How Are You in Moroccan Arabic (Darija): Essential Phrases

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

Published on March 19, 2026 · Updated October 27, 2026 · 6 min read

If you want to have a real conversation in Moroccan Arabic (Darija), one of the first things you need to know is how to say “How are you?”

In Morocco, greetings are more than just a quick “hello” — people take time to ask about each other, show respect, and connect.

Let’s learn the most common ways to ask and answer “How are you” in Darija 🇲🇦

The Most Common Way to Say “How Are You?”

Here’s the most used expression:

• Labas? → “Are you good?” / “How are you?”

This is the most common and natural way to ask someone how they are in Morocco.

🗣️ Pronunciation tip:
Say it like la-bas (simple and easy!).

What does “labas” mean?

Labas (لاباس) comes from la ba’s, “no harm” or “nothing wrong”. That is why it is both a question and an answer: Labas? = “Are you okay?” and Labas. = “I’m okay.” You will also hear the longer Labas 3lik? (لاباس عليك؟), literally “no harm on you?”, which means exactly the same thing, and Salam, labas?, the standard Moroccan “hello, how are you?”.

Fun fact: Moroccans also use labas to mean “not bad” or “okay” about anything — the food, the weather, a hotel. Kif kan l-makla? Labas. = “How was the food? Not bad.”

Other Ways to Ask “How Are You?”

Moroccans use different variations depending on the situation:

• Kidayar? → “How are you?” (to a man)

• Kidayra? → “How are you?” (to a woman)

• Kif dayar? → “How are you doing?” (to a man)

• Kif dayra? → “How are you doing?” (to a woman)

• Kolshi bikhir? → “Is everything good?”

• Ash khbark? → “What’s your news?” (to a man) / Ash khbarek? (to a woman)

• Kidayrin? → “How are you all?” (to a group)

• Wash bikhir? → “Are you well?”

These are very common in both formal and informal conversations.

Kidayr, kidayra, kif dayr: what is the difference?

They all come from the verb dar (“to do”), so kidayr? is literally “how are you doing?”. The ending changes with the person you talk to: kidayr (كيداير) to a man, kidayra (كيدايرة) to a woman, kidayrin (كيدايرين) to several people. Kif dayr is simply the two-word version of the same question — you will hear both, and both are perfect.

How Are You in Darija: Quick Reference Table

How to Answer “How Are You?”

Here are the most common replies:

• Labas, hamdulilah → “I’m good, thank God”

• Bikhir → “Good”

• Kolshi mazyan → “Everything is good”

• Hamdulilah 3la kolshi → “Thank God for everything”

• Lhamdullah → “Thank God” — on its own, this is a complete answer in Morocco

• Labas, shwiya 3ayyan → “Okay, a bit tired” (3ayyana if you are a woman)

• Mashi bikhir → “Not well” — honest, but Moroccans usually still add lhamdullah after it

What does “bikhir” mean?

Bikhir (بخير) means “well” or “in good health” (b = with, khir = goodness). It is the word behind many everyday phrases: kolshi bikhir (everything is fine), labas, bikhir (I’m fine, well), and the blessing Allah yjazik bikhir (“may God reward you with good”), which Moroccans use to say thank you.

You can also ask back by saying:

• O nta? → “And you?” (to a man)

• O nti? → “And you?” (to a woman)

A Real “How Are You?” Conversation in Darija

• A: Salam, labas? → Hello, how are you?

• B: Labas, lhamdullah. W nta, kidayr? → I’m fine, thank God. And you, how are you doing?

• A: Bikhir, lhamdullah. Kolshi bikhir? Kidayra l-familia? → Well, thank God. Everything good? How is the family?

• B: Kolshi mzyan, lhamdullah. Allah ykhalik. → Everything is good, thank God. Thank you.

Notice that nobody really answers in detail. “How are you?” in Morocco is a ritual of warmth, not a medical check-up 😊

Cultural Note: Greetings in Morocco

In Moroccan culture, asking “How are you?” is very important — it shows politeness and respect.

People often don’t stop at one question. You might hear:

• Labas?

• Kolshi bikhir?

• Kidayra lfamila dyalk? → “ How is your family? ”

👉 Taking a moment to ask these questions is a sign of good manners in Morocco.

Moroccans also ask about the people around you: Ash khbar l-walidin? (how are your parents?), Ash khbar l-wlidat? (how are the kids?). You don’t need a real update — bikhir, lhamdullah is the expected answer, and then it is your turn to ask.

Common Mistakes When Asking “How Are You?” in Darija

• Using “kayfa haluka”. That is Standard Arabic from textbooks. In Morocco, say labas? or kidayr?.

• Mixing up kidayr and kidayra. Kidayr is for a man, kidayra for a woman. If you are not sure, labas? works for everyone.

• Answering with a long story. The expected reply is short: labas, lhamdullah, w nta? Then the real conversation starts.

• Forgetting to ask back. Always return the question with w nta? or w nti?. It is the polite rhythm of Moroccan greetings.

FAQ: How Are You in Moroccan Arabic

How do you say “how are you” in Moroccan?

Labas? (لاباس؟). It is the most common way, used with everyone. Kidayr? (to a man) and kidayra? (to a woman) are just as natural.

What does “salam labas” mean?

“Hello, how are you?”. Salam is hello and labas is how are you. It is the standard Moroccan greeting, all in one breath.

What does “labas 3lik” mean?

“Are you okay?” or “Is everything fine with you?”, literally “no harm on you?”. The reply is labas, lhamdullah.

How do you answer “labas”?

Say labas, lhamdullah (fine, thank God) or simply bikhir (well), then ask back: w nta? to a man, w nti? to a woman.

What does “kidayra” mean?

Kidayra means “how are you?” or “how are you doing?” when speaking to a woman. To a man it is kidayr.

What does “bikhir” mean?

Bikhir (بخير) means “well” or “fine”. Kolshi bikhir means “everything is fine”.

Hear These Phrases 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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Start simple… next time someone asks you:
👉 Labas?

You’ll confidently reply:
👉 Labas, hamdulilah! 😊