Language/Moroccan-arabic/Grammar/Pronunciation

Rate this lesson:

0.00

(0 votes)

Help - Comments

◀️ Alphabet and Writing — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Introducing Yourself and Others ▶️

Moroccan Arabic Grammar → Introduction → Pronunciation

Welcome to the Moroccan Arabic course! In this lesson, we will cover the basics of Moroccan Arabic pronunciation. Learning the proper sounds of Moroccan Arabic is an important foundation for effective communication in this dialect. Here is what we will cover in this lesson:

Don't hesitate to look into these other pages after completing this lesson: Formation of the Conditional & Past Tense.

Moroccan Arabic Sounds

Moroccan Arabic sounds different from other Arabic dialects, so you will need to learn the unique sounds of this dialect. Here are some of the key sounds:

Arabic letter "ﻕ" is pronounced as a "q" sound like in "quarter."
Arabic letter "ج" is pronounced as a "j" sound as in "job".
Arabic letter "ض" is pronounced as a "d" sound like in "day" except it's pronounced from the very back of the throat.
Arabic letter "ع" is a very unique sound pronounced deep from the chest by constricting the muscles, it has no equivalent in English or most other languages. It is similar to the French "R" as well as the Spanish "j".
Arabic letter "خ" is pronounced in the back of the throat, it is a forceful expulsion of air with the back of the tongue pressed against the back of the mouth while the throat is constricted. It is often described as sounding like someone is clearing their throat.

These sounds are different from English sounds, so it may take some practice to pronounce them correctly, but with sufficient practice it shouldn't be a major difficulty. For instance, the "r" sound is always pronounced with a very strong trill on the inside of the mouth against the sides of the teeth, so that it's pronounced similarly to the Spanish "rr" or Italian "r" sound.

To practice these sounds, listen to Moroccan Arabic speakers, try to imitate them, and record yourself speaking so you can compare your sounds to the ones you hear.

Basic Pronunciation Rules

In Moroccan Arabic, pronunciation rules vary depending on the word and its context, but here are some basic tips:

Words in Moroccan Arabic are stressed on the last syllable or penultimate syllable (second to last syllable) depending on the length of the word. A short word up to three syllables is stressed on the last syllable, and a longer word is usually stressed on the penultimate syllable.
Vowels in Moroccan Arabic are pronounced differently in different accents. For instance, the "e" vowel is pronounced similar to the French "é" accent extending the sound and putting extra emphasis.
Most consonants in Moroccan Arabic are pronounced in the same way as Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) but there are some differences which you should familiarize yourself with.

It's important that you practice the sounds and rules of pronunciation in Moroccan Arabic as much as possible. The more you practice, the more comfortable you will be in using these sounds to communicate in a clear manner.

Examples

Here are some examples of Moroccan Arabic words and their pronunciations:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
لقاو	/lqaːw/	they found
تاكل	/takl/	you eat (feminine singular)
كيتعلمو	/ki-tɛʕləmu/	they learn

Conclusion

The sounds of Moroccan Arabic are unique and may require more time and effort to practice, especially if you are accustomed to other Arabic dialects. Nonetheless, practice will help you perfect those sounds and you will be more confident communicating in Moroccan Arabic variety. Keep in mind that language is always evolving and so does how it is spoken by different generations and regions in Morocco. To learn more about Moroccan Arabic, proceed to the next lesson or consult the sources below.

Sources

Moroccan-arabic Grammar - Alphabet and Pronunciation in ...

Impressive work on finishing this lesson! Explore these additional pages to enhance your understanding: Negative Imperative & The verb to Get up.

Table of Contents - Moroccan Arabic Course - 0 to A1

Course Presentation

Introduction

Greetings and Basic Phrases

Nouns and Pronouns

Food and Drink

Verbs

House and Home

Adjectives

Traditions and Customs

Prepositions

Transportation

Imperative Mood

Shopping and Bargaining

Historical Sites and Landmarks

Relative Clauses

Health and Emergencies

Passive Voice

Leisure and Entertainment

Holidays and Festivals

Conditional Mood

Regional Dialects

Indirect Speech

Weather and Climate

Other Lessons

◀️ Alphabet and Writing — Previous Lesson	Next Lesson — Introducing Yourself and Others ▶️

Contributors

Maintenance script

Create a new Lesson