How to Ask for Directions in Morocco: 15 Essential Darija Phrases for “Where is…?” (Full Guide with Tables)
By Fatima – Moroccan girl from Casablanca living in Milan – 8 min read
Last summer I was in Fez with my Italian husband Marco. We were looking for the Blue Gate Bab Boujloud. Google Maps said “You have arrived” but we were in a small alley with three old men drinking tea and a lot of cats. No Blue Gate. Just blue doors everywhere.
Marco was stressed, 40 degrees. He used Google Translate and said in formal Arabic “Ayna al Bab al Azraq?”. The old men smiled but said nothing. They did not understand formal Arabic. In the street in Morocco we only use Darija.
I then said “Salam ammi, afak, fin kayn Bab Boujloud?” and all three men stood up and showed us the way for free, just saying “Marhba bikom f Fez”.
That magic sentence is “Fin kayn…?” which means “Where is…?”. In this guide I will teach you with tables like I did for numbers, so you can memorize fast.
1. The Golden Phrase: Fin Kayn? (فين كاين؟)
Remember only this if you are in hurry. Pronunciation: Feen Kaa-yen.
| Darija Phrase | Arabic | English | When to Use It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fin kayn l’hotel? | فين كاين لوطيل؟ | Where is the hotel? | When you arrive first day |
| Fin kayn souk? | فين كاين السوق؟ | Where is the market? | For shopping in medina |
| Fin kayn toilette? | فين كاين طواليط؟ | Where is bathroom? | Very important! |
| Fin kayn Jamaa El Fna? | فين كاين جامع الفنا؟ | Where is Jamaa El Fna? | In Marrakech |
| Fin kayn taxi sghir? | فين كاين طاكسي صغير؟ | Where is small taxi? | For city taxi |
| Fin kayn pharmacy? | فين كاين فرماسيان؟ | Where is pharmacy? | Emergency |
My big sister tip: Always start with “Salam afak” (Hello please). So say “Salam afak, fin kayn l’hotel?” not just “Fin kayn?!” With smile you get better help. For older woman say “Salam khalti afak”, for older man “Salam ammi afak”.
2. How to Understand The Answer – 6 Words You Must Know
Asking is easy, understanding answer is hard. Here is table to memorize. Write it in your phone.
| Darija Word | Arabic | Meaning | Memory Trick |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nishan | نيشان | Straight ahead | They point with whole hand |
| Ala limen | على ليمن | On the right | Limen = right hand you eat with |
| Ala lisser | على ليسر | On the left | Lisser = left |
| Hda | حدا | Next to / Near | Hda l’qahwa = next to cafe |
| Qoddam | قدام | In front | Qoddam l’bank |
| Lour | لور | Behind | Lour l’mosque |
| Qrib / B3id | قريب / بعيد | Close / Far | Wach qrib? Is it close? |
Real example: You ask “Fin kayn pharmacy?” They say “Sir nishan, men ba3d ala limen, hda l’hanout l’kbir” = Go straight, then on the right, next to the big shop.
3. 8 Extra Phrases That Make You Sound Local
| Darija Phrase | Arabic | English Meaning | Why It’s Important |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tlef t! | تلفت! | I am lost! | Say it and 3 people will help you |
| Wach b3id? | واش بعيد؟ | Is it far? | To decide walk or taxi |
| Wach qrib? | واش قريب؟ | Is it close? | To know if you can walk |
| Smah liya, ma kanfhamch mzyan | سمح ليا، ما كانفهمش مزيان | Sorry, I don’t understand well | They will speak slower |
| Wach t-werri liya afak? | واش توري ليا عفاك؟ | Can you show me please? | More polite |
| Choukrane bzaf! | شكرا بزاف! | Thank you so much! | Always say it |
| Allah yjazik bikhir | الله يجازيك بخير | May God bless you | Old people love this more than thanks |
| Hna / Lhih | هنا / لهيه | Here / There | They point when they say it |
4. Real Street Conversation – Let’s Practice
You: Salam ammi afak! Tlef t. Fin kayn Souk Semmarine?
Man: Wa salam benti! Sir nishan, apres dor ala limen, kayn qoddam, hda l’qahwa.
You: Wach b3id?
Man: La, machi b3id bzaf, 3 minutes ala rjlik.
You: Choukrane bzaf ammi! Allah yjazik bikhir!
5. The Medina Secret
In Marrakech and Fez medina there are two types of helpers. Shop owners and grandmas help for free. Young guys standing at entrance who say “I show you” will want 20-50 dirhams at end. It’s his job, not scam, but if you don’t want to pay, ask shop owners busy with work or women. And always ask 2-3 people to confirm. Even Moroccans get lost and ask 2 people.
We don’t use street numbers like Europe. We use landmarks. So don’t say “Rue 15 number 10”. Say “Fin kayn Riad Zitoun hda Jamaa El Fna?”
About me: My name is Fatima, 26, from Casablanca, now living in Milan with my Italian husband Marco. I started MyDarijaGuide because Marco was lost in Fez and nobody understood formal Arabic. Now he can buy bread alone in Casablanca. If I could teach him, I can teach you too. Comment your favorite phrase below and I will correct you.
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