Module 5 · Transport and directions
Lesson 45 · Elementary · 4 min · 0:17 of audio
Fin kayna lagar? Asking the way
Asking where the station is, understanding “straight on” and “right”, saying thanks.
- Unreviewed: this lesson’s Darija and translations have not yet been checked by a native speaker.
- Placeholder audio: a computer voice, not a native Darija speaker. Real recordings are coming.
Fin kayna lagar? Asking the way
In this lesson
- Ask where a place is
- Understand simple directions
- Say thanks and reply
Moroccans are happy to help you find your way. Remember “nichan” (straight on), “limen” (right) and “liser” (left).
Dialogue
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
- fin kayna / fin kaynفين كاينة / فين كاين
- where is (feminine / masculine)
- lagarلاگار
- the train station
- sir nichanسير نيشان
- go straight ahead
- dour 3la limen / 3la liserدور على ليمن / على ليسر
- turn right / left
- b3id / b3idaبعيد / بعيدة
- far
- 9rib / 9ribaقريب / قريبة
- near, close
- tlefetتلفت
- I got lost
- sewwelسول
- ask
- chokranشكرا
- thank you
- bla jmilبلا جميل
- you’re welcome
Repeat after me
Play a phrase, then say it out loud during the pause.
Sme7 lia, fin kayna lagar?
Excuse me, where is the train station?
Sir nichan, w dour 3la limen.
Go straight ahead, then turn right.
Wach b3ida?
Is it far?
W ila tlefet?
And if I get lost?
Quiz
Your turn
Ask the way to a place, whether it’s far, and say thanks.
Show an example answer
Sme7 lia, fin kayna lbanka? Wach b3ida? … Chokran bzzaf!
سمح ليا، فين كاينة البانكا؟ واش بعيدة؟ … شكرا بزاف!
Excuse me, where’s the bank? Is it far? … Thank you very much!
Summary
“Fin kayn / kayna…?”, “sir nichan”, “dour 3la limen / liser”, “b3id / 9rib”, then “chokran” – “bla jmil”.
Finished?
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