Marrakech is an anomaly in Morocco. It forms the basis of every successful conversation and the first four phrases will help you when embarking on a journey to learn the language! Moroccans speak a Darija dialect. The riad has a unique-for-Marrakech vegan restaurant, which is situated on the bright pink roof terrace. Strictly speaking, Darija is a dialect. Itâs true to say that the language of Morocco is a somewhat complicated matter. Answer 1 of 5: I assume the locals speak a form of Arabic, which I have no knowledge of. – Basic Arabic Hello: Marhaba Moroccoâs ethnic diversity is reflected in the wide variety of languages that people speak. Berbers remain the largest ethnic group in the whole of Morocco and in Marrakech the main language spoken is Arabic. Also, the communities where these are spoken are even smaller than those where people speak Darija. Although Arabic is a language spoken by hundreds of millions of people in North Africa, the Middle East, and the Arabian Peninsula, the Arabic spoken in Morocco, called darija, is different than in other Arabic speaking countries.When traveling to Morocco bringing along an English/ French - Arabic dictionary will make your Morocco Travel experience more enjoyable. Arabic is spoken by about 90% of all Moroccans. There are three main Berber dialects that dominate in Morocco and these differ fundamentally from the Arabic language: Tarifit is spoken in the North, Tamazight in the centre of the country and Taschelhit in the South. I know a little French, will most locals know French as well? A phrase book for phrases and common terms. This differs significantly from modern standard Arabic and doesn’t have an awful lot in common ground with the various indigenous Berber languages. This catchy music video is a good introduction and also a bit of fun. Languages of Morocco Morocco’s official spoken language is Moroccan Arabic, which is slightly different from other forms of Arabic. Even in Egypt, the sentences you’ve spent so long trying to learn won’t be much use to you. Most Moroccans consider any Berber dialect to be inferior to Arabic and French, and so it rarely gets used outside of Berber-speaking communities and is never used for documenting anything in writing. Since the colonial period, French has been an official major language of Morocco and is taught in schools. Moroccans are considered to be rather talented when it comes to languages and are also extremely quick to learn. Although Morocco is at a short distance from Europe, its healthcare system is very different to the old continents’. Moroccans speak a mixture of Arabic, Berber, English, and French. In conclusion, these apps aren’t really good enough to get to grips with the basics of the language. The first time Europeans hear Arabic, it can sound rather strange and fairly complex. Aside from this, the chances of German helping you in Morocco are pretty slim. The language spoken in Johannesburg is Swahili. German won’t really be much use to you in Morocco either. MaroWeltShow has published several short lessons in Darija and is one of the best channels on Youtube. How can you travel from Marrakesh to Casablanca? Can unmarried couples share a hotel room in Morocco? French is the country's primary language of economics, culture, commerce, medicine, and sciences and it is used in government and schools as well. A quick google of “English Teaching Jobs in Marrakech” will prove my point. Nevertheless, thanks to its varied historical influences, part of the population also speaks French. Arabic is one of the official languages of Morocco. For example, saying sorry in the national language, interjecting with a ‘no problem’ at the right time, simply giving the appropriate response or saying ‘thank you’ will all bring a smile to most people’s faces. I know a little French, will most locals know French as well? Your email address will not be published. Many Moroccans also appreciate their foreign guests taking an interest in their way of life and trying to understand their culture, approaching it respectfully. It functions as the language of government, diplomacy and business. Moroccan Colloquial Arabic (Darija) is the dialect of Arabic spoken in daily life across Morocco. Arabic is the official major language in Morocco and around 90% of all Moroccans speak it. So, to answer the question ‘What language do they speak in Morocco’, you really need to ask a follow-up question. You can also learn Darija on YouTube. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a0d0891a4b773dd73df7395d5f8c73e8" );document.getElementById("i55ced1436").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Book a convenient airport transfer easily online and read about my experiences with Getyourguide, Before going on your holiday to Morocco: Learning the languages. Arabic isn’t a particularly easy language to learn due to its unusual lettering and alien phonetics. The Anima Garden: A Trip to the “Island of the Blessed”. If you are not sure which variety would suit you better, contact us and we will be happy to assist you! Having said that, you’ll find that most hotel and establishment staff, tour guides, drivers and waiters have good basic English skills. The Arabs speak Arabic but not the same Arabic that youâll hear in Syria, for example. One of the two official languages of Morocco, Arabic is spoken by 80 to 90% of Moroccans, including many Berber speakers. Answer 1 of 3: Hello everyone I am a postgraduate student from the US studying in London and I was thinking of going to Marrakech for a few days but I wanted to knwo what kind of language barrier to expect. Doubles from €95 (£82). Moreover, English is quickly replacing French as the country’s second language. The Berber tongue remains significant and is still spoken within the country. Nowadays, you can also find this … Official Languages Spoken In Morocco Arabic . Darija is just a part of the innovative way that most Arabic languages have evolved, borrowing words from the Berber languages and snippets from French. It’s also helpful to have a smattering of Darjia. However, it’s a different