Tamazight Textbook 2007

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION
Tamazight: The Language of Free People..............................................................1
Learning Tamazight.....................................................................................................1
Transcription of Tamazight.....................................................................................2
GREETING
Greeting........................................................................................................................8
Personal Pronouns ......................................................................................................11
Possessive Pronouns ..................................................................................................11
Masculine and Feminine Nouns .............................................................................. 12
The verb "TO HAVE" ............................................................................................. 13
Practice....................................................................................................................... 14
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Nationalities, Cities and Marital Status ............................................................. 15
The verb "TO BE"..................................................................................................... 18
Independent Pronouns............................................................................................. 19
The Possessive word "win/tin" ............................................................................. 20
Practice...................................................................................................................... 22
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
Mealtime expressions............................................................................................. 25
Thanking expressions ............................................................................................. 26
Expressions for night time/sleeping .................................................................. 26
Hygiene/cleanliness expressions ......................................................................... 26
Offering help/ Asking for favors ....................................................................... 27
Asking for Permissions........................................................................................... 27
Being Sick.................................................................................................................. 27
Transportation Expressions.................................................................................. 27
Apologies and Responses ....................................................................................... 28
Congratulations ........................................................................................................ 28
Communications........................................................................................................ 28
NUMERALS
Cardinal numbers ..................................................................................................... 29
Ordinal Numbers / Fractions ............................................................................... 32
Fractions.................................................................................................................... 33
Time ............................................................................................................................ 34
Practice...................................................................................................................... 36
GETTING STARTED SHOPPING

Money ......................................................................................................................... 38
At the taHanut ........................................................................................................ 39
Verb "TO WANT" .................................................................................................... 41
"THERE IS/ THERE ARE"...................................................................................... 41
Practice...................................................................................................................... 43
FAMILY
Family Members....................................................................................................... 45
Family Expressions.................................................................................................. 46
Practice...................................................................................................................... 47
DIRECTIONS
Prepositions .............................................................................................................. 48
Directions.................................................................................................................. 49
The Imperative ......................................................................................................... 51
Negation of The Imperative................................................................................. 52
Practice...................................................................................................................... 53
DAILY ROUTINE
Present Time Expressions ..................................................................................... 55
Present Tense .......................................................................................................... 56
Present Tense Negation......................................................................................... 58
Forming The Imperative Continuous................................................................... 58
Practice...................................................................................................................... 62
PAST EVENTS
Days of the week..................................................................................................... 66
Months of the year ................................................................................................ 66
The seasons .............................................................................................................. 66
Past Time Expressions ........................................................................................... 67
The Past Tense ........................................................................................................ 68
Negation of The Past Tense ................................................................................. 77
Have You Ever/ I've Never................................................................................ 78
Object Pronouns ...................................................................................................... 79
The Participle ............................................................................................................ 81
Practice...................................................................................................................... 82
BARGAINING
General Bargaining Informations......................................................................... 88
Bargaining Expressions and Vocabulary ............................................................. 90
Clothing ....................................................................................................................... 91
Colors.......................................................................................................................... 93
More free Tamazight courses can be found at the Live Lingua Project website.
Regular Adjectives.................................................................................................. 95
Adjectives As Verbs............................................................................................... 96
Adjectives As Participles ...................................................................................... 98
Comparative and Superlative Adjectives .......................................................... 99
Practice..................................................................................................................... 101
SHOPPING FOR FOOD
Fruits and Vegetables ...........................................................................................104
Units of measurements.........................................................................................106
Spices and Meat .....................................................................................................108
Practice.....................................................................................................................109
FOOD AND DRINK
Food and Drink ........................................................................................................ 110
At the caf .............................................................................................................. 110
At the restaurant.................................................................................................... 111
The Reflexive Verb TO PLEASE/ TO LIKE.................................................. 114
The Verb TO NEED, TO HAVE TO , MUST, SHOULD.............................. 117
The Verb TO WANT, TO LIKE ....................................................................... 119
Practice.....................................................................................................................120
MEDICAL AND BODY
Body Parts ................................................................................................................122
Health Problems .....................................................................................................123
Practice.....................................................................................................................124
SITE VISIT EXPRESSIONS ........................................................................................125
TRAVEL
Future Time Expressions......................................................................................127
Forming The Future Tense...................................................................................128
Future Tense Negation .........................................................................................129
Using verbs consecutively ....................................................................................130
Travel ........................................................................................................................132
Travel expressions .................................................................................................134
Practice.....................................................................................................................136
AT THE POST OFFICE
General Informations ............................................................................................139
Post Office Vocabulary.........................................................................................139
Practice.....................................................................................................................142
AT THE HOTEL
Hotel Accommodation............................................................................................143
The Conditional .......................................................................................................145
Negation of The Conditional ................................................................................145

"mk/m" Conditional ...............................................................................................146
DESCRIBING THE PEACE CORPS MISSION
Peace Corps..............................................................................................................147
Environment .............................................................................................................148
Health........................................................................................................................149
Small Business Development ................................................................................ 151
RENTING A HOUSE
Finding a House .......................................................................................................152
Furnishing a House .................................................................................................153
Practice.....................................................................................................................155
SAFETY AND SECURITY
Sexual Harassment ................................................................................................156
At the Taxi Stand ..................................................................................................158
At Work....................................................................................................................160
Forgetting a Wallet in a Taxi / Filing a Report...............................................162
Butagaz .....................................................................................................................163
Theft .........................................................................................................................165
Hash...........................................................................................................................169
House Security / Doors and Windows...............................................................170
Political Harassment ..............................................................................................172
APPENDICES
Supplementary grammar lessons ........................................................................175
Advanced Verbs......................................................................................................176
Nouns.........................................................................................................................179
Adverbs ....................................................................................................................183
Prepositions .............................................................................................................186
The Definite Article..............................................................................................192
Participles of Proximity ........................................................................................193
Linking Words and Conjunctions .........................................................................195
MOROCCAN HOLIDAYS
Religious Holidays...................................................................................................201
Moussems ................................................................................................................ 205
National Holidays................................................................................................... 205
Festivals................................................................................................................... 206
GLOSSARY OF VERBS ................................................................................................... 207
Nom du document : TAMAZIGHT Table of Contents 2007

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1 Tamazight
TAMAZIGHT
THE LANGUAGE OF THE FREE PEOPLE.
Tamazight, referred to as Berber in most western countries, actually refers to
a group of widely varied dialects spoken across a much of North Africa. The
word Tamazight is derived from the word Berbers use to refer to
themselves, AMAZIGH. Over 3000 years old, today the varieties of Tamazight
are spoken by an estimated 11 million people.
Morocco is home to three dialects of the Tamazight family: Tamazight,
TashlHeet and Tarifit. Tarifit is prevalent in the Northern Rif region,
Tamazight is found in Eastern High Atlas and Tafilalt valley region, and
TashlHeet covers an area from Marrakesh to Agadir and much of the Saharan
region. In between each of these regions you will find a gradual mix of the
dialects, making it very difficult to determine where one dialect begins and
another ends.
LEARNING TAMAZIGHT.
Even under the best conditions, learning a new language can be challenging. Add
to this challenge the rigors of Peace Corps training, and you are faced with what
will be one of the most demanding _and rewarding_ aspects of your Peace Corps
experience: learning to communicate to Moroccans in their own language. But it
can be done. And rest assured that you can do it. Here are a few reasons why:
You are immersed in the language: some people may need to hear a word
three times to remember it; others may need thirty. Learning Tamazight
while living and training with Moroccans gives you the chance to hear the
language used again and again.
You have daily language classes with Moroccan teachers: you are not only
immersed in the language; you also have the opportunity to receive feedback
from native speakers on the many questions that predictably crop up when
one learns a new language.
Peace Corps has over forty years of experience in Morocco: your

training, including this manual, benefits from the collective experience
gained by training thousands of Americans to live and work in Morocco. You
will benefit from and contribute to that legacy. Despite these advantages,
2 Peace Corps/Morocco
at times you may still feel like the task of learning Tamazight is too much to
handle. Remember that Volunteers like toy having been doing it for decades,
however. One of the most rewarding aspects of your time will be communicating
with Tamazight, surprising them and yourself with how well you know the
language. When that time arrives, your hard work will have been worth it.
TRANSCRIPTION OF TAMAZIGHT.
In order for trainees to move quickly into Tamazight, Peace Corps uses a
system of transcription that substitutes characters of the Latin alphabet (a, b,
c, d, ) for characters from Arabic script (... ). With this system, it
isnt necessary for a trainee to learn all of Arabic script before he or she begins
to learn to the language. On the contrary, once you became familiar with the
system, of transcription, you will be able to read and write Tamazight fairly
quickly-using characters you are familiar with. You will also learn Arabic script
during training, but with transcription it isnt necessary to know it right away.
Throughout the book, therefore, you will always see both the Arabic script and
the transcription. Becoming familiar with the Peace Corps system of
transcription is one of the best things you can do, early on, to help yourself
learn Tamazight. Practicing the different sounds of Tamazight until you can
reproduce them is another. This introduction is intended mainly to help you get
started the system with of transcription, and as a result it will mention only
briefly the different sounds of Tamazight.
Sounds you already know.

The large majority of consonants in Tamazight are similar to sounds that you
have in English. The vowels in Tamazight are similar to English vowels. In the
following table, each transcription character that represents a sound you
already know will be explained. The sounds are not necessarily what you may
expect, but each character was matched with a sound or good reasons.
Transcription
Arabic
Character
Character
/ / _ /
Description
Sometimes the // in father,
sometimes the /a/ in mad
the normal English sound /b/
3 Tamazight
d
the normal English sound /d/

the short e sound /e/ as in met (this
_ /
transcription character is not used often,

only when confusion would be caused by
using the transcription character a)
the normal English sound /f/
the normal English sound /g/ as in go
the normal English sound /h/ as in hi.
_ /
the normal English sound /k/
the normal English sound /l/
the normal English sound /m/
the normal English sound /n/
the long ee sound // as in meet

the /zh/ sound represented by the s in
pleasure
the long o sound // as in bone (this

o
transcription character is not used often,

mainly for French words that have entered
Tamazight)
the normal English sound /p/

This is not the normal English r, but a
flap similar to the Spanish r or to the

sound Americans make when they quickly
say gotta as in I gotta go.
the normal English sound /s/
the normal English sound /t/
the long oo sound // as in food
the normal English sound /v/
the normal English sound /w/

y
the normal English sound /y/
the normal English sound /z/
the normal English sound /sh/ as in she
Some vowel combinations

ay
the ay as in say
au
the ow as in cow
iu
"#
the ee you as in see you later
New sounds.
There are eight consonants in Tamazight that you do not have in English. It may
take you some time to be able to pronounce these correctly. At this point, whats
important is that you learn the transcription of these sounds.
Transcription
Arabic
Character
Character
d$
s$
t$
Sound
The Tamazight
emphatic d
The Tamazight
emphatic s
The Tamazight
emphatic t
These sounds are pronounced
like their non-emphatic

counterparts, but with a
lower pitch and a greater
tension in the tongue and
throat.
Like the English /k/ but pronounced further back

in the throat
Like the ch in the German Bach; some people
use this sound to say yech!
Like the x sound above, but pronounced using your
voice box; similar to the French r

Like the English h, except pronounce deep in
the throat as a loud raspy whisper.
This sound will be difficult at first. It can be
approximated by pronouncing the a in fat with

the tongue against the bottom of the mouth and
from as deep in the throat as possible
5 Tamazight
Shedda.
If you see a transcription character doubled, that means that a shedda
is over that character in the Arabic script. For example, in the following table,
you will see how the transcription changes for shedda, and thus the
pronunciation.
English
Transcription
Arabic Script
Translation
To drink
su
"%
To water
ssu
"%
This small character,

which looks like a w,
is the shedda. That is
why the transcription
has a doubled s.
Notice that these two verbs are spelled differently in the transcription.
The verb to drink does not have a shedda on the s in Arabic script, and thats
why there is only one s in the transcription. The verb to water does have a
shedda in the Arabic script, and that is why the transcription doubles the letter
s. These two verbs are pronounced differently, so you must pay attention
to doubled letters in the transcription.
Other symbols.
Sometimes, you will see a hyphen used in the transcription: it indicates
the definite article. For some letters, the definite article (the word the) is
made by adding the letter L. For others, it is made by doubling the first letter.
In both cases, a hyphen will be used to indicate to you that the word has the
definite article in front of it. See page xxx for more information on the definite
article.
In these instances, the hyphen does not necessarily indicate a change in
pronunciation. The hyphen is there to make it easy for you to see when a
definite article is being used, for example. It is a visual indicator, not an
indicator or pronunciation. Sometimes the rhythm of speech may seem to break
with the hyphen; other times the letters before and after the hyphen will be
pronounced together.
Another symbol you will sometimes see is the apostrophe (). When you
see an apostrophe, it indicates a glottal stop, which is the break between
vowels as heard in the English exclamation uh oh. That is to say, if you see an
apostrophe you should not connect the sounds before the apostrophe with the
sounds after the apostrophe. Pronounce them with a break in the middle.
Words and syllables without vowels.

Sometimes you will see syllables or even whole words without any vowels
written in them. This is normal in Tamazight. To the English speaker, however,
this seems impossible, since we have always been taught that all words must
contain a vowel sound. Which side is correct? Well, in a sense they both are. In
reality, it is indeed possible to pronounce consonants together without
articulating a vowel sound; you do it a lot in English at the beginning of words.
Think about the word street. You pronounce these consonants (s, t, and r)
without any vowels between them. So it is possible. The only challenge with
Tamazight is that the consonant combinations are new for English speakers (you
dont put the /sh/ sound next to the /m/ sound, for example, but in Tamazight
we do.
However, try for a moment to pronounce only the letters str, not the
whole word street. In this case, most English speakers will hear something
that sounds like the word stir, with certain consonant combinations, that is to
say, it sound to the English speaker like there is a vowel in the middle, even if
7 Tamazight
there isnt. The vowel is in reality just the normal sound made as one consonant
sounds transitions to another.
Part o learning Tamazight is becoming comfortable with new consonants
combinations and practicing those combinations without necessarily placing a
vowel in the middle. The transcription words, you will notice, only include
characters for vowels when there really is a vowel in the word. It may seem
difficult at first, but it is better to accustom yourself to this as early as you
can.
Why not just write sh.

A final point about the transcription. At times it may seem overly
complicated to someone beginning Tamazight. For example, why doesnt it just
use sh for the /sh/ sound? The answer is this: well, in Tamazight it is normal
for the /h/ sound to follow the /s/ sound. If we use the sh to represent /sh/
sound, there would not be any way to represent /s/ plus /h/ sound, because it
possible to represent /s/ plus /h/ and /sh/ plus /h/ (yes, in Tamazight both
these combinations are used).
All of this concerns a larger point: the transcription system used in this
book may appear complex at first, but it has been carefully thought out and
in the end it is the easiest system possible. That said, the sooner you can make
the transition to reading Arabic script, the easier it will be to pronounce
Tamazight correctly.
GREETING
Objective: by the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Greet people and introduce yourself.
Cultural points.
Greetings and farewells (good byes) are two important aspects of Moroccan life.
Greetings are not to be compared with the quick American HI. It takes time
for two people to exchange different questions and answers which interest them
about each other, their families, and life in general. Greetings change from one
region to another, both in the questions posed and in the fashion of the greeting
(i.e. shaking hands, kissing cheeks head or hands, or putting ones hand over ones
heart after shaking hands).
If you greet a group of people, then the way you greet the first person is the
way you should greet everyone in the group.
Dont be surprised if you are
greeted by a friend but he does not introduce you to other people with whom he
may be talking. Do not be surprised if you are in a group and you are not greeted
as others are in the group (people may be shy to greet a stranger.) It is also not
necessary to give an overly detailed response to a greetingonly the usual
response is expected. For example, How are you? requires only a simple Fine,
thanks be to God.
How do people greet each other in

different cultures?
9 Tamazight
Greeting expressions and appropriate responses.

A: Peace be upon you
s-salamu laykum
B: And peace be upon you

(too)
wa laykum s-salam
A: Good morning
s$$baH l-xir
B: Good morning
s$baH l-xir
A: Good afternoon / evening
ms l-xir
B: Good afternoon / evening
ms l-xir
A: May God help you
lla yawn

B: And peace be with you
lla ysllm

How are you?
mayd tnit
How are you doing?
mayd dis tnit
Good, thanks be to God
labas, l-Hamdullah
Its fine
tga lman
Goodbye (I leave you in

peace)
qim as g lman
"
Goodbye (You go in peace)
tmunt d wayd$
#$
Name
ism
What is your name?
mismnk?
'
My name is
isminu
$%
Your name is (m)
ismnk
' %
Your name is (f)
ismnm
%
His/Her name is
ismns
%

Greeting dialogue.
Chris:
labas?
Moha:
labas
Chris:
may tnit?
Moha:
labas tnit l-xir. is thnna

urk?
:
:
Chris:
labas thnna.
Moha:
mismnk?
Chris:
isminu Chris. i kiy?
Moha:
isminu Moha.
Chris:
qim as g lman.
Moha:
tmunt d wayd$.
:
:
11 Tamazight
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
PERSONAL PRONOUNS;
I
nk, nkkin
( #/ ' #
You (masculine singular)
Kiy, kyyin
( / *
You (feminine singular)
Km, kmmin
( /
He
ntta
She
nttat
+#
We
nkni
* #
You (masculine plural)
knni
*
You (feminine plural)
knnimti
They (masculine)
nitni
* +#
They (feminine)
nitnti
* ++#
+#
* +
POSSESSIVE PRONOUNS.
In Tamazight, a suffix (ending) may be added to the end of words in order to
express possession. Its a combination of a pronoun and the preposition n (of).
Singular
Plural
Our
_n
1
'
Your (m)
_nun
$
_nm
Your (f)
_nknt
#
His
_ns

Their (m)
_nsn
(
Her
_ns

Their (f)
_nsnt

My
_nu / inu *
Your (m)
_nk
Your (f)
$ /$
*For the personal possessive my ( _nu) is used for words ending in vowels, while
( _inu) is used for words ending in consonants.
Examples:
House
taddart
My house
taddartinu
Your house (m, s)
taddartnk
Your house (f, s)
taddartnm
His house
taddartns
Her house
taddartns
Our house
taddartn
Your house (m, p)
taddartnun
Your house (f, p)
taddartnknt
Their house (m)
taddartnsn
Their house (f)
taddartnsnt
MASCULINE AND FEMININE NOUNS.

The masculine form.
In general, all nouns beginning with a, i, or u are masculine.
Rooster
afullus
$
3
Berber man
amazi
45
Tongue
ils
Fly
izi
Face
udm
Heart
ul
Feminine nouns.
Generally, all nouns beginning with t are feminine.
95
Carpet
tazrbit
Sun
tafuyt
$;
Salt
tisnt

13 Tamazight
Darkness
tillas
Berber woman
tamazit
Female sheep
tili
Wedding
tamra
Edge
tama

<5
*

<

THE VERB TO HAVE (ur).

In Tamazight, there is no infinitive form of the verb to have (ur), but it is
nevertheless conjugated as such:
I have
uri
$=
You (m, s) have
urk
$=
You (f, s) have
urm
$=
He / She has
urs
$=
We have
urn
1#$=
You (m, p) have
urun
$=
You (f, p) have
urknt
$=
They (m) have
ursn
( %$=
They (f) have
ursnt
%$=
To make the negative form in Tamazight we usually add the prefix ur.
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: use the following words with the appropriate possessive pronoun
suffix.
Book
l-ktab
Cow
tafunast
Fields
igran
1. Your (f, p) book.
5. Your (f, s) fields.
2. Their (m) cow.
6. Our book.
3. My fields.
7. Your (m, p) fields.
4. Her book.
8. Their (f) cow.
Exercise 2: fill in the blanks using the appropriate form of the verb
TO HAVE.
______ .1
1. Ali and Fatima ______

three cats.
1. Ali d fatima
__________ krad$
imaun.
2. I ______ 25 years
old.
2. nk __________ 25
am
. 25 _________ .2
3. Do you _____ some

water please?
3. is __________ kan
waman (afak) saHHa ?
________ .3
4. The girls of the

country _____ beautiful
eyes.
4. tirbatin n tmazirt
__________ aln iHlan
.4
)(
.________
15 Tamazight
PERSONAL INFORMATION
Ask and answer questions about nationalities, cities, age, and

marital status.
Cultural points.
Avoid asking about the salary and age (sometimes) of people, especially
women. Men should not enquire about the wives or other female relations of
someone this could be seen as expressing an inappropriate interest. People wont
always tell you about their jobs and other personal concerns if not asked.
Religion can be a sensitive issue and sometimes people are not willing to express
their views.
Vocabulary and expressions:
Where are you (m) from?
umi ay tgit?
Where are you (f) from?
utmi ay tgit?
I am from the US.
gi sg mirikan.
I am American.
gi amirikani (m)
tamirikanit(f)
I am from Morocco.
gi sg l-mrib.
I am Moroccan.
gi amribi
gi tamribit
Are you ?
is tgit ?
Are you from the US ?
is tgit sg mirikan?
Where are you from in the

US?
ma sg tgit g mirikan?
And you?
i kiy (m) / i km (f)?
City
tamazirt
State
l-wilaya
Big (f)
txatr
Small (f)
tmzziy
Excuse me.
samHi.
I am not
ur gi...
But
walaynni/walakin
Engaged (f)
ttuyattr (mxt$uba)
Are you married (m, f)?
is tiwlt?
No, not yet.
uhu/la, urta/ la sul.
Are you a tourist?
is tgit turist?
I work with the Peace

Corps.
da xddm d hayat
/
( )

/ /

s-salam.
Dialogue:
Fatima:
Tom:
Fatima:
Tom:
Fatima:
Tom:
Fatima:
Tom:
Fatima:
Tom:
Fatima:
Tom:
Fatima:
Tom:
Fatima:
Tom:
lla yawn.
lla ysllm.
may tnit? labas?

labas tnit l-xir, i km?
labas l-Hamdullah. samHi, is
tgit afransawi?
uhu, gi sg mirikan.
matta tmazirt g mirkian?
sg tamdint n Seattle, g
l-wilaya n Washington. i km?
gi sg Ouarzazate.
Hal ayd urm g l-mr?
uri tnayna u rin am. i
kiy?
uri rba u tlatin am.
is tiwlt?
uhu, sul. i km?
awd nk, sul. is tgit turist?
uhu, nk da xddm d hayat
:
:
:
:
:
:
.
.

.
.

.
.
.
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
17 Tamazight
s-salam.
Fatima:
Tom:
llah yhnnik.
llah yawn
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
THE VERB TO BE.
The verb TO BE (is, are was, etc..) in English can indicate condition/description
for example: I am tired, or place foe example: I am in the restaurant. In
Tamazight, these two cases are handled by two different verbs. The verb g
indicates a condition, while the verb ili indicates location/place.
TO BE: condition/description.
g
I am
Gi
You are
Tgit
1A
B
(m/f, s)
He is
She is
Iga
nga
You are
tgam
B#
B
(m, p)
You are
A
tgamt
B
(f, p)
B
Tga
We are
They are (m)
gan
A
They are (f)
gant
#A
Examples:
I am Moroccan.
(nk) gi amribi
He is a teacher.
(ntta) iga l-mullim.
I am not French.
ur gi afransawi.
.)(
. A)(
.
TO BE: location place.
ili
I am
Lli
You are
(m/f, s)
Tllit
He is
Illa
1
C#
We are
nlla

You are
tllam
D
C
You are
tllamt

(m, p)
(f, p)
19 Tamazight
She is
Tlla
C
They are (m)
llan
They are (f)
llant
#D
To negate g and ili we add ur before the verb and we change all the (a) to (i).
Examples:
Is Khadija at home?
is tlla khadija g
l-madrasa?
E%
EFG
There is no water in the

tap.
ur llin waman g r-robini.
.* 9
(
The girls are not here.
ur llint trbatin da.
Is there bread in the

store?
is illa urum g tHanut?
. ( 9

$# = D
INDEPENDENT PRONOUNS.
These pronouns can refer to a specific thing/person or set of things/people
without using the noun.
These ones
(m)
wi
/ J
These ones
(m)
witx/widx

These ones
(f)
ti
tatx
J
These ones
(f)
titx
J+
That one (m)
wan
Those ones
(m)
win
(
That one (f)
tan

Those ones
(f)
tin
(
This one (m)
wa
This one (m)
watx/wadx
This one (f)
ta
This one (f)
/ J+
*
Examples:

This one is big.
ta txatr.
I want that one.
ri wan/tan.
Who is this?
matta wa?
/ 1
+
THE POSSESSIVE WORDS WIN/TIN.

If the object is masculine
If the object is feminine
Mine
winu
$
tinu
$
Yours (m, s)
winnk
'
tinnk
'
Yours (f, s)
winnm

tinnm

His/ Hers
winns

tinns

Ours
winnx/winn
Yours (m, p)
winnun
$#
tinnun
$
Yours (f, p)
winknt
#
tinknt

Theirs (m)
winsn
( #
tinsn
(
Theirs (f)
winsnt
tinsnt

1 / J

tinnx/tinn
1 / J
Examples:
This book is mine.
l-ktabtx winu.
$ J +
That jellaba is yours.
tajllabitin tinnk.
' ( +9 F
Asking about possession.

