What type of Arabic is spoken in Morocco?

In Morocco there are two official languages, Arabic and Amazigh, which are spoken in the streets and villages of Morocco. Classical Arabic, more commonly known as Literary Arabic, is the administrative language of the country. Generally speaking, you will hear Moroccan Arabic spoken in the streets.

How many Arabic speakers are in Morocco?

Moroccan Arabic is spoken by some 19 million people in Morocco. The worldwide population of Moroccan Arabic speakers is over 21 million (Ethnologue).

Why does Moroccan Arabic so different?

Moroccan Arabic is So Different Than MSA and Other Arabic Dialects. The Arabic dialect in Morocco is called Moroccan Arabic or Moroccan Darija. It has been heavily influenced by the Berber languages (Amazigh) and to a lesser extent by French and Spanish. Morocco is also a member of the Francophonie.

What are the varieties of Arabic language?

Geographically, modern Arabic varieties are classified into five groups: Maghrebi, Egyptic, Mesopotamian, Levantine and Peninsular Arabic. Speakers from distant areas, across national borders, within countries and even between cities and villages, can struggle to understand each other’s dialects.

What is the name of the language spoken in Morocco?

The word Darija in Arabic means common and known and is used to describe the variety of Arabic, in a general sense, that is spoken in Morocco today. Darija is also the name used for other language varieties in the region like Algerian Arabic.

Are there any books written in Moroccan Arabic?

Moroccan Arabic is not often written (most books and magazines are in French, Spanish, or Modern Standard Arabic; most Qur’an books are written in French, Spanish, Classical Arabic, or Modern Standard Arabic), and there is no universally standard written system.

Is it possible to learn Arabic in Morocco?

Yes, you can totally learn Standard Arabic in Morocco. In fact, going to study standard Arabic in Morocco may be a great ‘2 for the price of 1’ deal. Take a course in standard Arabic in Morocco and you will, in so doing, be able to learn Moroccan Darija for free.

What are some examples of different dialects of Arabic?

Like every dialect variation of Arabic, there are significant vowel shifts that make a very common Arabic word totally unrecognizable at first sound. As a simple example, take the word for ‘dog’ ( كلب ). Across dialects, you’ll hear this pronounced ‘kalb’, ‘kelb’, ‘kilb’ or even ‘keleb’.