Darija Lesson 8: Time & Days

Why Time Vocabulary Helps

From catching a train to arranging to meet a friend, time and day words are everyday essentials. Moroccan time can be relaxed socially, but transport, prayer times, and business hours all run on the clock, so these words matter.

This lesson teaches you to ask and tell the time, name the days of the week, and use words like now, tomorrow, and yesterday. Arabizi and Arabic script are paired for each entry.

Asking and Telling the Time

Ask 'Sh7al f sa3a?' (شحال فالساعة؟), 'what time is it?'. To answer, use 'sa3a' (hour) plus the number: 'Sa3a tlata' (it's three o'clock), 'Sa3a setta' (six o'clock). 'Nuss' means half, so 'tlata o nuss' is half past three.

Other fractions: 'rb3' (quarter), so 'rb3a o rb3' is quarter past four, and 'rb3a qel rb3' is quarter to four. 'Qel' means 'less/to'. 'D9i9a' is minute and 'taniya' is second.

Days of the Week

The week, starting Sunday: 'l7ad' (Sunday), 'ltnin' (Monday), 'ttlat' (Tuesday), 'larb3' (Wednesday), 'lkhmis' (Thursday), 'jjem3a' (Friday), 'ssebt' (Saturday). Friday, 'jjem3a', is the main prayer day and many businesses pause midday.

To say 'on Monday' use 'nhar ltnin' (the day of Monday). 'Nhar' means day. 'Lyoma' is today, 'ghedda' is tomorrow, and 'lbar7' is yesterday. 'Hadshi nhar' would be 'today's stuff'.

Parts of the Day

Divide the day with: 'sba7' (morning), 'ghedda' careful not to confuse with tomorrow, 'dhor' (noon), '3shiya' (afternoon/evening), 'lil' (night), 'nss llil' (midnight). 'F sba7' means 'in the morning', 'f 3shiya' 'in the evening'.

Prayer times structure the Moroccan day: 'lfjr' (dawn), 'dhor' (noon), '3sr' (mid-afternoon), 'lmghreb' (sunset), and '3sha' (night). Many people reference these naturally, as in 'nshoufek mn b3d lmghreb' (I'll see you after sunset).

Scheduling and Time Words

Key planning words: 'daba' (now), 'mn b3d' (later/after), 'qbel' (before), 'bekri' (early), 'm3ettel' (late), 'dghya' (quickly). 'Imta?' means 'when?', as in 'Imta nltaqaw?' (when do we meet?).

To propose a time: 'Nshoufek sa3a tlata' (I'll see you at three). To confirm, 'Wakha, ftaffah' or simply 'Wakha'. Note social plans run on flexible 'Moroccan time', so a little patience with lateness is wise.

Sample Dialogue

Two friends, Omar and Leila, arrange to meet:

Omar: Salam Leila, imta nltaqaw ghedda? (Hi Leila, when do we meet tomorrow?) — Leila: Sh7al f sa3a mzyan lik? (What time suits you?) — Omar: Sa3a khamsa f 3shiya? (Five in the evening?) — Leila: Wakha, walakin n9dar nji m3ettla shwiya. (Okay, but I might come a little late.) — Omar: Mashi mushkil. Fin? (No problem. Where?) — Leila: 7da lqahwa f sa7a. (Next to the cafe in the square.) — Omar: Safi, nshoufek ghedda! (Done, see you tomorrow!)

Practice Tips

Read clocks aloud in Darija throughout the day, using 'sa3a' plus the number, then add 'o nuss' and 'o rb3' for halves and quarters. The number practice from Lesson 3 pays off directly here.

Memorize the days as a chant from 'l7ad' to 'ssebt', and pair 'lyoma, ghedda, lbar7' (today, tomorrow, yesterday) since they come up constantly. Remember that social timekeeping is flexible, so build in patience.

Vocabulary

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