How To Find Love In Morocco: 10 Darija Love Expressions
Do you have a Moroccan boyfriend? Are you trying to impress that girl you met at the bar last night? Or maybe you are just a language nerd like me. No matter what brings you here, you are in the right place to learn how to impress your Moroccan partner.
Like any other nation, Moroccans have their own dictionary of love. It is recommended to learn some love expressions before starting a relationship with a Moroccan partner. That will prove how much you respect the culture and heritage of your partner. In addition, it will definitely draw a smile on her/his face. Above all, learning the way to say I love you in a different language is always exciting.
Here Are Some Darija Expressions To Keep In Your Mind.
1. Kanbɣik
Equivalent expression: I love you.
Yes, that is how we say the magic sentence in Morocco. It looks small, but it is very heavy. Unlike in western societies, Moroccans do not express love verbally in all relationships, except for one. You will never hear the expression Kanbɣik in a mother-son relationship, daughter-father relationship, friendship, or family relationship. Therefore, this expression is reserved only for romantic relationships. And this is charming because it gives the phrase more uniqueness. Without any doubt, kanbɣik is more solid than I love you; it is even stronger than je t’aime.
2. Kanɣir
Equivalent expression: I am jealous.
Jealousy is a controversial concept in the Maghreb. It is one of the man’s means to prison the woman. I discussed this matter in a paper published on Research Gate. However, this expression can still be used to show love. Just make sure that you are not violating the private space of your partner.
3. Bɣitek l jwaj
Equivalent expression: I want to marry you.
Is your relationship getting serious? Maybe it is time to propose. In the Moroccan context, the man says bɣitek l jwaj to his girlfriend in order to get engaged. It is not familiar to see a Moroccan woman saying this sentence. Thus, if you are dating a Moroccan woman, never expect her to ask you for marriage.
4. Tezɛet
Equivalent expression: I fall in love.
Unlike the previous expressions, tezɛet is a word you can use in a conversation with your friend. It is not romantic, but it describes your feelings precisely.
5. Kantsṭṭa ɛlik
Equivalent expression: I am mad about you.
The French translation of this sentence is je suis fou/folle de toi. It is common in many languages. In Morocco, you can say kantsṭṭa ɛlik if you are sure about your feelings. However, this expression is mainly used by teenagers and young lovebirds. If you are over 40 years old, this sentence is not for you.
6. Katɛjbini
Equivalent expression: I have a crush on you.
Have you not noticed it yet? You only need one word in Darija to say what requires a phrase in English. Sadly, love and relationships in Morocco are approximately taboo; let’s not mention sex. My theory is that Moroccans need few words to express their complex feelings before society exposes them. Katɛjbini is one of these examples. You could be beaten for saying this innocent word. But anything for love, right?
7. Kbida
Equivalent expression: Sweetheart.
Unlike the rest of the world, the organ related to love in the Moroccan culture is not the heart; it is the kidney. Therefore, kbida translates literally to my kidney or just kidney.
8. Twḥḥctk
Equivalent expression: I miss you.
That is the only direct expression in Darija to say that you miss someone. However, in a relationship, twḥḥctk can be an equivalent for I love you. It is also a heavy phrase that means a lot.
9. Kanḥss bci ḥaja mn jihtek
Equivalent expression: I feel something for you.
Kanḥss bci ḥaja mn jihtek is more solid than I have a crush on you. It is more direct and more related to love feelings. If you are saying this sentence, it means that you are in love. Thus, double-check your feelings before breaking someone’s heart.
10. Imta ɣancofk?
Equivalent expression: When will I see you?
When will I see you? is a literal translation for imta ɣancofk?. You can use it in the same cases as the English equivalent.
How To Pronounce These Expressions
To sound even cooler, it is recommended to practice your pronunciation. But since this is not a language lecture, I will not bother you with lots of rules. In fact, I will only mention how to pronounce some letters.
In this article, I used the Berber Latin alphabet. All the letters are pronounced like English except for five. Firstly, the letter “ɣ” is like the French/German “r”. Secondly, the letter “ɛ” is equivalent to “ʕ” in the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). Thirdly, the letter “ṭ” is an emphatic “t” like in the word toll. Fourthly, the letter “ḥ” is stronger than “h” and similar to English onomatopoeia for being cold. Fifthly, the letter “c” is pronounced “sh” like in shift.
