Module 10 · Moroccan culture and real conversations
Lesson 94 · Lower intermediate · 4 min
Agreeing and disagreeing
Giving your opinion, disagreeing politely and finding common ground.
- Unreviewed: this lesson’s Darija and translations have not yet been checked by a native speaker.
In this lesson
- Give your opinion with “kanchouf belli”
- Express agreement and disagreement
- Add nuance with “3ndek l7e9, walakin…”
Moroccans enjoy a debate — about football, cities, food — with humour. Acknowledging a good point before answering is much appreciated.
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
- ZiadAna kanchouf belli Fas hiya a7sen mdina f lMeghrib.I think Fez is the best city in Morocco.
- RaniaMa mttaf9ach m3ak. Marrakech a7sen!I don’t agree. Marrakech is better!
- Ziad3lach? Fas fiha ttarikh w l7rayfiya.Why? Fez has history and craftspeople.
- Rania3ndek l7e9 f hadi, walakin Marrakech fiha l7ayat w chchems.You’re right about that, but Marrakech has life and sunshine.
- ZiadWakha, ymken. Walakin f sseif skhouna bzzaf!Okay, maybe. But in summer it’s way too hot!
- RaniaHadchi s7i7, ma n9derch ngoul la.That’s true, I can’t argue with that.
- ZiadIwa 7na mtaf9in 3la chi 7aja!So we agree on something!
- RaniaIyyeh: Chefchaouen a7sen mn bjouj!Yes: Chefchaouen beats them both!
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
- kanchouf belliكنشوف بلي
- I think that
- ana m3akأنا معاك
- I agree with you
- ma mttaf9ch / ma mttaf9ach m3akما متفقش / ما متفقاش معاك
- I don’t agree with you (man / woman)
- mtaf9inمتفقين
- in agreement (plural)
- 3ndek l7e9عندك الحق
- you’re right
- a7sen mnأحسن من
- better than
- ttarikhالتاريخ
- history
- l7rayfiyaالحرايفية
- craftspeople
- l7ayatالحياة
- life
- ma n9derch ngoul laما نقدرش نقول لا
- I can’t say no to that
- mn bjoujمن بجوج
- than both
Repeat after me
Read each phrase out loud, then cover it and say it from memory.
Ana kanchouf belli Fas hiya a7sen mdina f lMeghrib.
أنا كنشوف بلي فاس هي أحسن مدينة فالمغرب.
I think Fez is the best city in Morocco.
Ma mttaf9ach m3ak. Marrakech a7sen!
ما متفقاش معاك. مراكش أحسن!
I don’t agree. Marrakech is better!
3ndek l7e9 f hadi, walakin Marrakech fiha l7ayat w chchems.
عندك الحق فهادي، ولكن مراكش فيها الحياة والشمس.
You’re right about that, but Marrakech has life and sunshine.
Hadchi s7i7, ma n9derch ngoul la.
هادشي صحيح، ما نقدرش نقول لا.
That’s true, I can’t argue with that.
Quiz
Your turn
Give your opinion on a topic, acknowledge the other person’s point, then add nuance.
Show an example answer
Kanchouf belli atay a7sen mn l9ahwa. … 3ndek l7e9, walakin f sba7 kanfeddel l9ahwa.
كنشوف بلي أتاي أحسن من القهوة. … عندك الحق، ولكن فالصباح كنفضل القهوة.
I think tea is better than coffee. … You’re right, but in the morning I prefer coffee.
Summary
“Kanchouf belli…”, “ana m3ak”, “ma mttaf9ch m3ak”, “3ndek l7e9, walakin…” and “7na mtaf9in”.
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