Darija Guides

100 Most Common Darija Verbs

212 Daily· June 22, 2026· 2 min read

The most common Moroccan Darija verbs include 'kla' (to eat), 'shreb' (to drink), 'msha' (to go), 'ja' (to come) and 'dar' (to do/make). Darija verbs are short and use prefixes like 'kan-' for the present tense. Mastering the top verbs unlocks most everyday sentences.

How Darija Verbs Work

Darija verbs are usually given in their past-tense, third-person masculine form, like 'kla' (he ate), which serves as the dictionary form. The present tense adds 'kan-' for 'I', 'kat-' for 'you' and 'kay-' for 'he'.

For example, 'kla' (to eat) becomes 'kanakol' (I eat) and 'kayakol' (he eats). Once you internalise these prefixes, you can conjugate most verbs you learn.

Essential Daily Action Verbs

The verbs you will use most are 'kla' (eat), 'shreb' (drink), 'msha' (go), 'ja' (come), 'dar' (do/make) and 'gal' (say). These appear in nearly every conversation.

Add 'shaf' (see), 'sme3' (hear), '3ref' (know) and 'bgha' (want/love). The verb 'bgha' is especially useful since 'bghit' means 'I want' and is the polite way to order or request anything.

Movement and Communication Verbs

Movement verbs include 'mcha' (go), 'ja' (come), 'jra' (run), 'gles' (sit) and 'na3es' (sleep). Combine them with places to describe daily routines.

Communication verbs are 'gal' (say), 'hder' (speak/talk), 'sewwel' (ask) and 'jaweb' (answer). 'Hder' is the everyday word for talking, as in 'kanhder darija' (I speak Darija).

Verbs for Work, Home and Feelings

Useful everyday verbs are 'khdem' (work), 'tellem' (learn), 'qra' (read/study), 'kteb' (write) and 'sna3' or 'dar' (make). Students and workers rely on these constantly.

For feelings and states use 'bgha' (want/love), 'kreh' (hate), 'fre7' (be happy) and 'khaf' (fear). The verb 'jeb' (bring) and '3ta' (give) round out essential requests at home and in shops.

Tips for Memorising Verbs

Learn each verb in a short sentence rather than in isolation. 'Bghit atay' (I want tea) fixes both the verb and a useful phrase at once.

Practise the three present-tense prefixes 'kan-', 'kat-', 'kay-' with one verb until they are automatic, then apply them to new verbs. This shortcut massively speeds up your progress.

English	Darija	Arabic
To eat	kla	كلا
To drink	shreb	شرب
To go	msha	مشى
To come	ja	جا
To do/make	dar	دار
To say	gal	كال
To see	shaf	شاف
To hear	sme3	سمع
To know	3ref	عرف
To want/love	bgha	بغى
To speak	hder	هضر
To ask	sewwel	سول
To answer	jaweb	جاوب
To sit	gles	كلس
To sleep	na3es	نعس
To work	khdem	خدم
To read/study	qra	قرا
To write	kteb	كتب
To give	3ta	عطى
To bring	jeb	جاب
To buy	shra	شرى
To take	khda	خذا
To open	7ell	حل
To close	sedd	سد
To understand	fhem	فهم

Most common Moroccan Darija verbs (past-tense form)

FAQ

How do you make the present tense in Darija?

Add a prefix to the verb: 'kan-' for I, 'kat-' for you, 'kay-' for he. For example, 'kla' (eat) becomes 'kanakol' (I eat) and 'kayakol' (he eats).

What is the dictionary form of Darija verbs?

Verbs are usually listed in the past-tense third-person masculine form, like 'kla' (he ate) for 'to eat'. This is the base you conjugate from.

How do you say 'I want' in Darija?

Say 'bghit' (بغيت), from the verb 'bgha'. It means 'I want' or 'I would like', as in 'bghit atay' (I want tea), and is essential for polite requests.

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