Darija has two main ways to say "not": ma-…-sh, which wraps around a verb, and mashi, which goes in front of everything else.
ma-…-sh: verbs
Put ma in front of the verb and -sh on the end:
- ما كتبتشma ktebtshI didn't write.
- ما كنعرفشma kan3refshI don't know.
- ما شافوهشma shafuhshThey didn't see him.
ma-…-sh also works with 3nd (have) and kayn (there is):
- ما عنديش الوقتma 3ndish l-weqtI don't have time.
- ما كاينش مشكلma kaynsh mushkilThere's no problem.
mashi: everything else
Use mashi for adjectives, nouns and participles:
- أنا ماشي عيانana mashi 3eyyanI'm not tired.
- هادي ماشي داريhadi mashi dariThis isn't my house.
Negative commands
Commands use ma + the bare present + -sh:
- ما تخافشma tkhafshDon't be afraid. (to a man)
- ما تخافيشma tkhafishDon't be afraid. (to a woman)
Never, nothing, nobody
- عمري ما مشيت3mmri ma mshitI've never been.
- حتى واحد ما جا7tta wa7ed ma jaNobody came.
- ما قلت والوma qolt waluI didn't say anything.
When a sentence has walu (nothing), 7tta wa7ed (nobody) or 3mmri (never), the -sh is dropped.