story in rural or remote areas. Unfortunately, the quality of teaching doesn’t really compare to a true language course. Nevertheless, it’s an excellent idea to learn a couple of phrases of Darija and use these when you’re in Morocco. Between 60% and 80% of Morocco's population is Berber speakers. Learn the numbers from 1 to 1000, as well as phrases for directions and times and a few verbs and nouns to help you on your travels. Today, they’re known as Amazigh. However, Berber speakers canât always communicate effectively if they speak different Berber dialects. In terms of menus at restaurants, will most of these be in French, or English as well? In the Dar Si Said Museum, there are some information signs in English (photo: Riads Marrakech). Most helpful is the audio that accompanies every word and sentence to help you with pronunciation. And many private language schools offer work for teachers of English as a foreign language within the city of Marrakech. The language uses different characters to the Roman alphabet used by most European languages. The Berber languages are difficult for Europeans to grasp. However, in terms of giving you a little learning support and despite a lack of audio examples, you may find them helpful. Moroccan official languages, are Arabic and Amazigh or Berber and the most important one in studies is Arabic which represents the administrative language of the country and Amazigh is teached in some primary schools.. There are three main Berber dialects, Tamazight Tarifit in the north, Tamazight in central Atlas and Tashelhit in the south. France and Spain controlled Morocco in the early 1900s, and though Morocco gained independence in 1956, French remains widely spoken by Moroccans of all ages throughout much of the country. We ended up travelling with just him, my husband and me. However, standard Arabic will still help you on business. The table below has some useful Darija expressions and phrases, giving you an introduction to the language of Morocco. Also, you’ll set yourself apart from most other tourists if you make the effort. Strictly speaking, Darija is a dialect. Today, it’s by far the most common European foreign language in Morocco. We went from Marrakech to Ait Ben Haddou, to the Todras, Atlas Mountains, several Oasis and obviously to the Sahara desert. Your email address will not be published. November 22, 2018 Travelguide Marrakech. what language is spoken in morocco. This special form of the language is quite different from standard modern Arabic, which is commonly used in formal, government and administrative dealings. Tashelheit is widely spoken around the Marrakech area, in fact in my neighborhood, knowing a few words in Tashelheit will go further than French. Also, the pronunciation takes a little getting used to. Unfortunately, what’s missing is a good introduction and there’s no audio support to help you with your learning. French is taught in schools from an early age and has become the unofficial second language, however English is only understood in the areas with lots of tourists. Without a doubt, when travelling in Morocco, French is the language of choice. Even attempting to speak Arabic is a very positive gesture. To this day, approximately 40% of all Moroccans speak these dialects. It’s easy to see what’s on offer and there are a few useful sites like loecsen.com, which gives you numerous phrases to learn, grouped according to different themes. Most noteworthy is that writing in Arabic can be difficult. Other Berber languages spoken in Morocco are Tamashek (Tuareg), Senhaja de Srair (in the Rif mountains), Ghomara (Northern Morocco) and the rare Judeo Berber language (in Israel). So, your follow-up question would be: ‘Which Moroccans are you referring to?’. You should bear in mind that Spanish is no way near as common as French and there’s really no comparison between the popularity of these two languages in Morocco. These languages were once outlawed but were made official again in the Moroccan constitution in 2001. Essentially, these are free and the smattering of words and phrases are grouped by themes. Oct 7, 2019 - What language do they speak in Morocco? For Android and iOS devices, you can download a couple of apps that will help you to learn Darija. Having said that, in northern Morocco and the coastal areas, Spanish will help you, as it will in the souks of the big cities or on organised tours. In terms of menus at restaurants, will most of these be in French, or English as well? You should also be aware that English isnât spoken as often in Morocco as in other countries. Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Official Languages in Morocco. There are three variants of the Arabic language used in the country: the Moroccan Darija Arabic, Standard Arabic, and Classical Arabic. You’ll get along pretty well with French in the cities, as well as in the larger outlying communities. Find out about the various types of insurances before your trip. Answer 1 of 5: I assume the locals speak a form of Arabic, which I have no knowledge of. You can find out about this and more in our overview of the language of Morocco. Answer 1 of 12: We'll be travelling soon to Marrakech, along with some time in the mountains and Ouarzazate. You’ll even come across different forms of Darija within Morocco. However, the videos are still quite good and give you the chance to listen to native speakers and get a feel for pronunciation. However, with a little practice and a good ear, youâll be able to learn the Arabic language. what language is spoken in morocco. Classical Arabic may be the official language of Morocco, but French is pretty common too, so much so that its the city’s main unofficial language, spoken by seemingly every merchant, taxi driver and kid in Marrakech. Moroccan Arabic – This is the official language of Morocco. : Riads Marrakech ) a first foreign language within the country ’ s spoken. Phrase into a conversation can be difficult, when travelling in Morocco ll set yourself apart from most other if. 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