branch of the Afroasiatic language family indigenous to North Africa
Phrasebooks > Berber phrasebook

This phrasebook deals with Standard Amazight. See the Tashelhit phrasebook for Amazigh language relating to southern Morocco.

Amazigh languages (Tamaziɣt / Tamazight / ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ / ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵗⵜ / ⵝⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵗⵝ) are spoken in Northern Africa, mainly in Morocco , Tunisia and Algeria. These are not one language, but rather several closely related ones. Berber languages use their own alphabet called Tifinagh, but can also be written in Arabic or Latin script like the other two languages spoken in this region (Arabic and French).

Pronunciation guide

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Vowels:

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ⴰ (a)
like ⴰⵏⵣⴰⵔ (Anzar)
ⴻ (e)
like Yey
ⵉ (i)
like ⵉⵎⴰⵣⵉⴳⵏ (Imaziɣen)
ⵓ (u)
like ⵍⵎⵓⴷⵏ (Lmoden)

Consonants:

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ⴱ (b)
like
ⴳ (g)
like
ⴳⵯ (gʷ)
like
ⴷ (d)
like
ⴹ (ḍ)
like
ⴼ (f)
like
ⴽ (k)
like
ⴽⵯ (kʷ)
like
ⵀ (h)
like
ⵃ (ḥ)
like
ⵄ (ɛ)
like
ⵅ (x)
like
ⵇ (q)
like
ⵊ (j)
like
ⵍ (l)
like
ⵎ (m)
like
ⵏ (n)
like
ⵔ (r)
like
ⵕ (ṛ)
like
ⵖ (ɣ)
like
ⵙ (s)
like
ⵚ (ṣ)
like
ⵛ (c)
like
ⵜ (t)
like ⵜⴰⴳⴰⴷⵉⵔⵜ (Taɣadirt)
ⵟ (ṭ)
like
ⵡ (w)
like
ⵢ (y)
like
ⵣ (z)
like ⴰⵣⴰⵢⵣ (Azayz)
ⵥ (ẓ)
like

Phrase list

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Basics:

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Good Morning
ⵜⵉⴼⴰⵡⵉⵏ (sbah algir)
Hello. (informal)
ⴰⵣⵓⵍ (Azul)
How are you?
ⴰⵎⴽ ⵜⵍⵍⵉⴹ? (memesh tegid?)
Fine, thank you.
ⵉⴳⵔⵔⵣ, ⵜⴰⵏⵎⵎⵉⵔⵜ (saffi, shoukrane)
What is your name?
ⵉⵙⵎ-ⵏⵏⴽ? (m), ⵉⵙⵎ-ⵏⵏⵎ? (f) (Isem-nnek? (m), Isem-nnem? (f))
My name is ______ .
ⵉⵙⵎ-ⵉⵏⵓ ______ . (Isem-inu ______ .)
Nice to meet you.
ⵜⴰⵎⵓⵙⵙⵏⵉ ⵏ ⵍⵅⵉⵔ. (Tamussni n lxir)
Please.
(hafaq)
Thank you
Tenmirt. / ⵜⴰⵏⵎⵎⵉⵔⵜ. (shoukrane)
You're welcome.
ⵓⵍⴰⵛ ⴰⵖⵉⵍⵉⴼ (hafe u wane)
Yes.
ⵉⵀ (wah/ay)
No.
ⵓⵀⵓ (oho)
Excuse me. (getting attention)
ⵙⵙⵓⵔⴼ-ⵉⵢⵉ (semhai)
Goodbye
ⴰⵔ ⵜⵓⴼⴰⵜ (besalma/beslama)
I don't speak tamazight [well].
ⵓⵔ ⵜⵜⵎⴻⵙⵍⴰⵢⴻⴳ ⴰⵔⴰ ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ (weh sewrig sha tmazight mleh)
Do you speak English?
ⵜⴻⵜⵜⵎⴻⵙⵍⴰⵢⴻⴹ ⵜⴰⵏⴳⵍⵉⵣⵉⵜ? (sewred tinglist?)
Is there someone here who speaks English?
ⵢⵍⵍⴰ ⵡⵉⵏ ⵢⴻⵜⵜⵎⴻⵙⵍⴰⵢⴻⵏ ⵜⴰⵏⴳⵍⵉⵣⵉⵜ ⴷⴰ? (hed theh sewren tinglist?)
Help!
ⴰⴱⴱⵓⵀ! (haunay!)
Look out!
ⵖⵓⵔⴽ! (hower!)
Good morning.
ⵜⵉⴼⴰⵡⵉⵏ (Tifawin)
Good evening.
ⵜⵉⵎⵏⵙⵉⵡⵉⵏ (Timensiwin)
Good night
ⵉⴹ ⴰⵎⴳⴳⴰⵣ (Iḍ ameggaz)
I don't understand.
ⵓⵔ ⴳⵣⵉⵖ (weh fahmeg sha?)
Where is the toilet?
ⴰⵏⴷⴰⵜ ⵡⴱⴷⵓⵣ? (meni tega twaleet?)

