Darija Time Expressions
Why Time Words Are Essential
Time expressions let you make plans, catch transport and keep appointments. Words like 'daba' (now), 'men be3d' (later) and 'dghya' (quickly) shape almost every plan you make.
Moroccans often have a flexible relationship with time, so phrases like 'chwiya' (a little while) and 'nishan' (right away) help you clarify how soon something will happen.
Days and Parts of the Day
The key day words are 'lyum' (today), 'ghedda' (tomorrow), 'lbare7' (yesterday) and 'be3d ghedda' (day after tomorrow). These cover most short-term planning.
Parts of the day include 'sba7' (morning), 'l-3chiya' (afternoon/evening), 'lil' (night) and 'duhour' (noon). You can say 'ghedda f-sba7' for 'tomorrow morning'.
Days of the Week
The week starts conceptually on 'l-7add' (Sunday). The days are 'l-tnin' (Monday), 'l-tlat' (Tuesday), 'l-arb3' (Wednesday), 'l-khmis' (Thursday), 'j-jem3a' (Friday) and 's-sebt' (Saturday).
'J-jem3a' (Friday) is the main day of prayer and the traditional couscous day, so the word carries cultural weight beyond just the calendar.
Telling the Time
To ask the time, say 'sḥal f-sa3a?' (what time is it?). The hour is 'sa3a' and minutes are 'd9ay9'. 'Nuss' means half, so 'l-wa7da w-nuss' is half past one.
Useful fractions are 'rb3' (quarter) and 'qel' (less/to). 'L-3ashra qel rb3' means quarter to ten. Combine these with numbers to give precise times for meetings and transport.
Tips for Time Vocabulary
Anchor the three most useful words first: 'daba' (now), 'lyum' (today) and 'ghedda' (tomorrow). They appear in almost every planning conversation.
Practise telling time with a real clock, saying each hour aloud in Darija. Linking the spoken phrase to the clock face builds quick, confident recall.
| English | Darija | Arabic |
|---|---|---|
| Today | lyum | اليوم |
| Tomorrow | ghedda | غدا |
| Yesterday | lbare7 | البارح |
| Now | daba | دابا |
| Later | men be3d | من بعد |
| Morning | sba7 | صباح |
| Afternoon/Evening | l-3chiya | العشية |
| Night | lil | ليل |
| Noon | duhour | ظهور |
| Hour | sa3a | ساعة |
| Minute | d9i9a | دقيقة |
| Half | nuss | نص |
| Quarter | rb3 | ربع |
| Week | simana | سيمانة |
| Month | shher | شهر |
| Year | 3am | عام |
| Monday | l-tnin | التنين |
| Tuesday | l-tlat | التلات |
| Wednesday | l-arb3 | الأربع |
| Thursday | l-khmis | الخميس |
| Friday | j-jem3a | الجمعة |
| Saturday | s-sebt | السبت |
| Sunday | l-7add | الحد |
Moroccan Darija time expressions vocabulary
FAQ
How do you ask the time in Darija?
Say 'sḥal f-sa3a?' (شحال فالساعة؟) meaning 'what time is it?'. 'Sa3a' means hour, 'nuss' means half and 'rb3' means quarter.
How do you say 'today', 'tomorrow' and 'yesterday'?
Today is 'lyum' (اليوم), tomorrow is 'ghedda' (غدا) and yesterday is 'lbare7' (البارح). These three cover most everyday time references.
What does 'daba' mean?
'Daba' (دابا) means 'now'. It is one of the most used words in Darija, as in 'daba nji' (I'm coming now) or 'daba daba' (right now).
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