Languages used in Morocco

Morocco's official languages are: National: classical Arabic and Berber (or Tamazight).

The non-official languages in Morocco are: Moroccan Arabic dialect of classical Arabic.

The Berber language is used daily throughout the regions of Morocco. French is the language of commerce and most of higher education.

Lately, English has gained a wide interest by youngsters and even adults, assuming it to be the future of Morocco’s economy and progress; do not be surprised if you meet people speaking English quite well. English therefore is taught in many private- and is a major subject in the public schools.

People in the Regions of the Rif, speak also Spanish because of the Spanish influence in the past century. In the Sahara region, Hassaniya (a Branch of Moroccan Arabic) is widely spoken along with Berber.

Generally speaking, the language spoken by the majority of the population is Moroccan Arabic, gradually influenced by the so-called classical Arabic, However, diglossia and even triglosia usually happens, because of the linguistic diversity within the same territory.

The phonology and morphology of the Moroccan Arabic and Berber can vary from one region to another, but mutual intelligibility happens.

Will our driver speak our language?

Our drivers/guides speak English, Spanish and French and are native speaker of Berber/Tamazight, they speak also Arabic, and they will be happy to facilitate your contact with local people and help you learn a few words in the Moroccan native languages, so feel free to ask them for translations anytime!

Useful words and expressions in Moroccan dialect

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