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Module 2 · Everyday life

Lesson 19 · Beginner · 4 min

Khassni… Saying what you need

Saying you’re hungry, thirsty or cold, and asking for the toilet.

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

In this lesson

  • Express a need with “khassni”
  • Say you’re hungry, thirsty or cold
  • Ask where the toilet is

As a guest you’ll constantly be asked if you want anything. Here’s how to say what you actually need.

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. HamzaMr7ba! Wach bghiti chi 7aja?Welcome! Would you like anything?
  2. LinaIyyeh, ana 3tchana bzzaf. Khassni chwiya d lma.Yes, I’m very thirsty. I need some water.
  3. HamzaHak. W wach nti ji3ana?Here you go. Are you hungry?
  4. LinaChwiya. Walakin 9bel, fin kayn bit lma?A little. But first, where’s the toilet?
  5. HamzaTal lakher, 3la limen.At the end, on the right.
  6. LinaChokran. W wach 3ndek chi bttaniya? Ana bardana.Thanks. Do you have a blanket? I’m cold.
  7. HamzaIyyeh, daba njibha lik.Yes, I’ll bring it to you right away.
  8. LinaLah y7fdek, Hamza!Thank you so much, Hamza!
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

khassniخاصني
I need
bghiti chi 7aja?بغيتي شي حاجة؟
do you want anything?
3tchan / 3tchanaعطشان / عطشانة
thirsty (m. / f.)
ji3an / ji3anaجيعان / جيعانة
hungry (m. / f.)
bardan / bardanaبردان / باردة
cold (person, m. / f.)For the weather you say “l7al bared”.
bit lmaبيت الما
the toilet
tal lakherتال اللخر
right at the end
3la limenعلى اليمن
on the right
bttaniyaبطانية
a blanket
njibha likنجيبها ليك
I’ll bring it to you

Repeat after me

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

  • Iyyeh, ana 3tchana bzzaf. Khassni chwiya d lma.

    إيه، أنا عطشانة بزاف. خاصني شوية د الما.

    Yes, I’m very thirsty. I need some water.

  • Chwiya. Walakin 9bel, fin kayn bit lma?

    شوية. ولكن قبل، فين كاين بيت الما؟

    A little. But first, where’s the toilet?

  • Chokran. W wach 3ndek chi bttaniya? Ana bardana.

    شكرا. وواش عندك شي بطانية؟ أنا باردة.

    Thanks. Do you have a blanket? I’m cold.

  • Lah y7fdek, Hamza!

    الله يحفظك، حمزة!

    Thank you so much, Hamza!

Quiz

  1. Question 1 of 7What does Lina ask for first?
  2. Question 2 of 7Fill in the blankAna bzzaf. Khassni chwiya d lma.I’m very thirsty. I need some water.
  3. Question 3 of 7How do you ask where the toilet is?
  4. Question 4 of 7Match each expression with its meaning.
  5. Question 5 of 7What does “bit lma” mean?
  6. Question 6 of 7How do you say “cold (person, m. / f.)” in Darija?
  7. Question 7 of 7 · Review from lesson 9Review (lesson 9): what does “lah ykhallik” mean?

Your turn

You arrive at a friend’s home: say you’re thirsty, ask for the toilet and say thanks.

Show an example answer

Ana 3tchan, khassni chwiya d lma. Fin kayn bit lma? Chokran!

أنا عطشان، خاصني شوية د الما. فين كاين بيت الما؟ شكرا!

I’m thirsty, I need some water. Where’s the toilet? Thanks!

Summary

“Khassni…” for a need; 3tchan, ji3an, bardan (thirsty, hungry, cold); “fin kayn bit lma?”.

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