Why We Use “š” Instead of “sh”

Lesson objective

In this lesson, you will understand why one transcription character is used for each Moroccan Arabic sound.

Why not write “sh”?

A beginner may wonder why Darija Academy’s transcription system uses š instead of sh. The reason is simple: every sound should have exactly one transcription character.

The problem with “sh”

In Moroccan Arabic, the sound s can be followed by a separate h sound. If “sh” were used for the sound in the English word she, it would be unclear whether it represented one combined sound, or two separate sounds pronounced one after the other.

The purpose of “š”

The character š represents exactly one sound — the “sh” sound in she. This makes it possible to clearly tell apart:

• š — one sound, like “sh” in she
• s + h — two separate sounds
• š + h — the “š” sound followed by a separate “h” sound

Understanding the transcription system

Darija Academy’s transcription system may look a little complex at first glance, but it was carefully designed to represent Moroccan Arabic sounds clearly and consistently.

Learning Arabic script later on will also help you refine your pronunciation even further.