The possessive words win and tin may be used with mi or id to mean
whose.
Whose book is this?
win mi l-ktaba?
Its Larrys.
win Larry.
Whose house is this?
tin mi taddarta?
9+
( *
D (
( *
21 Tamazight
M (
Its Meridiths.
tin Meridith.
Whose cow is this?
tin mi tafunasta?
+#$; * (
This cow is Aichas.
tafunasta tin ia.
EN ( +#$;
Is this cow Aichas.
id tafunasta tin ia?
Yes, its hers.
yeh, tinns.
EN ( +#$;
O
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: complete each section of this dialogue.
23 Tamazight
Exercise 2: Ask a question about possession for each picture. Then, give the
correct answer. The first one is for you.
Hassan
Q: win mi ayd iga l-biklit

tx?
A: l-biklit tx iga win

assan.
?
Said
_______________
Q: _______________?
A: _____________sid.
.____________
Ahmed
Q: ________________?
______________
A: ________________amd.
.____________
?
Aziz
Q: ___________________?
A: ______________aziz.
______________
.____________
Exercise 3: substitute the underlined words with the corresponding possessive

pronoun endings.
s-stilu n Josephine.
taddart n Aicha d Amina.
ayul n LaHsen.
( 3$Q $
+
E EN
( $=
25 Tamazight
USEFUL EXPRESSIONS
Here are some expressions to help you with homestay, travel, and other
situations where your language may not yet be at a point where you are able to
communicate well in Tamazight.
MEALTIME EXPRESSIONS
In the name of God.
9
bismillah.
(said when you begin an

activity: eating, drinking,
working, studying, traveling,
etc)
Thanks to God.
(said ater finishing a meal, or
qfter expressing that all is
well in life)
l-Hamdullah/nHmd as i
rbbi.
.* 9 # /
I dont eat Meat

Eggs
Fish
Chiken
ur da-tta ... aksum/tifiyi

tiglay
islman
ifullusn.
* ; /$ .... N+

%
( %$
3
I drink tea/ coffee

without sugar.
da ssa atay/l-qhwa bla

skkar.
.% 9 $TU
/ %
I eat everything.
da tta kuli.
I eat vegetables only.
da tta as l-xud$rt.
I dont feel like eating.
ur digi mayd ittan.
I want just / only
ri as . . .
I dont want to have

breakfast.
ur ri ad fd$r.
The food is delicious.
l-makla tat$fut.
Im full.
djiwn.
I want to learn how to

cook.
ri ad llm ad snu.
May God replenish /

reward you. (said after a
llay xlf / ad ixlf rbbi.
.* N
$ N
.V = N
.N
...... =1
.V3 1
.$;W
.1#$Q
.$% 1
1
.* 9 X
/ X

meal to thank the host)
To your health
bs$s$HHa / ak ynf.
.4; / Y9
( said to someone after

eating, drinking, coming out
of the Hammam, wearing new
clothes, having a hair cut,
etc)
May God grant your

health too.
ad ak ik rbbi s$-s$aHt.
.ZY
* 9
(response to the above)
THANKING EXPRESSIONS
Thank you.
ukran / s$aHHa.
Youre welcome.
blajmil.
May God bless your

parents.
ad irHm rbbi
. / [
.\ Q 9
.#/ '
$
* 9 Z
l-walidinnk/nm.
EXPRESSIONS FOR NIGHT TIME/ SLEEPING
.1
Z
I am tired.
uHl.
I want to read a little

bit.
ri ad r imiH/imiq.
I want to go to bed.
ri ad ddu ad-gn.
Where am I going to
sleep?
manig nna ad gn.
Excuse me, I want to go

to bed.
s$amHi, ri ad ddu ad
gn.
I want to sleep early.
ri ad gn zik.
I want to get up early.
rig ad nkr zik.
I want a blanket.
ri yat l-kaa / l-mant$a.
.^ / ] = 1
. 1
. * #
. 1 * %
.' 1
.' # 1
.W#

/ N
1
27 Tamazight
HYGIENE AND CLEANLINESS EXPRESSIONS
I want to wash my hands
with soap.
ri ad ssird ifassninu s
s$-s$abun.
$%3 % 1
I want to brush my teeth.
ri ad ssird tumasinu.
.$%=$ % 1
I want hot water please.
rig aman inwan afak.
I want to take a shower.
ri ad duw.
I want to go the Hammam.
ri ad ddu s l-Hmmam.
. 1
I want to change my
clothes.
ri ad bddl iHruyninu /
ibaninu.
/$Z 1
9 1
.$#
Where is the toilet please?
mani bit l-ama afak?
I want to do laundry.
ri ad s$bbn iHruyninu.
Where can I do laundry?
mani gnna ad s$bbn

iHruyninu?
.$9Y
. ;$# 1
. 1[ 1
;
9* #
.$Z 1 1
1 * #
$Z
OFFERING HELP/ ASKING FOR FAVORS

Can I help you?
ad ak awn? / ad am
awn?
Excuse me?
samHi.
Please, give me.
ki afak . . . / fi afak.
.1# / 1#
.* %
. * ;3/ * ;
BEING SICK
.1_
I am sick.
mrd$.
I want to rest a bit.
ri ad swunfu imiH.
Do you feel better.
is tgit labas / is tjjit?
.] $;#$% 1
F / B
TRANSPORTATION EXPRESSIONS
I want to go to . . .
ri ad ddu s . . .
..... 1
Take me to . . . please.
awiyi s . . . afak.
.;..... *
I want to pay for two

seats.
ri ad xlls$ snat l-blays$.
.`
%1YG 1
Stop here please.
bdd da afak.
How much is a seat?
Hal i l-blas$t?
. ;9

[
APOLOGIES AND RESPONSES

Its not a problem
mai mukil.
.\ N * [
Its OK
ihnna l-Hal.
.
Theres no problem
kan lbas ur illi.
.*

CONGRATULATIONS
.
Congratulations.
mbruk.
Happy holiday.
ambark l-id / ambark

lwachr
May god grant you peace.

(response to mbruk)
lla ybark fik.
.[ $
/

.' 3
COMMUNICATIONS
I dont understand.
ur fhim.
.1T3
I dont know.
ur ssin.
.1%
Slowly please
sttawil afak.
Repeat slowly please.
awd sttawil afak .
. \ ;+%
. \ ;+%
29 Tamazight
NUMBERS
Count in Tamazight.
Combine numbers with nouns too indicate amounts.
Ask and answer questions about time.
CARDINAL NUMBERS.
One (m)
yan

One (f)
yat

Two (m)
sin
( %
Two (f)
snat
%
Three (m)
krad$
Three (f)
krat$
Four
rba
E9
Five
xmsa
EG
Six
stta
E+
%
Seven
sba
E%
Eight
tmnya
E
Nine
tsud
$

Ten
ra
N
Combining the numerals 1-3 with a noun.

Masculine form
Feminine form
One
yan

yat

Two
sin
( %
snat
%
krat$
Three
krad$
Examples:

( %
Two glasses
sin l-kisan
Two houses
snat n tadrwin
( %
Three glasses
krad$ n l-kissan

Three houses
krat$ n tadrwin
(
For numbers 4-10 use:
NUMBER + n + PLURAL NOUN.
Examples:
Four cows
rba n tfunasin
( %#$; E9
Ten dirhams
ra n d-drahm

N
For numbers above 10, however, the singular form of the noun is used:
NUMBER + n + SINGULAR NOUN
Examples:
Eighteen years
tmnt$a n usggas
Twenty two men
tnayn u rin n urgaz
Fifty women
xmsin n tamt$t$ut
1000 apple trees
alf n usklu n t-tffaH
Numbers progressions from 11 to 10 000.

Eleven
d$a
VZ
Twelve
t$na
f
Thirteen
tlt$a
W
Fourteen
rbt$a
W9
Fifteen
xmst$a
W
G
Sixteen
st$t$a
Seventeen
sbt$a
W%
Eighteen
tmnt$a
W
Nineteen
tst$a
W
Twenty
rin
Twenty one
waHd u rin
( N Z
Twenty two
tnayn u rin
( N (
Twenty three
tlata u rin
( N E
W%
( N
31 Tamazight
( N E9
Twenty four
rba u rin
Thirty
tlatin
Thirty one
waHd u tlatin
( Z
Thirty two
tnayn u tlatin
( (
Forty
rbin
Forty one
waHd u rbin
Fifty
xmsin
Sixty
sttin
( +%
Seventy
sbin
( %
Eighty
tmanyin
( #
Ninety
tsin
(
Ninety nine
tsud u tsin
One hundred
miya
One hundred one
miya u waHd
Z E
One hundred two
miya u juj
$Q E
One hundred three
miya u tlata
E E
One hundred ten
miya u ra
N E
One hundred ninty nine
miya u tsud u tsin
Two hundred
miyatayn
Two hundred seventy

five
miyatayn u xmsa u sbin
Three hundred
tlt miya
Nine hundred ninety nine
tsmiya u tsud u tsin
One thousand
alf
One thousand nine

hundred sixteen
alf u tsmiya u st$t$a
Two thousand
alfayn
Two thousand twenty

two
alfayn u tnayn u rin
(
( 9
( 9 Z
( G
( $
E
( $ E

( +
( % EG ( +
E

( $ E 4
X
W% E 4 X
( ;
( N ; ( (
Three thousand
tlt alaf
Ten thousand
r alaf
D

D N
ORDINAL NUMBERS.
For masculine: wis + cardinal number.
For feminine: tis + cardinal number.
Masculine
The first
amzwaru
The second
wissin
The third
wiskrad
The fourth
Feminine
tamzwarut
5
tisnat

tiskrat

wisrba
tisrba
E9

The fifth
wisxmsa
tisxmsa
E

The sixth
wisstta
tisstta
E+
The seventh
wissba
tissba
E

The eighth
wistmnya
tistmnya
E+

The ninth
wistsud
tistsud
$+
The tenth
wisra
tisra
N

The last
amggaru
tamggarut
B+
Examples:
5 \
The first boy
lil amzwaru
The fourth house
taddart tisrba
The last day
as amggaru
E9
)(
33 Tamazight
FRACTIONS
Half
ns$
` #
Third
tulut

Fourth
rubu / rb
fifth
lxumus
49 / 49

TIME
To express time, we use the appropriate number with the Arabic definite
article. This means that for 1:00, 5:00, 10:00, and 11:00, we will use the letter
L before the number, while for the others; we will double the first letter.
One
l-wHda
Z$
Seven
s-sba
E
Two
j-juj
$F
Right
t-tmnya
E+
Three
t-tlata
E +
Nine
t-tsud
$+
Four
r-rba
E9
Ten
l-ra
N
Fove
l-xmsa
Six
s-stta
E
Eleven
l-Hd$a
E+

twelve
t$-t$na
V
W
For telling time in Tamazight, we use the Arabic prepositions.

Before
ql
\"
Twenty
minutes
tulut

And
Half
ns$
` #
Exactly
nian
N#
Quarter
to
llarub
Quarter
rb
49
Five
minutes
qs$m
Ten
minutes
qs$mayn
D
Y"
( Y"
Some expressions of asking and answering about time.
+N / [
What time is it?
Hal/mta g tassat?
It is exactly one oclock.
l-wHda nian.
It is five minutes past

two.
j-juj u qs$m.
Y" $F
It is ten minutes past

three.
t-tlata u qs$mayn.
Y" E +
It is quarter past four.
r-rba u rb.
49 E9
It is 20 miknutes past
five.
l-xmsa u tulut.
N#Z$
$
E
35 Tamazight
( N EG E+
It is 25 minutes past
six.
s-stta u xmsa u rin.
It is seven thirty.
s-sba u ns$.
It is seven thirty-five.
t-tmnya ql xmsa u rin.
It is 20 minutes to nine.
t-tsud ql tulut.
It is a quarter to ten.
l-ra ql rb.
It is ten two eleven.
l-Hd$a ql qs$mayn.
It is five to twelve.
t$-t$na ql qs$m.
6:30 am
s-stta u ns$ n s$-s$baH.
` # E+
Y
5:15 pm
l-xmsa u rbn tdggat.
49 E
` # E
( N EG\ " E+
$
\ " $+
49 " \ N
( Y" \ " V
Y" \ " W
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: match the numbers with the correct translation.
xms miya u tst$a
298
xms alaf u tlt miya u

tnayn u rin
147
tsud u sttin
519
alf u t$na
1012
miyatayn u tmnya u tsin
69
sin (snat)
5322
miya u sba u rbin
W E G

( E
D G
( N
( +% $
f X
( E ( +
(%) ( %
( 9 E% E
Exercise 2: combine the following numbers with the correct plurals or singular
form of the nouns: 1, 3, 7, 15, 20, 500, or 1000.
House/houses
taddart/taddrwin
Pen/pens
stilu/stiluyat
Woman/women
tamt$t$ut/tutmin
Hotel/hotels
lot$il/lot$lat
Man/men
aryaz/iryzn
( /
$
+%/ $
+%
( $ / $W
f $/ \ f$
5 /
Exercise 3: match the with the correct Tamazight translation.
Y " Z$
10:30
l-wHda u qs$m
12:00
l-Hd$a u qs$mayn
1:05
t$-t$na nian
2:20
Lra ql tulut
11:10
l-ra u ns$
9:40
j-juj u tulut
( Y" V
N# W
$
\ " N
` # N
$
$Q
37 Tamazight
Exercise 4: give the time for each clock or watch.
GETTING STARTED
SHOPPING
Convert between dirhams, ryals and franks.
Buy items you need from a store.
/
idrimn/l-flus
Money
5
100
100 frank
20
20 ryal
1 dirham
100
20
When converting ryals to dirhams, divide by 20.

e.g. 100 ryals: 100 20 = 5 DH.
From franks to ryals, divide by 5. For example, 200 franks 5 = 40 ryals.
From franks to dirhams, divide by 100. For example, 200 franks 100 = 2 DH.
From ryals to dirhams, divide by 20. For example, 40 ryals 20 = 2 DH.
From ryals to franks, multiply by 5. For example, 40 ryals * 5 = 200 franks.
From dirhams to ryals, multiply by 20. For example, 2 DH * 20 = 40 ryals.
From dirhams to franks, multiply by 100. For example, 2 DH * 100 = 200 franks.
39 Tamazight
At the Hanut
ur butHanut
Vocabulary
$#
Store
taHanut
Store keeper
butHanut
$# $9 Almonds
Soda
l-monad$a
#$
Bottle
Chocolate
-klat$
Peanuts
N
Bottle of
water
kaw kaw
l-luz
l-qra
l-qra n
waman

$
EU
EU

Candies
l-Hlwa
$ Kleenex
kliniks

Gum
l-mska
E
Toilet
ppapiyi
jinik
' Q nn
paper
Cookies
l-biskwi
$
Tooth
dontifris
;+#
paste
Juice
l-as$ir
Bread
arum
Jam
l-konfitur
Butter
z-zbda
Eggs
tiglay
Y
Soap
=
Shampoo
s$-s$abun
$9Y
-ampwan
$N
$+;#$
Detergent
t-tid
+
95
Bleach
javil
\ Q
Batteries
l-Hjrat n
r-radyu
Yogurt
danon
Milk
l-Hlib
$#
Razor
p Tobacco
F
$
rrazwar
s$-s$aka
Y
l-garru
l-bakit/
/
E
store
Coffee
l-qhwa
Tea
atay
$TU
Cigarettes

Package
l-bakiya
Sugar
s-skkar
Cheese
l-frmaj

Lighter
;
Money
l-brika
idrimn/
l-flus
Oil
z-zit
5
Change
s$-s$rf

/ (
$
;
Y
Expressions:
Do you have...?
is urk ...?
....$=
Yes, I do have ...
yeh, uri...
$= O
No, I dont have...
uhu, ur uri...
Is there ... ?
is illa? (m)
$= $
...... /....D
is tlla ? (f)
Yes, there is. (masc.)
yeh illa.
D O
Yes, there is. (fem.)
yeh tlla.
O
No, there isnt. (masc.)
la, ur illi.
*
D
No, there isnt. (fem.)
la, ur tlli.
*
D
Give me... please.
ki ... afak.
What do you want maam

/ sir.
may trit a lalla/sidi.
How much?
Hal?
Do you have change?
is urk s$-s$rf?
Do you have change

for...?
is urk s$-s$rf n ...?
..... * ;
.
/ %
[
Y $=
..... Y $=
Fractions of measurements:
Liter
liter
lit$ru/it$ru
rubu/rb
it$ru
/ f Kilogram
W
49 / $9
f
kilogram
$
kilu
rubu/rb
kilu.
49 / $9
$
liter
ns$ it$ru
f ` # kilogram
ns$ kilu
$
` #
1 liter
waHd it$ru
f Z
waHd kilu
$
Z
2 liters
juj it$ru
f $Q 2 kilograms
juj kilu
$
$Q
I want liter of milk.
1 kilogram
ri ns$ it$ru n l-Hlib.
p f ` #1
41 Tamazight
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
THE VERB TO WANT iri.
In tamazight the verb to want (iri), uses the past tense but has a present
meaning. When conjugated in the present tense it means to like.
I want
nk/nkkin
ri
1
( #/' #
You want (s)
kiy/ km
trit

/*
He wants
ntta
ira
+#
She wants
nttat
tra

+#
We want
nkni
nra
#
* #
You want (m, p)
knni
tram
You want (f, p)
knnimti
tramt
They want (m, p)
nitni
ran
* +#
They want (f, p)
nitnti
rant
#
* ++#

*

* +
Verb + noun examples:
. N
1
I want chocolate.
ri -klat$.
I dont want sugar.
ur ri s-skkar.
Mohsine and Aicha want

soda.
Mohsine d ia ran
.
1
.#$
EN (
l-monad$a.
THERE IS/ARE.
The words illa (D), tlla (
C), llan (C
D),and llant (#D
C) are actually conjugations of
the verb to be, { XE "Participles: illa (C
D\ ")f "g" }illi (*
r). In tamazight,
however, we use them most often in the sense of there is or there are.
Affirmative:
There is (m, s)
illa
D
C
There is (f, s)
tlla
C
There are (m, p)
llan
C
D
There are (f, p)
llant
#D
C
There is not (m, s)
ur illi
*
r
There is not (f, s)
ur tlli
*
r
There are not (m, p)
ur llin
( r
There are not (f, p)
ur llint
r
Negative:
Examples:
Karim is at home.
illa karim g taddart.
Is there water in the

river?
is llan waman g wasif?
Moha is not in the fields.
ur illi MoHa g igran.
43 Tamazight
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: convert the money amounts.
1-
Convert to dirhams:
35 ryal
2-
150 ryal
365 ryal
270 ryal
555 ryal
25DH
125DH
19DH
Convert to ryals:
10 DH
30DH
Exercise 2: read the dialogue and answer the questions below.
Meredith:
s-salamu laykum.
butHanut:
wa alaykum s-salam.
Meredith:
is urk z-zit d luqid?
butHanut:
yeh, llan alalla.
Meredith:
ki ns$ it$ru n z-zit d

l-bakya n luqid. Hal
afak?
butHanut:
xmsa n d-drahm.
Meredith:
amz, llah yrHm lwaldin.
butHanut:
bla jmil.
:
:
:
:
:

.
.
.
:
:
:
Questions:
1. mani g tlla Meridith?
2. is tsa s-skkar?
3. mayd tsa?
4. Hal/mta?
* # .1

< .2
< .3
+N / [ .4
Exercise 3: make as many sentences as you can using the examples provided.
nk
' #
ri
1
kuka
$

au
$=
Samira
%
trit
nitnti
* ++#
ira
l-as$ir
knni
*
tra

atay
kyyin
(
nra
#
l-qhwa
kmmin
(
tram
knnimti
* +
tramt

nkni
* #
ran
Hicham
N
rant
#
nitni
* +#
l-qhwa bla skkar

arum
Y

$TU
% 9 $TU
=
45 Tamazight
FAMILY
Describe family members.
Cultural points.
Family ties are very strong in Morocco. Children remain in touch or live with
their family even after they are married. Often parents and one or two married
children, with their spouses, and children, can be found in the one household
(space permitting). Relatives not living with the family are expected to visit
from time to time, especially during holidays.
Family members
My brother
uggma
My sister
uttma

My son
mmmi
*
My daughter
illi
My father
bba
9
My mother
mma

My grandfather
bbaHllu
$
Z 9
My grandmother
mmaHllu
$
Z

My uncle (fathers side)
mmi
*
My aunt (fathers side)
tti
*+

My uncle (mothers side)
xali
*
G
My aunt (mothers side)
xalti
* +
G
Other family related words.

Woman/wife
tamart/ tamt$t$ut
Man/husband
argaz
Girl/daughter
tarbat
Boy/son
arba
Girls/daughters
tirbatin
Boys/sons/children
iirran
The parents
l-waldin
$W / <
9
9
( 9
[
(
$
Family expressions:
How is Mohamed related
to you?
mayd ak/ am iga

Mohamed?
/
How is Amina related to

you?
mayd ak /am tga Amina?
E /
My mom doesnt work.
mma ur da txddm.
My mom and dad are

divorced,
baba d mma nurzmn.
I have two siblings.
uri sin aytma ikniwn.
How many siblings do you

have?
mta n aytmatn ayd urk

(ayd urm)?
How many sisters do you

have?
mta n taytmatin ayd

urk? ayd urm
Whats your fathers

name?
mism n babanm?
How old is your brother?
mta ayd ur gmanm g

l-mr?
I have a younger
brother.
uri yan gma amzzan.
My (male) cousin and I

are the same age.
nkkin d arba n mmi

iqrin.
.( " * 9 ( #
My older sister is a
teacher.
utma taxatart tga

l-mullima.
.E

My younger brother goes

to school.
gma amzzan da ytddu s

l-mdrasa.
.
.( $# 9
.$ + ( % $=
/$= ( + +N
$=
/ $= ( + +N
$=
#99

# $= +N
.5 $=

.E%
47 Tamazight
PRACTICE
Exercise: read the following text and read the questions at the bottom.
isminu John, baba ismns Steven, mma

ismns Judy. uri krad$ n aytmatn: snat
trbatin d yan urba. gma ismns Brian. da
yxddm g yat -arika. uttma Kathy,
tiwl, urs sin iirran: arba d trbat.
arba isul imzziy, urs tlt hur. tarbat
urs tmnya n isggasn, da tddu s
l-mdrasa, uttma tamzzant Mary, tsul
da taqra g l-jamia.
% + % 99$Q $%

%:( + $= $Q
.( 9% .9 ( 9
( %$= $ * u .EN

$= 5 $% 9 .9 9 [
( %% E $= 9 .$T[

U $ #5 E%
.EF
Questions:
1. babas n John, mismns?
2. mmans, mismns?
$Q 99(1

# (2
3. Hal n aymatn ayd illan ur John?
$Q $= D ( +( [ 3
4. mayd igan amzzan g taxamt n John?
$Q 5( 4
DIRECTIONS
Describe where objects are located.
Give and receive directions to places around town.
PREPOSITIONS
Near/next
to
tama n
......
Behind
d$art(n)
....
In front
of
dat (n)
.....
Under
ddaw
In the
middle
g wammas
Without
bla
On the
right
xf uyffas
On/up
aflla n
On the
left
xf uzlmad
Between
gr
Here
da
Here
din
To/for
In
From
sg
With / and
With/by
means of
About/on
xf/if
Until
ar
Above/over
nig
Examples:
The mosque is near (next
to) the school.
l-jam illa tama n
The well is behind the

fields.
anu illa d$art igran.
The house of Mohamed

is between the mosque
and the school.
taddart n Mohamed tlla

gr l-jam d l-mdrasa.
l-mdrasa.
.

.
49 Tamazight
DIRECTIONS
Close/near
inmala
Where is ...
please?
mani ...
s$aHa?
.....
taHanut
Go straight
ddu nian
l-mdrasa
Turn right
d$uwr xf
uyffas
d$ur xf
uzlmad$
Bus
station
l-maHt$t$a n
l-kiran
The
mosque
l-jam
Store
School
Post
office
l-bost$a
Public
phone
t-tilibutik
Weekly
market
s-suq
Far
irq
Turn left
Pass the
first
street
zri z-znqt
tamzwarut
In the
second
street
g z-znqt
tisnat
Dialogue:
Daniel d Hicham tama n l-jam
Daniel:
Hicham:
Daniel:
Hicham:
Daniel:
Hicham:
Daniel:
s-salamu laykum
walaykum s-salam
samHi ri ak-sqsa saHHa
waxxa, mrHba
mani tadart n li Ussu
ddu nian ar taHanut, llan sin
ibrdan, yan xf uzlmad$ d
wayd$ xf uyffas. t$fur abrid
n uyffas ar tawd yat
taddart taxatart, taddart n
li Ussu tlla d$ar as.
ad irHm rbbi lwaldin.
.
.

.
.
.
.
Hicham:
waldin a waldik
Daniel:
llah iawn
Hicham:
llah iawn
51 Tamazight
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
THE IMPERATIVE.
The imperative form of a verb is used to give commands. i.e. Go to the store,
Open the window, Study Tamazight .
The Simple Imperative form requires an immediate action. (do the action)
The Continuous Imperative is an order that is expected to be followed
continuously. (keep doing the action)
Verbs
Simple Imperative
Continuous Imperative
To go
ddu
tddu
To stay/sit
qqim
tqqima
To drink
su
ssa
To wake up/to stand up
nkr
nkkr
To wear to put on
ls
lssa
To put (down)
srs
srus
To open
anf
tanf
To close
qqn
tqqn
To take
amz
tamz
To say/tell
ini
tini
To eat
tta
The imperative has three forms :
Go (singular)
ddu
Go (plural masc.)
dduyat
Go (plural fem.)
ddumt
NEGATION OF THE IMPERATIVE.

The negative imperative is formed by using the negative word adur preceding
the verb to which conjugate to the you forms as shown below.
adur
t_____t
_______
t_____m
_______
_______
t_____mt
e.g Dont go.
tddut
adur
tddum
tddumt
Examples:
aman
sg
Dont drink water from

the river.
adur tssut
wasif.
Dont travel at night.
adur tsafrm ggid$.
Dont smoke here.
adur tkmmimt da.
53 Tamazight
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: fill in the blanks with the appropriate prepositions. (There may be
more than one appropriate answer.
%v 1
.Z$ .................. 1
1. sawl ________ Moha.
.X %............... D v2
2. llan waman ________ wasif.

3. tlla taddart ________ Moha
________ l-bost$a.
............. Z$ .............. v3

.EW%$
4. mun ___ li ______ Rabat
.9
...........*
................1#$ v4
5. tsawl Mary _____ Pall _____

tmazit.
.<........w......... v5
.%.............. " $ v6
6. ira Tom ad iqqim _____ askka.

7. ur illi utfl ______ ari.
.............\ ; *
v7
8. illa mu ______ t$-t$abla.
.E
W
............. $D v8
9. tlla l-mdrasa ______ l-Hmmam d

l-bost$a.
.EW%$
........... E%
v9
............. D v10
10. llan itran _______ ignna.

11. is trit a tmunt ____ Hammu s
s-suq.
.$
$Z ......... #$ v11
Exercise 2: using the map, give each person directions.
1. Dave is at the sbit$ar, and wants to go to l-bost$a.

