Do You Speak English in Moroccan Arabic (Darija): Essential Phrase for Travelers

Written by Abdul · Native Moroccan Arabic teacher, founder of Daily Darija

Published on March 16, 2026 · Updated October 27, 2026 · 9 min read

If you’re visiting Morocco or speaking with Moroccans, one of the most useful questions you can ask is:
  “Do you speak English?”

This simple phrase can help you switch languages and communicate more easily when needed.

Let’s learn how to say it in Moroccan Arabic (Darija).

In my experience, this is the question travelers use most in their first days in Morocco, right after salam and shukran. So in this post I also give you the phrases that come right after it: what to say when the answer is no, when you did not understand, and when you need someone to slow down 🇲🇦

The Basic Way to Say “Do You Speak English?”

Here’s the most common expression:

• Wash katahdar b nagliziya? → “Do you speak English?”

This is the most natural and widely used way in Morocco.

🗣️ Pronunciation tip:
Say it like wash kat-hdar b-naglee-ziya.

What each word means

The sentence is built from four small pieces, and once you know them you can reuse them everywhere:

• wash (واش) → the little word that turns any sentence into a yes/no question

• kat-hder (كتهضر) → “you speak”; hder is the Darija verb for “to speak, to talk” (the h is a normal, soft h)

• b (ب) → “in / with”, used for languages

• nglizia (النݣليزية) → “English”; Moroccans swallow the first vowel, so it sounds like n-glee-zee-ya

You will see it written in many ways online (katahdar / kathder / kat-hder, nagliziya / nglizia / ngliziya). They are all the same sentence; Darija has no official spelling in Latin letters. The sounds that matter are explained in how to pronounce Moroccan Arabic.

Talking to a Man vs a Woman

In Darija, verbs change depending on who you’re talking to:

• Wash katahdar b nagliziya? → to a man

• Wash katahdari b nagliziya? → to a woman

The difference is small, but useful to know as you improve.

To a group of people (at a hotel desk, in a shop with several sellers), add -u: Wash kat-hdru b-nglizia? (واش كتهضرو بالنݣليزية؟). And if you are asking whether anyone around speaks English: Wash kayn shi wa7ed kay-hder b-nglizia? → “Is there someone who speaks English?”. This one is gold in a souk.

The answers you will hear

• Ah, shwiya (آه شوية) → “Yes, a little” — the most common answer

• La, ma kanhdersh (لا ما كنهضرش) → “No, I don’t speak it”

• Ghir lfransawiya (غير الفرنساوية) → “Only French”

• Shwiya shwiya → “a little bit”, often with a hand gesture

• Ah, hder (آه هضر) → “Yes, go ahead, speak”

More Useful Variations

Here are other ways to ask:

• Katahdar english? → “Do you speak English?” (simpler, very common)

• 3afak, wash katahdar b l’anglais? → “Please, do you speak English?”

• Katfham english? → “Do you understand English?”

These are helpful in shops, taxis, restaurants, and hotels.

Other languages: French, Spanish, Arabic

Replace the last word and the same question works for any language. In Morocco, French is often the better bet outside tourist areas, and Spanish in the north (Tangier, Tetouan):

• Wash kat-hder b-lfransawiya? (واش كتهضر بالفرنساوية؟) → “Do you speak French?”

• Wash kat-hder b-sbanyoliya? (واش كتهضر بالصبنيولية؟) → “Do you speak Spanish?”

• Wash kat-hder b-l3arbiya? (واش كتهضر بالعربية؟) → “Do you speak Arabic?”

• Wash kat-hder b-ddarija? (واش كتهضر بالدارجة؟) → “Do you speak Darija?” — what Moroccans will ask you, with a big smile

Useful Follow-Up Phrases

After asking, you can continue the conversation:

• Ana makanhdersh Darija mazyan → “I don’t speak Darija well”

• Na9dar nahdar b shwiya → “I can speak a little”

• Ta9dar t3awad, 3afak? → “Can you repeat, please?”

• Mafhamtsh → “I didn’t understand”

These phrases will help you keep the conversation going.

When you don’t understand: ma fhemtsh, hder bshwiya 3afak

Here is the part most phrasebooks forget. The moment you ask wash kat-hder b-nglizia?, the answer often comes back in fast Darija. These are the phrases that save you:

• Ma fhemtsh (ما فهمتش, ma-FHEMT-sh) → “I didn’t understand”

• Ma kanfhemsh (ما كنفهمش) → “I don’t understand” (in general)

• Hder bshwiya, 3afak (هضر بشوية عفاك) → “Speak slowly, please”

• 3awed, 3afak (عاود عفاك) → “Repeat, please” — the short version of ta9dar t3awad?

• Shno ma3na hadi? (شنو معنى هادي؟) → “What does this mean?”

• Kifash kat-gol “water” b-ddarija? (كيفاش كتݣول ... بالدارجة؟) → “How do you say ‘water’ in Darija?”

