Do People Speak English in Morocco?

Written By Kristin Clark
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Do People Speak English in Morocco? A Language Guide for Travellers

One of the questions I hear from English-speaking travellers before their first trip to Morocco is some version of this:

Am I actually going to be able to communicate with people?

The short answer is yes.

You can travel through Morocco speaking only English, particularly if you are staying in riads, travelling with guides and spending time in places accustomed to international visitors. Morocco's Ministry of Foreign Affairs even notes that English will generally get you by in the country's main tourist hubs.

But Morocco is also wonderfully multilingual.

Walk through Marrakech and you might hear a conversation move between Moroccan Arabic and French without anyone thinking twice about it. Head north and Spanish starts appearing more often. Travel through Amazigh communities and you will hear languages that have been spoken here for centuries.

You do not need to learn all of them.

A few words, however, can change an interaction completely.

What Languages Are Spoken in Morocco?

Morocco has two official languages: Arabic and Amazigh. That status is established in Article 5 of the Moroccan Constitution.

That doesn't quite explain what you will hear walking down the street, though.

Moroccan Arabic or Darija

The language you are most likely to hear in everyday conversation is Moroccan Arabic, usually called Darija.

Darija isn't the same Arabic you may encounter in an Arabic course or language app.

Modern Standard Arabic is used much more in formal settings, including administration, education, media and official communication. Darija is the language of ordinary conversation.

It has also absorbed influences from Amazigh, French and Spanish over generations, which is part of what makes it sound so distinctly Moroccan. The Moroccan National Tourist Office describes Darija as the oral language commonly used in Morocco.

If you are going to learn five or ten Moroccan words before your trip, I would make them Darija.

You are not trying to become fluent.

You are trying to say hello to the person pouring your tea.

That's much more achievable.

Amazigh

Amazigh is Morocco's other official language and an important part of the country's history and identity.

You may also hear people use the term Berber, particularly in older travel literature, but Amazigh is the term increasingly used within Morocco.

There are three principal Amazigh variants recognized in Moroccan public services: Tarifit, Tachelhit and Tamazight.

You'll also notice Amazigh written in Tifinagh, its distinctive alphabet, on public signage alongside Arabic in many places.

You are unlikely to need to learn Amazigh for a typical trip, but understanding that it exists matters. Morocco isn't linguistically one-dimensional, and travelling through different regions makes that very obvious.

French

Then there is French.

French is not one of Morocco's official languages, but it remains deeply woven into everyday life. You'll encounter it in business, restaurants, shops, education and plenty of signage.

The Moroccan National Tourist Office describes French as widely spoken and understood throughout the country.

If you already speak some French, use it.

Even rusty Canadian high-school French can suddenly become surprisingly useful when you are staring at a menu or trying to explain something to a taxi driver.

You don't need perfect grammar.

Nobody is grading you.

Spanish

Spanish becomes more useful as you travel through northern Morocco.

You'll hear it particularly around places such as Tangier, Tetouan and Chefchaouen, where Morocco's geography and history have created stronger Spanish influence. Morocco's tourism office specifically notes the prevalence of Spanish in this part of the country.

If Spanish is your second language rather than French, don't assume it will be useless here.

In the north, it may be exactly the opposite.

How Widely Is English Spoken in Morocco?

English is increasingly common in Morocco, especially in tourism.

In Marrakech, Fes, Casablanca, Essaouira and other destinations receiving large numbers of international visitors, you will often find English-speaking staff in hotels, riads, restaurants, tour companies and attractions.

That does not mean everyone you meet will speak English.

And I wouldn't travel expecting them to.

Once you move away from heavily visited areas, communication can become more dependent on Darija or French. Smaller shops, local markets, taxis and rural areas are where your handful of phrases and translation app suddenly earn their place on your phone.

Still, language is rarely the obstacle first-time visitors imagine it will be.

Moroccans are remarkably accustomed to moving between languages.

And when both people want to communicate, you would be amazed at what can be accomplished with three words, a phone and some enthusiastic hand gestures.

Simple Darija Phrases Worth Learning Before Morocco

There are enormous Darija phrasebooks online.

You don't need one.

I would start with the words you are actually going to use repeatedly.

Your Morocco phrase guide

Essential Darija Words for Travellers

You do not need to speak Darija fluently to make a connection. Start with these practical words and phrases for greetings, shopping and everyday conversations.

English Darija Rough pronunciation
Hello Salam sah-lahm
How are you? Labas? lah-bass
Thank you Shukran shook-ran
Thank you very much Shukran bzaf shook-ran b-zaf
Please 3afak / Afak ah-fak
Excuse me / sorry Smah li smah lee
Yes Iyyeh / Ah ee-yeh / ah
No La lah
OK / alright Wakha wah-kha
I don't understand Ma fhemtch mah f-hemt-sh
How much? Bsh7al? b-sh-hal
Where is…? Fin kayn…? feen kine
Too expensive Ghali bzaf gha-lee b-zaf
No, thank you La, shukran lah, shook-ran
Goodbye Bslama b-slah-ma

These phrases line up closely with the everyday vocabulary recommended by Morocco's own tourism office, including salam, labas, shukran, bslama, fin kayn and ghali bezaf.

One of my favourites is simply wakha.

You'll hear it constantly.

Okay. Alright. Agreed. Got it.

One little word doing a lot of work.

Why Are There Numbers in Written Darija?