2. Anna is at the maHt$t$a and wants to go to l-ot$il.
3. Stephen is at the mari and wants to go to the s-siber.
4. Hakim is in the hanut and wants to go to l-Hmmam.
Exercise 3: put the verbs between parentheses in their negative imperative

form.
qbl a tddu Fad$ma s s-suq tnna i yirran ns.
. (anf) tiflut i yawdyan.
. (ff) s brra.
. (ali) s aflla afad( dr) g d-druj
. (lb) takurt g taddart afad (rz) ka
. (kjm) s l-kuzina (asi) l-mus d (ssi)
l-but$a
. qqimat g l-bitnun, rat l-ktubnun nd
tfrjat g t-tlfaza
. $
; (X # ).
.9( 13) .
.
) _( 3 3 *(
).
. )( 3 $ ( p
).
( 1%) $
*( % )E$
( F ).
.f$
$9$+
= .$+
" .
.5;
+
Q; <#
55 Tamazight
DAILY ROUTINE
Talk about your daily activities.
PRESENT TIME EXPRESSIONS
Now
di
Every
ku
Every day
ku yas
Every morning
ku s$-s$baH
Every afternoon
ku tadggat
Every night
ku ggid$
Every year
ku asggas
Every summer
ku s$-s$if
Every month
ku ayyur
On Saturday
as n s-sbit
Sometimes
kan tikkal
Once a year
yan tikklt g usggas
Every afternoon
ku tadggat
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
THE PRESENT TENSE.
In Tamazight, we form the present tense of a verb by adding the following
prefixes and suffixes to its imperative continuous form.
nk
da ______
_______
Kiy/km
da t______t
______
ntta
da y______
______
nttat
da t______
______
nkni
da n______
______
knni
da t_____m
_______
knnimti
da t_____mt
______
nitni
da ______n
_______
nitnti
da ______nt
_______
Example:
Verb
Infinitive form
Imperative continuous
To go
ddu
tddu
I go
nk
da tddu

You go
Kiy/km
da tddut

He goes
ntta
da ytddu
+
She goes
nttat
da tddu

We go
nkni
da ntddu
+#
You (m, p) go
knni
da tddum

57 Tamazight

da tddun

da tddunt
#
You (f, p) go
knnimti
da tddumt
They (m) go
nitni
They (f) go
nitnti
Some verbs.
Verbs
Infinitive/ imperative
To eat
To drink
su
To wake up
nkr
To talk
sawl
To cook
snu
To laugh
t$s
To wash
ssird
To look
sksu
To know
isin
To swim
um
To write
uru
To turn off
sxsi
To smoke
km
To read
y
$%
#
%
$%
f
%
$%
( %
$
* %
*
=
Continuous
imperative/present stem
tta
ssa
nkkr
sawal
snwa
t$ssa
ssirid
sksiw
tisin
tum
turu
sxsay
kmmi
qra
N+
%
#
%
$%
f
%
$%
(
$
$
%
*
"
Examples:
Jo speaks Tamazight
well.
Jo da tsawal tamazit
mzyan.
Every summer, I travel

to the U.S.
ku s$-s$if da tsafar s
mirikan.
Lisa swims in the pool.
Lisa da tum g lapisin.
Where are you (every)

Saturday afternoon?
mag da ttilim as n s-sbt

tadggat?
How many books do you

read in a month?
mta n l-ktub da tqrat g

wayyur?

.
.
NEGATION OF THE PRESENT TENSE.

To form the negation of the present tense, we simply add the prefix ur (*) to
the conjugated verb.
Examples:
I dont drink tea with
sugar.
ur da ssa atay s-skkar.
They dont go to school

on Sunday.
ur da tddun s l-mdrasa
as n l-Hdd.
.

.
FORMATION OF THE IMPERATIVE CONTINUOUS.

There are 3 main categories of the imperative continuous.
1st Category:
(Verb in the simple imperative) + (the prefix t with an a inserted before the last
letter).
Examples:
1. to play: lb becomes tlab.
2. to photograph: s$wwr becomes ts$wwar
Yousef is playing in front
of the house.
Yussef da ytlab imi n

taddart.
Cathy is photographing
her family everyday.
Cathy da ts$wwar
l-familans kuyas.
. *
+ X %$
#E
;
$Y *
.$
2nd Category:
(Verb in the simple imperative) + (prefix t).
Examples:
1. to send: azn becomes tazn.
2. to collect water: agm becomes tagm.
John is sending letters
to his family every
month.
John da ytazn tibratin i

l-familans ku ayyur
Alicia is collecting water

from the spring every
day.
Alicia da tagm aman sg

tabalut kuyas.
59 Tamazight
3rd Category:
(Verb in the imperative) + (the middle letter is doubled).
Examples:
1. to smoke: kmi becomes kmmi
Moha smokes sometimes.
Moha da
tikkal.
ykmmi
kan
For more examples of the Present continous form, refer to the verb glossary
below.
Examples of the 3 main categories of imperative Continuous Verbs.
1ST CATEGORY:
Verbs
infinitive/imperative
To answer
wajb
To play
lb
To pay
xlls$
To get used to
walf
To annoy
sdd
To add
zayd
To watch tv
frrj
To greet
sllm
To change
(money)
s$rrf
To have
breakfast
fd$r
To change
bddl
To draw
rsm
To understand
fhm
To be late
t$t$r
To help
awn
To travel
safr
To be sick
mrd$
To photograph
s$wwr
To dance
t$H
To record
sjjl
Continuous
p Q
p
`
G
X

3
%

twajab
tlab
txllas$
twalaf
tsdda
tzayad
tfrraj
tsllam
ts$rraf
V3 tfd$ar
9
%
T3
W

3%

$
] W[
\F
%
tbddal
trsam
tfham
tt$t$ar
tawan
tsafar
tmrad$
ts$wwar
tt$aH
tsjjal
Q$

D$
Y
5
;

Y
V;

%
T;
W

3

$Y
WN

F
To win
rbH
To accept
qbl
To return back
ayd
To reduce
(lower)
nqqs
] 9
\ "

` U#
trbaH
tqbal
tayad
tnqqas
9
U

U
2nd CATEGORY:
verbs
Infinitive/imperative
Continuous imperative/present
stem

$_
tkks
turu
ggz
13
*

* =
*(
$
*9
5
$
tggz
$
1;
*

* <
*+,

*

$
*
5
$
To collect
water
agm
tagm
To send
azn
tazn
To
want/like/love
iri

To sing
irir
tirir
To recover
jjiy
To try
arm
To ask
ttr
To hear
sfld
To close
qqn
To swim
um

*Q

;%
("
$
To remove
kks
To walk
around
d$wwr
To write
uru
To exit
ff
To be
illi
To be able
iiy
To be afraid
ggd
To arrive
awd$
To climb up
ali
To forget
ttu
To cut
bbi
To take
amz
To accompany
mun
To climb down
td$wwr
tff
tilli
ttiiy
tggd
tawd$
tali
ttu
tbbi
tamz
tmun
tiri
tjjiy
tarm
ttr
sflad
tqqn
tum

$V

*F

;%
(U

$
61 Tamazight
3rd CATEGORY.
Verbs
Infinitive/omperative
To enter
kjm
To wake up
nkr
To smoke
kmi
To start
bdu
To pour
xwu
To build
bnu
To scratch
kmz
To slaughter
rs
To graze
fz
To scrab
mri
To bush
krd$
To peel (an
egg)
zlm
To borrow
rd$l
To break
down
xsr
To wound
jrH
To wipe off
sfd$
To warn
lm
To sew
gnu
F
#
*
9
$G
$9
5
=
53

Continuous
zllm
F

#
*
9
$G
$9
5
=
5;

\ _ rd$d$l
G xssr
\_

G
Q jrrH
{ ;% sffd$
llm
Q
{ ; %
kjjm
nkkr
kmmi
bddu
xwwu
bnnu
kmmz
rrs
tfzza
mrri
krrd$
gnnu
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: describe the present tense of the following activities.
63 Tamazight
Exercise 2: put the verbs between parentheses in the present tense.
ku s$-s$if nkkin (safr) s Miami (amz)

yat l-bit g yan lot$il irxsn. kuli lot$ilat
lan aku bzzaf n mddn (ddu) s Miami.
Ku s$-s$baH (fd$r). g 1O:OO (f) s brra.
g luqt n imkli (s) sandwit aku ur uri
l-flus. mn bd (ddu) s l-bHr. kan tikkal
(um) nd (lb) takurt. mn bd (ayd) s
lot$il. (t) imnsi g 7:30. g ggid (r)
l-ktabinu.
" )( )( "
.
.( )
. )( 10:00 .( )
)(
.( ).
)( .)( )(
.7:30 )( .
.)(
Exercise 3: write a paragraph about the set of pictures.
Exercise 4: read the text then answer the questions below.
isminu Rob. uri yan mu ismns Pat. kan

tikkal da ytddu s igran ad iHwws. Pat
ur da ytta irdayn wala ibxxun, da
yssa l-Hlib d da ytta as s-srdin. Pat
iwHl abda, da yggan sg l-fd$ur ar imnsi.
mqqar da yggan Pat, da yi tkks lqnd$.
da yi tfur aynnas ddi, mk gn da
ytlab s l-ktubinu. iHla Pat walaynni ur
tHmiln wadjarn, da t kkatn ur da as
ikkin awdHaH. yan was iff Pat s igran
.- .
. .

.
.
.
. .
ar itlab allig iwHl. mn bd idda s tama
n yan usklu ad ign. imiH iddad yan
urgaz ad ibbi asklu. ur yannay Pat,
yusi aglzim ar-ikkat asklu. Pat ign da
ytwirig ur yuki allig t iwt usklu. immut
igllin. udr as tama n ildjign nnag da
ytlab ku yas. iqqima digi l-Hal, usar
nni ad ttu Pat mayd tla ddunit aku
izza uri bzzaf.

. .
.
. .
. /012( ..
.
.
. .

.
Questions:
1. mism n mu?
2. is da ytta (Pat) irdayn?
3. max da yggan bzzaf?
4. mas da ytlab?
5. mayd da as karn wadjarn i Pat?
6. mag ign Pat?
7. mayd iskr urgaz?
8. is ur immut Pat?
9. mag yudr Rob i Pat?
10. is ad ittu Rob muns?

.

.

65 Tamazight
Tafullust n waman
g yat tmazirt izd yan ufllaH d
tmt$t$utns. ursn z-zhr aku ursn yat
tfllust n waman nna ittarun tiglay am
d-dhb. ku yas da-zznzan yat tglayt g
s-suq d da ssan ayna tn-ixs$s$an.
walayni yan was tamt$t$ut tna i wrgazns:
aytx n tfullust ur da ttaru as yat
tglayt i was ur a tqd$i. ixs$s$a ya ad as
nrs afad a nasi d-dhb illan agnsuns d
hat a ng labas, argaz iga r-ray i
tmt$t$utns, ina tn t$-t$m d rsn i
tfullust n waman. id as rsn ur ufin
awdHaH. ur ufin la d-dhb wala tqqima
ursn tfullust ittarun taglayt n d-dhb i
was.

.

.
" :

"
.

.
Questions:
1. mayd izdn g yat tmazirt?
2. mayd ursn? d mayd da ttaru?
3. mayd day-skar ufllaH d tmt$t$utns
kuyas?
4. mayd tna tmt$t$ut i wrgazns?
5. mn bd, mayd iga ufllaH?
-1
-2
-3
-4
-5
-6
6. mayd skrn?
7. is ufan d-dhb agnsu n tfullust?
-7
Exercise 6: write your time line of activities for last Sunday.
PAST EVENTS
Talk about past activities
Time vocabulary:
DAYS OF THE WEEK
Day
as
Week
s-simana
Sunday
l-Hdd
Monday
l-tnin
Tuesday
t$-t$lat
Wednesday
l-arb
Thursday
l-xmis
Friday
l-jumua
Saturday
s-sbt
MONTHS OF THE YEAR
June
yunyu
asggas
July
yulyuz
January
yanayr
August
ut
February
fbrayr
September
utanbir
March
mars
October
octubr
April
abril
November
nuwanbir
Month
ayyur
Year
THE SEASONS
Spring
r-rbi
Summer
s$-s$if
Fall
l-xrif
Winter
tagrst
67 Tamazight
PAST TIME EXPRESSIONS
This year
asggasa
Last year
asggas (nna) yzrin
Last month
ayyur (nna) yzrin
Last week
s-simana (nna) yzrin
Yesterday
asnat$ /asant$
Today
assa
On (day of the week)
as n ...
.......
On Friday
as n l-jumua
In (month)
g ...
In August
g ut
At (time)
g ...
.......
At 9:00
g t-tsud
At dawn
g l-fjr
In the morning
g s$-s$baH
In the afternoon /
evening
g tadggat
At night
g ggid$
At midnight
g wammas n yid$
Already
yad
Long time ago
wahli aya
The day before

yesterday
aslid
The other day
as lli
Last night
id$gam
Ago
aya
2 years ago
sin isggasn aya
)(
)(
)(
/
........
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
THE PAST TENSE.
In order to conjugate a verb in the past tense, we add prefixes and suffixes to
the stem.
There are two past tense conjugation patterns. All verbs in the past tense fall
into one of these two patterns. However each pattern is comprised of both
regular and irregular verbs.
PAST TENSE PATTERN 1.
nkkin
You
Kiy/km
(m, f)
He
she
ntta
nttat
__
t__t
i__
t__
__We
nkni
You
knni
__
(m, p)
You
__
knnimti
(f, p)
n__
t__m
t__mt
__
__
__
__ They (m) nitni
__n
__
They (f)
__nt
__
nitnti
Regular verbs
When we say regular verb, we mean a verb that is conjugated without changes
in its stem. We only add prefixes and suffixes.
To understand
T3
fhm
nk
fhm
Kiy/km
tfhmt
ntta
ifhm
nttat
tfhm
' # nkni
nfhm
knni
tfhmm
+# knnimti
tfhmmt
fhmn
fhmnt
T3
* ++#
/*
+# nitni
nitnti
69 Tamazight
Some verbs:
To help
awn
To enter
kjm
To go out
to pay
xlls$
to listen
sfld
ff
to travel
safr
To swim
um
to live
(reside)
zd
To work
xdm
to
accompany
mun
To wash
ssird
to ride
ni
To look
sksu
to wake up)
nkr
To sleep
gn
to ask for
ttr
To play
lab
to get used
to
wllf
To get sick
mrd$
to watch
(tv)
tfrrj
To talk/
To speak
sawl
to ask
sqsa
To pass
zri
to put
(down)
srs
To fall
d$r
to hope
tmnna
To forget
ttu
to knead
jn
Examples:
I talked to my family in
Tamazight.
sawl i l-familanu s
tmazit.
Last year Suzan lived in

Chicago.
asggas nna izrin Suzan

tzd g Chicago.
Last summer we traveled

to Miami.
s$-s$if nna izrin nsafr s

Miami.
.

.
Irregular verbs
Pattern 1 irregular verbs follow the same prefix and suffix rules as regular
verbs, but their stems change during conjugation. Most of these stem changes
fall into one of three categories, but there are exceptions.
1. A
U irregulars
Verbs beginning with a (*) which change to u (*) when conjugated

To draw water
agm
nk
ugm
Kiy/km
tugmt
ntta
*yugm
nttat
tugm
nkni
/ knni
knnimti
nitni
nitnti
nugm
tugmm
tugmmt
ugmn
ugmnt
*Notice that in the 3rd person singular masculine form, we insert y before the
actual verb instead of i.
Some verbs:
To send
azn
to take
amz
To open
anf
to taste
arm
To climb up
ali
to hang (up)
agl
To trust
amn
to steal
akr
To burry
adr
Examples:
Last month, I sent a
letter to my family.
ayyur nna izrin uzn

tabrat i l-familanu
Yesterday, we climbed
the mountain.
asnat$ nuli j-jbl
Last Sunday, khadija

tried a delicious fruit in
the souk.
l-Hdd izrin khadija turm

yan d-disir iHlan g s-suq.

.
.

.
71 Tamazight
2. A
I irregulars
Verbs beginning with a (*) which change to i (*) when conjugated

To get married
awl
nk
iwl
nkni
Kiy/km
tiwlt
/ knni
ntta
yiwl
nttat
tiwl
knnimti
nitni
nitnti
niwl
tiwlm
tiwlmt
iwln
iwlnt
Some verbs.
To bring
awi
To arrive
awd$
Examples:
Yesterday, the
volunteers of
Ouarzazat arrived.
asnat iwd$n l-mutat$awiin n

warzazat.
They (f) brought their

books to class.
nitnti iwint l-ktubnsnt s
She got married last

year.
nttat, tiwl asggas izrin.
3. U

.

.
l-qism.
A irregulars
Verbs beginning with u (*) which change to a (*) when conjugated.

To write
uru
nk
aru
nkni
Kiy/km
tarut
/ knni
ntta
yaru
knnimti
naru
tarum
tarumt
nttat
taru
nitni
nitnti
arun
arunt
Examples:
Thomas fasted Ramadan
with his family.
Thomas yazum rmd$an d

l-familans.
My sister folded her

clothes in the wordrop
early in the morning.
utma tadu iHruyn ns g

l-maryu s$-s$baH zik.
MoHa skined a lamb in

the big feast.
yazu Moha anugud g l-id

axatar

.

.

.
4. Exceptions: the verb to know

The verb to know is a very useful example of a pattern 1 irregular verb which
does not fall into one of the three major categories. Exceptions such as this will
have to be learned through practice and interaction.
When conjugating to know (isin), both is are dropped from the stem.
To know
isin
nk
sn
nkni
Kiy/km
tsnt
/ knni
ntta
isn
nttat
tsn
knnimti
nitni
nitnti
nsn
tsnm
tsnmt
snn
snnt
PAST TENSE PATTERN 2.
Pattern 2 verbs use a different set of suffixes and prefixes to conjugate the
past form.
nk
__i
__
nkni
n__a
__
73 Tamazight
Kiy/km
t__it
__
ntta
i__a
__
nttat
t__a
__
knni
t__am
knnimti t__amt
nitni
nitnti
__
__
__an
__
__ant
__
regular verbs
As with the previous example, you conjugate pattern 2 regular verbs by adding
the prefixes and suffixes to the stem, which does not change.
To eat
nk
ti
nkni
Kiy/km
ttit
/ knni
ntta
ita
nttat
tta
knnimti
nitni
nitnti
nta
ttam
ttamt
tan
tant
Some verbs.
To stop/
stand up
bdd
To sell
znz
To buy
To dig
To bake/ cook
snu
To wear
ls
To lose
zl
To throw
gr
To drink
su
To laugh
t$s
To be/do
To call/
study/read/invite
To give
To kill
To pass
kk
To break
rrz
Examples:
I bought a djellaba.
si yat tjllabit.
They studied Tamazight

in Morocco.
ran tamazight g l-mrib
We cooked a delicious
tajin.
nsnua yan t$-t$ajin yat$futn
irregular verbs
As with Pattern 1 irregular verbs, the prefixes and suffixes remain fixed, while
the stem of the verb changes. Pattern 2 irregulars are also broken in to 3 major
groups.
1. Trailing u irregulars
For verbs ending in u (*), the final u is dropped before adding the prefixes and
suffixes.
To begin
bdu
nk
bdi
nkni
Kiy/km
tbdit
/ knni
ntta
ibda
nttat
tbda
knnimti
nitni
nitnti
nbda
tbdam
tbdamt
bdan
bdant
Some verbs.
To go
ddu
to build
bnu
To empty
xwu
to rent
kru
To smell
kd$u
to sew
gnu
To rest
swunfu
to roast
wu
To be nice
Hlu
75 Tamazight
Examples:
I rented a cheap house.
kri yat taddart irxsn.
They threw the trash in

the ditch.
xwan z-zbl g targa.
You (m, p) started work

early.
knni tbdam zik l-xdmt.
You (f, p) went to the

souk yesterday.
knnimti tddamt s s-souq

asnat$.
2. A
U irregulars
Like the Pattern 1 A->U irregulars, the Pattern 2 form changes the leading a->u
when conjugated.
In the Pattern 2 irregulars, however, the a undergoing
change can be at the front or in the middle of the verb as it is in rar (to
return/vomit) whose stem changes to rur in conjugation.
To find
af
nkni
tufit
/ knni
ntta
yufa
nttat
tufa
nk
ufi
Kiy/km
ufan
nitnti
ufant
knnimti
nitni
nufa
tufam
tufamt
Some verbs.
To leave /
let
adj
to cry
al
To run
azzl
to carry
asi
To return/
vomit
rar
Examples:
She left the book at
school.
tudja l-ktab g l-mdrasa.
David didnt leave his
clothes in the house.
David ur yudji iHruyn ns

g taddart.
Hicham lost 500 dirhams

in the souk.
Hisham izla 500 drhm g

s-suq.
Did they turn back the

books to the library?
is rurran l-ktub r
l-mktaba?
Malika carried a heavy

bag on her back.
malika tusi yan s$-s$ak

axatar aflla n tadawt ns.

.
500
.

.
3. Leading/Trailing i irregulars
For pattern 2 verbs beginning and ending with i, we drop both before
conjugating.
To want
iri
nk
ri
nkni
nra
Kiy/km
trit
/ knni
tram
ntta
ira
tramt
nttat
tra
ran
nitnti
rant
to say
ini
knnimti
nitni
Some verbs.
To be
ili
Examples:
I knew nothing.
ur ssin awd malm.
He hasnt eaten nothing.
ur iti awdHaH
.
.
77 Tamazight
NEGATION OF THE PAST TENSE.

To negate verbs of the first pattern we add ur to the beginning of the verb
and we make the following changes:
1- add I before the last
I didnt travel to
Marrakesh.
ur safr s Mrrak.
I didnt play soccer.
ur lib takurt.
I didnt receive the

letter.
ur yumiz tabrat.
2- if the verb ends with a vowel we make no change in the stem:

Examples:
They werent members
of the cooperation.
nitni ur amunt g
taawunia.
I didnt fold my clothes

yet.
nkkin sul ur adu

iHruyn inu
They forgot to carry

their camera in the trip.
ttun ur ussin l-kamera

nsn
.

.
.
3- if the verb ends with a consonant and the letter before it is a vowel:
Examples:
My little sister didnt

fast.
uttma tamzzant ur
tazum.
I didnt accompany Driss

to the fields.
ur mun d Driss s igran.
I didnt swim in the river

as it is cold.
ur um g assif aku illa

as$mmid$.
As in the first pattern we add ur.but we change all the as in the suffixes to
is; a; an; ant becomes: I; im; imt; in; int.
He didnt drink tea.
ur iswi atay.
We ddnt go to school.
ur nddi s l-mdrassa.
I didnt carry my book.
ur usi l-ktabinu.
They didnt want coffe.
ur rint l-qhwa.
.
.
.
They didnt buy the cow
in the souk.
ur sin tafunast g s-s-uq.
Additional negative form.
Nothing
walu
Nothing
awdmalm
Nothing
awdHaH
No one (masc.)
awdyan
No one (fem.)
awdyat
Examples:
I knew nothing.
ur sing awdmalm
He hasnt eaten anything.
ur iti awdHaH
HAVE YOU EVER/ IVE NEVER

The equivalents of these two expressions in Tamazight are is djin...?/ur
djin...
These expressions are followed by verbs conjugated in the past tense.
Whenever using "djin" you must use the negative form of the verb.
Examples:
Have you ever gone

to America?
is ur djin tddit s
mirikan?
No, Ive never gone

to America.
uhu, ur djin ddi s

mirikan.
Have you everplayed

soccer?
is ur djin tlbt takurt?
Yes, Ive played

soccer.
yeah, lb takurt.
Have you ever eaten

locusts?
is ur djin ttam tamuri?
We have never eaten

locusts.
ur djin nti tamuri.
.

.
79 Tamazight
OBJECT PRONOUNS
Direct Object Pronouns
In English, we have pronouns for the subject of a sentence; I, you, he, she, we,
and they. We also have direct object pronouns that we use after verbs. For
example :
Subject
Verb
Direct Object
she
hit
me
saw
her
(you)
ask
him
So far, you have learned the independant pronouns and the possessive pronouns.
Below are the direct object pronouns used in Tamazight after verbs.
Me
Us
You (m, s)
You (m, p)
kn
You (f, s)
km
You (f, p)
knt
Him/it
Them (m)
tn
Her/it
tt
Them (f)
tnt
Note: The object pronouns are effectively combined with the verb. In this
text, verb stems and their objects will be separated by dashes (-) to aid in the
learning process. These dashes are meant to help visually separate the parts of
a verb, they should not be pronounced in any way.
Examples:
SalaH hit me.
SalaH iwt i.
John played soccer.
John ilb takurt.
John played it.
John ilbt t.
I asked Bassu.
sqsa Bassu.
I asked him.
sqsa t.
Indirect Object Pronouns
Indirect object pronouns recieve the action of the verb indirectly. For example:
Fatima gave him the book,
the book recieves the action and in therefore the direct object. him is the
indirect object. For example:
My brother told me the news.
the news is the direct object, and me is the indirect object.
i
You (m, s)
ak
You (f, s)
am
Him
Her
Me
You (m, p)
awn
You (f, p)
awnt
as
Them (m)
asn
as
Them (f)
asnt
Us
Examples :
I talked to Moha
sawl i Moha
I talked to him
sawl as
She helped Fama and

Hammou.
tawn i Fad$ma d
Hammou.
She helped them.
tawn asn.
I gave the book to Aicha.
ki l-ktab i ia.
I gave her the book.
ki as l-ktab.
I gave it to her.
ki as t.
.
.
.
.
.
.
Note: In the last example both a direct and indirect object are used. It would
translate litterally as I gave to her, it with it (the book) being represented
by t and her (Aicha) being represented by as
THE PARTICIPLE.
The past participle in Tamazight is equivelant to the present perfect form in
English.
Past
Present Perfect
He did
He has done
81 Tamazight
We obtain the past participle by conjugating a verb in the 3rd person (masculine,
singular) (i.e he form) in the past tense, and then we add the suffix 'n'. In
this form the verb does not have to agree in gender or number.
He read
ntta ira
He has read
ntta ayd iran
Examples:
Who has read the book?
mayd iran l-ktab?
Who has gone out?
mayd iffn?
Who has spoken in

Tamazight?
mayd isawln s tmazit?
Note: 'ayd' is used in these sentences which emphasises the subject doing the
action of the verb. A rough translation would be "it is (me/he/she) who (has
done the action".
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: put the verbs between parentheses in the correct form.
Mohamed:
Malika:
Mohamed:
Malika:
Mohamed:
may tgit asnat$?

(jn) arum. (zzi)
tafunast. (ssird) iHruyn.
i kiy?
(lb) l-kart$a (tfrrj) g
t-tlfaza, (gn)
waxxa ak iawn rbbi
awd km.
.( ).)(
.
)( )(
.()
.

