Tashelhit phrasebook

Tashelhit or Tachelhit or Shilha (also known as Tasusit) is an indigenous language native to Shilha people. It is spoken by more than eight million people in south western Morocco. It is spoken in an area covering c. 100,000 square kilometres, comprising the western part of the High Atlas mountains and the regions to the south up to the Draa River, including the Anti-Atlas and the alluvial basin of the Sous River. The largest urban centres in the area are the coastal city of Agadir (population over 400,000) and the towns of Guelmim, Taroudant, Demnate, Tiznit and Ouarzazate.

Tashelhit is an Amazigh ("Berber") language- The use of the term "Berber" is offensive to those which it is applied, as it is derived from the French word "Barbere" for barbaric.

Pronunciation guide

Tashelhit has been written with several different alphabets. Historically, the Arabic script has been dominant. Usage of the Latin script emerged in the late 19th century. More recently there has been an initiative to write Tashelhit in Tifinagh. In this phrasebook we are going to use the latin script to make it easier for new learners.

Vowels

Tashelhit has three vowels: a, i, u. The vowel e is used only as a schwa between two consecutive Letters (we're going to see that in an example), here are the vowels :

A - ah (Like the "a" in "father")

I - ee (Like the "ee" in "see")

U - oo (Like the "oo" in "doom")

Consonants

The following consonants are pronounced the same as in English:

b: like the "b" in "bay"
d: like the "d" in "dog"
f: like the "f" in "fun"
g: like the "g" in "get"
h: like the "h" in "hen"
j: like the "j" in "jam"
k: like the "k" in "kit"
l: like the "l" in "lump"
s: like the "s" in "sun"
t: like the "t" in "tip"
ɣ: like the french "r" in "rouge" (red in french)
w: like the "w" in "win"
y: like the "y" in "yellow"
z: like the "z" in "zebra"
n: like the "n" in "numb"

m: like the "m" in "mop".

x: like the Spanish "j"

c: like the sh in "ship"

ḍ: thick English d in "dork" or "door". Emphatic d

ɛ: ‘ayn (voiced equivalent of ḥ, similar to English onomatopoeia for retching)

ḥ: Arabic ḥ in Muḥammad (stronger than h, similar to English onomatopoeia for being cold)

ṣ: thick English s as in "sold". Emphatic s

ṭ: thick English "t" in "toll". Emphatic t

ẓ: thick English "z" in "Zorro". Emphatic z

If you still have difficulties with the letters or pronunciation, you can read the whole article about Berber Latin alphabet in Wikipedia. wikipedia:Berber_Latin_alphabet

Phrase list

Basics

Good Morning: Tifawin
Hello. (informal): Ssalam (most used one) / Ssalamu Ɛalaykum / Azul
How are you?: Manik a nn-tgit?
Fine, thank you.: Bixir, ak isrbḥ rbbi
What is your name?: Mad ak ism? (male) / Mad am ism? (female)
My name is ______ .: Ism inu ___ / Ism iyi ___.
Please.: I rbbi
Thank you.: Tanmmirt.
Welcome.: Brrk.
Yes.: Yah.
No.: Uhu.
Excuse me. (getting attention): Surf iyi / Samḥ iyi / Samḥ as
Goodbye: A kk-iɛawn rbbi / A kk-yaws rbbi
Goodbye (informal): Ha-k-inn (male) / Ha-km-inn (female)
I don't speak tashelhit [well].: Ur bahra ssnɣ taclḥit
Do you speak English?: Is tssnt tanglizit? / Ar tsawalt tanglizit?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Is illa ɣid kra n yan issnn tnglizit?
Help me: Aws iyi / Ɛawn iyi
Look out!: Ɛndak!
Good morning.: Tifawin
Good evening.: Timkliwin
Good night: Timnsiwin
I don't understand what you are saying.: Ur ssinɣ ma ttinit.
Where is the toilet?: Mani ɣ illa toilette?

