Berber language of southwestern Morocco
Phrasebooks > 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.

Language areas in Morocco - Tachelhit

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

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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

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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

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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"
thick English d in "dork" or "door". Emphatic d
ɛ
‘ayn (voiced equivalent of , similar to English onomatopoeia for retching)
Arabic in Muammad (stronger than h, similar to English onomatopoeia for being cold)
thick English s as in "sold". Emphatic s
thick English "t" in "toll". Emphatic t
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

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Basics

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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

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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

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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

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

Clock time

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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

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_____ 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

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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

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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

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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

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Bus and train

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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.