Problems:

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Leave me alone.
( adji iwatonw)
Don't touch me!
( weh hathey sha!)
I'll call the police.
atsounag bolis!)
Police!
( lbolis)
Stop! Thief!
( bed amkhar)
I need your help.
(hthesheg shek(f)/ shem(m)
It's an emergency.
( )
I'm lost.
( woedag)
I lost my bag.
(woedag shakoesh ino)
I lost my wallet.
(Ijla albaztamino)
I'm sick.
( hersheg)
I've been injured.
( )
I need a doctor.
( ikhsayi outbib)
Can I use your phone?
( mchak dyoussa aditchet telephonch adiss sawlegh):

Numbers:

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0
ⴰⵎⵢⴰ (Amya)
1
ⵢⴰⵏ (Yan)
2
ⵙⵉⵏ (Sin)
3
ⴽⵕⴰⴹ (Kṛaḍ)
4
ⴽⴽⵓⵥ (Kkuẓ)
5
ⵙⵎⵎⵓⵙ (Semmus)
6
ⵙⴹⵉⵚ (Sḍiṣ)
7
ⵙⴰ (Sa)
8
ⵜⴰⵎ (Tam)
9
ⵜⵥⴰ (Tẓa)
10
ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Mraw)
11
ⵢⴰⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Yan d mraw)
12
ⵙⵉⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Sin d mraw)
13
ⴽⵕⴰⴹ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Kṛaḍ d mraw)
14
ⴽⴽⵓⵥ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Kkuẓ d mraw)
15
ⵙⵎⵎⵓⵙ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Semmus d mraw)
16
ⵙⴹⵉⵚ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Sḍiṣ d mraw)
17
ⵙⴰ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Sa d mraw)
18
ⵜⴰⵎ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Tam d mraw)
19
ⵜⵥⴰ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Tẓa d mraw)
20
ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ (Agnar)
21
ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ ⴷ ⵢⴰⵏ (Agnar d yan)
22
ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ ⴷ ⵙⵉⵏ (Agnar d sin)
23
ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ ⴷ ⴽⵕⴰⴹ (Agnar d kṛaḍ)
30
ⴰⴳⵏⴰⵔ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Agnar d mraw)
40
ⵙⵉⵏ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ (Sin wagrawen)
50
ⵙⵉⵏ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Sin wagrawen d mraw)
60
ⴽⵕⴰⴹ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ (Kṛaḍ wagrawen)
70
ⴽⵕⴰⴹ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Kṛaḍ wagrawen d mraw)
80
ⴽⴽⵓⵥ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ (Kkuẓ wagrawen)
90
ⴽⴽⵓⵥ ⵡⴰⴳⵔⴰⵡⵏ ⴷ ⵎⵔⴰⵡ (Kkuẓ wagrawen d mraw)
100
ⵜⵉⵎⵉⴹⵉ (Timiḍi)
200
( )
300
( )
1000
(agim)(ifed)
2000
(sin igiman)(sin ifden)
1,000,000
( )
1,000,000,000
( )
1,000,000,000,000
( )
half
( amnasf )
less
( idrous/ )
more
( ogar / ieda/ imkkor/ ikhatr/ youyr/yougr )