1- (agl) imma iHruyn affla n usklu
2- (anf) chris labwat$ post$al asggas
izrin
3- is (amz) l-waldink
l-bost$a
l-manda g
4- max allig (akr) arba tafullust g

udwar?
. )( .1
. )( .2
.
. )( .3
)( .4
Exercise 3: put the following words in order to make correct sentences.

1- s loberj / bzzaf n / iwdn / l-Hdd
izrin / mddn.
/ /... / .1
2- Fatima / yan / tiwl / s-sif izrin /

urgaz iHlan.
/ / / / .2
3- taddart / d-dwa ns / ur / s / yiwi /

John.
/ / / / / .3
. /
. /
83 Tamazight

1- nttat (umu) g l-jmia n tamazirt ns.
2- nkr sbaHa zik , ssird aqmunu,
(udu) l-kaa, mn bd f.
3- g tmra n Mohammed, (uzu) nk d
baba yan unugud$ axatar.
4- s$baHa nkni (uru) bzzaf xf l-mru n
l-abat.
. ( )( 1
( ) ( 2
.
)( ( 3
.
( )( 4
.
Exercise 5: put the verbs in parentheses in the correct form.

1. asnat$, RabHa (azn) tabrat i Lissa.
2. nitnti (agm) aman sg wanu.
3. is (awl) LaHsen mid isul?
.( )( 1
.( )( 2
( )( 3
Exercise 6: put the verbs in parentheses in the correct form then answer the
questions below.
Rmd$an izrin , hayat s-salam (azn)
David s yan udwwar. (awd) ur
l-famila ns g taddart. David ur(azum)
asnnat$ walakin (ini) i l-familans yan
was yad$nin. David (frH) bzzaf kud
(anf) l-bab n l-bitns. ur dis walu
walakin tHla (agl) s$-s$akns g uyadir.
s$-s$baH, (mun) d uttmans lat$ifa s targa
(agm) aman s ssin. tirbatin n tmazirt
(rab) walakin ijbasnt David. sin
wayurn aya (uru) yan E-mail i l-familans
g Mirican (ini) asn (awl) Lat$ifa .
* 0 )(
# . )( .
)( )(
( ) )( # .
.
)( . )(
. )(
)(
)( .#
. )( )(
Questions:
1- mantur idda David s adwwar?
2- mayd iskr David g s$-s$baH?
# -1
# -2
# -3
3- mism utmas n David?

4- mayd iskr David sin ayurn aya?
# -4

Fad$ma tiwl sin isggasn aya. aslid nttat
tnkr zik tiwi ayul s igran mn bd tmun
d tarbatns s asif adssirdnt iHruyn. mn
bd uglntn g iskla taman wasif. qbl
adaydnt s taddart, ulint s jjbl ad awin
ikud$n. mn bd usint l-Hwayj, ugmnt
aman, aydnt s taddart uHlnt bazzaf,
as iwdnt fad$ma tiwi ayul ad iswunfu
g l-kuri tama n l-bhaym yad$nin aku
awd ntta ixdm bzzaf.
.
. .
.
.

. .

.
Questions:
1- mayd tmun fad$ma s asif?
2- max alli tdda Fad$ma d tarbat ns s
asif?
3- mani g tugl Fad$ma iHruyn?
4- mayd yusi uyul aflla n tadawtns?
( 1
( 2
( 3
( 4
Exercise 8: put the verbs in parentheses in the correct form.

1) ayur izrin yat trbat (rar) g l-kar.
.( )( 1
2) khadija ur (adj) l-ktab g l-mdarsa.
. ( )( 2
85 Tamazight
3) nitni (asi) s$-s$ak nsn r l-maHt$t$a.
. ( )( 3
4) is (rwl) David sg lot$il ar t-tiran?
#( )( 4
Exercise 9: conjugate the verbs between parentheses in the past tense.

1. yan was (ddu) s s-suq d (s) yan
uznnar. (ls) aznnar d (sksu) lmri. (t$s)
xf ixfinu aku ur (isin) ad-t-ls.
2. yan wayyur aya (af) Younes yan
ikzin tama n taddartns. ukan (asi) t,
(k) as ad it. iwllf bzzaf. yan was (adj)
t i wadjarnns. id iayd ur t (af), (zl).
(qqim) l-Hal g Younes bzzaf.
( )( ( )1
)( . )( .
. )(
( )( 2
. )( )(
. )( .
)( ( )( )
.
Exercise 10: fill in the blanks with the correct participle forms of the following
verbs: s, safr, um, lb.
1.nttat ayd ________s mirikan.
. ________ .1
2.nitni ayd ________ takurt.
________ .2
3.knni ayd ________ g wasif.
. _______ .3
4.knnimti ayd ______l-xd$rt.
. _________ .4
Exercise 11: write a paragraph about these pictures.
87 Tamazight
yan was g s$-s$if yan un inat laz bzzaf
ifkkr g mani tlla kan l-makla iHlan? mn
bd idda yufa yan igr digs ad$il. inna un
g ixfns: ad$ila yat$fut ri att. iHawl
un ad yawd ad$il walynni ur ii. mn bd
inna un uhu ur ri ad$ila aku ismmum
ri ka nna iHllawn.

.( #
. . :
.
:
.
Questions:
1. is iga l-Hal tagrst?
2. mayd yan wun?
3. mayd ifkkr ad iskr?
4. mayd inna id ur yiwid$ ad$il?
-1
-2
-3
-4
BARGAINING
Bargain for basic items, such as clothing.
Ddescribe the colors of items.
Describe differences between objects.
BARGAINING.
General bargaining information.
In Morocco, bargaining is a part of life. It can sometimes be tiring for
people not used to it, but with some cultural and language skills, it can become
much easier. Some informations about bargaining can also make the process
simpler.
First of all, you need to know what items should be bargained for, and
what items normally have fixed prices, even for Moroccans. This is not always
easy to determine, since the place where you buy some things may determine
whether the price is fixed or not. For example, some items that are sold at
fixed prices in a taanut (e.g. laundry soap, vegetables, eggs) may be bargained
for in the souq or from a street vendor. Ask your host family or watch other
Moroccans in order to find out. Here are some general guidelines for whether
prices are fixed or not:
Seldom Bargained For
Usually Bargained For

Any article of clothing
Things which are literally bought

every day: mint, parsley, bread,
Any household or kitchen

utensil, appliance,
or furniture
coriander
Refill on a butagas
Rent for a house or apartment
Cigarettes and alcohol
Taxi fares on unscheduled runs
Meals or beverages in restaurants
Anything bought in a souk (e.g.
Bus fares between scheduled stops
grains in bulk, animals, rugs,
Taxi fares on regular runs

Price controlled staple foods:
etc.)
Anything bought from a street
sugar, oil, tea, flour, milk, butter,
vendor who
has no regular shop
etc.
Anything bought in a pharmacy
Meat and vegetables, if the price
Petit taxi fares if the meter
per kilo is posted
does not work

Anything used or second-hand
School supplies
89 Tamazight
Domestic help and services
(maid, plumber, electrician, etc.
Determine the price before
the work is done.)
It is also good to be aware of some of the standard tactics that are used
between the buyer and the seller in Morocco. If you watch Moroccans, you will
see many of these.
The Sellers Tactics
The Buyers Tactics

Not showing too much enthusiasm
for buying
Walking away when the seller has
Not showing too
much enthusiasm for selling

Turning away
named the lowest price
when the buyer has named the

highest price
Pointing out defects in the
superior quality in the merchandise
merchandise
Quoting a lower price for an
Noting the
Insisting that
identical item in another shop
goods in other shops are not of the

same quality
Claiming not to have enough money

to meet the seller's lowest price
Claiming that in
selling at the buyers highest price
he would be taking a loss
Complimenting or flattering the
Complimenting or
seller (on his shop, merchandise,
flattering the buyer (on his or her
children, friendliness)
language ability, friendliness,

expertise in bargaining)
The Buyers Tactics

Acting insulted by the sellers price
The Sellers Tactics

* Acting insulted by the buyers
offer
Arguing that the difference
* Arguing that the difference
between the sellers price and the
between the buyers price and his
price offered is insignificant; i.e.
price is insignificant and the buyer
the seller should come down to the
should come up
offered price
Pulling out one's money as if the
*Wrapping up the purchase as if the
offered price has been agreed upon
asking price has been agreed upon
When you are looking to buy an item that you know you will have to bargain
for, there are a few things that you should probably try to avoid. These include:
Showing too much interest in, or too great a need for, a particular item
Carrying large sums of money, carrying expensive, previously-bought
items, looking like a tourist
Having no idea what an item is really worth, or what is a fair price for that
type of item
Being in a hurry
Buying with a guide (he gets a percentage of what you pay).
Always be prepared to pay a price you have named. Do not get too far into
bargaining for something if you do not intend to buy it. If you are not clear on
the currency in which you are bargaining (i.e. ryals), proceed slowly. In the end,
dont let a bargaining scenario ruin your day. Most of us go unbothered by the
sometimes huge markups on big-ticket items in America, yet we can be easily
frustrated by a Moroccan merchant who makes an extra dollar or two off of us.
Remember that ones peace of mind is worth something, too.
Bargaining Expressions and Vocabulary:
Its too expensive.
ila/tla bzzaf.
Lower the price.
naqs t-taman.
Give a good price.
kan t-tam ihyyan.
I wont add even a ryal.
ur nni ad ak zayd awd
.59 < / =
.( +
" ` #
aryal.
Ill add nothing.
ur nni ad ak zayd awdHaH.
Its too much for me.
bzzaf ifi
A good price.
kan t-taman ihyyan.
A reasonable price.
kan t-taman n l-mqul.
Whats the last price?
mayd igan t-taman
. (
1#
.
.Z 1#
.* ;= 59
. ( +

.$U
( +

( )(+

amggaru?.
How much will I get it
mtas nna a t tawi.
1 #+N
for?
Theres what I have
ayd ayd uri.
$=
(money).
91 Tamazight
Clothing
Clothes
iHruyn/iban
1. sifit$ma
W;%
( Q
%
` #EF"
EF"
EW3

*
Q
+%$
$
* $ $
2. jean
3. srwal
4. qamija ns$ kmm
5. qamija
6. grafat$a
7. jili
8. kustim
9. triko
10. triko col v
11. fista
12. jakit$a
13. pijama
14. kbbut$
15. smt$a
16. t-shirt
17. ort$
18. al
19. slip
20. s$aya
E+3
EWQ
EF9
$
EW%
$[ *
$[
[
p
%
E
1. kswa
2. zif / fular
3. jllaba
4. gnd$ura
5. liba
6. sutyanat
7. ligat
$ 11. sbrdila
D$3/X 12. butyu
E9 Q 13. sbbat$
14. s$nd$ala
15. maya

#$% 16. xatm
17. Halaqat
W%
18. aqqayn
9. t$agiya
19. s-snslt
10. tqar
[U 20. md$l
8. kaskit$a
E
%
$$9
%
E

EN
G
U
Z
( "

\ V
Clothing Expressions:
Is there anything else?
is tlla kan l-Hajt yd$nin?
Give me size .... please.
ki n-nmra ... afak.
Try this one on.
arm/jrrb wa/ta.
Do you want another

color?
is trit kan l-lun yad$nin?
I prefer this color.
da yi tijib l-luntx.
It goes well with you.
yusa yakd/tusa yakd.

yusa yam-d/tusa yamd.
Is there anything else?
is tlla kan l-Hajt yd$nin?
_ (Q
.;........
*
./ Q /
_ ($

.J+#$
p F *
. %$ / %$
%$ / %$
_ (Q
93 Tamazight
COLORS
Adjectives
Masculine singular
White
amllal
Blue
azrqi
Black
ungal
Red
azgga
Yellow
awra
Green
azgzaw
Brown
aqhwi
Orange
alimuni
Pink
awrdi
Purple
amdadi
Grey
armadi
Adjectives
Feminine singular

* "
tamllalt
tazggat
$T"
* #$

taqhwit
Singular plural
White
imllaln
Blue
izrqiyn
Black
ungaln
Yellow
iwran
Green
izgzawn
Brown
iqhwiyn
Orange
ilimuniyn
Pink
iwriyn
Purple
imdadiyn
Grey
irmadiyn
Red
izggan
tazriqit

"5
tungalt
=5
=$

tawrat
tazgzawt
$TU
#$

$

talimunit
tawrdit
tamdadit
tarmadit
Feminine plural
(

( "
(
timllalin
( =
5
tiwrain
( $T"
( #$
(
(
(
( =
tiqhwiyin
(

( "5
(
$
tizrqiyin
tungalin
( =$
( 5
tizgzawin
tilimuniyin
tiwriyin
timdadiyin
tirmadiyin
tizggain
( $TU
( #$

( $
(
(
( =5
Dialogue:
Chris:
s-salamu alaykum
l-Haj:
waalaykum s-salam.
Chris:
is urk kan tjllabit n tad$ut?
l-Haj:
tlla.
Chris:
ki ad sksu.
l-Haj:
matta l-lun ay trit?
Chris:
ri tungalt.
l-Haj:
waxxa, ha ak jrrb ta.
Chris:
waxxa; tgzzul bzzaf, is tlla

kan yat yad$nin igzzifn imiH
xf ta?
l-Haj:
ur tsul as ta s wungal is trit

tazrqit?
Chris:
waxxa, ihnna l-Hal
l-Haj:
ha ak jrrb di ta.
Chris:
nttat aynna. s$aHHa.
. .
l-Haj:
tusa yakd. bs$HHa u r-raHa.
Chris:
lla yt$ik s$-s$HHa. mta?
l-Haj:
4000 ryal.
. 4000
Chris:
bzzaf tla; naqs$ imiH. ad ak

k as 3000 ryal.
. 3000
l-Haj:
waxxa; awid l-flus.
Chris:
ha ak, lla yawn.
l-Haj:
lla yawn.
95 Tamazight
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
REGULAR ADJECTIVES.
Regular adjectives are placed after the noun they modify and must agree with it
in number and gender.
Examples:
5Z
Lame man
argaz aHizun
Lame woman
tamt$t$ut taHizunt
English
5 $W
Masculine
Feminine
Fat
azurar
tazurart
Old people
awssar
tawssart
Skinny
usdid
tusdit
Small/Short
agzzal
tagzzalt
Crazy
amd$ur
tamd$urt
Long / tall
azzaf
tazzaft
Big
axatar
taxatart
Young/Little
/Small
amzzan
tamzzant
New
ujdid
tujdit
Lazy
amgaz
Old(thing)
aqdim
English
Plural Masculine
tamgazt
taqdimt
Plural feminine
Fat
izurarn
tizurarin
( 5
Old people
iwssarn
tiwssarin
( %$
Skinny
usdidn
tusdidin
( %$
Small/Short
igzzaln
tigzzalin
(
Crazy
imd$ar
timd$ar
V
Long / Tall
izzafn
tizzafin
( 35<
Big
ixatarn
tixatarin
(
Young/Little
/Small
imzzan
timzzanin
( #5
New
ujdidn
Lazy
imgazn
Old(thing)
iqdim
tujdidin
timgazin
tiqdimin
( Q$
( U
ADJECTIVES AS VERBS.
Kathy is happy
Katy tfrH
Mark is happy
Mark ifrH
* ;
3
Adjectives conjugated in the 3rd person singular.

It is full
immr
it is rough
iHr
It is empty
ixwa
it is
smooth
ilulf
It is fat
izur
it is hot
iHma
It is thin
isdid
it is cold
iqrf
It is dead
immut
it is warm
ira
It is alive
iddr
it is
straight
inm
It is sharp
iwa
it is
winding
ifr
It is blunt
iHfa
it is far
irq
It is good
ihyya
it is near
inmala
It is good
iHla
it is heavy
izzay
It is bad
ixxa
it is light
ifssus
It is sweet
iHllaw
it is narrow
iqmr
97 Tamazight
It is hot
(spicey)
iHrra
it is wide
iws
It is
cooked
inwa
it is long
izzif
It is wet
imm
it is short
igzzul
It is dry
izwa
it is hard
iqqur
It is open
yunf
it is soft
ilgga
It is closed
iqqn
it is
difficult
iqqa
It is easy
iwhn
Exceptions:
Normally Tamazight adjectives can be conjugated in a way that the verb to be
is implied. (I.e. Mark ifrH, Mark is happy.) Adjectives borrowed from Arabic,
on the other hand, must have the to be verb g specifically added.
It is important.
iga muhim.
It is obligatory.
iga d$aruri.
It is dangerous.
iga xat$ar.
He is optimistic.
iga mutafail.
He is pessimistic.
iga mutaaim.
Note the verb to be, g must agree with the subject.
ADJECTIVES AS PARTICIPLES.
To make a participle, take an adjective in its he (3rd person singular) form and
add the suffix n.
Example:
ira becomes iran.
I want warmed water.
ri aman iran
Indefinite adjectives:
The adjective yanin meaning another is constant (i.e. it doesnt agree with a
noun) and it always occurs after the noun.
Examples:
Another house
taddart yad$nin
Another man
argaz yad$nin
Some other house
tiddrwin yad$nin
Some other men
irgzn yad$nin
She wants another book.
tra l-ktab yad$nin
Another way to say another in Tamazight is by using the words wayd$, tayd$,
or tiyd$ depending on the number and gender of the subject.
99 Tamazight
English
Masculine
Feminine
Another (singular)
wayd$
{
wiyd$
{
Others (plural)
tayd$
{
tiyd$
{
Examples:
I have two sisters, one
studies at the university,
the other works at the
post office.
uri snat taytmatin, yat

da tqra g l-jamia tayd$
da txddm g l-bost$a.
Some men are near the

mosque, others went to
the fields
idsn irgazn llan tama n

l-jam, wiyd$ ddan s igran

.

.
COMPARATIVE AND SUPERLATIVE ADJECTIVES.

Comparative Adjectives:
We use comparative adjectives when we are comparing two objects/persons
based on some quality or characteristic. For example, in English we can say: I
am taller than John.
Taller than John is the comparative form of the
adjective tall. In Tamazight to compare two objects we add the proposition xf

to the adjective.
Examples:
Said is younger than
Hassan
said immziy xf Hassan
Hassan is older than

Said
Hassan ixatr xf said
The public phone is

closer than the post
office.
t-tilibutik tnmala xf
l-bost$a.
Other ways of comparing.

Tamazight uses a number of words when making comparisons. The most common
of these are "yuf" and "yugr."
Examples:
Honey is better than butter.
tuf tamimt udi.
I prefer milk to tea.
yuf uri l-Hlib atay.
He is older than Bob.
yugr Bob g l-mr.
He is taller than I am.
yugri g tazi.
Which is better, the outside

or the inside?
mayd yufn, brra nd

agnsu?
.
.
.
.

Comparing like objects

When comparing similar things/people we use the word "am", like" or "kif kif",
an Arabic expression meaning "the same".
Examples:
The outside is like the

inside.
am brra, am agnsu.
He is older, as I am.
ixatr am nk.
They are the same.
nitni kif kif
Superlative adjectives
The superlative adjective in Tamazight can be formed by adding the word ayd
before the adjective in its participle form.
Examples:
Jeff is tall
Jeff izzif
Jeff is the tallest among

them
Jeff ayd izzifn digsn
She is the smartest
nttat ayd iwan
101 Tamazight
PRACTICE
Exercice 1: read the text than answer the questions.
Fad$ma tra a tssird bzzaf n iHruyn
assa: s-srwal armadi d tajllabit
tamllalt n urgazns. l-qamija tazrqit d
j-jakit$a taqhwit n urbans, l-kswa
tazggat d s$-s$aya tawrat n tarbatns.
l-pijama tazgzawt d z-zif amllal win
Fad$ma.
walaynni,
tinmi
t-tqar
tungalin?
:
.
.

EQn
.
.
Questions:
1. winmi s-srwal armadi?
2. tin mi j-jakit$a taqhwit?
3. id s$-s$aya tawrat tin Fad$ma?

4. id l-pijama n Fad$ma tga tazrqit?
5. mayd igan l-lun n t-tqar?

75 60.2

Exercise 2: work with your host family to find the adjectives for each picture.
Exercise 3: fill in the blanks with the appropriate adjectives.

1. iirran ____ da qran mzyan g
l-mdrassa.
. ______ ( 1
2. ri ad bbi aksum s l-mus walaynni

__________ tkay-i Rqiyya yan
__________.
_____ ( 2
3. t$-t$ajin nna nta g l-qhwa

__________ walaynni ______ imiH.
( _______ 3
.________
.______
4. ssirdn iHruyn asnat$ d ______ di.
. ______ ( 4
5. l-mdrassa ___________ walaynni

l-bost$a __________ sg da.
.( _____ 5
6. ussan imzwura ufi tamazit

__________ walaynni di
__________.
______ ( 6
7. nttat __________ walaynni imas

__________.
8. nra a num g wasif walaynni
. ________
_______ ( ______ 7
_________ ( 8
Exercise 4: answer the following questions based upon the drawing.
103 Tamazight
Questions :
1. mayd ilan ad$il nd/mid
l-banan?
2. mayd irxs$n ad$il nd/mid
d-dllaH?
3. mayd yufn d-dllaH nd/mid
l-banan?
/ ( 1
/ ( 2
/ ( 3
( 4
4. id ad$il ayd ilan?
( 5
5. mayd irxs$n ?
Exercise 5: compare each pair using comparative adjectives.
SHOPPING FOR FOOD

Shop for produce, meats and spices.
FRUITS AND VEGETABLES

At the greengrocer
1. xizzu
2. -iflur
3. l-quq
4. bat$at$a
5. tiflfilt
6. ddnjal
7. l-xyar
8. mat$ia
9. jlbana
10. l-krafs
ur uxd d ar
5G
$
;N
$U
fW9

;
;
F#

ENW
E#
Q
3
11. ibawn
12. l-fjl
13. tasayt
14. t-tuma
15. azalim
16. l-barba
17. tallfin
18. l-mkwwr
19. llubya
20. lkurjit$
9
\ F;
Y<
E$+
9
( ;

$
9$
} Q$
105 Tamazight
Quince
s-sfrjl
Parsley
l-mdnus
Gourd
s-slawi
Mint
n-nna
Okra
l-mluxiya
Absinth
-iba
Coriander
l-qs$bur
Verbena
l-lwiza
1. ad$il
9. buwid/tifiras
2. l-limun
10. t-tut
3. t-tfaH
11. lavoka
4. l-friz
12. lananas
5. l-brquq
13. d-dllaH
6. l-banan
14. Hblmluk
15. -hdiya
7. l-xux
8. l-Hamd$

Pomegranate
r-rmman
Apricots
l-mma
Japanese
plums
l-mzaH
Kiwi
l-kiwi
UNITS OF MEASUREMENT.
Scale
l-mizan
Gram
gram
kilogram
kilu
kilogram
rbkilu
kilogram
ns$ kilu
kilogram
kilu lla rub
2 kilograms
juj kilu
Expressions:
....
Give me a kilo of...
ki yan kilu n ...
Weigh (for) me...
bri...
......
Give me some...
ki kan ...
....
More ... please
zaydi ... s$aHHa
How much is a kilo of ...
Hal t-taman i kilu n ....?
What do you need?
m ak-ixs$s$an?
What else?
dmi yad$nin?
I need...
ixs$s$ayi....
.....
No thats enough. Only 1

kilo thats all!
uhu, baraka. as yan kilu

s$aHHa!
........
.....
107 Tamazight
Dialogue:
Susan:
s$baH l-xir.
axd$d$ar:
s$baH l-xir ma km ixs$s$an a

lalla?
Susan:
ri juj kilu n xizzu, d kilu n

mat$ia d ns$ kilu n l-barba,
xtari ka yHlan fak. zaydi
yan kilu u rb n uzalim.

.
.
axd$d$ar:
Susan:
axd$d$ar:
Susan:
axd$d$ar:
Susan:
axd$d$ar:
safi a lalla?
mta i t-tffaH?
miyatayn u rin ryal.
waxxa, bri kilo lla rub. ah!
ttu. ki imiH n l-qs$bur d lmdnus.
waxxa a lalla.
mta kuli?
urm a lalla tsmiya u sttin
ryal.
Susan:
Hal s d-drahm fak.
axd$d$ar:
tmnya u rbin drhm.
Susan:
axd$d$ar:
ha-ak a sidi, ak iawn rbbi.

ad ixlf rbbi.
SPICES AND MEAT

Spices
Saffron
z-zfran
tisnt
Turmeric
l-xrqum
Black
pepper
l-bzar
Hot pepper
tiflflt
iHrran
Ginger
skinjbir
Cloves
l-qrnfl
Cinnamon
l-qrfa
Basil
l-Hbq
Oregano
azuknni
Paprika
t-tHmira
Nutmeg
l-guza
Spices
l-t$riya
Salt
At the butchers
Butcher
Meat
agzzar
aksum/tifiyi
Lamb
lnmi
Beef
ajli
Goat meat
l-nzi
Liver
tasa
Ground
meat
l-kfta
Meat w/o
bones
l-hbra
Chicken
afullus
109 Tamazight
PRACTICE
Exercise: you have guests for dinner and you want to serve them with cakes and
then a tajine. List the items you need for preparing teo, cakes and a tajine and
write your shopping list. Then, write a shopping list for an American dish.
FOOD AND DRINK

Use the correct words and expressions concerning food and drink.
Express likes and dislikes using jb/izza (to please).
Express necessity or obligation with xs s a (to need/ to have to).
FOOD AND DRINK
Fish
islman
Beans
llubya
Lentils
l-ds
Chick peas
l-Himz
t$-t$ajin
Steamed
pasta with
cinnamon and
sugar
s-sffa
Salad
-lada
Vermicelli
-riya
French
fries
l-frit/
bat$at$a
iqlan
Moroccan
soup
taHrirt
Olives
z-zitun
Vegetable
soup
s$-s$ubba
Bastilla
l-bst$ila
Rice
r-ruz
Meat
aksum
Couscous
sksu
Chicken
afullus
Pizza
l-pitza
Food
l-makla
Breakfast
l-fd$ur
Lunch
imkli
Dinner
imnsi
Tajine
AT THE CAFE
The waiter
l-garsun
Black coffee
l-qhwa tungalt
Coffee with milk
l-qhawa s l-Hlib
111 Tamazight
Half milk half coffee
qhwa ns$ ns$
Hot milk
l-Hlib inwan
Weak coffee
l-qhwa ifssusn
Strong coffee
l-qhwa iqsHn
Coffee with a little milk
l-qhwa s imiH n l-Hlib
Orange juice
l-asir n l-limun
Apple and milk shake
l-asir n t-tffaH
Banana and milk shake
l-asir n l-banan
Almond and milk shake
l-asir n l-luz
Pot of tea
abrrad n watay
Glass of tea
l-kas n watay
with mint
s n-nna
Not very sweet
adur iHllaw bzzaf
Some sugar please
kan s-skkar fak
A glass of cold water
yan l-kas n waman ikrmn
AT THE RESTAURANT
The menu
l-menu
Please bring me
awyid afak...
....
Do you have
is urun
.....
What do you have?
mayd urun?
Is there any food

without meat?
is tlla kan l-makla bla

aksum?
I want a tajine without

meat.
ri yan t$-t$ajin bla

aksum.
What do you have for

dessert?
mayd urun g d-disir?
We want a table for

(four people).
nra yat t$-t$abla n (rba

n mddn).
Outside
brra

.

