On a day excursion you spend hours with a Moroccan driver and stop at village cafés and co-ops where French and Darija (Moroccan Arabic) do the work. A handful of phrases warms up the whole day — and a little French covers menus, signage and prices off the tourist trail.
In this guide
Greetings for your driver and the road
Greetings matter enormously in Morocco, and the start of a day trip is your first chance to use them — a warm 'salam' to your driver sets the tone for the whole excursion. Opening an interaction with the right words signals respect and almost always produces a warmer response. Darija greetings are similar to Modern Standard Arabic but with a distinctly Moroccan accent — the 'q' often becomes a glottal stop, and vowels are compressed. Don't worry about perfection; the attempt is what counts.
- Salam / Salam alaykum — Hello / Peace be upon you (standard greeting)
- Wa alaykum salam — And upon you peace (response)
- Labas? / Labas, hamdullah — How are you? / Fine, praise God
- Shukran — Thank you
- La shukran — No, thank you (essential for polite refusals)
- Smah liya — Excuse me / I'm sorry
- Bslama — Goodbye
- Wakha — OK / Alright
Numbers and money at co-op stops
Numbers in Moroccan Arabic (Darija) follow a familiar pattern from Modern Standard Arabic. For the argan-oil co-op, the roadside stall and a tip for the driver at the end of the day, these are the most useful:
- Wahed, jouj, tlata, rba, khamsa — 1, 2, 3, 4, 5
- Stta, sba, tmanya, tsa'oud, a'shra — 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- A'shr-in, tlat-in — 20, 30 (and so on by tens)
- Miya — 100 | Alf — 1,000
- Bshhal? — How much?
- Ghali bzzaf — Too expensive
- Khfef shwiya — A little cheaper
- Mashi mushkil — No problem
French essentials for excursions
French is the language of menus, road signs and business in Morocco — a legacy of the French Protectorate (1912–1956) that remains deeply embedded. On an excursion it covers the lunch menu at a village restaurant, asking directions when the signposting thins out, and confirming a price at a stop. Even basic French dramatically expands what you can communicate, especially on day trips around Rabat and Casablanca.
- Bonjour / Bonsoir — Good day / Good evening
- S'il vous plaît / Merci — Please / Thank you
- L'addition, s'il vous plaît — The bill, please
- Où est...? — Where is...?
- Je voudrais... — I would like...
- Combien ça coûte? — How much does it cost?
- C'est trop cher — It's too expensive
- Parlez-vous anglais? — Do you speak English?
Pronunciation notes and prices at stops
Darija compresses vowels significantly compared with Modern Standard Arabic — 'drari' (children) sounds almost like a single syllable. The letters 'gh' (غ) and 'kh' (خ) are guttural sounds not in English: 'gh' resembles a soft French 'r'; 'kh' resembles the 'ch' in 'loch'. Neither is difficult with a little practice.
At an excursion's co-op or stall stop, the bargaining ritual is friendly and expected. Open in French or Darija, ask 'bshhal?' (how much?), respond to the price with a wince and 'ghali bzzaf' (too expensive), offer roughly 40–60% of the opening price, and negotiate from there. A smile and good humour throughout make the exchange enjoyable for both sides. Walking back towards the vehicle — slowly — often produces the final best price.
Frequently asked
Do drivers and guides in Morocco speak English?
Most professional day-trip drivers and guides speak good English, and many also have French. At village café and co-op stops along the way, French and Darija dominate, with Tamazight in the Atlas. A few phrases in either language go a very long way and warm up the whole day.
What language is spoken in Morocco?
Morocco's official languages are Classical Arabic and Amazigh (Tamazight). Darija (Moroccan Arabic) is the everyday spoken tongue for most Moroccans. French is widely used in business, education and signage. Spanish is spoken in the north (Tangier, Tétouan, Nador). In practice, French and Darija cover most excursion situations.
Is Moroccan Arabic the same as Egyptian or Lebanese Arabic?
Darija is a distinct dialect with significant Amazigh, French and Spanish influences. It is notably different from Egyptian, Levantine or Gulf dialects — speakers of those dialects often find Darija difficult to understand. Modern Standard Arabic (the written, formal register) is understood but not spoken conversationally.
How do you say 'thank you' in Moroccan Arabic?
'Shukran' (شكراً) — borrowed directly from Modern Standard Arabic and universally understood, and the natural thing to say to your driver at the end of a day. The purely Darija equivalent is 'baraka llahu fik' (God bless you), which you'll hear in response to a kindness.
Do I need French for a day excursion in Morocco?
Not strictly — drivers and guides on organised day trips generally manage in English. But French opens far more along the way: the lunch menu at a village restaurant, directions when signage thins out, and confirming a price at a stop. Even a few phrases make a disproportionate difference.
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Culture
Morocco Etiquette & Customs
A little cultural awareness goes a long way on a Morocco excursion — where you pass through Berber villages, argan co-ops and small shrines that see fewer tourists than the city. Dress modestly, greet warmly, ask before photographing people, use your right hand, and embrace the unhurried pace of mint tea.
Culture
Moroccan Food & Drink
Half the pleasure of a Morocco day trip is the lunch in the middle of it — a slow-cooked tagine in a Berber village, fresh-grilled sardines on the Essaouira quay, or roadside msemen and mint tea on the kasbah run. Here is what to order on the road and how to eat well between sights.
Practical
Getting Around Morocco
For day trips and excursions, how you get there decides how much of the day is actually yours. A door-to-door private car or a pre-arranged group pickup beats trains and grand taxis for most excursions, because the famous sights — Agafay, Ourika, Ouzoud, Ait Ben Haddou — sit off the rail map entirely.