Taking a Petit Taxi in Morocco: Darija Phrases for Every Ride

Short answer: stop a petit taxi, greet the driver and say where you want to go: dini l-…, 3afak ("take me to…, please"). Ask for the meter with dir l-compteur 3afak, guide the driver with sir nichan ("go straight"), dour 3la limen ("turn right") and 7bes hna ("stop here"), then ask ch7al? ("how much?") and pay. A dozen short phrases cover almost every ride.

How petit taxis work

Petit taxis are the small city taxis you see everywhere in Moroccan towns. They only drive inside the city, and each city has its own colour: the U.S. State Department lists red in Casablanca, blue in Rabat and tan in Marrakech, for example. For trips between towns or out to the countryside you take a grand taxi, a larger shared car that usually leaves once every seat is taken.

A few things are useful to know before you get in:

• The meter. Petit taxis have a meter, which Moroccans call l-compteur (from French). The UK government's travel advice recommends either agreeing the fare before you leave or checking that the meter is running. Meters show the fare in dirhams, so you won't need the riyal (see our guide to Darija numbers and prices if the numbers still go too fast).
• Sharing is normal. The driver may stop for other passengers going the same way. The UK advice notes this too. You each pay for your own ride.
• Evenings. Fares are often higher late in the evening. As with any taxi, if you feel uncomfortable, ask to get out somewhere busy and well lit.
• Have small notes and coins. Drivers often don't have change for a large note.

Getting in: saying where you are going

The driver will often ask first: fin ghadi? فين غادي؟ ("where are you going?"). To a woman: fin ghadya? فين غادية؟

Name a landmark rather than a street number: a square, a mosque, a well-known hotel or café, a gate of the medina. Drivers navigate by places, not by house numbers. Having the address written down or on your phone map also helps.

If you can't remember 3afak, the polite "please", take a look at the small polite words in Darija. It makes a difference here as everywhere.

The meter and the price

Ask for the meter politely and early, as you sit down. It sounds like a normal request, not an accusation. If the driver offers a fixed price instead (common for the airport or late at night), you can accept, or say la, chokran and wait for the next taxi. Agree on the price before you set off, never at the end.

Directions during the ride

7bes is the key word: it means "stop", and you will use it on every ride.

Paying and saying goodbye

Lah y3tik s-se77a is what Moroccans say to someone who has just done a job for them. Drivers hear chokran all day; this one gets a smile.

Small talk you may hear

Drivers often chat, and a little Darija goes a long way:

• Mnin nta? / Mnin nti? ("Where are you from?", to a man / a woman). Answer ana mn…: ana mn Fransa (France), ana mn Almanya (Germany), ana mn Italya (Italy).
• Ka-thder darija? ("Do you speak Darija?"). The honest answer is usually chwiya ("a little"), and it often starts a friendly conversation.
• Mrehba bik ("Welcome") to a man, mrehba biki to a woman. Reply with chokran.

You may also hear the driver called chifour, another French word (chauffeur) that became Darija. When you speak to him directly, a friendly khouya ("my brother") is common.

A real ride, start to finish

You are near the train station and want to go to the old medina.

You: Salam o3alikom. Dini l-mdina l-9dima, 3afak.

Driver: O3alikom salam. Wakha, tle3. (OK, get in.)

You: Dir l-compteur 3afak.

Driver: Iyeh, khddam. (Yes, it's on.) Mnin nti?

You: Ana mn Almanya.

Driver: Mrehba biki! Ka-thder darija?

You: Chwiya.

(The driver stops for a man waving on the pavement.)

Driver: Fin ghadi?

Passenger: L-gar.

Driver: La, sme7 li. (No, sorry: it's the other direction.)

You: Wach b3id?

Driver: La, 9rib. (No, it's close.)

You: 7bes hna 3afak. Ch7al?

Driver: Khmstach l-derhem. (15 dirhams.)

You: Ha 3echrin. Khalli s-serf. Lah y3tik s-se77a.

Driver: Bslama!

Notice how little you had to say: a greeting, a destination, the meter, 7bes hna, and a thank-you.

Grand taxis in one minute

For a trip to another town, go to the grand taxi station and ask fin l-m7etta d grand taxi? فين المحطة د گراند طاكسي؟ ("where is the grand taxi station?"). Tell the drivers your destination; the car leaves when it is full, and each passenger pays for one seat. If you want more space, you can pay for an extra seat or the whole car. Agree on the price before you get in.

Practise

Say these in Darija:

1. "Take me to the airport, please."
2. "Turn on the meter, please."
3. "Turn left."
4. "Stop here, please. How much?"
5. "Keep the change."

Answers: 1. dini l-mtar, 3afak. 2. dir l-compteur 3afak. 3. dour 3la liser. 4. 7bes hna 3afak. Ch7al? 5. khalli s-serf.

Listen to how these words really sound with the free Darija audio lessons, and if you want all the travel phrases in one place, with the numbers and directions you need, our Moroccan Darija textbooks are built for exactly that.