m allergic to… | 3endi l-7assasiya mn… — عندي الحساسية من… |
| Medicine | d-dwa — الدوا |
| Doctor (m / f) | t-tbib / t-tbiba — الطبيب / الطبيبة |
| I’d like an appointment | bghit rendez-vous — بغيت رونديفو |
| Prescription | l-ordonnance — لوردونونس |
Pronunciation notes
- Kayderrni (it hurts me) has an emphatic d and a doubled r: “kay-DERR-ni”. For a feminine noun such as kersh (stomach) it becomes katderrni.
- L-bare7 (yesterday) ends in a breathy 7: “l-BA-re7”.
- Doctors and pharmacists often use French medical terms, so words like ordonnance and rendez-vous are said as in French.
Language, not medical advice
Moroccan pharmacists are often the first people locals ask about minor problems, and in larger towns a duty pharmacy (pharmacie de garde) stays open at night on a rota. Many health professionals speak French, and medical vocabulary is usually French even inside a Darija conversation.
This page teaches language only. It does not recommend any treatment. In an emergency, call the official emergency number or go to the nearest hospital, and use whichever language gets help fastest.
Your next step
A teacher can help you prepare the words for your own situation, such as a long-term condition or a child’s needs, so you can explain them calmly. 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
- Polite expressions in Moroccan Darija: how to sound respectful
- How to ask directions in Moroccan Darija
- Darija lessons for foreigners living in Morocco
See also Modern Standard Arabic lessons, Moroccan Arabic lessons, group Darija classes and pricing.
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