Problems

Leave me alone.: Ajj iyi waḥdu iyi / itti nn gigi / fk iyi ttisaɛ
Don't touch me!: Ad iyi ur tslit (pronounced: Ayyur tslit)
I'll call the police.: Rad ɣrɣ i lbulis
Police!: Bulis!
Stop! Thief!: Bidd! Amxxar!
I need your help.: Ḥtajjaɣ-k ad yi tawst.
I'm lost.: Jliɣ
I lost my bag.: Ijla yi ssak inu
I lost my wallet.: Ijla yi lbẓḍam inu
I'm sick.: hrcɣ / uḍnɣ
I need a doctor.: Ixṣṣa yi uḍbib
Can I use your phone?: Is ẓḍarɣ ad stɛmlɣ ttilifun nnk?

Numbers

1: Yan
2: Sin
3: Kraḍ
4: Kkuẓ
5: Smmus
6: Sḍiṣ
7: Sa
8: Tam
9: Tẓa
10: Mraw
11: Yan d mraw
12: Sin d mraw
13: Kraḍ d mraw
14: Kkuẓ d mraw
15: Smmus d mraw
16: Sḍiṣ d mraw
17: Sa d mraw
18: Tam d mraw
19: Tẓa d mraw
half: Azgn
less: Qell
more: Uggar

Time

now: Ɣilad
later: Ar kiɣ
before: Qbl
morning: Taṣbḥit
afternoon: Tazdwit
evening: Tadggʷat
night: Yiḍ / Diyiḍ

Clock time

one o'clock AM: Yan wama n diyiḍ
two o'clock AM: Tis snat n diyiḍ
noon: Azal
one o'clock PM: Yat wama n tdggʷat
two o'clock PM: Tis snat wama n tdggʷat
midnight: Tuẓẓumt n diyiḍ

Duration

_____ minute(s): ddqiqt / ddqiqa (plr)
_____ hour(s): tassaɛt / tassaɛin (plr)
_____ day(s): wass / ussan (plr)
_____ week(s): imalass / imalassn (plr)
_____ month(s): wayyur / iyyirn (plr)
_____ year(s): usggʷas / isggʷasn (plr)

Days

today: Ɣassad
yesterday: Iḍgam
tomorrow: Azkka; Ṣbaḥ
this week: Imalass ad
last week: Imalass ad lli izrin
next week: Imalass lli d yuckan

Sunday: Lḥdd
Monday: Ltnin
Tuesday: Ṭṭlaṭa
Wednesday: Lɛrba
Thursday: Lxmis
Friday: Ljamɛ
Saturday: Ssbt

Months

January: Yanayr
February: Fibrayr
March: Mars
April: Abril
May: May
June: Yunyu
July: Yulyuz
August: Ɣuct
September: Cutanbir
October: Uktubr
November: Nuwanbir
December: Dijanbir

Colors

black: asggan
white: umlil
red: azuggaɣ
blue: azṛqi (some times we use "azgzaw" "aẓṛwal" also to mean blue)
yellow: awraɣ
green: azgzaw
orange: altcin

