Transcription of Moroccan Arabic

Lesson objective

In this lesson, you will understand what transcription is and how it helps you read and write Moroccan Arabic.

What is transcription?

Moroccan Arabic is also called Darija.

Darija Academy uses a transcription system that represents Moroccan Arabic sounds with Latin characters — for example: a, b, d, f, g, h, k, m, n, s, t.

This system lets you begin reading and writing Darija right away, without first learning the full Arabic script.

Why is transcription useful?

You do not need to know the complete Arabic alphabet before you start learning Moroccan Arabic. Once you are familiar with transcription, you can begin to:

• read Darija words
• write Darija words
• recognize different sounds
• practise pronunciation

Arabic script and transcription

Darija Academy lessons present Moroccan Arabic in two forms: Arabic script and Latin transcription. Arabic script can also be learned later — transcription simply helps you start speaking and understanding much faster.

Two important things to practise

1. Learn the transcription characters

Learn which character represents each sound. This will help you follow the vocabulary, dialogues, and examples in every lesson.

2. Practise the sounds

Practise the different Moroccan Arabic sounds until you can pronounce them correctly. Some sounds are similar to English sounds; others are new and need more practice. A detailed pronunciation guide appears in the next lessons.