Getting around
ترام
المحطة الجاية.
Next station.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
How the language is used
Arabic is official. People speak Moroccan Darija day to day. French is widely used, and Amazigh is also an official language of the country.
In this city
- Language
- Arabic
- Also heard
- Mostly Arabic
- A local word
- أتاي — Mint tea.
- Writing
- the Arabic script
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
تاكسي
وين غادي؟
Where to?
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
مقهى
أتاي، عفاك.
Mint tea.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
زنقة
صباح الخير.
Good morning.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
People speak Moroccan Darija day to day. French is widely used, and Amazigh is official too.
Around the Medina, Agdal, the Kasbah of the Udayas, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Rabat can run on four lines: “المحطة الجاية.”, “وين غادي؟”, “أتاي، عفاك.”, and “صباح الخير.”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in the Arabic script.
- A greeting comes before the order. A polite request adds a word for please.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Rabat, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: أتاي. It means Mint tea..
Places you can see
- Hassan Tower — An unfinished minaret above a field of columns.
- Kasbah of the Udayas — A blue-and-white fortress above the river mouth.
- Chellah — A walled site of Roman ruins and a medieval necropolis, where storks nest.
Food
Couscous and tagine are the home table, and mint tea closes a visit.
Getting around
Trams cross the capital. For a short ride, you can take a petit taxi.
Daily life
Offices often work in French and Arabic. At home the talk is usually Darija.
A few everyday phrases
Arabic
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| مرحبًا | Marḥaban | Hello |
| شكرًا | Shukran | Thank you |
| صباح الخير | Ṣabāḥ al-khayr | Good morning |
| اسمي… | Ismī… | My name is… |
