Which phrases should you learn before visiting Morocco?

The most useful phrases to learn before Morocco are a handful of Darija (Moroccan Arabic) basics: "salam" (hello), "shukran" (thank you), "la shukran" (no thank you), "bshhal?" (how much?), "wakha" (OK), and "insha’Allah" (God willing / hopefully). These cover greetings, the souk and everyday politeness.

Add "smehli" (excuse me/sorry), the numbers one to ten for bargaining, and a couple of French words like "bonjour" and "merci," which also work almost everywhere. Greeting someone in their language before switching to English makes a warm first impression.

You don’t need more than a dozen words to noticeably improve how people respond to you. Locals genuinely light up when a visitor tries a little Darija, and it takes the edge off haggling and taxi negotiations.