( )
Inside
agnsu
The bill, please.
l-Hsab afak.
To your health.
bs$HHa.
To your health.
llay t$ik s$-s$HHa.
How do you like the

food?
is ak- tjb l-makla?
No complaints.
ur uri mayd tini.
The food is delicious.
l-makla tat$fut.
.
.
.
Dialogue:
Judy d Paul g r-rist ora.
l-gars$un :
Paul :
l-gars$un :
Paul :
l-gars$un :
mrHba issun.
s$aHHa, is tlla kan t$-t$abla
n sin mddn?
ay tlla, mag tram a
tqqimm?
nra yat t$-t$abla taman n
s-srjm.
may tram a ttm?
.
.

:
:
:
:
:
Judy :
mayd illan?
l-gars$un :
han l-menu.
Judy :
Paul :
l-gars$un :
Paul :
l-gars$un :
nkkin, ri -lad$a d sksu s

l-nmi.
nkkin da tta as l-xd$rt.

is tlla kan l-makla bla
aksum?
ay, tlla l-lubya

waxxa, awyid -lad$a d
t$-t$bsil n llubya.
is tram a tsum ka?
.
:
:
:
Judy:
nkkin ri yat koka ikrmn.
Paul:
nkkin ri as aman s$afi.
113 Tamazight
******************************
Paul :
l-gars$un :
Paul :
l-gars$un :
Judy d :
paul
l-Hsab afak.
60 drhm.
ha ak.
ad ixlf rbbi, is awn tjb
l-makla?
tat$fut, tjb a bzzaf.
.
. 60
.
.
:
:
:
:
l-gars$un :
bs$HHa u r-raHa.
Judy d :
paul
lla yt$ik s$-s$HHa.
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
THE REFLEXIVE VERB TO PLEASE/TO LIKE.
Usually it is uncommon to say, literally "I like something" rather we use the
construction "Something pleases me." In reality this phrase would translate into
the English "I like something" but what is important is that you understand that
the "person who likes" is actually the object of the sentence and the thing liked
is the subject.
As a result of this, the verb must always agree in gender
andnumber with the subject, that is, the thing "liked"
How to conjugate the verb "jb" in the past tense

Subject Verb
ijb (m, s)
tjb (f, s)
jbn (m, p)
jbnt (f, p)
Object
Pronouns
i
ak
am
as
as
awn
awnt
asn
asnt
Note: We use the past tense of the verb "jb" to mean either a past or a
present action. The context shows when the action takes place.
Examples :
Masculine singular.
I like Morocco.
ijbi l-mrib.
She like her duwar.
Ijb as uddwarns.
We like Couscous.
ijb a sksu.
.
.
115 Tamazight
Feminine singular.
They like her djellaba.
tjb asn tajllabitns.
is ak jbn imarabin
Masculine plural.
Did you like Moroccans?
Feminine plural.
I like the women of the
association because they
worked hard.
jbnti tiwtmin n
l-jamiya aku xdmnt
bzzaf.
Interrogation (Questions:) with jb

In a question (when using the is auxiliary) we put the object pronouns (I, ak,
am, as, a, akn, aknt, asn, asnt) between the question word "is" and the verb.
Examples :
Did you (m, p) like the
falls at Ouzoud
is awn jbn -llalat g

Ouzoud?
Did he like Fez?
is as ijb Fes?
Negation
In a negation we put the object pronounces between the negative indicator "ur"
and the verb. We then add 'i' before the last letter of the stem (i.e. before
the 'b' in jb) as seen in the past tense.
Examples:
You didn't like the falls
at Ouzoud.
ur awn jibn vllalat g

Ouzoud.
He didn't like Fez.
ur as ijib Fes.

.
.
jb in the present tense

We use the present tense of the verb "jb" in order to express a habitual
action.

The imperative continuous of the verb "jb" is "tijib" We conjugate the verb
"jb" in the present tense as follows.
Present
tense
indicator
Direct
object
pronouns
Subject (the
thing liked) & the
verb tjab
ak
am
as
as
da
itijib (m, s)
ttiijb (f, s)
tijibn (m, p)
tijibnt (f, p)
awn
awnt
asn
asnt
Examples:
jb with masculine singular subject:
I like couscous.
da yi tijib sksu.
We like Morocco.
da a itijib l-mrib.
.
.
jb with feminine singular subject:

You (m, p) don't like
beer.
ur da awn ttijib l-birra.
Do you like coffee.
is da ak ttijib l-qhwa.
jb with masculine plural subject:

I like associations
da yi tijibnt l-jmiyyat.
Do you (f, p) like hot

cities?
is da awn tijibnt timizar

iHman.
.

.
117 Tamazight
Note: We apply the same rule of a verb following another when jb is follows by
a second verb. (We always use jb with masc. sing. Subject)
Examples :
I like to go to bed early.
da yi tijib ad gn zik.
Do you like to play

soccer?
is da ak itijib ad tlbt
takurt?
She doesn't like to go to

the cafe.
ur da as itijib ad tddu s
l-qhwa.
THE VERB TO NEED, TO HAVE TO, MUST, SHOULD

The verb xs s a (*) translates into all of the follwing in English to need, to
have to, must, and should. It is conjugated like the verb jb.
The verb xs s a is conjugated in the past tense but has a present tense meaning.
Subject verb
ixs$s$a (m, s)
txs$s$a (f, s)
xs$s$an (m, p)
xs$s$ant (f, p)
Object pronoun
i
ak
am
as
as
awn
awnt
asn
asnt
For the masculine singular (ixs s a) and the feminine singular (txs s a) forms of the
verb, the letter 'y' (*) is added between the object pronoun and the verb. This
makes it easier to pronounce the final 'a' of the verb with the initial vowel ('i'
or 'a') of the object pronoun.
Examples:
I need a Tamazight
book.
ixs$s$ayi yan l-ktab n

tmazit.
She needs a
refrigerator.
txs$s$a t t-tllaja.
For the masculine plural (xs s an) and the feminine plural (xs s ant) forms, this 'y'
is not necessary since these forms end in consonant sounds.
Examples:
You (m, p) need books.
xs$s$an kn l-ktub.
They (f) need sofas.
xs$s$ant tnt l-punjat.
.
.
Like other verbs however, xs s a may be followed by a second verb which is

conjugated in the future tense.
Examples:
I have to learn
Tamazight.
ixs$s$ayi ad llm
tamazit.
You (mas pl) should be on

time.
ixs$s$a kn at ilim g l-uqt.
You (fem) shouldn't stay

up late.
ur km ixs$s$a a tshrt.
Note that when we use a verb after xs s a we always use "ixs s a" the masculine
singular form. As you can see in the last example, the negation is similar to the
verb "jb".
The past tense of xs s a
The past tense of xs s a is formed by adding the verb "kk" (used to be) before
it. If xs s a is followed by another verb, you conjugate kk in the past tense
"he" form (ikka)(*) then conjugate xs s a on the masculine singular. If xs s a is
followed by a noun, however, "kk" and xs s a must agree in number and gender.
Examples:
I had to study
yesderday.
ikka ixs$s$ayi ad r asnat$.
I needed a book.
ikka ixs$s$ay i yan l-ktab.
I needed some books.
kkan xs$s$an i idsn l-ktub.
119 Tamazight
THE VERB TO WANT, TO LIKE.

The verb iri translates into the English "to want" or "to like." "iri" is a special
verb in that when conjugated in the past it can have a past or present tense
meaning, depending on the context.
Example:
I like mint tea.
da tiri atay s nnna.
Note: The present tense of iri should not be used with people unless you intend
a romantic meaning.
Examples:
I love you/I like you
da k tiri.
I love Mohamed/I like

Mohamed.
da tiri Mohamed.
The past tense of iri can expresses a present tense meaning of "to want." To
express a past tense meaning of "to want", you must first use a past tense
conjugated form of the verb "kk" followed by the past tense form of iri.
Examples:
I had wanted to leave
early.
kki ri ad ff zik
She had wanted to tell

him something.
tkka tra ad as tini ka
.
.
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: make correct sentences using jb and the nouns provided.
i
ak
am
as
is
ijb
tjb
jbn
jbnt
a
awn
t$-t$umubilat
9$W
f$
l-ot$il
awnt
tamazit
<
asn
iskla
asnt
ak
am
as
ur da
awn
itijib
ttijib
tijibn
tijibnt
tamazit
ayultx
islman
awnt
asn
asnt
121 Tamazight
Exercise 2: make as many sentences (affirmative and negative) as you can with
jb using these pictures.
Exercise 3: write the expressions that go along with these signs using the verb
xs s a.
Exercise 4: answer the question.

ma k ixs$s$an a tgt afad a tgt yan
l-mutat$awi injHn?
MEDICAL AND BODY

Describe in Tamazight body parts and common illnesses.
BODY PARTS.
1. aqmu/
udm
2. imi
3. tamart
4. agrd$
5. iir
6. admr
7. afus
8. timrt
9. afus
10. ad$ad$
11. iskr
12. adis
13. tama
14. afud
/$"
*

16. a d$ ar
_
17. tifdnt
#;
* #
=

$3
<
$3
_
%

<
$3
20. amzzu
18. azzar
19. agrni
21. anjay
22. tinzar
23. aln
24. timiwa
25. tumas
26. ils
27. anu
28. l-musta
29. tamart
5
F#
5
(
$
=$

$N#
W%$

123 Tamazight
COMMON ILLNESSSES.
Whats wrong with you?
ma k yan?
Whats the matter?
mayd ijran?
What ails you?
ma k inqqan?
What aches?
ma k inan?
I have a fever.
digi tawla.
I have a cold.
digi r-rwaH.
I have a sore throat.
tai tbHbaHt.
Im constipated.
iqquri udis.
Im allergic to...
uri l-Hasasiya n...
I have a headache.
.
.
.
.
.
inayi ixf...
My ear aches.
inayi umzzuinu.
I feel dizzy.
duwx.
Im injured.
ttujarH.
Im burnt.
kmd/us.
I have a toothache.
tnayi tumst.
My.... hurts.
inayi ...
I vomit/throw up.
da trara.
I need to see a doctor.
ixs$s$ayi ad inniy ad$bib.
.
.
.
./
.
.
.
.
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: read the dialogue and answer the questions.
Dialogue:
Samira:
ma km yan, id labas?
Rachel:
inayi udis.
Samira:
is digm azbar bzzaf?
Rachel:
ay, bzzaf.
Samira:
s$br wi, ad am srkm yan

l-kas n azuknni hat ihla
bzzaf.
Rachel:
9D = ( :%

.< * # :\ N+
599 :%
.59 O

1% $[
.59 Z .*
:\ N+
:%
uhu, afam, ur ixs$s$a ad su

l-ub.
.$N
$% YG ; $
:\ N+
Samira:
waxxa; walaynni hat ur iy

a km inniy g l-Halttx.
1# 1= * D G
.+

:%
Rachel:
afam sawl g n-nmratx n

hayat s-salam afad ad i rn.
Samira:
waxxa mrHba. Kan l-bas ur

illi.
Rachel:
rbbi ak km injja.

E J
% ;:\ N+
. =3
.*

Z G :%
.F
# * 9
:\ N+
Questions:
1. mayd yan Rachel?
\N+ = ( .1
2. is tka Samira kan usafar i Rachel?
\N+ 3% % .2
3. max Rachel ur tri at-su l-ub?
$N
$ \ N+ .3
4. is tdda Rachel s s-sbit$ar? max?
W
\ N+ .4
Exercise 2: what would you say if you were the person in the picture.
125 Tamazight
SITE VISIT EXPRESSIONS

Here are some useful expressions you may need during your site visit.
My name is .. I am a
Peace Corps Volunteer.
isminu . gi mutat$awi
n/g hay'at s-salam.
I will be working here

for two years at
qad xdm da sin isggasn

g ...
I'm going to spend two

days with you. (to host
family)
qad qqim urun yumayn.
Where is your youth

center?
mani dar -abab?
Where is the
hospital/delegation?
mani s-sbit$ar/nvniyaba?
What is the name of the

chief doctor?
mismn l-midsan af
(ad$bib axatar)?
Where is the agriculture

office?
mani l-mktb (l-biru) n

l-filaHa?
Where is the water and

forest office?
mani l-mktb (l-biru) n

l-miyyah u l-abat?
Where is the
"handicraft center"?
mani lartizana?
Where is the post

office?
mani l-bost$a?
Please, I want to open a

post box.
ri ad skr bwat$ post$al

afak.
What do I have to do?
mayd ixs$s$an ad skr?
How much do I have to

pay (a year?)
mta ayd ixs$s$an ad xlls?
Where is the bank,

please?
mani l-banka afak?
Where is the
gendarm/police station
please?
mani jadarmiya/ l-bulis

s$aHHa?
Can you please give me

your phone number? (at
the gendarm/police
ki n-nmra n t-tilifunnk
afak?
/ $W+ ....$%
.

E
... ( % 1G"
.( $ $= 1" "
N
* #
E9
/ W
* #
p _ [ )%
(
(G
(
)p +
* #
EZ ;

(
)p +
* #
9<
#5D * #
EW%$

* #
W%$9$9% 1
.;
% Y G
1Y
G Y G +N
;E
* #
$
/ EQ * #

' ;#$;
+

*

station)
I want to get a cart de
sejour.
ri ad skr lakart$ d sijur.
$F% D % 1
Is there a pharmacy
here?
is illa kan l-frmasyan da?
%;
D
Is there a teleboutique
here?
is tlla kan t-tilibutik da?
' $
+

Do you sell cell phone

cards?
is da tzznzat lakart$ n
t-tilifun?
Which service is
available here: Mediatel
or Maroc Telecom?
matta r-rizu illan da?

meditel nd Maroc
telecom?
Is there cell phone

reception/coverage
here?
is illa r-rizu da?
5
D
Is there CTM (the bus

company)?
is illa s-satyam da?
+

D
What day/time is
transportation available?
mantur ayd da ytili

l-mrkub?
$
*
+ $+#
Is there a cyber cafe

here?
is tlla kan lanternet da?
How far is it from here?
mta as trq sg da?
Which day is the souk?
matta was nnag illa ssuq?
Is there any association

here?
is tlla ka n l-jmiya da?
D 5#5
$;
+
<#\ + D 5

$

+
+N
$
*
+
# +
EF

Note: Ask your LCF for any other words or expressions you think you may need
for your site visit.
127 Tamazight
TRAVEL
Ojective: by the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Talk about future plans.
Identify means of transportation and use appropriate expressions

for travel.
Future time expressions:
Y %
Tomorrow morning
askka s$-s$baH
Tomorrow at seven
askka g s-sba
The day after tomorrow
nnif n uskka
One day
yan was
Next sunday
l-Hdd ( nna) diddan
Next week
s-simana ( nna) diddan
( #)E#
Next summer
s$-s$if ( nna) diddan
( #) X Y
Next year
asggas (nna) diddan/imal
E
%
% X #

( #)
/( #) %
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
FORMING THE FUTURE TENSE
qad/ad/mad + imperative simple (infinitive) + past tense ending.
nkkin
______
_______
Kiy/km
t ____ t
______
ntta
i _____
________
t _____
_______
n _____
_______
t _____ m
______
knnimti
t _____mt
_____
nitni
______ n
_______
nitnti
______ nt
______
nttat
nkni
knni
qad
ad
mad
Example:
To drink
su
I will drink
ad su
We will
drink
ad nsu
You will
drink
ad tsut
You (m, p)
will drink
ad tsum
He will
drink
ad isu
You (f, p)
will drink
ad tsumt
She will
drink
ad tsu
They (m)
will drink
ad sun
They (f)
will drink
ad sunt
Examples:
1-MoHa will travel to
Rabat tomorrow morning.
MoHa ad isafr s Rbat

aska s$-s$baH.
2-They will cook dinner

tomorrow night.
nitni ad snwin imnsi aska

ggid$.
129 Tamazight
.
3-Fatima and Ali will get
married next year.
Fatima d Ali ad awln

asggas diddan.
4-Next month I will rent

a house in my village.
ayur diddan ad kru

taddart g udwwarinu.
FUTURE TENSE NEGATION

To form the negative of the future tense, the word nni, conjugated like a past
tense pattern 1 verb, is inserted between the negative indicator ur and the
normal future tense.
ur + nni (conjugated like a past tense pattern 1 verb) + future tense
I will not go
ur nni ad ddu
You will not go
ur tnnit a tddut *
He will not go
ur inni ad iddu
She will not go
ur tnni a tddu *
We will not go
ur n-nni a nddu *
You will not go (m,p)
ur tnnim a tddum *
You will not go (f, p)
ur tnnimt a tddumt *
They will not go (m)
ur nnin ad ddun
They will not go (f)
ur nnint ad ddunt
* Remember that the t assimilate the d and the n, and in this case, the i.
i.e.: d+t=t; d+n=n ; d+i=y
Examples:
I will not go outside at
night.
ur nni ad ff s brra
ggid$.
He will not smoke in

Ramaan.
ur inni ad ikmu g Rmd$an.
She will not go to school

tomorrow because she is
sick.
ur tnni ad tddu s l-mdrasa

askka aku tmrd$.

She will not talk to her
family till next week.
ur tnni ad tsawl i lfamilans ar s-simana

diddan.
In order to express will never, we put the word usar (never) instead of ur.
usar + nni (conjugated like a past tense pattern 1 verb) + future tense
Examples:
I will never smoke.
usar nni ad kmi.
She will never go to the

cafe at night/
usar tnni a tddu s l-qhwa

ggid$.
.

.
USING VERBS CONSECUTIVELY

In English we use the infinitive form of a verb after a conjugated verb (i.e. I
want to read). However, in Tamazight we conjugate the second verb in the
future tense.
I want to drink
ri ad su
you want to drink
trit ad tsut
he wants to drink
ira ad isu
she wants to drink
tra ad tsu
we want to drink
nra ad nsu
you want to drink (m, p)
tram ad tsum
you want to drink (f, p)
tramt ad tsumt
they want to drink (m)
ran ad sun
they want to drink (f)
rant ad sunt
Examples:
She wants to read the
book
tra a tr l-ktab.
I hope to go to the U.S.
da tmnna ad ddu s
mirikan.
.
.
131 Tamazight
Exceptions:
Some verbs are followed by a second verb conjugated in the present tense (i.e.
bdu to start and qqim to stay):
I started to speak
Tamazight a month ago.
bdi da sawal tamazit

ayyur aya
I remained working until

the afternoon
qqimi da xddm ar
tadggat
.
.
Using other expressions

This same construction is used after other words and expressions. The most
important of these is afad. This word is the equivalent of the English
expression in order to. Verbs following afad are always conjugated in the
future tense.
Examples:
Rqiyya went to the post
office in order to send a
letter.
Rqiyya tdda s l-bost$a

afad at azn yat tbrat.
I went to Marrakech in
order to see Jason
ddi s mrrak afad

ad inniy Jason

.

.
TRAVEL
GENERAL TRAVEL INFORMATION.
Public transport in Morocco is both inexpensive and easy to use. Between major
cities, trains are the quickest and most comfortable means of travel, although
they can be crowded at certain times of year. Buses are the cheapest choice and
can vary in terms of speed and comfort.
TRAVELING BETWEEN CITIES.
CTM: this is the national bus line, very comfortable, on schedule; seats are
reserved and can be purchased in advance in most places. Unaccompanied
baggage can be sent via CTM.
Souk Buses: in each large town there is a bus station, such as qamra in
Rabat. One can buy a ticket one day in advance and fares are set. Sometimes
the ticket is for a reserved seat, other times it is for whatever seat is open
when the bus goes through town. A ticket does not necessarily mean there is
a real seat either. Sometimes there are additional places set-up in the aisle.
You have to bargain for the price you pay for your luggage if this gets
stored on top of the bus. The price depends upon the size of the piece. It is
advisable to carry smaller pieces of luggage you can store in the bus itself.
Souk buses do not always leave or arrive on time. They may stop in the
middle of nowhere. They may also stop in towns along the way looking for
additional passengers.
Train: there are two classes: first and second. The price of any train car
with air conditioning will be higher. Sometimes there are schedule changes,
but no available printed timetables. Check to be sure that the time you wish
to travel is still accurate. Train tickets can be bought in advance, and this is
the only form of local transportation on which you can buy a round trip
ticket.
Grand Taxis: this is for travel between large towns and cities. They carry 6
passengers and since the fare is per seat, if you want you can pay for empty
seats so that the taxi leaves earlier. Ask the other passengers in the car
what the regular should be, do not ask the driver first. If you want to take
the entire taxi for yourself, ask for a taxi korsa. Baggage does not cost
extra in a taxi.
Pick-up Truck (kamio): in some areas where no public transportation is
available, people use their personal trucks to carry supplies to their douars;
they also take passengers at a rate they determine themselves.
133 Tamazight
Airport Transportation: there are airport buses and trains which run from
Rabat Ville to the Casablanca airport. There are also airport buses which
connect the airport to Casablanca, but from Rabat/Sale airport, there are
only taxis.
TRAVEL WITHIN CITIES.
Petis Taxis: every city has petit taxis which can carry up to three
passengers. The fare is calculated by meter. When you get in the taxis, ask
that the meter be turned on. If there is no meter, or if it does not work, ask
the price before you begin. Since the taxi can carry 3 passengers, if you are
the only one getting in, he can pick up other passengers. If you are the
second or thirdperson entering the taxi, ask the price for your trip. At night
(usually by 8 p.m) until sunrise, the fare is 50% more than the daytime fare.
Chariots: in very small villages, the chariots are used to get people to the
weekly souk or to towns on the main road, where larger transportation is
available for fartherdistances.
Travel expressions.
Taxi
t$-t$aksi
Where is the taxi stand?
mani l-maHt$t$a n
t$-t$ksiyat?
Please take me to . . .
awyi s . . . s$aHHa.
I want to go to this
address.
ri ad ddu s ladrisatx.
Please wait a minute for

me.
gganni/qqli imiH s$aHHa.
. /
How much, please?
mta, afak?
Turn on the meter

please.
sxdm l-kuntur s$aHHa.
Stop here, please
bdd da afak.
Petit taxi / small taxi
t$-t$aksi tamzzant / petit

t$aksi
. /
Grand taxi / large taxi
t$-t$aksi taxatart /grand

t$aksi
Is there a seat
to . . . ?
is tlla kan l-blas$t s . . . ?
......

Yes, there is.
yeah, tlla.
How many seats are

reserved so far?
hal n l-blays$ ayd illan?
Four and you are the

fifth.
rba d ki wisxmsa.
I want to pay for two

seats.
ri ad xlls$ snat( n)
l-blays$.
Taxi driver
-ifur n t$-t$aksi
Baggage
l-bagaj
Trunk
l-kufr
City bus
t$-t$obis
City depot / stop
l-maHt$t$a n t$-t$obis
Where does bus # . . .

stop?
manig da ytbdda t$-t$ubis

nmra . . .?

.......

.
.
.
.

.....
135 Tamazight
Does this bus go

to . . . ?
is da ytddu t$-t$obistx
s . . .?
Which bus do I need to

take if I want to go
to . . . ?
mattat$t$obis ayd ixs$s$an

ad amz mk ri ad ddu
s . .?
Can you stop here?
bd da s$aHHa?
Last stop / teminus
t-tirminus
Ticket taker
r-rusuvur
Bus
l-kar
Bus station
l-maHt$t$a
Which bus is going

to . . ?
matta l-kar ayd itddun

s...?
When does the bus leave

to . ?
mantur ayd da ytff

l-kar s . . . ?
I want a ticket to . . .
ri tawriqt s . . .
How much is the ticket

to . . . ?
Hal i twriqt s . . . ?
I want to keep my bag

with me.
ri ad adj uri s$-s$akinu.
Tell me when we arrive

to . .
lmi adday niwd$ s . . .
Driver
-ifur
Drivers assistant
l-grisun
How long will you stop

here?
mta n luqt ay trit at

qqimt da?
Is this seat empty?
is txwa l-blas$tx?
Train
t-tran
Train station
lagar n t-tran
....

...

.....

.....
......
......
.
......
.
.

.
.
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: fill in the blanks with the appropriate verbs and conjugate them in
the future tense: ttu, azn, isin, g, kru, s, igiy, inig, xdm, qqim.
nkkin __________ amayn g l-mrib.

__________ ayyur ur l-familianu.
__________ xf yan l-mullim afad ad
r tamazit, d __________ ad sawl
i mddn. mn bd __________taddart,
d __________ l-Hwayj nna i yxs$s$an.
nallah __________ l-mjhudinu afad
ad awn mddn nna izzan uri d
__________ if t-taqafa n l-mrib.
adday ayd s mirikan __________
tibratin i l-familanu g l-mrib. usar
__________ l-familanu d udwwarinu.
_______ ______
_______
_____
______ _______ .
______ .

._______
________
_______ . _______
.________
Exercise 2: read the dialogue and write down Lizs plan for the next week (use
words for tomes, not numbers). Then write your own schedule for the upcoming
week. What will you do each day and at what time?
Dialogue:
Mohamed:
Liz:
Mohamed:
mantur a tddut s l-fit$a?

as n l-tnini g 8:30.
matta luqt a tjmt d
l-mullimnm?

