He Said “Kanbghik” – What Do I Say Back? 7 Flirty Replies in Darija (For Real Life)

By Fatima – 6 min read

Last month my American friend Jessica sent me a screenshot. A Moroccan guy from Casablanca told her on Instagram “Kanbghik”. She panicked and replied “Thank you”. He left her on seen.

I told her: Nooo! Kanbghik means I love you or I like you a lot in Darija. Thank you is the worst reply. You killed the vibe.

If a Moroccan guy or girl said “Kanbghik” to you, and you don’t know what to say back, this guide is for you. I will give you 7 replies, from cute, to shy, to flirty, to friendzone. And I will tell you exactly WHEN to use each one.

What Does Kanbghik Really Mean?

Kanbghik (كنبغيك) comes from Bghit (to want / to love). It means I love you, I like you, I want you. It depends on context.

If you just met: It means I like you a lot, I have crush on you.

If you are dating 3 months: It means I love you.

If he says “Kanbghik bzaf”: Bzaf means a lot. So I love you so much.

If he says “Kanbghik a habibi / a habibti”: Habibi for boy, Habibti for girl. Means my love.

Pronunciation: KAN-BGHEEK. The GH is like gargling water, from throat.

7 Replies – Choose Your Vibe

1. The Shy Cute Girl Reply (If you like him too but you are shy)

“Hta ana kanbghik” (حتى أنا كنبغيك) = Me too, I like you too.

Pronunciation: HTA ana kan-BGHEEK

When to use: You like him, you are shy, you want to say same thing back. Perfect first time. Add a shy emoji.

2. The Confident Flirty Reply (If you want to flirt more)

“3ad ghadi nbghik kter” (عاد غادي نبغيك كتر) = You will love me even more later.

Pronunciation: AAD ghadi NBGHEEK KTER

When to use: You want to be confident, not too easy. Shows you are interesting. Moroccan guys love this one.

3. The Super Romantic Reply (If you really love him)

“Kanbghik men qelbi” (كنبغيك من قلبي) = I love you from my heart.

Pronunciation: Kanbghik men QEL-bi

When to use: You are already together, you want to be romantic. Very strong. Don’t use if you just met 2 days ago.

4. The Teasing Playful Reply (If you want to make him chase you)

“Iwa chouf chno ghadi dir bash ntiq bik” (إيوا شوف شنو غادي دير باش نتيق بيك) = Okay let’s see what you will do to make me believe you.

When to use: You don’t believe him yet. You want effort. You want him to prove it. Perfect for Instagram guys who say Kanbghik too fast.

5. The Friendzone Reply (If you DON’T like him)

“Nta sahbi 3ziz 3liya” (نتا صاحبي عزيز عليا) = You are my dear friend.

Pronunciation: Nta SAH-bi AZIZ A-liya

When to use: You want to be nice but not give hope. You friendzone him gently without blocking. Very Moroccan way.

6. The Funny Reply (If you want to make him laugh)

“Kanbghik ta ana, walakin kanbghi pizza kter” (كنبغيك حتى أنا ولكن كنبغي بيتزا كتر) = I like you too, but I like pizza more.

When to use: You like him, you have humor, you want to be cute funny girl. Works 100%.

7. The Marriage Reply (If you are serious)

“Ila katbghini bssah, ji khtabni men darna” (إلا كتبغيني بالصح، جي خطبني من دارنا) = If you really love me, come ask for my hand from my family.

When to use: You are traditional, you want serious relationship, not just flirting. This is powerful. Moroccan men know you are serious girl.

My Personal Story

My Italian husband first time said Kanbghik to me in Darija after 2 months. I was so shocked because his pronunciation was terrible. He said Kanbgeek with hard G like in English. I laughed for 10 minutes. Then I said Hta ana kanbghik. That was 3 years ago. Now we are married.

So don’t worry about perfect pronunciation. Moroccan people will love that you try. Just try.

Common Mistake to Avoid

Don’t say “Shukran” (Thank you) when someone says Kanbghik. It’s like someone says I love you and you say Thanks. It’s cold. It kills conversation.

Don’t say “Me too” in English if you can say Hta ana. One Darija word is better than 10 English words for Moroccan heart.

FAQ

What is difference between Kanbghik and Kanbrik?

Same thing. Kanbghik is more Casablanca/Rabat. Kanbrik is more north like Tangier. Both mean I love you.

How to say I miss you in Darija?

Twahechtek (توحشتك). If you miss him, say Twahechtek a habibi.

How to respond if you are boy and girl said Kanbghik?

Same replies! Use Hta ana kanbghik. Or if you want to be manly: “Wana kter mennek” (And me more than you).

About me: I am Fatima, Moroccan girl. I teach Darija to foreigners because I saw many couples fight because of language. If this helped you, comment below which reply you used and what he said after!