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Mnck ad tskar tawriqt s _____?
One ticket to _____, please.: I rbbi bbi yat tuwriqt s _____.
Where does this train/bus go?: Mani ira ttran/ṭṭubis ad?
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Mani ɣ illa ttran/ṭṭubis lli ttddan s _____?
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Is ar isras ttran/ṭṭubis ad ɣ _____?
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Managu a rad izzigiz ttran/ṭṭubis lli ttddan s _____?
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: Managu a rad ilkm ttran/ṭṭubis ad s _____?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: Man aɣaras a rad kkɣ iɣ riɣ _____ ?
...the train station?: ...lagar n ttran?
...the bus station?: ...lblaka n ṭubis?
...the airport?: ...lmaṭar?
...downtown?: ...tuẓẓumt n lmdint?
...the youth hostel?: ...Luṭil n iɛrrimn?
...the _____ hotel?: ...Luṭil n _____?
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...Lqunṣulya n Mirikan/Kanaḍa/Nngliz?
Where are there a lot of...: Mani ɣ llan tugtt n...
...hotels?: ...luṭilat?
...restaurants?: ...riṣṭuyat?
...bars?: ...lbiran?
...sites to see?: ...idɣarn ifulkin ma nẓrra ?
Can you show me on the map?: Is tẓḍart ad iyi tmlt ɣ Lxariṭa?
street: tsukt
Turn left.: Ḍuwr f ufasi.
Turn right.: Ḍuwr f uẓlmaḍ.
left: afasi
right: aẓlmaḍ
straight ahead: nnican
towards the _____: nnawaḥi n _____
past the _____: iɣ tzrit _____
before the _____: qbl ad tlkmt s _____
north: iẓẓlmḍ
south: iffus
east: lqblt
west: tagut

Taxi

Taxi!: Taksi!
Take me to _____, please.: Awi iyi s _____, Ɛafak.
How much does it cost to get to _____?: S mnck as rad iyi tsslkmt s _____?
Take me there, please.: Awi iyi s ɣinn, Ɛafak.

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Is xwan darun kra n ccumbṛat?
How much is a room for one person/two people?: Mnck ad tskar ccumbṛ i yan/sin middn?
Does the room come with...: Is illa ɣ ccumbṛ ...
...bedsheets?: ...tfrṣaḍin?
...a bathroom?: ...bitlma?
...a telephone?: ...ttilifun?
...a TV?: ...ttlfaza?
May I see the room first?: Is ẓḍarɣ ad zwar ẓrɣ ccumbṛ manik ad tga ?
Do you have anything quieter?: Is ẓḍarɣ ad darun afɣ kra yaḍn nna ɣ ur illi ṣṣḍaɛ?
...bigger?: ...imqqurn?
...cleaner?: ...iɣusn?
...cheaper?: ...irxṣn?
OK, I'll take it.: Waxxa, rad t awiɣ.
I will stay for _____ night(s).: Rad gis ɣumuɣ _____ waḍan.
Can you suggest another hotel?: Is tẓḍart ad iyi tnɛtt kra n luṭil yaḍn?
Is breakfast/supper included?: Is gis ikcm lfḍur?
What time is breakfast/supper?: Managu aɣ ittili lfḍur?
Please clean my room.: Irbbi, sɣus ccumbṛ.
Can you wake me at _____?: Is tẓḍart ad iyi tsnkrt ɣ _____?
I want to check out.: Riɣ ad ẓrɣ.

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Is a ttamẓt ddular n Mirikan/Ustralya/Kanaḍa?
Do you accept British pounds?: Is a ttamẓt iqariḍn n Nngliz?
Do you accept euros?: Is a ttamẓt luru?
Do you accept credit cards?: Is a ttqbalt ad xlsɣ s lakarṭ?
Can you change money for me?: Is tẓḍart ayi tsbadlt iqariḍn?
Where can I get money changed?: Mani ɣ ẓḍarɣ ad sbadlɣ iqariḍn?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: Yat ṭṭbla i yan/sin middn, ak isrbḥ rbbi.
Can I look at the menu, please?: Is ẓḍarɣ ad ẓrɣ lmenu, ak isrbḥ rbbi.
Can I look in the kitchen?: Is ẓḍarɣ ad ẓrɣ anwal?
I'm a vegetarian.: Ur a cttaɣ tifiyi.
I don't eat pork.: Ur a cttaɣ lḥlluf.
I don't eat beef.: Ur a cttaɣ afunas.
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): Is tufit ad as ur tsuggt lidam?
fixed-price meal: tirmt iṭṭafn yan watig
breakfast: lfḍur
lunch: imkli
supper: awzwit
dinner: imnsi
tea (meal): atay
soup: azkkif
I want _____.: Riɣ _____.
I want a dish containing _____.: Riɣ kra n tirmt a gis yili _____.
chicken: afullus
beef: afunas
fish: aslm
cheese: lfrmaj
eggs: tiglay
salad: claḍa
vegetables: lxḍrt
bread: aɣrum
noodles: cɛriyya
rice: rruz
lentil: tilintit
May I have a glass of _____?: Is tẓḍart a iyi tfkt yan lkass n _____?
May I have a bottle of _____?: Is tẓḍart a iyi tfkt yat tqrɛit n _____?
coffee: lqhwa
tea (drink): atay
juice: ɛaṣir
water: aman
beer: birra
red/white wine: aman waḍil azuggaɣ/umlil
May I have some _____?: Is tẓḍart ayi tfkt imik n _____?
salt: tisnt
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): Surf yi, a gʷma?
I'm finished.: Kmlɣ
It was delicious.: Immim lxir ad.
Please clear the plates.: I rbbi smun irukutn.