This confuses people the first time they see Moroccan Arabic written using Latin letters.

You may come across something like:

3afak

or:

Bsh7al?

No, someone did not accidentally hit the number keys.

Because some Arabic sounds don't have a direct equivalent in the Latin alphabet, numbers are commonly used when Darija is written informally in Latin characters.

For example, 3 represents the Arabic sound ع, while 7 represents a stronger breathy "h" sound.

Do not spend your flight to Morocco trying to master either of them.

If you pronounce 3afak approximately as "ah-fak," people will understand what you are attempting to say.

Effort matters considerably more than perfection.

The Phrases I Would Learn First

If memorizing 15 phrases already feels like homework, cut the list down.

Learn these five:

Salam — Hello

Shukran — Thank you

Afak — Please

La, shukran — No, thank you

Ma fhemtch — I don't understand

That's enough to make your first few days easier.

I'd add bsh7al? if you plan to spend any time shopping in the souks.

You will.

Best Translation Apps for Travelling in Morocco

A translation app is absolutely worth having in Morocco, but there is one important thing to understand before relying on it.

Most major translation apps support Arabic.

That generally means Standard Arabic.

Darija is different.

As of September 2026, Google Translate supports Arabic and Tamazight but does not list Moroccan Arabic/Darija as its own translation language.

So translation apps are useful.

They just aren't magic.

Google Translate

Google Translate would be my first download.

Before leaving home, download Arabic and French for offline use.

The app can translate typed text, speech and photos, and its camera translation is particularly handy when you're trying to understand a sign, label or menu. Downloaded languages can also be used for certain translations when you don't have an internet connection.

You can also save useful translations to a phrasebook.

That sounds like a minor feature until you're standing somewhere with unreliable reception trying to find the same sentence you translated yesterday.

One caveat: selecting Arabic does not turn Google Translate into a perfect Darija interpreter.

For straightforward communication, however, it is very useful.

Microsoft Translator

Microsoft Translator is another good option, particularly for face-to-face conversations.

It offers voice and text translation, split-screen conversations, camera translation, a travel phrasebook and downloadable offline language packs.

Again, think Arabic rather than specifically Darija.

I'd use it as a backup rather than downloading six translation apps that all do essentially the same thing.

Apple Translate

If you use an iPhone, Apple Translate is convenient because it is already integrated into the Apple ecosystem.

It currently supports Arabic and French along with voice, conversation and camera translation, and downloaded languages can be used on-device without an internet connection.

For most travellers, I would still put Google Translate first simply because of its broader language support.

But having a second option never hurts.

Download Your Languages Before You Leave

Do this at home.

Not at baggage claim.

Download the Arabic and French language packs you want to use offline before your flight, preferably while connected to Wi-Fi.

I also recommend keeping a screenshot or note on your phone containing:

  • your accommodation's name and address

  • a few important Darija phrases

  • your driver's or guide's contact information

  • any allergies or dietary restrictions written clearly

  • important destinations you will be visiting

Phones lose reception.

Batteries die.

Apps occasionally decide that the one moment you desperately need them is also the perfect time to update.

Having the important information already saved is much easier.

Don't Be Afraid to Use the Wrong Language

There is a tendency among travellers to become so worried about saying something incorrectly that they say nothing at all.

I think that's a mistake.

Say salam when you walk into a small shop.

Say shukran when someone helps you.

Try your terrible French.

Use the translation app when you've exhausted everything else.

Then laugh when the translation makes absolutely no sense.

Some of my favourite travel moments have happened when neither person had enough shared language for a proper conversation and somehow we had one anyway.

Language in Morocco isn't just something you need to navigate around.

It's part of the experience.

The mix of Darija, Amazigh, French, Spanish and increasingly English tells you something about the country itself: its history, geography and the cultures that have met here over generations.

You don't need to arrive speaking all of them.

A few good words will do.

And salam is a very good place to start.

Maple & Medina Featured by Daily Darija

I was delighted to see Maple & Medina featured in Daily Darija’s article, Planning a Trip to Marrakech? Learn These Darija Words First.

The article shares practical Darija phrases for navigating Marrakech and highlights the value of experiencing Morocco through genuine local connections. It also introduces Maple & Medina’s approach to travel: private, customized journeys designed in Canada and brought to life in Morocco with trusted local guides, drivers, hosts and artisans.

For me, that connection is what makes a journey memorable. Learning even a few words of Darija can turn a simple exchange into a warmer, more personal moment—and help you experience Morocco as more than a visitor. I’m grateful to Daily Darija for featuring our work and recognizing the thoughtful, locally rooted experiences we aim to create.

Planning a Morocco Trip Without Worrying About the Language Barrier

If the language question is one of the things making Morocco feel a little intimidating, it doesn't need to be.

Having trusted local guides, drivers and people you can contact along the way removes much of that uncertainty while still giving you room to experience Morocco for yourself.

At Maple & Medina, that's how we like to travel: enough support that you can relax, but never so much structure that the country disappears behind the itinerary.

If you're starting to think seriously about Morocco, we'd be happy to talk through what that trip could look like.

Keep Planning Your Morocco Journey

Language is only one part of preparing for Morocco. These guides can help you choose the right route, season and style of trip:

Explore Our Private Morocco Journeys

Every Maple & Medina journey is private and thoughtfully planned. Start with the option that most closely matches the Morocco you want to experience:

Kristin Clark
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When Is the Best Time to Visit Morocco?