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Module 1 · Greetings and introductions

Lesson 2 · Beginner · 4 min

Kif dayr? Asking how someone is

Asking how someone is, saying you’re tired, and wishing someone well.

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

In this lesson

  • Use “kif dayr / kif dayra” depending on who you talk to
  • Give an answer beyond “fine”
  • React politely to bad news

Between neighbours or colleagues, “labas” isn’t enough. People ask about work and family, and wish each other strength.

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. YoussefSba7 lkhir, Nadia! Kif dayra?Good morning, Nadia! How are you doing?
  2. NadiaSba7 nnour! Labas, ghir 3iyyana chwiya.Morning! I’m okay, just a bit tired.
  3. YoussefLah y3awnek. Ach khbar lkhedma?Hang in there. How’s work?
  4. NadiaMzyana, l7amdoulillah. W nta, kif dayr?Good, thank God. And you, how are you doing?
  5. YoussefAna bikhir. Walakin lwalida mrida chwiya.I’m fine. But my mother is a bit unwell.
  6. NadiaLah ychafiha! Sellem 3liha.I hope she gets well soon! Say hello to her from me.
  7. YoussefLah y7fdek. Yallah, nchoufek men b3d.Thanks. Right, see you later.
  8. NadiaBslama, Youssef.Bye, Youssef.
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

kif dayr / kif dayraكيف داير / كيف دايرة
how are you doing? (man / woman)To several people: “kif dayrin?”.
sba7 lkhirصباح الخير
good morning
sba7 nnourصباح النور
good morning (reply)
ghirغير
only, just
3iyyan / 3iyyanaعيان / عيانة
tired (m. / f.)
chwiyaشوية
a little
lah y3awnekالله يعاونك
hang in there (literally “may God help you”)
ach khbar…?أش خبار…؟
how is…? / any news of…?
mrid / mridaمريض / مريضة
ill, unwell (m. / f.)
lah ychafih / lah ychafihaالله يشافيه / الله يشافيها
get well soon (to him / her)
sellem 3la…سلم على…
say hello to … for me
walakinولكن
but

Repeat after me

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

  • Sba7 lkhir, Nadia! Kif dayra?

    صباح الخير، نادية! كيف دايرة؟

    Good morning, Nadia! How are you doing?

  • Sba7 nnour! Labas, ghir 3iyyana chwiya.

    صباح النور! لاباس، غير عيانة شوية.

    Morning! I’m okay, just a bit tired.

  • Lah y3awnek. Ach khbar lkhedma?

    الله يعاونك. أش خبار الخدمة؟

    Hang in there. How’s work?

  • Lah ychafiha! Sellem 3liha.

    الله يشافيها! سلم عليها.

    I hope she gets well soon! Say hello to her from me.

Quiz

  1. Question 1 of 7How is Nadia?
  2. Question 2 of 7Fill in the blankKif , Nadia?How are you doing, Nadia?
  3. Question 3 of 7Someone tells you their mother is ill. What do you say?
  4. Question 4 of 7Match each expression with its meaning.
  5. Question 5 of 7What does “sba7 nnour” mean?
  6. Question 6 of 7How do you say “but” in Darija?
  7. Question 7 of 7 · Review from lesson 1Review (lesson 1): what does “mzyan” mean?

Your turn

Ask a female neighbour how she is, then answer that you’re a bit tired.

Show an example answer

Kif dayra? — Labas, ghir 3iyyan chwiya.

كيف دايرة؟ — لاباس، غير عيان شوية.

How are you doing? — Fine, just a bit tired.

Summary

“Kif dayr / dayra?” asks how someone is. You can answer with nuance (“ghir 3iyyan chwiya”) and support people with “lah y3awnek” or “lah ychafih”.

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