8:30

Liz:
as n l-tlat g 2:20.
2:20
Mohamed:
mantur a tddut s
s-sinema?
Liz:
Mohamed:
Liz:
Mohamed:
l-arbg 9:15.
mantur a tlbt tinis?
l-xmis g 3:45.
mantur a tinniyt ad$bib?
9:15

3:45

:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
137 Tamazight
Liz:
Mohamed:
Liz:
Mohamed:
Liz:
l-jumua g 11:00.
mantur a tddut s s-suq?
as n s-sbit g 5:15.
matta luqt da ytff t-tran
nnag trit atnit
11:00

5:15

:
:
:
:

9:50
l-Hdd g 9:50.
Exercise 3: combine the following words into sentences.
1. Amina / ddu /l-bost$a / afad / s /

t-tanbr.
.+
1% /3 /EW%$
/ /E .1
2. ntta / iri / safr / fransa / afad /

r.
.= /3 / #3/3%/ /+#.2
3. nkni / bdu / r / tamazit / ayyur /

izrin.
.( $ /< /= / 9/* #.3
4. nttat / qqim / sawl / i / l-familanns

/ g t-tilifun.
/ / # ;
/ / %/ " /+#.4
.$;
+
Exercise 4: read the dialogue and answer the questions.
Dialogue:
atiqa:
may trit ad tgt s-simana

(nna) diddan?
( )

qad safr s Fes.
atiqa:
mag trit a tddut?
kristin:
g tranzit ar Errachidia ad
ns g lot$il s$-s$baH nallah ad
amz l-kar s fes.
mantur a tfft Errachidia?
Kristin:
atiqa:
Kristin:
illa yan l-kar g 9:00 n

s$-s$baH ad- awd$ Fes g
5:30 n tdggat.
.
.
9:00
:
:
. 5:30

atiqa:
may trit a tgt dinna?
Kristin:
ri as ad Huws hilli.
iwa ad yawi rbbi s-slamt
atiqa:
Kristin:
amin.
Questions:
1. mayd tra kristin a tskr g s-simana
(nna) diddan?
2. is tra a tddu s r-rbat$?
3. id Kristin tra a tddu g l-maina?
4. may tra a tskr g Fes?
( ) .1
.2
.3
.4
139 Tamazight
AT THE POST OFFICE

Buy stamps and send letters and parcels.
GENERAL INFORMATIONS.
Stamps are available at tobacco stores in addition to the post office. It is best
to mail your letters at the mail slot outside the post office since pick-ups can be
infrequent at other mail boxes. When sending packages out of the country, you
are required to fill out a customs declaration form. Be sure to leave the package
open because an official is required to see the contents before it is sealed.
Post Office Vocabulary:
Address
ladrisa
Post card
kart$
ppost$al
Money
order
l-mand$a
Package
kulya
Normal
adi
Express
ikspres
bwat$
ppost$al
Customs
d-diwana
Box (for a
package)
kart$ona
Tape
s-skot
Glue
ls$aq
To send
azn
To
close/seal
qqn
To paste
ls$s$q
To receive
amz
To fill in
mmr
Post office
l-bost$a
Envelope
jwa
Letter
tabrat
Stamp
t-tanbr
Registered
letter
tabrat
rikomandi
Postman
l-faktur
Post box
;0-:
Verbs:
Expressions:
I want a stamp for the
US/Morocco please.
ri yan t-tanbr n
mirikan/l-mrib afak.
I want to send this

letter/package.
ri ad azn tabratdx /
l-kuliyadx.
How much will I pay to

send this...?
mta ayd i ixs$s$an ad xlls$

afad ad azn ....dx?
How much time will it

take to arrive in...?
mta n luqt ay t ixs$s$an an

tawd$ / an tgulut s ...?
Why dont letters arrive

quickly?
max tibratin ur da
tawd$nt fisa?
.
.
...
... /

Dialogue:
g l-bost a.
Judy:
l-muwd$d$af:
Judy:
l-muwd$d$af:
Paul:
l-muwd$d$af:
Paul:
ri yan t-tanbr afak.

mas trit a taznt
tibratin?
ri ad azn yat adiya s
mirikan d yat rikomandi
s da g l-mrib.
waxxa a lalla, urm
22.50 drhm.
. 22,50 .
awid ad sksu may digs?
mmr afak tawriqtdx.
l-muwd$d$af:
is a t taznt adi nd
ikspres?
as adi afak.
:
:
ha ak a sidi.
nkkin ri ad azn l-kuliya

s mirikan.
l-muwd$d$af:
Paul:
:
:
.
.
:
:
;0-:
141 Tamazight
l-muwd$d$af:
Paul:
ukran, bslama.
lla yawn.
.
.
:
:
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: read the dialogue above and answer the questions.
.1
1. mayd tskar Judy g l-bost$a?
;0-: .2
2. is tra a tazn tabrat ikspres?
.3
3. mayd ira Paul ad yazn?
.4
4. mayd ixs$s$an Paul ad iskr?
Exercise 2: make as many sentences as you can using the following words. You
may need to add some of your own words.
tdd
rant
ddat
ran
sksu
aku
tra
srrf
nra
amz
ddant
s
lbos$t$a
lmand$a
":<%
l-kulia
mirikan
ndda
bwat$
ppus$t$al
idda
ira
ddu
ran
tnabr
143 Tamazight
AT THE HOTEL
Look for and use hotal accommodation.
Use conditional sentences to express possible and impossible
conditions.
HOTEL ACCOMODATION.
Hotels are classified into categories from 0 (non-classified) to 5-star
hotels. There is a reduction of 25% on the second day for Moroccans and
foreign residents in Morocco, but only in classified hotels.
Vocabulary and expressions.
The hotel
lot$il
The reception desk
larisipsyun
Room
l-bit/ -ambr
Is there a cheap hotel

around here?
is illa kan lot$il irxs$n da?
Where is a nice hotel?
mag illa kan lot$il ihyyan

da?
Pleace take me to a hotel

(to taxi driver)
awyi s kan lot$il afak.
A room for one person (a

single)
l-bit n yan
A room for two people
l-bit n sin mddn.
Do you have a room

available?
is tlla kan l-bit ixwan?
Is there a room with a

hot shower?
is tlla kan l-bit s waman

iran g d-du?
Which floor?
matta lit$aj?
Is breakfast included?
id l-fd$ur ittuHasab d
l-bit?
Ill stay two nights.
ad qqim sin yid$d$an.
Wake me up at ... please
snkr i g ... afak
"#%.#:=
/
.
.
.

.
.
.......
Dialogue:
Jack d Amanda g l-otil
Jack d
Amanda:
s-salamu alaykum.
bu lot$il:
wa laykum s-salam.
Jack:
bu lot$il:
Jack:
bu lot$il:
Jack:
bu lot$il:
Amanda:
bu lot$il:
Amanda:
bu lot$il:
Jack:
bu lot$il:
is tlla kan l-bit?

mujud, tlla l-bit n yan, d
tlla l-bit n sin.
nra yat l-bit n yan.
mrHba.
mta i ggid$?
140 drHm.
is llan waman iHman?
ay a lalla.
waxxa k a yat l-bit.
mrat tawriqtdx afakn,
uruyat ismnun, ladrisa, d
r-raqm n l-pasppor.
ha ak.
ukran, han tasarut n l-bit
156 g lit$aj amzwaru.
:
:
:
.
. :
. :
:
. 140 :
:
:
. :
:

.->-2
:
156 :
.
145 Tamazight
GRAMMATICAL POINTS
THE CONDITIONAL
In Tamazight we use two expressions to refer to the conditions.
1. am + is conditional form meaning if + then While amr + is implies that
the stated condition cannot or has not been met.
amr tzzrit lmtiHan is tnjHt.
for example, translates as If (it was that) you had passed the exam, you would
have succeeded.
2. amr + is can be used in the past or present, and can mean if it was/were
that or if it is that.
Present tense usage:
amr + present tense verb, is +future tense verb.
Example :
If you study every day,
you will learn Tamazight.
amr da tqrat kuyas, is a

tllmt tamazit
Past tense usage:
amr + past tense verb, is + past tense verb

Examples:
If (it were that) you
studied hard, you would
have learned Tamazight.
amr trit mzyan, is

tllmt tamazit.
NEGATION.
In negating the conditional, the is is dropped.
Example:
If it were not that he
was sleeping, he wouldnt
have had the accident.
amr ur igin, ur inni ad ig

laksid$a.
If he hadnt been
sleeping, he wouldnt
have had the accident.
If it wasnt that you had
amr ur trit, ur tnit a

studied, you would not
have succeeded
tnjHt.
If you hadnt studied,

you wouldnt have
succeeded.
Negative conditionals with a noun
To use a noun with a negative conditional, use the following form:
amr + urid + pronoun/noun , is
Examples:
If it were not for the
doctor, the child
wouldve died.
amr urid i wd$bib, is imut

urba.
If it were not for her,

they wouldve slept
outside.
amr urid i ntat, is nsan

brra.
If it were not for the

neighbors, Lissas house
would have been broken
into.
amr urid i wadjarn, is

ttuyakr Lissa.

.

.

.
mk/m CONDITIONAL.
mk or m, translated as if, is the conditional form in which the condition
can/may be met.
Examples:
If you build it, he will
come.
If you break it, you will
buy it.
mk t tbnit, ad iddu
mk t trzit, a t tst
To negate this conditional form, simply add ur after the mk/m

Examples:
If you dont want it,
leave it.
mk ur t trit, adj t.
147 Tamazight
DESCRIBING THE PEACE CORPS

MISSION
Talk about the three goals of peace corps.
Describe your job in Morocco.
PEACE CORPS.

hay'at s-salam
hay'at s-salam tga yat l-mund$d$ama
tamarakanit. da ttazn l-mutat$wiin s
timzar. d l'ahdafns gan:
1. amawan g l-majal t-tiqni.

2. imirikani ad fhmn bzzaf mddn nna
ur zdn d afad ad sawln ifsn adday
aydn s mirkian.
3. mddn nna ur zdn imirikanin awd
nitni ad isin xf mirikan d imirikanin.
.( 1
.
:
( 2
.
( 3
.
Vocabulary:
Organization
l-mund$d$ama
Developing nations
d-duwal nvnamiya
Goals
lahdaf
Technical help
t-taawun ttiqni
People
-uub
EV
E

T
* U+
+
$N
The three goals of Peace Corps.

1. To help people of interested counties
and areas in meeting their needs for

trained men and women ;
2. To help promote a better understanding
of the American people on the part of
the peoples served;
3. To help promote a better understanding
of other peoples on the part of the
American people.
ENVIRONMENT SECTOR
isminu Judy nkkin da xddm d brnamaj
n l-bia d hayat s-salam. l-xdmtinu ad
sksu mamk da tmamaln mddn d
t$-t$abia . da tini i mddn d t-turist nna
itzurn l-park adur ggarn l-krfi g adar
nna ufan. d ad-Hafd$n xf l-bi'a sg
t-talwwut. d adur bbin iskla. d ad
Hafd$n xf l-abt. ri ad af kan l-Hll
yad$nin afad adur susn bzzaf n ikudn.
nkni da ntgga bzzaf n l-maari d
l-jmiyat g l-majal n l-muHafad$a xf
l-bia d t-tnmiya.

.
.
.2
.
. .
.
(,? .

.
Vocabulary:
Environment
l-bi'a
Program
l-brnamaj
To deal
with
mamal d
Nature
t$-t$abia
Trash
z-zbl/l-krfi
To protect
Hafd$ xf
Pollution
t-talwwut
Trees
iskla
#
Forest
\ Firewood
EW Domain
/ \ 95
in general
* 3
X G { 3Z To cut
$
+
To consume
%
l-abt
ikud$n
l-majal
xf
lumum
bbi
sthlk

9<
( _ $N
F
$
XG
*9
'
T+%
149 Tamazight
HEALTH SECTOR
Dialogue:
Sumiya:
Christin:
Sumiya:
Christin:
s-salamu alaykum.
waalaykum s-salam.
anay km g s-sbitar, is tgit
tafrmlit?
uhu, ur gi tafrmlit wala
tad$bibt.
Sumiya:
mayd igan lxdmtnm?
Christin:
da sawal i mddn xf
s$-s$aHtnsn d s$-s$aHt n
tarwansn.
Sumiya:
Christin:
Sumiya:
Christin:
Sumiya:
Christin:
is da asn tikkit d-dwa?

ur da asn ikki d-dwa, d ur
da tgga tismi. da asn tini
may tn ixs$s$an ad skrn afad
adur mrd$n la nitni wala
tarwansn. d da asn sawal
xf d-dwa n wanu, bit l-ma d
tarda n ifasn, d d-dwa n
udis.
mzyan. aya iga muhim. i
tasmuntnm may tskar?
da asn tini ad jlbn i
iirransn afad adur mrd$n. d
da asn tsfham mayd tggan
afad adur arun bzzaf. d da
tns$aH tiwtmin ittarwn ad
ddunt s s-sbit$ar.
aya iga muhim. tbarklla
ifknt.
llah ybark fik

#(,
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
:
.

.

.
.
.
.

.
.
.
:
:
Vocabulary:
health
s -s aHt
The
Health
clinic
s-sbit$ar
la'hmiya
Nurse
afrmli
Well
anu
Doctor
(masc.)
ad$bib
Diarrhea
adis
Doctor
(fem.)
tad$bibt
To be sick
mrd$
importance
To imunize
To give
jlb/rd$
d-dwa /
idiwan
/ To be
aru
pregnant
Injection
aru
birth
Medicines
tismi
151 Tamazight
SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Dialogue:
Chris:
l-mllm:
Chris:
l-mllm:
Chris:
l-mllm:
Chris:
l-mllm:
Chris:
s-salamu alaykum.
:
:
waalaykum s-salam.
isminu Chris. nkkin mutat$wi
d/g hay'at s-salam d ddid
afad ad awn l-muqawalat
timzzanin.
manimk tggat ad as tawnt?
g bzzaf n l-Hwayj am g
l-Hisabat, l'ihar d t-tswiq.
matalan, da nskar lakart$ vizit i
l-muqawala d da as nikki yan
ism. d da nthar l-mntujns g
linternet.
tbarkllah, walayni mas tra a
tstafd l-muqawalatx?
a tstafd aku a tznz s-sltns g
l-mrib d awd g l-xarij.
/ . :

.
:
:
.

.
.
:
:
.
. :
mzyan. lla yawn.

llay awn. ukran a sidi.
. . :
Vocabulary:
Small Business
Development
Tanmiya n lmuqawalat
timzzanin
Enterprise/firm
l-muqawala
Accountancy
l-Hisabat
Advertisement
lihar
DU
Products
l-mntuj
9 Merchandise s-slt
TN Business
lakart$
card
Marketing
t-tswiq
vizit
^ $
+
To advertise hr s
the product
l-mntuj
$+

D
5
T[
$+
RENTING A HOUSE
Speak about renting aand fournishing houses.
FINDING A HOUSE
House
taddart

Stairs
d-druj
Bathroom
bit l-ma
Neighbor
adjar
Kitchen
l-kuzina
Rooms
l-byut
Door
tiflut/l-bab
Neighbors
adjarn

9
Q
E$
$

/ $
;
Q
Expressions:
Im looking for a house
to rent.
da tinig xf yat taddart

n l-kri.
Show it to me please.
snt-i-t afak/ s$aHHa.
Where is it located?
mag tlla? matta wdar g

tlla?
Can I see it?
id waxxa ad t sksu?
How many rooms does it

have?
mta n l-byut ayd digs?
Is there a bathroom in
it?
is digs bit l-ma?
@ +?#,
.
. /

Dialogue:
Mark:
s-salamu alaykum.
l-Haj:
wa alaykum s-salam.
Mark:
is tlla kan taddart i l-kri?
.

:
.

:

:
153 Tamazight
l-Haj:
is trit kan taddart ixatrn mid

imzziyn?
G :

(5
Mark:
ri taddart tanamast. ad digs

tilli yat l-bit iHlan, l-kuzina d
bit l-ma.
*
(# .% 1 :
.
9 E$
Z
l-Haj:
waxxa!
.G :
Later
Mark:
butaddart:
Mark:
butaddart:
Mark:
butaddart:
Mark:
butaddart:
Mark:
mn bd
.

:
s-salamu alaykum.
.

:$9
wa alaykum s-salam.
. ' ;# 1 1 :
ri ad inniy taddartnk
afak.
.Z :$9
mrHba.
.( +
[ . :
s$aHHa. Hal t-taman.
. 750 :$9
750 drHm.
naqs$ wiy. ad ak xlls$ as
500 drHm.
=1Y
G .$[ ` "# :
. 500
.*

.Z :$9
mrHba. Kan l-bas ur illi.
.(
$
Z :
llah yrHm l-waldin.

HOUSE FURNITURE.
Table
t$-t$abla
7ABC2 Radio/tape
l-musjjala
7A6:)2
recorder
Chair
l-kursi
Bed
n-namusiya
D%E<2 Television
7#%"5 G 2 Electric
t-tlfaza
1FA,2
l-priz
10.A
l-bola
="B2
outlet
Pillow
lusada/
tattayt
I0 ,H / %"2 Light bulb
Floor mat
taHs$irt
E#>JH Electric
l-xit$ n usid
K#L2
*#%
tamat/-m
/IN)OH
P)O2
tat$abt
IM C
OH
tajffaft
IR F 6H
cord
Rug
tazrbit
I#M1H Candle/s
Blanket
l-kaa
Q
<2 Broom
Curtain
l-xamiya
7#5 L2 Squeegee

Sheet
lizar
1#2 Water
-ufu
"R"O2
-ofaj
R"O2
tanjawt
6GVH
heater
Moroccan
sofa
l-ponj
S?-2 Heater
KITCHENWARE
Refrigerator
t-tllaja
7TU,2 Spoon
Oven
afrran
ER Knife
Blender
t$-t$HHana
7? J
C2 Fork
l-frit$a
Saucepan
l-gamila
7A#5 (A Glass
l-kas
Cooking pot
t$-t$awa
Plate
t$-t$bsil
Brazier
l-mjmr
Grill
-uwaya
C
2 Teapot
W#:BC2 Coffee pot
l-mus
abrrad
)"2
7C#QEF2
< 2
EM
l-briq
X0EB2
E)6)2 Tray
s$-s$init
I#G>2
70"O2 Bowl
tazlaft/
"JH/IR=1H
taHwart
Strainer
s$ffaya
70 F >2 Kettle
lllay
UV2
Pressure
cooker
l-kokot$
<""2 Pitcher
arraf
E[
Sifter
bus$iyyar
# \"M Couscouse
l-brma
5EB2
anja
6G[
pot
Frying pan
l-mqla
Faucet
r-robini
7A])2 Ladle
DG#ME2
155 Tamazight
PRACTICE
Exercise 1: puut the household items in the correct room.
but$agaz/
l-but$a
l-kursi
n-namusiya
l-kuzina
t$-t$abla
s$-s$abun
tanjawt
t$-t$awa
t$-t$awa
l-bit
l-ktab
aman
asid
t$-t$bsil
lusada/attag
tasfayt
r-robini
bit l-ma
Exercise 2: describe how you want to set up your house during your stay in
Morocco, and then list the items you will need in your house.
SAFETY AND SECURITY

List some safety and security problems you might encounter in your
service.
Describe some strategies for dealing with these issues.
Use Tamazight to implement these strategies.
HARASSMENT
Vocabulary:
E
5=/

Gazelle*
tamlalt/
l-zala
The
beautiful*
tiHli
*
The
beauty*
z-zin
( 5
To follow
someone
t$fur
$;f
To get in
someone's
way
rrd$

*These words are often used by men to harass women.
Sexual harrassment
t-taHru l-jinsi
He followed me.
it$far i.
What do you want?
may trit?
Go away.
ddu ibrdannk.
Get away (far) from me.
bd i/ rq i.
Let go of me.
rzm i.
Don't touch me.
adur i tHadat.
Don't follow me again.
ad usar tawat ad i
tt$furt
Give me some space.
Ki s t tisa.
Go or you will regret it.
ddu nd at-ndmt.
I will tell the police.
ad lm l-bulis.
I will call the gendarms.
ad r i jadarmiya.
157 Tamazight
Respect yourself.
Htarm ixfnk.
He doesn't want to get

(far) away from me.
ur iri ad i bd.
I told you, get (far) away

from me.
ni ak rqi.
I told you: go away.
ni ak ddu ibrdannk.
.
.
.
Text:
id Cathy tff sg dar chabab
illa yan bu t$-t$omobil ibdda taman ubrid. id tgulan Cathy tama ns innay as "ali
azzin a km nsguli" Cathy tnnay as" ddu ibrdannk, is trit kan yan ad it$fur
utmak?" tqqim Cathy tt$far abridns. d iqqima bu t$-t$omobil it$far t. tbbi abrid s
aziy yad$nin. d tkna ixfns d tmun d ubridns. di g as wissin ijra mayd ijran g as
amzwaru. walayni g was wiskrad$ tna Cathy i bu t$-t$omobil: "mk tawt ad i tt$furt
hat ad lm i l-bulis. walayni iawd it$far t. ukan tdda s l-bulis d tlm asn. d tka
asn n-nimiru n t$-t$omobil. l-bulis umzn bu t$omobil d ran i Cathy. bu
t$-t$omobil ittr l-musamaHa sg Cathy. d iggulla afad usar inni a t it$fur tiklt
yad$nin.
.
."@#2(:? " : = .
. ":
. . .
": .
. ."
. . .
. (= .
Questions:
1. mani Cathy/mag tlla Cathy?
2. mag illa bu t$-t$omobil?
3. mayd ina bu t$-t$omobil i Cathy?
4. is tmman Cathy d bu t$-t$omobil? is
tni Cathy t$-t$omobil?
/ .1
.2
.3
.4
.5
5. may tskr Cathy id t-it$far

bu t$-t$omobil?
6. mayd iskr bu t$-t$omobil id t umzn
l-bulis?
.6
English translation:
Cathy coming out of the youth center
When Cathy was coming out of the youth center, there was a man in his car by
the side of the road. As she passed by him, he told her: Get in gazelle, I will
take you home. Cathy said: Go away. Is it okay with you if someone harasses
your sister? Cathy kept walking and the man was following her with his car.
She crossed the road, ignoring him, and continued on her way. The next day,
the same thing happened with that man. The following day Cathy told the man:
If you follow me again I will tell the police. In fact, he did follow her again
and so she went to the police station. She told them what happened and gave
them the license plate number. The police arrested the man and called Cathy.
The man apologized to Cathy and promised not to get in her way again.
AT THE TAXI STAND

Vocabulary:
Seat
l-blas$t
Tire
r-rwida
Smooth
ttumHa
Windsheild
tajjajt
Cracked
trza
To be
afraid
ggd
To happen
jru
Expressions:
Drive slowly please
Hri stawil afak.
Better safe than sorry
llahmma slama wala

ndama.
.
.
159 Tamazight
Dialogue:
g l-maHt t a n t aksiyat.
l-kurti:
Max:
l-kurti:
Max:
l-kurti:
Max:
l-kurti:
Max:
l-kurti:
Max:
yat l-blast s Aqqa.
nkkin ri ad ddu s Aqqa.
ali.
stawil, adji ad sksu t$-t$aksi

bda. ur ri ad ddu g
t$-t$aksitx.
:
:
:
.
.
max?
r-rwad$ ttumsaHnt d tajjajt
n dat trza.
as zayd. adur tggt. ur inni

ad ijru awdHaH.
:
:
.
:
sksu i yat t$-t$axi yad$nin

ihyyan afak.
.
.
ixs$s$a k a tqqlt imiH.

thnna luqt. llahmma slama
wala ndama.
:
:
Questions:
.1
1. mag illa Max?
.2
2. mas ira ad iddu Max?
.3
3. max allig ur iddi g t$-t$aksi nna

yannay zwar?
.4
4. mayd ina i l-kurti g tiyra?
At the taxi stand.
l-kurti:
Max:
A seat to Aqqa, a seat to Aqqa.

I am going to Aqqa.

l-kurti:
Max:
l-kurti:
Max:
l-kurti:
Max:
l-kurti:
Max:
Get in.
Wait. Let me see the taxi first. . . . I dont want to go in this taxi.
Why?
The tires are smooth and the windshield is cracked.
Come on, dont worry. Nothing is going to happen.
Find me a good taxi.
You have to wait a little bit.
Time is not a problem. Better safe than sorry.
AT WORK
Vocabulary:
To bring
skjm
F% To lock (to
qqn d
" (
l-qfl
\ ;U
something)
To take
out
suf
To steal
akr
13$% A lock

To be
stolen
ttuyakr
$
Dialoge:
g l-xdmt.
lomolog:
s-salamu alaykum, tddid zik

assa.
Patrick:
waalaykum s-salam. iwa

wiy.
lomolog:
matta wya? max allig tskjmt

l-biklitnk s l-biru.
.
.

.
ah, adi ttuyakr mk t udji

brra.
lomolog:
walayni adartx urid win

l-biklit.
Patrick:
ay, walayni ur ssin mayd

skar?
lomolog:
g l-qfl i l-biklit, d qqn t d

tiflut n brra.
tbarkllah lik. ur digs
xmmim .
:
:
Patrick:
Patrick:
:
:
:
:
.
.
161 Tamazight
lomolog:
is urk l-qfl?
Patrick:
ayih uri. an ff di d a tn
qqn d tiflut.
lomolog:
:
:
.
.
qqn afad a taft may trzzmt.
Questions:
1. max allig Patrick iskjm l-biklit s
l-biru?
^ 0EH. ( 1
2. mayd ina lomolog i Patrick?
^0EH- ( 2
3. mayd iskr Patrick g tiyira?
^ 0EH- ( 3
Translation:
At work:
counterpart:
Patrick:
counterpart:
Patrick:
counterpart:
Patrick:
counterpart:
Patrick:
counterpart:
Patrick:
counterpart:
Peace be upon you. You came in early today.

Peace be upon you too. A little bit.
Whats this? Why did you bring your bicycle into the office?
Oh. It will be stolen if I leave it outside.
But this is not the place for bicycles.
Yes, but what should I do?
Use a lock with the bicycle, and lock it to the gate.
Good idea. I didnt think about that.
Do you have a lock?
Yes, I have one. Ill take it outside now and lock it to the gate.
Lock now so that you will find later.
FORGETTTING A WALLET IN THE TAXI/ FILLING A

REPORT.
Vocabulary:
Police

$
To lose
l-bulis
zl
(something)
Police
station
l-kumisariya
Wallet
l-bzt$am
E$
To forget
f5
To save
ttu
$
tq
^ +
(someone)
Expressions:
Help me (with
something)
awni
I lost my passport.
zli l-passporinu.
I forgot my wallet in...
ttu l-bzt$aminu g...
...
Where is the police

station?
mani l-kumisariya?
Help! (save the soul)
tqat r-ruh
." B%-2
Dialogue:
Brian:
l-bulis:
Brian:
l-bulis:
Brian:
l-bulis:
Brian:
l-bulis:
Brian:
l-bulis:
s-salamu alaykum.
waalaykum s-salam.
samHi, ttu l-bzt$aminu g yat
t$-t$aksi.
waxxa mismnk?
isminu Brian.
mayd illan g l-bzt$am?
digs l-passpor d yat lakart$
vizit d 500DH.
is tqqalt i n-nmra n t$-t$aksi.
115
waxxa adj i r-rqm n
:
:
:
.