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Is illa darun ccrab?
Is there table service?: Is tlla kran ṭṭbla ixwan?
A beer/two beers, please.: Yat lbirra/snat lbirrat, ak isrbḥ rbbi.
A glass of red/white wine, please.: Yan lkass n aman waḍil azuggaɣ/umlil, ak isrbḥ rbbi.
A bottle, please.: Yat tqrɛit, ak isrbḥ rbbi.
whiskey: wiski
vodka: vudka
water: aman
orange juice: lɛaṣir n llimun
Coke (soda): Kuka kula
Do you have any bar snacks?: Is darun snakat?
One more, please.: Zaydiyi, ak isrbḥ rbbi.
Another round, please.: Yan ṭṭrḥ yaḍn, ak isrbḥ rbbi.
When is closing time?: Manag ad tqqnm?
Cheers!: Bsaḥtk

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Is tlla tagadda niw?
How much is this?: Mnck ay skar?
That's too expensive.: Iɣla lxir ad
Would you take _____?: Is ra dari tamẓt _____?
expensive: iɣla
cheap: irxṣ
I can't afford it.: ur ẓḍarɣ ast sɣ.
I don't want it.: ur tt riɣ.
You're cheating me.: Trit ad flli tnṣbt.
I'm not interested.: Wa ur tt riɣ uu.
OK, I'll take it.: Waxxa, rast awiɣ
Can I have a bag?: Is dark kran lmikka?
I need...: Ḥtajjaɣ...
...toothpaste.: ...ḍuntifris.
...a toothbrush.: ...ccita n wuxsan
...soap.: ...taṣṣabunt.
...shampoo.: ...ccampwan.
...medicine.: ... asafar.
...a razor.: ...riẓwar.
...batteries.: ...lbatri.
...paper.: ...tawriqt.
...a pen.: ...stilu.
...English-language books.: ...idlisn n tanglizit.
...an English-English dictionary.: ...imawaln n tanglizt s tanglizt.

Driving

I want to rent a car.: Riɣ ad kruɣ kra n ṭṭanubil.
Can I get insurance?: Is ẓḍarɣ ad skrɣ lasiranṣ?
stop (on a street sign): bidd
one way: yan uɣaras
no parking: war lparking
petrol: liṣanṣ
diesel: lmaẓuṭ

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: Ur skrɣ ma ihrcn.
It was a misunderstanding.: Is ka ur nttfihim.
Where are you taking me?: Ma sri trit?
Am I under arrest?: Is ttyamaẓɣ
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: Giɣ Amirikani/Anglizi/Akanaḍi.
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: Riɣ ad sawlɣ s uqunṣul n Marikan/Nngliz/Kanaḍa.
I want to talk to a lawyer.: Riɣ ad sawlɣ s lmuḥami.
Can I just pay a fine now?: Is ẓḍarɣ ad ka xlṣɣ lxṭiyt ɣilad?

This Tashelhit phrasebook is a usable article. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.