Master Moroccan Arabic Pronunciation: Free Guide + YouTube Practice
Written by Abdul · Native Moroccan Arabic teacher, founder of Daily Darija
Published on · Updated October 27, 2026 · 9 min read
Quick answer: Moroccan Arabic (Darija) uses the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet, plus a few extra letters like ݣ for “g”. When Darija is written in Latin letters, numbers replace the sounds English does not have: 3 = ع (a squeezed throat sound, as in 3afak, عفاك, “please”), 7 = ح (a breathy h, as in 7ut, حوت, “fish”) and 9 = ق (a deep k, as in 9hwa, قهوة, “coffee”). Letter pairs cover the rest: kh = خ, gh = غ, sh = ش.
Example: 9hwa b l7lib, 3afak = coffee with milk, please ☕
Pronunciation is one of the trickiest parts of learning Moroccan Arabic (Darija). Some sounds just don’t exist in English or French — and that can make speaking feel intimidating at first.
That’s why I created a free pronunciation guide and a YouTube video to help you master the sounds of Darija step by step, no matter where you’re learning from.
Below you get the complete reference first: every letter of the alphabet, how it is written in Latin letters, and one real Darija word for each sound. Keep this page open as your chart, then use the PDF and the video to train your ear. For the hands-on mouth and throat exercises, go to my guide on how to pronounce Moroccan Arabic.
Moroccan Arabic Alphabet Chart: Letters That Sound Like English
Good news: most Arabic letters have a close English (or French) equivalent. Arabic is read from right to left, and each letter changes shape a little depending on its place in the word, but the sound stays the same.
| Arabic letter | Latin spelling | Sounds like | Darija example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ا | a / aa | “a” in father | atay (أتاي) → tea |
| ب | b | “b” in bed | bab (باب) → door |
| ت | t | “t” in tea | tmer (تمر) → dates |
| ث | t | “t” (Darija drops the “th”) | tlata (ثلاثة) → three |
| ج | j | “s” in pleasure, French “j” | jbel (جبل) → mountain |
| د | d | “d” in door | dar (دار) → house |
| ذ | d | “d” (Darija drops the “dh”) | kddab (كذاب) → liar |
| ر | r | a rolled “r”, like Spanish | ras (راس) → head |
| ز | z | “z” in zoo | zwin (زوين) → beautiful |
| س | s | “s” in sun | salam (سلام) → hello |
| ش | sh / ch | “sh” in shop | shukran (شكرا) → thank you |
| ف | f | “f” in food | flous (فلوس) → money |
| ك | k | “k” in kite | kas (كاس) → glass |
| ل | l | “l” in love | lil (ليل) → night |
| م | m | “m” in moon | mra (مرا) → woman |
| ن | n | “n” in no | nhar (نهار) → day |
| ه | h | “h” in hello | hna (هنا) → here |
| و | w / u / o | “w” in water, “oo” in food | wakha (واخا) → okay |
| ي | y / i | “y” in yes, “ee” in see | yedd (يد) → hand |
Vowels in Darija: the short ones are not written
Arabic writes only the long vowels: ا (aa), و (uu/oo) and ي (ii/ee). Short vowels are usually left out, and Darija also swallows many of them, so words often start with two consonants: ktab (كتاب) → “book”, bghit (بغيت) → “I want”, mzyan (مزيان) → “good”.
In Latin spelling, a doubled letter means a stronger, longer consonant, and it changes the meaning: 7mam (حمام) → “pigeons”, but 7mmam (حمّام) → “hammam, public bath”.
Darija Sounds Chart: the Numbers 3, 7, 9 and the Hard Letters
These are the letters that make learners nervous. When Moroccans text in Latin letters, they borrow numbers that look like the Arabic letter: 3 looks like ع, 7 looks like ح, 9 looks like ق.
| Arabic letter | Latin spelling | How to make the sound | Darija example |
|---|---|---|---|
| ع | 3 | squeeze the middle of your throat while saying “a” | 3afak (عفاك) → please |
| ح | 7 | a strong breathy “h”, like fogging a mirror | 7ut (حوت) → fish |
| ق | 9 | a “k” made very far back in the throat | 9hwa (قهوة) → coffee |
| ء | 2 | a small stop in the throat, as in “uh-oh” | su2al (سؤال) → question |
| خ | kh | “ch” in Scottish loch, Spanish “j” | khobz (خبز) → bread |
| غ | gh | the French “r”, a light gargle | ghali (غالي) → expensive |
| ص | s (heavy) | an “s” with the tongue low and the mouth round | sba7 (صباح) → morning |
| ض | d (heavy) | a deep, full “d” | ddaw (الضو) → light, electricity |
| ط | t (heavy) | a deep, full “t” | tobis (طوبيس) → bus |
| ظ | d (heavy) | in Darija, said like ض | ddohr (الظهر) → noon |
Most Latin spellings, including the ones on this blog, simply write the heavy letters as s, d and t. Your ear learns the difference with time; at the beginning, focus on 3, 7, 9, kh and gh, because they change the meaning of words.
Moroccan extra letters: ݣ for “g”
Standard Arabic has no “g”, but Darija uses it all the time, so Moroccans write it ݣ (also seen as ڭ): gol liya (ݣول ليا) → “tell me”. In French loanwords you may also see ڤ for “v”, as in villa (ڤيلا).
Reading popular words with the chart
Kanbghik (كنبغيك) → “I love you”: kan + bghi + k, with gh as the soft French “r”. More in my guide to romantic expressions in Darija.
3afak (عفاك) → “please”: 3a + fak, start with the squeezed 3. See please in Moroccan Arabic.
