Douae Lkheire Loukili
Growing up in Morocco, an Arabic country located in the North of Africa that shares borders with Europe, one of the things I have always been proudest about is the capacity of Moroccans to easily learn languages.
Arabic and Berber are our only official languages and taught in public schools as our curriculums, and that definitely is not the most impressive thing when we compare it to countries like Switzerland, as most Moroccans can speak at least 3 languages fluently at a very young age. But how is that possible?
Firstly, you should know that even if all Arabic countries have one language in common, there are many dialects that are different based on each country. These variations are used on a daily basis to buy groceries, communicate with family and friends, or when watching TV. In Morocco, that dialect is Darija. That is considered to be the result of the influence of the French and Spanish settlers in history due to colonization and the exchange of cultures during the past centuries. Although Darija doesn’t have an official written form, a system was unofficially created in which the Roman alphabet is mixed with numbers that represent sounds that don’t exist in other languages.
These are French, which is also a native language of many Moroccans as a consequence of the many years of the French colonization, and Spanish, which is widely used in the north side of the country as it shares borders with Spain. Other than Darija, there are other unofficial dialects spoken in Morocco, such as the Rifiya in the Rif, and Chelha.
English is also gaining more importance in the modern world and the international market, and is starting to be introduced in the educational systems, business, and other sectors.
This seems chaotic, doesn’t it?
Our conversations may appear crazy to foreign people since we tend to mix all the languages we know when we speak or write, but it is very normal for us. As in, would you like to use Arabic, Darija, English, and French all in one sentence? No problem, we got you covered!
Now the million-dollar question is, what language should you learn if you come to Morocco?
Most tourists and immigrants start by learning French since it is said to be an easier language and it can be helpful in many situations. Learning Arabic simply to visit Morocco is not recommended as the best choice since it is only used in formal and official documents, and would not be considered as “street talk”. If you are highly interested in the culture, traditions, and creating everlasting connections with people, though, then you could add some Darija words to your vocabulary. Some simple examples are “Salam,” meaning hello, “Shukran,” which is thanks, and “bsh7el,” all of which are believed to be a “must-know” for tourists.
However, Moroccans are very welcoming people, so whichever language you speak, expect a warm welcome to our country! My tip is to not forget your negotiating skills if you are willing to do some shopping in the exotic souks located all around the country. Just a little magic and boom, the prices can go down up to 50 percent the original price!
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