Module 5 · Transport and directions
Lesson 46 · Elementary · 4 min
In front, behind, between: locating places
Words for locating places: in front, behind, next to, between, upstairs, downstairs.
- Unreviewed: this lesson’s Darija and translations have not yet been checked by a native speaker.
In this lesson
- Describe where a place is relative to another
- Use 9oddam, mor, 7da, bin
- Offer to call if there’s a problem
In the medina people navigate by mosques, gates and shops. These little place words are essential.
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
- AnasFin l9ahwa lli 9oltili 3liha?Where’s the café you told me about?
- ChaimaeF lwest d lmdina, 7da jjame3 lkbir.In the centre of town, next to the big mosque.
- Anas9oddam jjame3 wla mor jjame3?In front of the mosque or behind it?
- ChaimaeMor jjame3, bin lfarmasyan w lbanka.Behind it, between the pharmacy and the bank.
- AnasWach lfo9 wla lte7t?Is it upstairs or downstairs?
- ChaimaeLfo9, f sstte7. Kayna wa7d terrasse zwina.Upstairs, on the roof. There’s a lovely terrace.
- AnasW ila ma l9itahach?And if I can’t find it?
- Chaimae3iyyet liya, w nji nl9ak.Call me and I’ll come and find you.
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
- f lwestفالوسط
- in the centre, in the middle
- 7daحدا
- next to
- 9oddamقدام
- in front of
- morمور
- behind
- binبين
- between
- lfo9الفوق
- up, upstairs
- lte7tالتحت
- down, downstairs
- sstte7السطح
- the roof terrace
- jjame3الجامع
- the mosque
- lfarmasyanالفرماسيان
- the pharmacy
- l9a / l9itلقى / لقيت
- to find / I found
- 3iyyet liyaعيط ليا
- call me
Repeat after me
Read each phrase out loud, then cover it and say it from memory.
F lwest d lmdina, 7da jjame3 lkbir.
فالوسط د المدينة، حدا الجامع الكبير.
In the centre of town, next to the big mosque.
9oddam jjame3 wla mor jjame3?
قدام الجامع ولا مور الجامع؟
In front of the mosque or behind it?
Mor jjame3, bin lfarmasyan w lbanka.
مور الجامع، بين الفرماسيان والبانكا.
Behind it, between the pharmacy and the bank.
3iyyet liya, w nji nl9ak.
عيط ليا، ونجي نلقاك.
Call me and I’ll come and find you.
Quiz
Your turn
Explain where your hotel is using three location words.
Show an example answer
Lotel dyali 7da lbanka, 9oddam jjame3, bin l9ahwa w lfarmasyan.
لوطيل ديالي حدا البانكا، قدام الجامع، بين القهوة والفرماسيان.
My hotel is next to the bank, in front of the mosque, between the café and the pharmacy.
Summary
9oddam / mor, 7da, bin, f lwest, lfo9 / lte7t — and “3iyyet liya” if you’re lost.
Finished?
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