Darija · culture50 Moroccan Darija Expressions, Idioms & Slang
212 Daily· Updated June 22, 2026
From classic idioms to the slang Moroccans text today — talk like a local, with meaning and context.
drebni w bka, sbe9ni w chka
ضربني وبكى، سبقني وشكى
“He hit me and cried, beat me to it and complained”
Idiom: the wrongdoer plays the victim first
3ti l khobz l khebbaz
عطي الخبز للخباز
“Give the bread to the baker”
Idiom: let the expert handle their own craft
li sb9ek b lila sb9ek b 7ila
اللي سبقك بليلة سبقك بحيلة
“Who came a night before you has a trick on you”
Idiom: respect experience and elders' wisdom
7ed 3la 7ed ma kayn
حد على حد ما كاين
“No one is better than anyone”
Idiom: we're all equal, stay humble
kif l 9erd 3and mmu ghzal
كيف القرد عند مو غزال
“Like the monkey, beautiful in its mother's eyes”
Idiom: every parent thinks their child is best
chad ma kayn 7sen men flat ma kayn
شد ما كاين خير من فلات ما كاين
“Holding nothing is better than letting go of nothing”
Idiom: keep what little you have rather than lose it
li bgha l 3sel ysber l 9ris n7el
اللي بغا العسل يصبر لقريص النحل
“Who wants honey must endure bee stings”
Idiom: no reward without effort and pain
ydih f l ma ma kayrwi
يديه فالما ما كيرويش
“His hands in water but stays thirsty”
Idiom: surrounded by means yet gains nothing
qatlu w mchau l jnaztu
قتلو ومشاو لجنازتو
“They killed him then went to his funeral”
Idiom: fake sympathy after causing the harm
3ainu fl ghorbal
عينو فالغربال
“His eye is on the sieve”
Idiom: someone always eyeing what isn't theirs
l 9ela 3la s7abha mlewya
القلة على صحابها ملوية
“The jug's spout bends toward its owner”
Idiom: people favor their own kin or interests
ma kayn dukhan bla 3afya
ما كاين دخان بلا عافية
“No smoke without fire”
Idiom: rumors usually have some basis
d7ak 3lih 7ta dar lih l mokh
ضحك عليه حتى دار ليه المخ
“Tricked him until he lost his mind”
Idiom: completely fooled or conned someone
sbe7 3lik b khir
صباح عليك بالخير
“Good morning to you”
Everyday greeting at morning time
la bas 3lik
لا باس عليك
“Are you well / you good?”
Everyday: common how-are-you greeting
wa3r
وعر
“Awesome / tough / amazing”
Everyday: praises something great or difficult
bzaf
بزاف
“A lot / too much”
Everyday: very common intensifier
safi
صافي
“Enough / okay / done”
Everyday: to end or agree on something
fhamti?
فهمتي؟
“You get it?”
Everyday: checking if listener understood
ndir
ندير
“I do / I make”
Everyday verb: extremely common in daily speech
chwiya b chwiya
شوية بشوية
“Little by little”
Everyday: doing things slowly and gradually
yak labas
يأك لاباس
“Everything's fine, right?”
Everyday: checking on someone with concern
daba daba
دابا دابا
“Right now / in a moment”
Everyday: means soon, often loosely
ma3lich
معليش
“No problem / it's okay”
Everyday: forgiving or reassuring phrase
chno had l 7al
شنو هاد الحال
“What is this situation?”
Everyday: reaction to a mess or chaos
zwin
زوين
“Handsome / nice / cool”
Slang: youth use it for anything pleasing
zwina
زوينة
“Pretty / nice (fem.)”
Slang: feminine of zwin, daily youth word
top
توب
“Top / excellent”
Modern slang: borrowed, means first-rate
khouya
خويا
“My brother / bro”
Slang: friendly address among young men
wa3ra
وعرة
“Insane / amazing (fem.)”
Slang: youth hype word for something fire
saru9
صاروق
“Rocket / super fast / sharp”
Slang: youth praise for fast or smart person
tej
تيج
“Cool / fancy / classy”
Modern slang: stylish or high-end vibe
3yan
عيان
“Tired / exhausted / fed up”
Slang: youth say it when drained or bored
hewma
حومة
“The neighborhood / the hood”
Slang: street culture word for one's block
sahbi
صاحبي
“My buddy / dude”
Slang: casual address to a friend
nichan
نيشان
“Straight / for real / honest”
Slang: youth use for being direct or true
dial
ديال
“Of / belonging to”
Everyday possessive: dial-i (mine), super common
3la slamtek
على سلامتك
“Glad you're safe / welcome back”
Everyday: said to someone returning or recovering
bsa7tek
بصحتك
“To your health / enjoy it”
Everyday: said after a haircut, meal, or new buy
ewa
إوا
“So / well / come on”
Reaction: filler urging someone to go on or act
yallah
يالله
“Let's go / hurry / just now”
Reaction: rush someone or mark something just done
wakha
واخا
“Okay / alright / fine”
Reaction: agreement, the classic Moroccan yes
iwa
إيوا
“Yeah / and then? / so?”
Reaction: prompts more info or shows interest
hak
هاك
“Here, take it”
Reaction: said while handing something over
wili wili
ويلي ويلي
“Oh my / wow”
Reaction: surprise, shock, or admiration
3yat liya
عيط ليا
“Call me”
Everyday: 3yat = to phone someone
sme7 liya
سمح ليا
“Excuse me / sorry”
Everyday: polite apology or to get attention
khouk f l mochkil
خوك فالمشكل
“Your bro's in trouble”
Slang: joking way to say you're stuck or broke
3la wjeh
على وجه
“For free / on the house”
Slang: getting something at no cost
chedd rasek
شد راسك
“Hold your head / pull yourself together”
Everyday: telling someone to focus or be strong
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