.

:
:
:
:
. 500

115

:
:
:
163 Tamazight
t-tilifunnk hat ad dik sqqsa

mn bd.
Brian:
ukran
Questions:
.1
1. mas idda Brian?
.2
2. is as ittuyakr l-bzt$am?
Translation:
Brian:
Peace be upon you.
Police:
Peace be upon you too.
Brian:
Excuse me, I forgot my wallet in a taxi.
Police:
Okay, whats your name?
Brian:
My name is Brian ...
Police:
What was in the wallet?
Brian:
My passport, a Visa card, and 500 dirham.
Police:
Do you remember the taxis number?
Brian:
115.
Police:
Okay, leave me your phone number, well call you later.
Brian:
Thanks.
BUTAGAZ
Vocabulary:
Butagaz
tank
l-but$a
Gas
l-gaz
CO2
detector
d-ditiktur
metal
regulator
between gas
tank and
hose
l-magana
To test
jrrb
To close
qqn

Battery
l-Hjra
Gasket
(rubber
ring)
j-jlda n
l-but$a
Torn/cut
ibbi
Hose
t-tiyu
Odor/smell
r-riHt /
ad$u
Ring
l-xatm
To open
anf
...
To turn on
(to make
work)
rzm
To change
bddl
To tighten
ziyr
To smell
kd$u
Dialogue:
Fatima d Caroline.
Fatima:
ahlan, bixir?
Caroline:
labas l-Hamdullah. mrHba

zarm/issm.
Fatima:
irHb zarm l-xir. hat kd$i

ad$u n l-but$a.
Caroline:
Fatima:
Caroline:
Fatima:
Caroline:
ur kd$i awdmalm. uri

d-ditiktur n lgaz walayni ur
digs l-Hjrat.
ixs$s$a km a t tsxdmt, aya ur
igi l-lb. addud an sksu
j-jlda n l-but$a zwar.
waxxa.
aya iga xat$ar. ixs$s$a ya a t
nbddl mnbd a t njrrb s
waman d s-sabun.
tbarkllah ifm.
.

. / .
.
:
:
:
.
.
.
.
.
.
:
:

.
.
165 Tamazight
Questions:
( 1
1. max allig tlla r-riHt n l-but$a?
( 2
2. max allig illa l-mukil g l-but$a n

Caroline?
3. mayd ixs$s$an Caroline d Fatima ad
skrnt?
( 3
Fatima:
Hello, how are you?
Caroline:
Fine, thanks be to God. Welcome.
Fatima:
Thanks. Come here . . . I smell gas.
Caroline:
Fatima:
Caroline:
Fatima:
Caroline:
I dont smell it. I have a gas detector but it ran out of batteries.
You should always have it on. This is no game. Lets look at the
rubber gasket ring first.
Okay.
You see, the rubber ring is torn. This is dangerous. We have to
change it, then test it with water and soap.
Good idea.
THEFT
Vocabulary:
Theft
tukrd$a
Danger
l-xat$ar
Dangerous
iga xat$ar
Make a
statement/file
a report
sjjl ddut
Summons
listida
Witness
-ahd
Thief
affar
To touch
ggr
To forgive
samH
He
snatched
me.
iksi.
He
attacked
me
itdda
ifi
He
slapped/
hit me
idms$i/iwti
s udmis

Testimony
-ahada
He spit on
me
issutf
ifi
Police
l-bulis
He grabbed
me from...
yumz i
sg...
He cursed
me
irgm i
He stole
my...
yukr i
Police
inspector
linspiktur
",#.:?2
Police car
l-fargunit$
Report
r-rapor
.E 2
He insulted
me
iayr i
Law
l-qanun
To call (the
police)
r i
(l-bulis)
Human rights
Huquq n
linsan
Court
l-mHkama
Medical
certificate
ahada
t$ibbiya
Lawyer
l-muHami
...
()
Expressions:
* #
#9D / E$
#
Where is the closest

police/gendarm station
please
mani l-kumisariya/
labrigad nna inmalan?
I want to make a
statement about a
theft/an attack/sexual
harrassment
ri ad-lm xf tukrd$a/
adda/t-taHrru
l-jinsi
What police station

should I go to?
matta l-kumisariya nnas

ixs$s$a ad ddu?
Take me to the closest

police station, please.
awy i s l-kumisariya nna

inmalan.
Be careful.
xaram/xarak/ Hd$u
ixfnm/k
/' ;G$V Z/G/G
Pay attention
rar l-bal
Come with me to the

police
mun idi s l-Kumisariya

E$
$
/ _ $ X G 1
1
* F
+
/
YG # E $
+
# #E $

*
167 Tamazight
Dialogue:
John:
l-bulis:
John:
l-bulis:
John:
l-bulis:
John:
l-bulis:
John:
l-bulis:
s-salamu alaykum.
waalaykum s-salam. is trit
ak awan?
ri ad lm xf tukrd$a.
i kiy?
ay.
waxxa ki r-raqm n
l-paspornk.

.

.
. .:.2
.
awd ntat at nf. may da ak

ittuyakrn d matta luqt?
mamk iga allig ak yukr

s$-s$ak?
uri as lakart$ d sijur. is ak

tlaq.
yan s$-s$ak g 3:00.
:
:
:
:
:

.3:00

:
:
John:
iks i t sg iirinu.
l-bulis:
is tqlt i uffar?
John:
l-bulis:
John:
l-bulis:
John:
l-bulis:
izzif d ilsa djin d tiurt

azgga
mayd illan g s$-s$ak ?
uri digs t-tilifun d l-fut$a ,
yan l-ktab, l-musjjala
tamzzant (walkman) d
200DH
waxxa asidi, a ng
l-bHtn d ad ak nr mn bd.
s$afi is imkn ad ddu?
uhu, qql afad a tawit didk yat
n-nusxa n r-rapor.
:
:
.200

:
:
.-E2

John:
l-bulis:
waxxa ukran.
ha ak, dik ad ak nr. Hd$u

ixfnk tiklt yad$nin.
:
:
John:
Police officer:
John:
Police officer:
John:
Police officer:
John:
Police officer:
John:
Police officer:
John:
Police officer:
John:
Police officer:
John:
Police officer:
John:
Police officer:
John:
Police officer:
Peace be upon you.

Peace be upon you too. Can I help you?
I want to report a theft.
Are you the victim?
Yes.
Okay, your passport, please.
I have only my carte de sejour. Here you are.
Thats okay. What was stolen from you and when?
A bag at 3:00.
How was it stolen?
A man snatched it from my shoulder.
Can you describe the thief?
Hes tall, wearing jeans and a red T-shirt.
What exactly did you have in the bag?
A cell phone, a towel, a book, a walkman, and 200 dirham.
Okay, sir, well do our investigation and well get in touch with
you later.
Thats it? Can I leave?
Wait a minute, youve got to take a photocopy of the report.
Okay, thanks.
Here you are. Well get in touch with you. Be careful in the
future.
169 Tamazight
HASH
Vocabulary:
Hashish
l-Hi
Quality
kaliti/nu
To smoke
kmi
To use
stml
Sticking to/
bothering
someone
sl
Dialogue:
Jalil:
addud ad ak sawl. is da
tinigt xf l-Hi.
Scott:
uhu. ddu ibrdannk. nk ur da

tkmmi.
. . .
Jalil:
addud hat uri kaliti ihyyan

sg ktama.
Scott:
ni ak ddu ibrdannk. bd i
nkkin ur da tkmmi.
.
.
.
Jalil:
sksu, ad ak g t-taman irwan.
Scott:
sksu, mk tqqimit tslti ad

ddu ad lm l-bulis. nkkin ur
da tkmmi.
Jalil:
l-bulis! safi a k iawn rbbi
:
:
:
. .
. .
Questions:
1. mayd imjma Scott?
( 1
2. is isa Scott l-Hi?
( 2
3. max allig iggd Jalil d idda ibrdanns?
( 3
Jalil:
Scott:
Jalil:
Come here! I want to talk to you. Are you looking for Hash?
No; go away! I dont smoke.
Come here! I have a good quality from ktama.

I said go away! Get away from me, I dont smoke.
Scott:
Jalil:
Look! Ill give you a good price.
Scott:
You look! If you keep bothering me, Ill call the police. I dont smoke.
Jalil:
The police! Okey; may God help you.
HOUSE SECURITY/DOORS AND WINDOWS.

Vocabulary:
Lock
l-qfl
Welder
sudur/aHddad
Latch/bolt
s$-s$aqt$a
sliding metal
bolt for
locking
doors
z-zkrum
Iron bars
talHdidin
Hardware
store
d-drogri
Dialogue:
Jamal:
s-salamu alaykum.
Carlos:
waalaykum s-salam.
Jamal:
mayd tskart g tadart?
Carlos:
awdHaH, as qqim.
Jamal:
yllah a nff.
Carlos:
waxxa.
Jamal:
matta wya? l-qfltx ur is$Hi.

ixs$s$a k yan is$Han. d txs$s$a k
yat s$-s$aqt$a afad a tqnt sg
ugnsu.
Carlos:
l-fikra ihyan aya, mag t

nssa?
Jamal:
ur d-drogri nd s-suq askka.

awd l-Hdid ixs$s$a i s-srjm
afad a thnnat. a nddu s
s-sudur an skr s-srjm di.
ixs$s$a k as a tamzt lbarns.
.
.

.
.
.
.
:
:
:
:
:
:
:

.

.
:
:

.
.
.
Carlos:
l-fikra iHlan aya.
171 Tamazight
Jamal:
ay, llahmma slamat wala

ndamat
Questions:
.1
1. mayd da yskar Carlos?
.2
2. mayd igan l-mukil?

3. mayd ixs$s$an Carlos ad ig afad ad
ihnna?
.3
Jamal:
Peace be upon you.
Carlos:
And peace be upon you too. Welcome.
Jamal:
What are you doing at home?
Carlos:
Nothing, just sitting around.
Jamal:
Lets go out.
Carlos:
Okay.
Jamal:
What is this? This lock is not strong. You need a strong one. You
also need a sliding metal bolt in order to lock the door from the
inside.
Carlos:
Good idea. Where can I get these from?
Jamal:
From the hardware store or from souk tomorrow. Also this window
needs iron bars so you feel safe. Lets go to the welders to fix this
window now. You need to measure it.
Carlos:
Excellent idea.
Jamal:
Its better to be safe than sorry.
POLITICAL HARASSMENT
Vocabulary:
To end
sbd
War
l-Hrb
Citizen
l-muwat$in
Normal
adi
Freedom
l-Huriya
Democracy
dimuqrat$iya
Subject
l-mud$u
Population/people
-b
For
Against
d$idd
To convince
qn
Killing
tanui
To kill
Dialogue:
John iqqima g lqhwa da iqra
"newsweek" mddn da tfrrajn g l-jazira.
yan urgaz ina i John:
" "
. .
l-muwat$in:
sawl i bush ad isbd l-Hrb.
John:
nkkin as yan l-muwat$in

adi sg mirikan. lxdmtinu
ad awn mddn aytx ayd
sn.
l-muwat$in:
John:
l-muwat$in:
John:
l-muwat$in:
John:
l-muwat$in:
.
.
walayni da tinim urun

l-Huriya d d-dimuqrat$iya.
aya illa, walayni nkkin as

amirikani adi sg -b.
kulukn kif kif. da tirim

l-Hrb. g mirikan uggar n 50
g l-miya tra l-Hrb. awd kiy
sg digsn.
. .
uhu, nkkin sg 50 g l-miya

yad$nin d$idd l-Hrb.
mamk ntgga a nisin?
mamk tgga ak qn?
urs, walayni mirikan ixs$s$at
.
:
.
:
50
.
50
:
:
:
173 Tamazight
a tsbd l-Hrb d tnui n
mddn.
John:
.
.
snnit.
g l-qhwa bdan idsn mddn dasawaln g

l-mud$utx d da-sksiwn g John. John a
yxlls$ l-qhwans d idda ibrdanns.

.
.
Questions:
$Q D * # .1
1. mag illa John?
% .2
2. mayd iskr?
% .3
3. mayd skrn mddn?

4. mayd igan l-xdmt n John g l-mrib?
<
$Q .4
$ .5
$
5. id mirikan kulut tra l-Hrb?

6. id John ira l-Hrb nd d$idd l-Hrb?
< _ # $Q .6
$Q % .7
7. mayd iskr John g tiyira?
John was sitting in a cafe_ reading Newsweek.
Some people there were
watching Al-Jazeera. One of the men at the cafe_ said to John:

Moroccan
citizen:
John:
Moroccan
citizen:
John:
Moroccan
citizen:
John:
Moroccan
citizen:
John:
Moroccan
Talk to Bush about stopping this war.

Im just a normal citizen from America. My job is to help people
in Morocco. Thats all I know.
But in America you say you have freedom and democracy.
Thats true, but I am just a normal American.
You are all the same. You all like war. In America more than 50%
of the people are for the war. You are one of them.
No, I am with the other Americans against the war.
How are we going to know?
How can I convince you?
I dont know but America must stop killing people.

citizen:
John:
Moroccan
citizen:
I agree.
Talk to Bush about stopping this war.
A group of people in the cafe_ kept talking about the subject of the war. They
were looking at John. John paid for his coffee and left.
175 Tamazight
APPENDICES
Supplementary grammar lessons 176
Moroccan Holidays 201
Glossary of verbs
207
SUPPLEMENTARY GRAMMAR
LESSONS
ADVANCED VERBS
1. DERIVED VERBS
Derived verbs are made by adding prefixes to standard verb forms which change
their meaning slightly.
To make
The prefix s can be loosely translated as to make for instance fhm is to
understand, and s-fhm is to make understand.
Examples:
I made him understand
what to do.
sfhm as mayd itga.
Verb stem
to make verb
to be angry
qllq
to make angry
s-qllq
to enter
kjm
to make enter
s-kjm
to be tired
wHl
to make tired
swHl
to fall
d$r
to make fall
sd$r
to calm
(shut up)
fst
to make quiet
sfst
to laugh
t$s
to make laugh
st$s
to be happy
frH
to make happy
sfrH
to be late
t$t$r
to make late
st$t$r
to exit
ff
to make exit
suff*
to
accompany
mun
to make
accompany
smun
*Note: Occasionally there is some assimilation between the prefix s and the
verb stem.
177 Tamazight
Tongue twister
Fad$ma illi
sg Ait Bouilli
skjm ulli
suff ulli
ka ur illi.
2. RECIPROCAL VERBS
By adding the prefix m and making some changes to the stem, we create the
reciprocal form of the verb.
Example:
the verb wn is to help and the verb mawan is to help each other.
Base verb
Reciprocal
verb form
To speak
sawl
To speak to
each other
msawal
To like
jb
To like each
other
mjab
To
recognize
akz
To recognize
each other
myakaz
To be far
rq
To be far
from each
other
maq
To meet
jm
To meet with
each other
mjma
To know
isin
To know each
other
myassan
To see
inniy
To see each
other
myinniy
Examples:
Did you meet with
Hammu on the way?
is tmjmat d Hammu g
ubrid?
Dont be far from each

other in order to see
each other.
adur tmraqm afad a

tmyinniym.
You will never like each

other.
usar tnnim a tmjabm.

.
.
3. PASSIVE VOICE
In Tamazight the passive voice can be formed by adding the prefix ttu.
For example the verb to fix or to do which is skr becomes ttu-yaskr, to
be fixed.
Most of the time, the vowel a is added in varying places, along with the prefix.
Again when vowel sounds are consecutive, a y is inserted for the sake of
pronunciation.
To send
azn
To be sent
ttuyazn
To cut (the
skin)
jHr
To be cut
ttujraH
To open
anf
To be
opened
ttuyanf
To close
qqn
To be
closed
ttuyaqqn
To buy
To be
bought
ttusa
To put
srs
To be put
ttusras
To
hold/pick
up
asi
To be
held/picked
up
ttuyasi
To build
bnu
To be built
ttubna
To steal
akr
To be
stolen
ttuyakr
To beat
wt
To be
beaten
ttuwt
To
imprison
Hbs
To be
imprisoned
ttuHbas
179 Tamazight
Examples:
The door of the garden
was opened.
tiflut n wurti ttuyanf.
Fatima was cut on her

finger.
Fatima tttujraH g
ud$ad$ns.
The volunteers that

were sent will work in
Morocco for two years.
l-mutat$wiin ttuyazn ad
xdmn g l-mrib amayn.
This association was

built last year.
l-jamiyadx tttubna
asggaz izrin.
Hmad was imprisoned

because he stole his
neighbors money.
Hmad ittuHbas aku yukr

l-flus n wadjarns.
.

.

.

.

.
NOUNS
1. NOUN FORMS
Masculine nouns.
In general, nouns that start with the vowels a,i, or u are masculine.
Examples:
foot
ad$ar
ils
head
ixf
ul
fenced
garden
urti
hand
afus
toungue
heart
Note: there are exceptions to this rule such as the femenine plural noun sheep
"ulli"
Feminine Nouns
To make the feminine form of an animated (living) noun, add 't' as a prefix and
suffix to the masculine form.
Examples:
Noun
Masculine
friend
asmun
groom
isli
boy
arba
Feminine
tasmunt
tislit
tarbat
Sometimes the feminine form is used to refer to the diminutive

Noun
Masculine
Feminine
hand
afus
tafust
foot
ad$ar
tad$art
face
aqmu
taqmut
Nouns that are naturally feminine such as woman "tamt

ut" have no diminutive
form.
Nouns of unity
Singular nouns of unity are always feminine
Examples:
Noun
Plural
Singular
apple
t-tffaH
tatffaHt
oranges
l-limun
tallimunt
cheese
l-frmaj
talfrmajt
eggs
tiglay
taglayt
2. PLURALS
Plurals in Tamazight can be formed in several different ways. Below are some
guidelines, but the plural forms must be learned through interaction and
practice.
I. Eternal change (adding a suffix n/in)
The noun doesn't undergo any change when we change it from the singular to the
plural form. Except for the initial vowel 'a' changes to 'i'
181 Tamazight
Examples:
ixamn
tent
axam
medecine
asafar
isafarn
girl
tarbat
tirbatin
foot
adar
idarn
II. Other nouns have an internal change in addition to the change of initial
vowel.
Examples:
hand
afus
mountain
adrar/ari
III.
ifasn
idurar/l-wari
In some cases the initial vowel remains, but the internal vowels
undergo a change.
izan
fly
izi
sky
ignna
igniwn
mouth
imi
imawn
IV. In some cases, the noun remains the same.
idammn
blood
idammn
water
aman
aman
people
mddn
mddn
Borrowed nouns
The plural of nouns borrowed from other languages is formed by case one or two
as listed above.
Case 1:
Examples:
paper
tawriqt
tiwriqin
nurse
afrmli
ifrmlin
Case 2:
Examples:
work
l-xdmt
job
-l
l-xdami
l-asal
3. ANNEXATION
Annexation (a change of the initial vowels in a noun) occurs in one of two
instances:
I. When the subject follows the verb
(1
. #
The man saw the lion.
yannay urgaz izm.
There is water in the

bottle.
llan waman g l-qra
.EU
D (2
argaz yannay yizm.
.5 ( 3
II. After a preoposition

I socialized with the
people of the country.
jm d mddn n tmazirt.
. 1Q (1
I gave the woman bread.
ki as i tmt$t$ut arrum.
$W 1( 2
.=
The man went to the

town.
idda urgaz s tmdint
. ( 3
Cases of annexation
1. In the masculine form, the initial 'a' is preceded by the semi-vowel w the
feminine form remains unchanged.
Examples:
day
ass
wass
river
asif
wasif
smell (noun)
ad$u
wad$u
183 Tamazight
2. The initial vowel of the masculine form changes from 'a' to 'u', while in the
case of the feminine form, the first vowel is dropped.
Examples:
hand
afus
ufus
woman
tamt$ut
tmt$ut
chicken
tafullust
tfullust
3. In the masculine form, the initial vowel 'i' is preceded by a 'y', the feminine
form remains unchanged.
Examples:
lion
izm
yizm
groom
isli
yisli
sheep (fem.)
tili
tili
bride
tislit
But
tislit
ADVERBS
Adverbs of manner
Adverbs of manner are made by taking some nouns and adding to them the
prefix s.
For instance: the noun for silence is ifsti. When we add the prefix s to make
s-ifsti it becomes silently.
Noun
Sincerety
nnit
Love
tayri
Happiness
l-frH
Foolishness
timid$rt
Laugh
tat$sa
Teariness
tala
Anger
z-zaf
Running
tarwla
Goodness
tirwi/tuxxut
Strong
j-jhd
Adverbs
Sincerely
snit
Lovingly
stayri
Happily
slfrH
Foolishly
stimid$rt
Laughinly
stat$sa
Tearily
stala
Angrily
szzaf
In a running way
starwla
In a good/bad
way
stirwi/stuxxut
Strongly/noisily
sjjhd
Examples:
Karla said good-bye to

her family tearily.
Karla tmsafad$ d
l-familans stala.
Fama breastfeeds her

baby lovingly.
Fad$ma da tsud$ud$ arbans

stayri.
Jack explains water

treatment to the people
happily.
Jack da ytraH d-dwa n

waman i mddn slfrH.
She speaks to her boss

angrily.
ntat da tsawal i
l-mudirns szzaf.
.
.
.

.
185 Tamazight
1. Adverbs of quantity.
Some/any
ka/kan
A little
imiq/imiH
A lot
bzzaf/igan
More (than)
uggar(n)
()
Less (than)
ddaw(n)
()
As much as/same as
an(t)
()
Not enough (scarse)
idrus*
Enough
iqd$a*
There is still
isul*
Finished (nothing left)
ismar*
Plenty
iggudi*
How much
mta/Hal
Nothing
awdHaH/ awd amya
/
/
/
/
Practice
Exercise: fill in the blanks with the appropriate adverb.
1. _________ twtmin g tmra walayni

__________ irgzn.
_________ .1
2. is illa __________ l-kar s Tadiust

assa?
________ .2
3. mqqar tlla tagrst __________

tffaH g iskla.
.__________
_________
.3
.
_________ .4
4. __________ lxd$rt, ixs$s$ayi ad s

__________ walayni ddi s suq d ur
ufi __________
__________
5. is __________ utfl affla n ari?

_______ .5
. ________

Adverbs of opinions
Adverbs expressing certainty/uncertainty/doubt
Yes
ay/ih
Sure
nnit
Okay
waxxa/xyar
Thats all
ukan/Hilli
Not sure
muHal
Maybe
ni
Doubtless
bla -k
/
/
PREPOSITIONS
Using Prepositions with Pronoun Endings & Verbs
Learning how to use prepositions correctly can sometimes be tricky. First, the
prepositions dont always correspond directly to English prepositions. Thus, at
different times in Tamazight we will use different prepositions for what would
be the same preposition in English. Second, prepositions sometimes change in
meaning depending upon the verb they are used with. This is true in English, too:
She spoke on the rights of homeless people. (on means on the subject of)
I put the book on the table. (on means on top of)
With these challenges, it may take awhile for you to be a master of Tamazight
prepositions. But with continued use and exposure, they will become natural for
you, just as greetings are now natural for you.
In this section, we will look at two aspects of prepositions: 1. how to connect
prepositions with pronoun endings, and 2. which verbs use certain prepositions.
187 Tamazight
Prepositions
On/about
xf/if
With someone
id/did
At the place of
ur
dig
To/for
In
xf/if
The preposition xf/if is used with many verbs and can be translated into two
english prepositions: "on" or "about"
It is used with certain verbs simply to express the meaning of the verb.
"xf"/"if" with pronoun affixes

About me
ifi
About you (masc.)
ifk
About you (fem.)
ifm
About her
ifs
About him
ifs
About us
ifn
About you (masc. pl.)
ifun
About you (fem. pl.)
ifkunt
About them (masc.)
ifsn
About them (fem.)
ifsnt
Some verbs that go with "xf"/"if"

;`
To laugh
t$s
To lie
skdb/sHlil
To die
mmt
I5
To look/search for
inig
#G
W#A#J% /<*%

To cry
al
To greet
sllm
/A%
Examples:
Did we talk about the

Peace Corps' goals?
is nsawl if lahadaf n
hay'at s-salam?
Yes we talked about

them.
ay nsawl ifsn.
Greet them alot

(sincerely).
sllm ifsn bzzaf.
Are you dying for pizza?
is da tmtat if l-pidza.
Yes, I'm dying for it?
ay da tmtat ifs
I don't know to speak

French and he laughed at
me.
ur sin ad sawl
tafransist d it$ssa ifi.

.

.
"id"/"did" with (someone)

didi/idi
With you (masc.)
idk
With you (fem.)
idm
With him/her
ids
With us
idn
With you (masc. pl.)
idun
With you (fem. pl.)
idunt
With them (masc.)
idsn
With them (fem.)
idsnt
With me
Verbs:
To laugh
t$s
To meet
jm
To stay
qqim
189 Tamazight
To accompany
mun
To get to know
myassan
To quarell/fight
nna
Examples:
Yesterday I fought with
you, why are you talking
to me?
as$nat nna idk, max da yi

tsawalt?
We stayed with them at

the cafe.
nqqima idsn g l-qhwa.
Did you know them

already?
is tmyassant idsnt yad?
Come with us to the

association.
mun idn s l-jmiya
.

.
"ur" at the place of

At my place
uri
At your place (masc.)
urk
At your place (fem.)
urm
At his/her place
urs
At our place
urn
At your place (masc. pl.)
urun
At your place (fem. pl.)
urunt
At their place (masc.)
ursn
At their place (fem.)
ursnt
fd$r
To have dinner
mnsu
To stay
qqim
illi
Verbs:
To have breakfast
To be

To spend the night
ns
To pass
To buy
Examples:
Are you at your family's
house (at the place of
your family)
is tllit ur l-familank?
Yes, I am at their place
ay lli ursn.
Have you ever been to

Fa'dma's house (to the
place of Fama)
is urdjin tkkit ur
Fad$ma?
I went to her place and

had breakfast there.
kki urs asnat$ d fd$r

urs

.