Bslama (بسلامة) → “goodbye”: b + sla + ma, no vowel before the s.
Shukran (شكرا) → “thank you”: shu + kran, with a rolled r.
Now, two simple steps to hear all these sounds from a native speaker 🗣️
Step 1: Download Your Free Darija Pronunciation PDF
The Daily Darija Pronunciation PDF is your go-to beginner tool for learning how to speak clearly and confidently.
Inside the guide, you’ll find:
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The most common Darija sounds (with English comparisons)
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Audio pronunciation links that take you straight to a YouTube video
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Practical examples using real Moroccan words and expressions
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Tips for clear pronunciation that even beginners can follow
📥 Download your free guide here → GET YOUR FREE PDF
It’s short, simple, and designed to make pronunciation fun — not stressful.
Step 2: Watch the Pronunciation Video on YouTube
Once you’ve got your PDF, open the linked YouTube video and start practicing with me in real time.
On the video, I’ll help you:
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Hear each sound clearly
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Repeat after me and practice pronunciation
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Learn how your mouth and tongue should move
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Get real examples of Moroccan Arabic words used in daily life
🎥 Watch now on YouTube → YouTube.com/@dailydarija
Even 10 minutes of daily practice with this video will help you sound more natural and confident.
Why Pronunciation Matters in Darija
Good pronunciation isn’t about sounding perfect — it’s about being understood.
When you pronounce words clearly, you:
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Communicate more easily with Moroccans
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Understand native speakers faster
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Build confidence in real conversations
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Enjoy learning because you can hear your progress
And when you combine listening + repeating + reading the PDF, you’ll improve much faster than memorizing lists of words.
One sound can change everything. 9lb (قلب) is “heart”, but klb (كلب) is “dog” 🐕 Khal (خال) is your mother’s brother, while l7al (الحال) is the weather or the situation, as in l7al skhon, “it’s hot”. This is why the chart matters.
Mini-dialogue: Practicing 7 and 9 with a Moroccan Friend
A is a learner, B is a Moroccan friend at a café:
A: Kifash katgolo “fish” b darija? — How do you say “fish” in Darija?
B: 7ut. B 7, mashi b h. — 7ut. With a 7, not with an h.
A: Hut? — Hut?
B: La, 7ut. 7ell 7al9ek shwiya. — No, 7ut. Open your throat a little.
A: 7ut! — 7ut!
B: Wa3r! Daba gol “9hwa”. — Awesome! Now say “9hwa” (coffee).
A: Khwa? — Khwa?
B: La, 9hwa, b 9 mn l9a3 dyal l7al9. — No, 9hwa, with a 9 from the bottom of the throat.
A: 9hwa! — 9hwa!
B: Mzyan bezaf, daba nshrbuha! — Very good, now let’s drink it! ☕
Common Mistakes When Reading the Darija Alphabet
Reading the numbers as numbers. 3afak is not “three-afak”. The 3, 7 and 9 are letters, never counted out loud.
Saying k + h for “kh”. Kh is one single sound (خ), like a soft clearing of the throat, not two letters.
Using Standard Arabic “th” and “dh”. In Darija, ث becomes t and ذ becomes d: tlata, not thalatha.
Ignoring double letters. 7mam (pigeons) and 7mmam (hammam) are different words.
Expecting one official spelling. Latin Darija is not standardized: 3afak, afak and aafak are the same word. Trust the sound, not the spelling.
FAQ: Moroccan Arabic Alphabet and Pronunciation
How many letters are in the Moroccan Arabic alphabet?
Darija uses the 28 letters of the Arabic alphabet. Moroccans add a few extra letters for sounds like “g” (ݣ) and, in loanwords, “v” (ڤ).
What does 3 mean in Darija?
The number 3 stands for the Arabic letter ع (3ayn), a sound made by squeezing the throat, as in 3afak (please).
What do 7 and 9 mean in Moroccan Arabic?
7 is the letter ح, a strong breathy “h” (7ut, fish). 9 is the letter ق, a deep “k” from the back of the throat (9hwa, coffee).
Is Darija written in Arabic or Latin letters?
Both. Signs, books and TV use Arabic script, while Moroccans texting on their phones often write Darija in Latin letters with the numbers 3, 7 and 9.
How do you pronounce kanbghik?
Say kan-bghi-k (كنبغيك), with the gh like a soft French “r”. It means “I love you”.
Is Darija pronunciation hard to learn?
Only five sounds are really new for English speakers: 3, 7, 9, kh and gh. With the chart above and ten minutes of daily listening, most of my students say them well within a few weeks.
Combine It with the Daily Darija Podcast
After practicing your pronunciation, use the Daily Darija Podcast to hear the sounds in real conversations.
🎧 Listen to:
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Everyday expressions
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Common verbs and greetings
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Natural Moroccan rhythm and tone
Each podcast episode comes with a transcript — so you can read, listen, and repeat to reinforce what you’ve learned.
📲 Listen on Spotify or YouTube: www.dailydarija.com/podcast
Want a teacher to correct your 3 and your 9 live? The Beginner Darija course trains every sound of this chart with real words and dialogues.
Start speaking Moroccan Arabic with confidence today!
📥 Download your free pronunciation PDF,
🎥 Watch the YouTube pronunciation video, and
🎧 Practice with the Daily Darija Podcast daily.
Tag @dailydarija on Instagram and share your progress — I love seeing how learners around the world sound more and more Moroccan every day 🇲🇦
Ready to go further?
Learn to speak Moroccan Arabic with confidence in the Beginner Darija course, or explore all the free Darija resources.
