Darija Greetings for Different Times of Day

Introduction
In Morocco, greetings aren’t just polite words — they’re a big part of daily life. Whether it’s morning, afternoon, or night, using the right greeting in Darija (Moroccan Arabic) shows respect and helps you connect better with locals.
In this post, we’ll cover common greetings for different times of the day so you can greet people naturally just like Moroccans do.
1. Morning Greetings
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Sbah lkhir – Good morning
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Ljawab (Response): Sbah nour – Morning of light
đź’ˇ Cultural Tip: Morning greetings are often followed by questions like “Labas 3lik?” (How are you?) before moving to other topics.
2. Afternoon Greetings
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Moroccans don't have a specific saying to say " Good afternoon ". We simply don't say anything.
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Commonly used: Labas? (How are you?) or simply repeating Sbah lkhir even after noon.
đź’ˇ Moroccans don’t always switch to an “afternoon” greeting — many continue to say Sbah lkhir until late in the day.
3. Evening Greetings
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Msa lkhir – Good evening
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Ljawab (Response): Msa nour – Evening of light
4. Nighttime Goodbyes
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Tasbah 3la khir – Good night (literally: “Wake up to goodness”)
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Ljawab: Tasbah 3la khir 7ta nta/i – And may you too (have goodness)
5. Anytime Friendly Greetings
Some expressions work any time of day:
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Salam o 3alaykum – Peace be upon you (hello)
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Wa 3alaykum o salam – And peace be upon you (response)
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Labas? – How are you?
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Kolshi bikhir? – Is everything fine?
Tips for Using Greetings in Morocco
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Always greet before asking for help or starting a conversation.
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Use a warm tone — greetings are as much about friendliness as words.
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Don’t be surprised if greetings include several back-and-forth questions before the “real” topic begins!
Conclusion
By learning the right Darija greetings for morning, evening, and night, you’ll not only sound more natural but also show respect for Moroccan culture. Greetings open the door to friendship and trust.
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