How to say "do you speak English?" in Moroccan Darija
وَاش كَتْهْضَرْ النّْڭْلِيزِيَّة؟
wash katheder l-ngliziyya?
- Without tashkeel
- واش كتهضر النڭليزية؟
- Franco / chat alphabet
- wash kathder lnglizia?
- Literally
- question-marker you-speak the-English
When to use it
This is the standard and most natural way to ask if someone speaks English in Morocco. It is universally understood and works in both casual and formal contexts. While 'l-ngliziyya' is the Arabic-derived term, many Moroccans also casually say 'longli' (from French 'l'anglais').
Other ways to say it
to a woman
واش كتهضري النڭليزية؟
wash kathedri l-ngliziyya?
Do you speak English?
Use this when addressing a female, adding the feminine 'i' suffix to the verb.
to a group
واش كتهضرو النڭليزية؟
wash kathedro l-ngliziyya?
Do you speak English?
Use this when addressing two or more people.
casual alternative
واش كتدوي بلونڭلي؟
wash katdwi b longli?
Do you speak English?
Uses the alternative verb 'dwa' (to speak) and the French-derived word for English, very common in casual street Darija.
more polite
واش كتعرف النڭليزية عفاك؟
wash kat3ref l-ngliziyya 3afak?
Do you know English, please?
Uses the verb 'to know' and adds 'please', ideal for approaching strangers like shopkeepers or police.
How people reply
اه، غير شوية.
iyyeh, ghir shwiyya.
Yes, just a little bit.
لا، ما كنهضرش بيها.
la, ma kanhdersh biha.
No, I don't speak it.
اه، كنهضر النڭليزية مزيان.
iyyeh, kanheder l-ngliziyya mzyan.
Yes, I speak English well.
In a sentence
سمح ليا اخويا، واش كتهضر النڭليزية؟
sme7 liya a khouya, wash katheder l-ngliziyya?
Excuse me brother, do you speak English?
ما كنهضرش العربية، واش كتهضري النڭليزية؟
ma kanhdersh l-3erbiyya, wash kathedri l-ngliziyya?
I don't speak Arabic, do you (f) speak English?
واش كتهضرو النڭليزية ولا لفرونصي؟
wash kathedro l-ngliziyya wla l-fronsi?
Do you (pl) speak English or French?