How to say "I'm busy" in Moroccan Darija
أَنَا مَشْغُول
ana mshghoul
- Without tashkeel
- أنا مشغول
- Franco / chat alphabet
- ana mchghoul
- Literally
- I busy.
When to use it
This is the standard, everyday way to say you are busy in Moroccan Darija. It is used in both formal and casual contexts. The adjective must agree with the speaker's gender, so a female speaker will use the feminine form.
Other ways to say it
female speaker
أَنَا مَشْغُولَة
ana mshghoula
I'm busy
Used when the person speaking is a woman.
group
حْنَا مَشْغُولِين
7na mshghoulin
We are busy
Used when speaking on behalf of a group.
idiomatic alternative
عَنْدِي مَا يْدَار
3andi ma ydar
I have things to do
A very common phrase literally meaning 'I have what is to be done'.
How people reply
اللّه يْعَاوْنَك
allah y3awnek
May God help you.
مَاشِي مُشْكِيل، مَنْ بَعْد
mashi moshkil, men be3d
No problem, later.
In a sentence
مَا نْقْدَرْش نْخْرَج لْيُوم، أَنَا مَشْغُول.
ma nqdersh nkherj lyoum, ana mshghoul.
I can't go out today, I'm busy.
عَيَّط لِيَّا مَنْ بَعْد، أَنَا مَشْغُول دَابَا.
3eyyet liya men be3d, ana mshghoul daba.
Call me later, I'm busy right now.
سْمَح لِيَّا، أَنَا مَشْغُول مْعَا لْخَدْمَة.
sme7 liya, ana mshghoul m3a lkhedma.
Sorry, I'm busy with work.