Module 7 · Family and relationships
Lesson 69 · Lower intermediate · 4 min
Expressing affection
Telling someone close that you miss them and love them, and receiving blessings.
- Unreviewed: this lesson’s Darija and translations have not yet been checked by a native speaker.
In this lesson
- Express affection in the family
- Choose the right words for the relationship
- Understand elders’ blessings
“Kanbghik” (I love you) is said in families and couples. Between friends, people prefer “3ziz 3liya” (you’re dear to me). Grandparents give blessings: “lah yrdi 3lik”.
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
- AdamAllo, a mmi! Twe7chtek bzzaf.Hello, Grandma! I miss you so much.
- Mmi l7ajjaA wlidi, 7ta ana twe7chtek! Kif dayr, a 3zizi?My boy, I miss you too! How are you, my dear?
- AdamLabas, l7amdoulillah. Kanbghik bzzaf, a mmi.Fine, thank God. I love you so much, Grandma.
- Mmi l7ajjaLah yrdi 3lik a wlidi. Fou9ach ghadi tji?God bless you, my son. When are you coming?
- AdamF l3otla, inchallah. Ghadi nb9a m3ak simana.In the holidays, God willing. I’ll stay with you for a week.
- Mmi l7ajjaLah ykhallik liya! Ghadi ntiyyeb lik rrfissa.God keep you for me! I’ll make you rfissa.
- AdamNti a7sen jedda f ddenya!You’re the best grandma in the world!
- Mmi l7ajjaGhir nta! Bslama, a 7bibi.Oh, you! Bye, my darling.
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
- twe7chtekتوحشتك
- I miss you
- kanbghikكنبغيك
- I love youIn families and couples. Between friends: “3ziz 3liya”.
- 3ziz 3liyaعزيز عليا
- you’re dear to me
- a 3zizi / a 3ziztiآ عزيزي / آ عزيزتي
- my dear (m. / f.)
- a 7bibi / a 7bibtiآ حبيبي / آ حبيبتي
- my darling (m. / f.)
- lah yrdi 3likالله يرضي عليك
- God bless you (parents to children)
- lah ykhallik liyaالله يخليك ليا
- God keep you for me
- nb9a m3akنبقى معاك
- I’ll stay with you
- ddenyaالدنيا
- the world
- rrfissaالرفيسة
- rfissa (festive chicken and lentil dish)
- mmiمي
- Mum / Grandma (as address)
Repeat after me
Read each phrase out loud, then cover it and say it from memory.
Allo, a mmi! Twe7chtek bzzaf.
ألو، آ مي! توحشتك بزاف.
Hello, Grandma! I miss you so much.
Labas, l7amdoulillah. Kanbghik bzzaf, a mmi.
لاباس، الحمد لله. كنبغيك بزاف، آ مي.
Fine, thank God. I love you so much, Grandma.
F l3otla, inchallah. Ghadi nb9a m3ak simana.
فالعطلة، إن شاء الله. غادي نبقى معاك سيمانة.
In the holidays, God willing. I’ll stay with you for a week.
Nti a7sen jedda f ddenya!
نتي أحسن جدة فالدنيا!
You’re the best grandma in the world!
Quiz
Your turn
Call someone close: tell them you miss them and when you’ll visit.
Show an example answer
Allo, a mama! Twe7chtek bzzaf. Ghadi nji nhar ssebt, inchallah.
ألو، آ ماما! توحشتك بزاف. غادي نجي نهار السبت، إن شاء الله.
Hello, Mum! I miss you so much. I’ll come on Saturday, God willing.
Summary
“Twe7chtek”, “kanbghik” (family, partners), “3ziz 3liya” (friends), and blessings “lah yrdi 3lik”, “lah ykhallik liya”.
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