An Abridged Glossary of my Moroccan Experience

Khobz bizzef

In a pre-emptive measure to ameliorate what Barnard calls "reverse culture shock", I am going to list some of the terms most commonly used by American students in Rabat. This way, you can recognize them when I use them back in the States. Most of these are in Moroccan Arabic (Darija).

Shoukran سُكْرَاً: "Thank you". The word most commonly used by American students in our homestays. Often, even if the rest of the conversation is in French or English, shoukran will be said at the end.

Bizzef: "A lot"; "very". Usually used in reference to the amount eaten at a meal or to the amount that something is zuina.

Zuina: "Beautiful" or "handsome" (zuine), but also used by American students to mean "delicious", "great", or "I don't know what you just said, but I heard the word 'Morocco'".

Shwia: "A little". Usually used to describe the amount of Arabic we know when asked by mulhanoots. Should be used to describe any amount less than bizzef.

(Mul)hanoot: "Shop(keeper)". Hanoots are the ubiquitous, tiny stores located in the Old Medina that miraculously contain everything you could want. They sell soda, candy, Pringles, and khobz, among other things. Can be specialized, for example, an electronics hanoot sells adapters, cords, fake iPods, etc.

Khobz: "Bread", but not just any bread. See image. As bread is used for all actions involving food, this is a very common term. Sold in wheels for about 1 dirham each. Usually associated with safi. See also: liferaft

Liferaft: refers to the khobz-induced weight gain all around the abdomen. Results from insufficient use of safi.

Safi: "Enough". From the French "ca suffit". Used whenever we want something to be over: force-feeding, Arabic class, harassment, etc. It is often necessary to repeat several times.

Landmines (or surprise tiles): The stone tiles that cover the ground of the Old Medina. Most of the tiles are not actually attached to the ground, and after it rains, even the flattest of tiles can dip and plunge your foot into a huge, hidden puddle.

Mashi moushkil: "No problem". A typical usage:

Student A: "You showed up 30 minutes late to our rendez-vous!"

Student B: "Yeah, my family wouldn't let me leave without having tea and khobz bizzef."

Student A: "Ah, mashi moushkil!"

This term was used after every shoukran during the village stay, but our Rabat families don't use it very much.

Hamdulilah الحمد لله: "Praise be to God" or "Hallelujah". This term is always appropriate. "How are you doing?" "Hamdulilah!"

Insha'allah إن شاء الله "God willing". Use this term whenever referring to the future, even if the event is certain. Ex. "I will see you in class tomorrow, insha'allah".

Hshuma: "Shame". This is actually a very important word in Morocco, and Moroccans' concept of shame is so different from ours. Hshuma is used in raising children, warding off street harassers, scolding women for showing too much skin or walking outside with wet hair or eating in public or dancing in front of men or walking with a man who isn't their dad/brother, etc. American students use it as a verb as well. For instance, you might ask your friend: "My skirt barely goes down to my knees. Am I hshuma-ing?" I am so used to living by the Moroccan sense of propriety that when I see tourists in shorts or tank tops I am offended. Hshuma is an interesting concept that I will discuss later.

SAFI.