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Module 1 · Greetings and introductions

Lesson 9 · Beginner · 4 min

3afak, chokran: everyday politeness

Apologising, asking a favour, saying thank you and replying to thanks.

  • Unreviewed: this lesson’s Darija and translations have not yet been checked by a native speaker.

In this lesson

  • Apologise politely
  • Ask for a favour with “3afak” and “t9der…?”
  • Thank people in several ways and reply

Moroccans often say thank you with blessings: “lah y7fdek”, “lah ykhallik”. Knowing them makes every exchange warmer.

No audio for this lesson yet

This lesson hasn’t been recorded yet, and we won’t fake it with a made-up voice. Read the dialogue out loud with the help of the transliteration key.

Dialogue

  1. TravellerSme7 lia! Ma choftekch.Sorry! I didn’t see you.
  2. Passer-byMa kayn bas, ma kayn mochkil.No harm done, no problem.
  3. Traveller3afak, t9der tsewwerni?Excuse me, could you take my photo?
  4. Passer-byMr7ba! 3tini ttilifoun.Sure! Give me the phone.
  5. Passer-byHak, chouf wach zwina.Here, see if it’s good.
  6. TravellerZwina bzzaf! Chokran, lah y7fdek.It’s lovely! Thank you so much.
  7. Passer-byBla jmil. Mr7ba bik f lMeghrib.You’re welcome. Welcome to Morocco.
  8. TravellerLah ykhallik!That’s very kind!
How to read the transliteration

Darija is written here in Latin letters, the way many Moroccans text. A few symbols stand for sounds English, French and Swedish don't have:

3
a tight sound from the throat (Arabic ع)
7
a breathy h, stronger than English h (ح)
9
a k made deep in the throat (ق)
gh
like a French r (غ)
kh
like the ch in Scottish loch or German Bach (خ)
ch
like English sh (ش)

Vocabulary

sme7 liaسمح ليا
sorry, excuse me
ma kayn basما كاين باس
no harm done, it’s okay
ma kayn mochkilما كاين مشكل
no problem
3afakعافاك
please
t9der…?تقدر…؟
can you…?
mr7baمرحبا
welcome; sure, with pleasureAnswering a request with “mr7ba” means “with pleasure”.
chokranشكرا
thank you
lah y7fdekالله يحفظك
thank you (may God protect you)
lah ykhallikالله يخليك
thanks, that’s kind; pleaseAlso used to ask insistently but politely: “lah ykhallik, 3awenni”.
bla jmilبلا جميل
you’re welcome

Repeat after me

Read each phrase out loud, then cover it and say it from memory.

  • Sme7 lia! Ma choftekch.

    سمح ليا! ما شفتكش.

    Sorry! I didn’t see you.

  • 3afak, t9der tsewwerni?

    عافاك، تقدر تصورني؟

    Excuse me, could you take my photo?

  • Zwina bzzaf! Chokran, lah y7fdek.

    زوينة بزاف! شكرا، الله يحفظك.

    It’s lovely! Thank you so much.

  • Bla jmil. Mr7ba bik f lMeghrib.

    بلا جميل. مرحبا بيك فالمغرب.

    You’re welcome. Welcome to Morocco.

Quiz

  1. Question 1 of 7What does the traveller ask for?
  2. Question 2 of 7Fill in the blankChokran, lah !Thank you so much!
  3. Question 3 of 7What do you reply to “chokran”?
  4. Question 4 of 7Match each expression with its meaning.
  5. Question 5 of 7What does “chokran” mean?
  6. Question 6 of 7How do you say “sorry, excuse me” in Darija?
  7. Question 7 of 7 · Review from lesson 1Review (lesson 1): what does “lah y7fdek” mean?

Your turn

Politely ask someone to take your photo, then thank them warmly.

Show an example answer

Sme7 lia, 3afak t9der tsewwerni? … Chokran, lah ykhallik!

سمح ليا، عافاك تقدر تصورني؟ … شكرا، الله يخليك!

Excuse me, could you take my photo? … Thanks, that’s kind!

Summary

“Sme7 lia” to apologise, “3afak, t9der…?” to ask, “chokran, lah y7fdek” to thank and “bla jmil” to reply.

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