Darija Imperative & Commands
Forming the Basic Command
The imperative in Darija is built directly from the verb stem, usually matching the bare form. 'Kteb!' means 'write!', 'kul!' means 'eat!', 'cheb!' means 'drink!', and 'sir!' means 'go!'.
Because the command form is so close to the dictionary stem, it is one of the quickest things to learn. You drop the person prefix and just say the action.
Gender and Number
Commands change for who you address. The masculine singular is the base ('kteb!'). For a woman, add '-i': 'ktebi!' (write!). For a group, add '-u': 'ktbu!' (write, you all!).
So telling one man to eat is 'kul!', one woman 'kuli!', and a group 'kulu!'. This three-way distinction mirrors the way verbs agree elsewhere in the language.
Commands with Object Suffixes
You can attach objects to commands. 'Atini!' (give me!), 'goulha!' (say it!), 'chedha!' (hold it!), 'wrini!' (show me!). The object suffix follows the command verb directly.
These compact commands are extremely common in daily life. 'Atini l-ma' means 'give me the water', combining the imperative with the object 'me'.
Negative Commands
To tell someone NOT to do something, use ma-...-ch with the present-tense form, not the bare imperative. 'Sir!' (go!) becomes 'matemchich!' (don't go!). 'Kul!' (eat!) becomes 'matakolch!' (don't eat!).
Notice the negative command borrows the 'you' present form ('temchi', 'takol') inside the ma-...-ch sandwich. This is a key difference from the positive command.
Softening Commands Politely
Bare commands can sound blunt, so Moroccans soften them with 'afak' (please) or 'allah ykhellik' (please, literally 'may God keep you'). 'Atini l-ma afak' means 'give me the water, please'.
You can also phrase requests as questions: 'wach momkin...?' (is it possible...?) or 'momkin t3awenni?' (can you help me?). These are gentler than a direct order.
Everyday Useful Commands
Some commands you will hear and use constantly: 'aji!' (come!), 'sir!' (go!), 'stenna!' (wait!), 'choof!' (look!), 'sme3!' (listen!), 'gles!' (sit!), 'qum!' (get up!), and 'yallah!' (let's go!).
Learning this core set lets you understand instructions and direct others immediately, even before you have mastered full conjugation. They are the verbal toolkit of daily interaction.
| English | Darija | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Write! (to a man) | kteb! | ูุชุจ! |
| Write! (to a woman) | ktebi! | ูุชุจู! |
| Eat! (plural) | kulu! | ูููู! |
| Give me! | atini! | ุนุทููู! |
| Come! | aji! | ุฃุฌู! |
| Don't go! | matemchich! | ู ุงุชู ุดูุด! |
Examples
FAQ
How do I form a command in Darija?
Use the verb stem directly: 'kteb!' (write!), 'kul!' (eat!). Add '-i' for a woman and '-u' for a group.
How do I tell someone NOT to do something?
Use ma-...-ch around the present 'you' form, as in 'matemchich!' (don't go!) or 'matakolch!' (don't eat!).
How can I make a command more polite?
Add 'afak' (please) or 'allah ykhellik', or phrase it as a question like 'momkin t3awenni?' (can you help me?).
Loved this? Useful? React below โ your feedback helps other readers.