Time:

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now
ⵖⵉⵍⴰⴷ (ɣelad / dghi)
later
(nokana / asra)
before
(.ligh)
morning
(ifaw)
afternoon
(talgat)
evening
(tin yits)
night
(giit)

Clock time:

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one o'clock AM
(yan nwass)
two o'clock AM
(sin nwass)
noon
(...)
one o'clock PM
(yan n giit)
two o'clock PM
(sin n giit)
midnight
(amas ngiit)
midday
("amas nwass ")

Duration:

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_____ minute(s)
_____ (tasdidt/tedqiqin)
_____ hour(s)
_____ ()
_____ day(s)
_____ (ass/ussan)
_____ week(s)
_____ (ayyur/ayyuren)
_____ year(s)
_____ (aseggas/isaggasen)

Days:

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Today
Assa
Yesterday
Assirt
Tomorrow
Assca
Sunday
ⴰⵙⴰⵎⴰⵙ (Asamas)
Monday
ⴰⵢⵏⴰⵙ (Aynas)
Tuesday
ⴰⵙⵉⵏⴰⵙ (Asinas)
Wednesday
ⴰⴽⵕⴰⵙ (Akṛas)
Thursday
ⴰⴽⵡⴰⵙ (Akwas)
Friday
ⴰⵙⵉⵎⵡⴰⵙ (Asimwas)
Saturday
ⴰⵙⵉⴹⵢⴰⵙ (Asiḍyas)

Months:

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January
ⵉⵏⵏⴰⵢⵔ (Innayr), ⵢⵏⵢⵓⵔ (Yenyur)
February
ⴱⵕⴰⵢⵕ (Bṛayṛ), ⵙⵉⵏⵢⵓⵔ (Sinyur)
March
ⵎⴰⵕⵚ (Maṛṣ), ⴽⵔⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Krayur)
April
ⵉⴱⵔⵉⵔ (Ibrir), ⴽⵓⵥⵢⵓⵔ (Kuẓyur)
May
ⵎⴰⵢⵢⵓ (Mayyu), ⵙⵎⵢⵓⵔ (Semyur)
June
ⵢⵓⵏⵢⵓ (Yunyu), ⵙⴹⵢⵓⵔ (Seḍyur)
July
ⵢⵓⵍⵢⵓⵣ (Yulyuz), ⵙⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Sayur)
August
ⵖⵓⵛⵜ (Ɣuct), ⵜⴰⵎⵢⵓⵔ (Tamyur)
September
ⵛⵓⵜⴰⵏⴱⵉⵔ (Cutanbir), ⵜⵥⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Tẓayur)
October
ⴽⵟⵓⴱⵕ (Kṭubṛ), ⵎⵔⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Mrayur)
November
ⵏⵓⵡⴰⵏⴱⵉⵔ (Nuwanbir), ⵢⴰⵎⵔⴰⵢⵓⵔ (Yamrayur)
December
ⴷⵓⵊⵏⴰⴱⵉⵔ (Dujnabir), ⵎⴳⴳⵢⵓⵔ (Meggyur)

Writing time and date

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Seasons

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Summer
anbdu
Autunm
amwan
Winter
tagrest
Spring
tafsut

Colors:

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black
ⴰⴱⵔⴽⴰⵏ (Aberkan ,Oghmi)
white
ⵓⵎⵍⵉⵍ (Omlil)
gray
(...)
red
ⴰⵣⴳⴰⵖ (Aẓgaɣ')
blue
ⴰⵥⵔⵡⴰⵍ (Aẓerwal)
yellow
ⴰⵡⵔⴰⵖ (Awraɣ)
green
ⴰⵣⴳⵣⴰⵡ (Azegzaw)
orange
(...)
purple
(amdadi)
brown
(a9ahwi)


This Berber phrasebook is an outline and needs more content. It has a template, but there is not enough information present. Please plunge forward and help it grow!