• Kteb liya, 3afak (كتب ليا عفاك) → “Write it for me, please” (great for prices and addresses)

• Fhemt! (فهمت) → “I understood!” — say it with a smile, Moroccans love it

• Safi, shukran (صافي شكرا) → “Okay, that’s enough, thank you”

Learn these together with 3afak (please) and smah liya (excuse me), explained in please in Moroccan Arabic and excuse me in Moroccan Arabic, and no conversation will ever be a dead end.

Cultural Note: Languages in Morocco

Morocco is a multilingual country.

Many people speak:

• Darija (Moroccan Arabic)

• Tamazight (berber)

• French

• English (especially in tourist areas)

Even if someone speaks English, starting with a few words in Darija will make a great impression.

🇲🇦 Cultural Note: English is growing fast among young Moroccans, and in Marrakech, Agadir, Fes or Chefchaouen most people working with tourists speak it. In administration, banks and pharmacies, French is still the second language. In the north, many people switch to Spanish. And everywhere, the first language of the street is Darija, which is why a few words of it open every door. If you want to understand what Darija is and how it differs from Arabic, read what is Moroccan Darija.

Reference Table: Phrases for When You Don’t Understand

Save this table on your phone. It covers the whole situation, from the first question to the moment you finally understand.

Dialogue: Asking “Do You Speak English?” in a Shop

A traveler in a 7anout (corner shop) in Casablanca. Notice how the conversation keeps going even when the English runs out 👉

A: Salam! Smah liya, wash kat-hder b-nglizia? — Hello! Excuse me, do you speak English?

B: Shwiya. Ash bghiti? — A little. What do you want?

A: Bghit lma... w hadi, shno ma3na hadi? — I want water... and this, what does this mean?

B: Hadi “sellou”, 7lawa dyal Ramadan. Bnina bezaf! — This is “sellou”, a Ramadan sweet. Very tasty!

A: Ma fhemtsh. Hder bshwiya, 3afak. — I didn’t understand. Speak slowly, please.

B: Sellou... 7lawa... Ramadan. — Sellou... a sweet... Ramadan.

A: Ah, fhemt! Sh7al? — Ah, I understood! How much?

B: 3eshrin derham. Kteb lik? — Twenty dirhams. Shall I write it for you?

A: La, safi, fhemt. Shukran bezaf! — No, it’s okay, I understood. Thank you very much!

B: Bla jmil. Kat-hder ddarija mezyan! — You’re welcome. You speak Darija well!

Common Mistakes When Asking “Do You Speak English?” in Darija

• Using Standard Arabic. Hal tatakallam al-inglizia? is correct Arabic, but it sounds like a news anchor. Moroccans say wash kat-hder b-nglizia?.

• Forgetting “wash”. Without it, kat-hder b-nglizia is a statement (“you speak English”). Wash is what makes it a question, together with a rising voice.

• Mixing kat- and kan-. Kat-hder is “you speak”; kan-hder is “I speak”. Ma kanhdersh = I don’t speak; ma kat-hdersh? = you don’t speak?

• Giving up after “la”. A “no” to English is not the end: try wash kat-hder b-lfransawiya?, or hder bshwiya and keep going in simple Darija.

• Asking before greeting. Start with salam or smah liya. In Morocco, a question without a greeting feels cold, even in English.

FAQ: Do You Speak English in Moroccan Arabic

How do you say “do you speak English” in Moroccan Arabic?

Wash kat-hder b-nglizia? (واش كتهضر بالنݣليزية؟). To a woman: wash kat-hdri b-nglizia?. A shorter, very common version is kat-hder english?.

How do you say “I don’t understand” in Darija?

Ma fhemtsh (ما فهمتش) for “I didn’t understand”, or ma kanfhemsh for “I don’t understand”. Add 3awed 3afak to ask the person to repeat.

How do you say “speak slowly please” in Moroccan Arabic?

Hder bshwiya, 3afak (هضر بشوية عفاك). Bshwiya means “slowly / gently” and is one of the most useful words for learners.

How do you say “I speak a little Darija”?

Kanhder shwiya ddarija (كنهضر شوية الدارجة). Moroccans will usually answer mezyan! (great!) and slow down for you.

Do Moroccans speak English?

In tourist cities and among young people, yes, often quite well. Elsewhere, French is more common, and Darija is everyone’s first language. A few Darija words always help; if you want to go further, see my guide to learning Moroccan Arabic fast.

What does “wash” mean in Darija?

Wash (واش) is the question marker for yes/no questions, like a spoken question mark placed at the start: wash kat-hder...?, wash fhemti? (did you understand?).

Hear These Expressions with the Daily Darija Podcast

Want to hear how these expressions sound in real conversations?

🎙️ The Daily Darija Podcast helps you:

•  Hear natural Moroccan Arabic

•  Follow with transcripts

•  Practice pronunciation

•  Learn cultural context

🔗 Listen here → www.dailydarija.com/podcast 

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