.
Note: ur can also be used with the adjective "iHla"

Example:
Lissa is dear to me.
tHla uri lissa.
"i" to/for
i
To you (masc.)
ak
To you (fem.)
am
To her/him
as
To us
To you (masc. pl.)
awn
To you (fem. pl.)
awnt
To them (masc.)
asn
To them (fem.)
asnt
To me
191 Tamazight
Verbs:
To speak
sawl
To excuse
samH
To send
azn
To say
ini
sfhm
hdu
To explain
To give as gift
Examples:
He spoke to me about
Moroccan culture
yesterday
isawli asnat$ if t-taqafa

n l-mrib
He sent him the letter

yesterday.
yuzn as tabrat asnat$.
She explained to him

that she cannot travel at
night.
tsfhm as hat ur tiy a

tsafr ggid$.
We gave a present to
them at the party.
nhdayasn l-kad$o g l-Hfla

.
.

.
.
"dig" in
In
dig
In me
digi
In you (masc.)
dik
In you (fem.)
digm
In him/her
digs
In us
dign
In you (masc. pl)
digun
In you (fem. pl)
digunt
In them (masc.)
digsn
In them (fem.)
digsnt

Verbs:
To ask about
sqsa
To be scared of
ggd
To take care of
thlla
Your brother asked

about you yesterday but
he didn't find you.
isqsa digm gmanm assant$

walayni ur km yufi.
The director is strict

and the children are
afraid of him.
l-mudir iqqa, d iirran

ggdn sg digs.
Did your family take

care of you?
is thlla dik l-familank?
Yes, they took care of

me.
ay thlla digi.
Examples:
.
.
THE DEFINITE ARTICLE

The definite article in Tamazight is included in the noun.
Examples:
The man
argaz
the men
irgzn
The house
taddart
*H
the houses
taddrwin
a0 H
The women
tamt$t$ut
"C5 H
the women
tiwtmin
a#)H"#H
Indefinite articles:
The indefinite articlte
a (m, s)
yan
The indefinite articlte

a (f, s)
yat
Some (m)
idsn
a%
Some (f)
idsnt
IG%
193 Tamazight
Examples:
A man
yan urgaz
A woman
yat tmt$t$ut
"C)H 0
Some men
idsn irgzn
a%
Some women
idsnt twtmin
a#)H"H IG%
PARTICLES OF PROXIMITY
'd' and 'n' can be combined to any verb of motion to express orientation or proximity.
The particle d refers to "to here" and the 'n' refers to "to there"
Examples:
I brought the letter (to
here)
iwi d tabrat
I brought the letter (to

there)
iwi n tabrat
Fama came (to here)
tdda d Fad$ma
Fama came (to there)
tdda n Fad$ma
Position of particles
'd' and 'n' are placed after the verb in the past tense as seen in the examples
above. However in the following cases they are placed before the prefixes or
markers. Note that especially in the case of the present and future tenses, the
particle of proximity can look like a different conjugation. "ad n zur" "I will
visit (to there)" is assimilated to "an-zur" making it resemble the "we" form
prefix. Only the '' at the end tells you that the subject is "I" and not "we."
Future and present tense:
Future/present marker + particle of proximity + verb stem
Examples:
I come (to there) every
day to the association.
da n tddu kuyas s
l-jmiya
I will visit (to there) the

village
ad n zur -> an-zur

tamazirt
Note the assimilation of "ad n" to "an" in the second example.


Negation:
ur + particle of proximity + verb
I'm sorry, I didn't come
to the wedding today.
samHi, ur n ddi s
tamra assant$.
Interogative form
is/id + particle of proximity + verb
Examples:
Did he bring the letter
(to there)?
is n yiwi tabrat?
Did he bring the letter

(to here)?
is d yiwi tabrat?
Conditional form
mk/amr + particle of proximity + verb
Examples:
If he slept here, I will
stay
mk d insa da, ad qqim
If he had stayed (to

there) I would have gone
amr n iqqimi, is ddi
.
.
Note: Sometimes 'i' is inserted when there is an indirect object
Examples:
I collect water
da tagm aman.
I collect it
da t tagm
I collect it (to here)
da tid tagm
I collect it (to there)
da tin tagm
LINKING WORDS/CONJUNCTIONS
that/who/which
nna
Where is the money that

I lent you?
mani l-flus nna ak rd$l?
195 Tamazight
Where is the girl who

sells carpets?
mani tarbat nna iznzan

ikd$fan?
I saw the house which

has been burnt.
annay taddart nna

yusn.
when
adday
Come and visit when you

are free.
adday tsulat tzritn.
When you are going to

the fields, please tell
me.
adday tddit s igran tinit i

t.
that
hat
Tell Moha that I'll come.
inniy as i MoHa hat an

ddu.
I told her that I have no

time.
nni as hat ur uri lwqt.
in which/where in
nnag
The house in which I live

is big.
taddart nnag zd txatr.
The school in which she

works is far.
l-mdrasa nnag txddm

trq.
The house where I live is

small.
tmzziy taddart nnag zd.
Show me (the place)

where he hid the thief.
snti adar nnag iffr

affar.
who is/are
ayd
I am the one who is

responsible here.
nk ayd yklfn s da.
You are the one who

knows where to go.
kiy ayd isn mas tddut.
.

.
.
.
.
.
to whom/whose
nnami
The men to whom we

gave money have left.
ddan irgzn nnami nka

l-flus.
Here is the woman whose

donkey died this
morning.
han tamt$ut nnami ymmut

uyul s$-s$baHtx.
unless
as mk
I'll be back tomorrow

unless it rains.
qad ayd askka as mk

yiwt unzar.
since
sg
I have not seen him

since he arrived.
ur tannay sg may didda.
He has been waiting for

you since ten.
iqql ak sg lra.
before
urta
I'll be back before you

leave.
ad ayd urta tddit.
when
mantur
I would like to know

when John will be back.
ri ad isin mantur ad
iddu John.
She did not tell Mary

when I would be arriving.
ur as tnni i Mary mantur

ad awd$.
.

.
.
.

.

.
197 Tamazight
although
mqqar
Although she was tired,

she went to work.
mqqar twHl tdda s

l-xdmt.
He gave her the book

although she does not
know how to read.
ikay as l-ktab mqqar ur

tsin a tr.
Because
laHqqa
.

.
aku
id
I went out with him
because I like him.
mun dids laHqqa

yjbi.
She did not talk to me

because she doesn't
know me.
ur i tsawil id ur i tsin
He locked the house

because there was no
one inside.
irgl taddart aku walu

awdyan.
When/since
id
aynna
I gave him the letter when he

arrived.
ki as tabrat id d yiwd$.
We talked when we went out.
n sawl aynna nff.
Since you do not know be

quiet...
id ur tssint tfst...

.
.
.
while/what
aynna
We were working while

you were talking.
da nxddm aynna da
tsawalm.
He stole the money from

us while we were asleep.
yukr a l-flus aynna ngn.
.
.

I gave her what she
needs.
ki as aynna tra.
Take what you want.
asi aynna trit.
to whom
mami
I want to know to whom

you gave the money.
ri ad isin mami tkit

l-flus.
until
allig
He waited until he came.
iqql as allig d yiwd$.
I was working until he

came.
ar xdm allig didda.
what
mayd
I want to see what he

has brought.
ri ad inniy mayd isa.
She wants to know who

went out.
tra a tisin mayd iffn.
where
mas
Tell her where he went.
inniy as mas idda.
where in
dinnag
Where do you take the

animals to drink?
mani dinnag tsswam

l-bhaym?
This is where I sleep.
han dinnag ggan.
where
aynnag
Show me where you

store water.
snt i aynnag tggat aman.
about what
maxf
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
199 Tamazight
Tell me what you are

talking about
iniyi maxf da tsawalm.
How
mimk
mamk
Show me how you did it.
snti mamk as tgit,
Show me how to knead

bread.
snti mamk da tjant.
in oder to
afad
I'm going to bed in order

to get up early.
ddi ad gn afad ad nkr

zik.
I gave him a biscuit in

order to keep him quiet.
ki as l-gato afad ad
ifst.
But
walayni
.
.
maan
I want to marry her, but
she doesn't like me.
ri a tt tawl walaynni
ur i tri.
He invited us for dinner

but we didn't want to go.
ira ya s imnsi maan ur

nri a nddu.
just
as
Just as we arrived, it
began to rain.
gas niw ibda day-kkat

unzar.
except
as
Everybody understood
except me.
kultn fhmn as nk.
They all came except

Moha.
ddant kultnt as Moha.
.
.

1
1
. *
N * =
.# #
.
.

While/as
kud
maHd
You have to go while

there is still time.
ddu kud isul l-Hal.
I will plant it while it is

still warm.
a t tzzu maHd isul

iHma l-Hal.
She talks as she cooks.
kud tsnwa tsawal.
wherever
aynnas
aynnar
Wherever you go, I will

go with you.
aynnas tddit a dik mun .
whoever
wnna
Whoever comes is
welcome.
wnna didan mrHba is.
let alone
dan
I dont care about them,

let alone him.
ur kkul digsn dan nta

.
.
201 Tamazight
MOROCCAN HOLIDAYS
Holidays in Morocco are extremely important and festive occasions.
Women and girls have henna parties and come out of their houses to celebrate.
Visitors are entertained and gifts are exchanged among friends. Particular
religious rites are performed. Special sweets and foods are washed down by
glass after glass of mint tea as everyone gets caught up in the socializing and
celebrating.
RELIGIOUS HOLIDAYS.
There are both religious and civil holidays in Morocco. The Gregorian calendar,
based on solar computation, is used for civil purposes. This is the calendar
Westerners generally use.
The Islamic calendar{ XE "Islamic Calendar" \f "v" }, based on lunar computation,
divides the year into twelve months which reoccur in varying relationship to the
Gregorian year and complete their cycle every thirty years of 355 days. These
thirty-year cycles consist of nineteen years of 354 days and eleven years of 355
days. Thus, the Islamic calendar gains 10 to 11 days a year on the Gregorian
year.
This calendar is called the Hegiran calendar because its starting point was the
hegira, when Mohamed fled from Mecca in 622 of the Gregorian calendar. This
calendar is used for religious purposes in Morocco.
Month
Transcription
Name
Arabic
Festivals
muarram
2nd
s afar
3rd
rabi l-luwl
4th
rabi t-tani
5th
jumada l-luwla
6th
jumada t-tanya
7th
rajab
8th
ban
st
10th of the month:

taurt
12th of the month:

id l-mulud
9th
ramad an
10th
uwal
11th
du l-qida
12th
du l-ijja
1st of the month:

l-id amzzan
10th of the month:

l-id axatar
Here are sescriptions of the major festivals:
taurt
muarram, the first month of the Islamic year, is in Morocco called ayyur
taurt, the month of the taurt. It has derived this name from the feast on
the tenth day of the month. This day, called as taurt is the Islamic New Years
Day. It is said that Allah created Adam and Eve, heaven and hell, and life and
death on the 10th.
The Day of Ashura ($[ translit: aura, also Aashoora and other
spellings) is on the 10th day of Muharram in the Islamic calendar and marks the
climax of the Remembrance of Muharram but not the Islamic month. For Shi'a
Muslims, it commemorates the martyrdom of Husayn ibn Ali, the grandson of
Muhammad at the Battle of Karbala in the year 61 AH (AD 680), and is a day for
mourning.
Ashura is also commemorated by Muslims as the traditional date on which
Noah's ark came to rest, the prophet Ibrahim (Abraham) was born and the Ka'ba
was built in Mecca. Ashura corresponds to the Jewish festival of Yom Kippur,
which was held by the Jews of Medina
Good food has a place in the rejoicing of taurt, in accordance with the
traditional saying of the Prophet, Who give the plenty to his household on the
taurt day, God will bestow plenty upon him throughout the remainder of the
year. Cow, bullock, goat, sheep, dried dates, and eggs are fixed according to
local custom. Visits to the graves of relatives and alms-giving are common at this
time.
Of great interest are the fire and water rites practiced at taurt, to which
purificatory and other beneficial effects are ascribed. On taurt eve, the
bonfire night fires are built throughout the town and the people sing and dance
around them. The chief object of the rite is to purify men and animals or to
protect them from evil influences, since there is baraka (blessings) from those
fires.
203 Tamazight
Similar effects are attributed to the water rites which even more
frequently are practiced on the following morning. It is a general belief that
there is baraka in all water on this morning. To take a bath on the morning of the
taurt day is a very wide-spread custom, and in many cases it was expressly said
that it must be done before sunrise. Children are traditionally involved in this
festival. They dress-up, play small drums, and are given gifts during this holiday.
id l-mulud
In Morocco, the third month of the Islamic year is called ayyur l-mulud, the
month of the mulud. These names are given because of the feast celebrating the
birth of the Prophet which commences on the twelfth day of the month and lasts
for several days. The mulud is a particularly blessed month and all children born
during it are considered fortunate.
The Prophets Birthday has more significance in Morocco because Morocco is
a Kingdom rather than a republic, and King Mohamed VI is a descendant of the
Prophet. The anniversary is brilliantly celebrated at the Imperial Palace in Rabat
and in the evening in Sale a great procession of candles takes place.
In Meknes the Aissaoua brotherhood has its own unique celebration worth
seeing. Followers of the holy man, l-hadi Ben Aissa throng to Meknes and play
music, dance, celebrate and make what is called the small pilgrimage to nearby
saints tombs.
laylatu l-qadr
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic year. The most important
feature of Ramadan is the complete abstinence from food, drink and sexual
activity from daybreak to sunset. Every Muslim who has reached the age of
puberty must fast. Pregnant women, menstruating women, travelers, and those
who are ill are exempt from fasting, but should make it up at a later date.
According Islam, there is one night in Ramadan which is more important
than any other, namely, laylatu l-qadr, the night of power. The Koran is sent
down to the Prophet on that night. This night is one of the last ten nights of
Ramadan, but its exact date has not been discovered by anyone but the Prophet
himself. It is said to be one of the odd nightsthe 21st, 23rd, 25th, 27th, or
29thand in Morocco it is celebrated on the 27th day.
On the night of the 27th, the Muslims go to the mosque to pray. From
sundown to daybreak, the imam (the prayer leader) reads the Koran. The
complete Koran is read before the sun rises. It is believed by some that the sky

will open up during this night and wishes will ascend directly to Allah and be
granted. During the night, special meals of couscous are prepared and brought to
the mosques. Those unable to go to the mosque eat specially prepared meals at
home. Each family gives part of the meal to the poor.
l-id amzzan
Immediately following Ramadan is l-id mzzin, or the little feast.

Everyone stays up very late to hear the announcement that the new moon has
been sighted and Ramadan and fasting are over. When it has officially been
sighted, a three-day festival ensue in which alms-giving plays a major role. The
alms (zakat l-fitr) usually consist of food items like wheat or barley, and each
family does the best it can and it is given just the day of l-id. The chief
religious rite of the feast is a prayer service at the mosque in the morning.
l-id axatar
On the tenth day of the month du l-ijja, the last month of the year, the
Islamic world celebrates its yearly sacrificial feast. In Morocco it is known as
l-id mqqurn or the great feast. This is the central feast in Islam, comparable
to and derived from the feast of the atonement, Abrahams substitute sacrifice.
Hence, the animal sacrificed must be mature and without blemish.
Every family must have its own sheep just as Americans need turkeys for
the proper celebration of Thanksgiving. Those who cannot afford a sheep buy a
lamb or another less expensive animal. In Morocco, the animal cannot be slain
until the King has killed his sheep. Then in each household, the head of the
family kills the sheep (sometimes a butcher is asked to come to the house and
perform the ritual). The sheep is eaten in an orderly fashion determined by local
custom. For example, on the first day, the liver, heart, stomach, and lungs are
eaten. On the second day, normally the head and feet are eaten. However, the
head and feet can be eaten on the first day if that is the local custom. There
are purification and sanctification customs and rites that prepare the people for
the holy feast and its principal feature, the sacrifice. People must purify and
sanctify themselves in order to benefit from the holy feast and its sacrifice.
Personal cleanliness should be observed. Men and boys visit the barber and
often make a trip to the hammam as well.
Henna is used as a cosmetic. Women paint their hands with it and, in many
cases, also their feet. Among some ethnic groups, henna is also applied to
domestic animals.
205 Tamazight
Alms-giving and prayer are two other purification rites practiced during
the great feast. Gifts are exchanged between family members and a portion of
the meal is given to the poor. The day begins with prayer. The chief praying
ceremony takes place in the morning at the mosque.
MOUSSEMS.
Many Moroccan communities commemorate local saints, or marabous, in a
yearly festival or moussem. Most moussems are held near the tomb of the
marabou and involve music, dancing and fantasia. For a very famous marabous
moussem, people will come from very far away. Some very famous moussems
celebrate Moulay Bouchaib (near El Jadida), Moulay Brahim (near Marrakech),
Moulay Yaqub (Fes), and Moulay Idriss (Fes). Many towns have their own
moussems known only to those in the region.
NATIONAL HOLIDAYS.
In addition to the religious holidays, some important civil holidays
commemorating significant events in Moroccos recent history are celebrated.
The most important of these are Independence Day, the Throne feast, Green
March Day, and King Mohameds birthday.
The Festival of the Throne, or id l-r, is the biggest of the civil
holidays. This festival commemorates the coming to power of the King on July
30, 1999. Celebrations including parades with nationalistic anthems usually occur
in the cities with local government officials, like the governor, making
appearances. Traditionally during this holiday, country people come to visit their
city relatives, who are expected to feed and house them for the duration of the
festival. There is often a special emphasis on improving the appearance of the
town prior to this holiday. City employees clean streets and paint walls, and
townspeople are sometimes required by government officials to paint their doors,
whitewash their houses, and display flags.
Green March Day is also celebrated by large parades in most of Morocco.
This day commemorates one of the greatest achievements of King Hassan II: the
mobilization of 350,000 Moroccans for the march into the Sahara territory. On
November 6, 1975, the first Moroccan marchers, under the leadership of the
then Prime Minister Ahmed Osman, set out from Tarfaya and entered the
Spanish territory. During the celebration, those who went on the actual march
once again dress up in green and re-enact the march.
Independence Day, or id l-istiqlal, commemorates the November 18,
1956 return of Mohamed V from his French-imposed exile in Madagascar. This
day gives rise to receptions at the Imperial Palace and parades and celebrations
all over Morocco.

The last of these major national holidays celebrates the Kings Birthday,
August 21, 1962. There are many organized celebrations in Rabat and
broadcasts on the radio praising the King.
REGIONAL FESTIVALS.
There are also many regional festivals which are centered around a
particular product in which a region specializes. The product is displayed and
sold; music and other activities take place in an atmosphere similar to a country
fair.
Some famous regional festivals are the Cherry Festival in Sefrou, the
Date Festival in Erfoud, the Rose Festival in El-Kelaat MGouna (near
Ouarzazate), the Marrakech Folklore and Music Festival, and the Immouzer
Idawtanan Honey Festival (near Agadir).
One of the most interesting festivals in Morocco is the re-enactment of
an ancient market in the High Atlas Mountains. At one time, these very isolated
High Atlas tribes would gather yearly at a specific point near Imilchil where
many mountain paths met for the yearly market. Provisions for many months
were bought and sold and at one time one of the reasons for coming was to
acquire a bride. Men would meet a girl for the first time and pay her dowry then
take her home. Some say this practice still exists and others say it is just a
re-enactment for tourists, but in any case, it is a large market where many
Berbers still buy many of the coming years provisions.
Religious, civil, and regional festivals are an excellent chance to get out
and see interesting things, meet people on an informal basis, and have fun. Dates
of these celebrations can be obtained from the national tourist office branches
in many cities, but people in your community will usually provide you with the
information about your region.
It should be noted that the same festival may be celebrated somewhat
differently in various sections of the country. For example, in Errachidia
Province, a far greater emphasis is put on Green March Day than in other
sections of Morocco because that province provided the first contingent for the
march.
Be sure to check out the expectations of your community for a particular
holiday, particularly in terms of visitation, entertaining, gift-giving, and
participation, so you can get as involved as possible and enjoy the holidays.
207 Tamazight
GLOSSARY OF VERBS
A
English
Imperative
simple
Absorb
su
Able, to be
iiy
Accept
1st person
past
Imperative
continuous
ssa
swi
tiiy
iy
iri
tiri
ri
Accompany,
to be
mun
tmun
mun
Accuse
gr l-bat$l xf
Accustom
walf
Ache,
something
ggar l-bat$l
xf
twalaf
nqqa
gri l-bat$l
xf
walf
inay-i
Acknowledge
tarf
ttarf
tarf
Acquainted,
to become
myassan
tmyassan
myassan
Add
zayd
tzayad
Adopt
rbba
Advance
zwwr
Advise
g ixf/ns$H
zayd
trbba
rbba
zggur
zwar
tgga ixf/
tns$aH
gi ixf/
ns$H
Afraid,
to be
ggd
tggd
ggd
Age
wsir
twsir
wsir
Agree
qbl/tafq
Aid/help
awn
Allow/
leave/let
adj
Alter
xllf
Amuse
st$s
^ 3 / \ " tqbal/tafaq

tawn
tadja
X
G txllaf
W% st$sa
3/U qbl/tafq
awn
Q udji
xllf
YW% st$si
^
" tqllaq
Angry,
to be
qllq
Annoy
s$dd
Answer
jawb
Appear
d$hr
Applaud
wt abariq
Apply for
ttr
Approve
qbl
Arrange
siksil
Arrest
amz
Arrive
awd$
Ascend
ali
Ask
sqsa
Ask
(in marriage)
ttr
Assemble
(parts)
smun
Associate
with
sur
Attack
tdda
Attempt
arm
Attend
Hid$r
Attention,
to pay
rar l-bal

VZ

Avoid
K t$-t$rf /
rq
W
/
%
Q
T_
^ 9

\ "
\ %
5
U%

ts$dda
tjwab
td$har
kkat abariq
tttr
tqbal
siksil
tamz
tawd$
tali
sqsa
tttr
$% smun
$% tsur
U qllq

F
TV
^ 9
+
U
\ %
5

*

U%
+
$
trara l-bal
tkka t$-t$rf
traq
/W

tarm
tHid$ir
jawb
d$hr
wt abqqa
ttr
qbl
siksil
umz
iwd$
uli
sqsa
ttr
$% smun

V

tdda
s$dd
sar
tdda
urm
Had$r
ruri l-bal
Ki t$-t$rf /
rq
B
Bankrupt,
to go
Hwj
Bargain
t$t$r
Bark
shub
Bathe
ssird
Be
ili
Beat
wt
Become
ayd
$Z tHwaj
WN

$T%
%
*

tt$t$ar
shubu
sired
tili
kkat
tayad
$
Hwj
WN

$9$T%
%
*

t$t$r
--sird
lli
wt
ayd
209 Tamazight
Befriend
myassan
Beg
ttr
Begin
bdu
Belch
gr
Believe
amn
Benefit
from
snf
Betray
d$r
Bigger,
to make
sxitr
Birth,
to give
aru
Bite
qrr
Blow up
(air)
suf
Blow up
st$
Boil
srkm
Born, to be
lal
Borrow
rd$l
Bother
sdd
Bow
Hudr
Break
rz
Break
down
xssr
Breathe
sunfs
Bring
awi
Brush
krd$
Build
bnu
Burn
sus/skmd$
Burnt,
to be
us/kmd$
Burst
st$
Bury
adr
Buy

9
(
4;%
tmyassan
V=
+%
d$d$r
taru
tttr
bddu
tgrra
tamn
snfa
sxitir
"tqrra
$% tsuf
1+%
%
D
\_
%
$Z
YG
;#$%

$9
/$<%
{ %
/ $=
{
1+%
1%
st$t$
srkam
tlula
rd$d$l
tsdda
tHudur
rzza
txssar
sunfus
tawi
krrd$
bnnu
sus/skmad$
tus/tkmad$
st$t$
tadr
ssa

+
9
(
;%
myassan
V=
+%
d$r

ttr
bdi
gr
umn
snf
sxatr
iru
U qrr
$ suf
1+%
%
D$

\_

$
Y
$;#$%

$9
/$<%
%
/$<

1+%

%
st$
srkm
luli
rd$l
sdd
Hudr
rzi
xssr
sunfs
iwi
krd$
bni
sus/
skmd$
us/
kmd$
st$
udr
si
C
Call
Call (on
the phone)
g t-tilifun
Calm
sfst
Can
iiy
Capture
amz
Care,
to take
thlla
Careful,
to be
Hd$u
(ixfnk)
Carry
asi
Cash
srrf
Catch up
ssikl
Cause
sbbeb
Cause
g s-sabab
Celebrate
g lfrH/
Htafl
Change
bddl
Change
(money)
= qqar
$;
+
tgga
"ri
$;
+
gi
t-tilifun
;%
* =
5
T
(' ;G)$VZ
sfsta
tiiy
tamz
thlla
Hd$d$u
(ixfnk)
* %

\ %
p %
p
tasi
tgga lfrH/
tHtafal
srrf
/;
\ 3+Z
9

Charge,
to be in
qabl/kllf
X
/ \ 9" tqabal/
Cheat
Chew
fz
Choose
xtar
Churn
sndu
Clarify
sfru
Clatter
smnqr
Clean
nqqa
Climb
ali
Crowded,
to be
tkkur
Cry
all
Cultivate
krz
tsrraf
ssikil
tsbbab
tgga
s-sabab
tbddal
tsrraf
t-tilifun
+;%
* <
5
T
sfsti
$VZ
Hd$i ixfinu
* %
Y
\ %

p

/;

3+

Y
ta
tfzza
txtar
sndu
sfru
smnqar
tnqqa
tali
tkkur
alla
krrz
umz
thlla
usi
srrf
ssikl
sbbeb
gi
s-sabab
gi lfrH/
Htafl
bdl
srrf
/9U qabl/
tkllaf
N=
53
+G
%
;%
U%
5/U#
*
$
iy
kllf
N<
5;
+
%
;%
U%
U
*

$

D

ui
fzi
xtar
sndi
sfri
smnqr
nqqa
uli
tkkur
ulli
krz
211 Tamazight
Cure
jujuy
Cure, to be
jiy
Cut
bbi
Cut (hair)
kks (azar)
Cut (skin)
jrH
$Q$Q
*Q
*9
( )
Q
jujuy
tjiy
tbbi
tkks (azar)
jrrH
$Q$Q
* F
*
( )
Q
juji
ji
bbi
kks (azar)
jrH
D
Damage
sxsr
Dampen
ssum
Damp,
to get
mm
Dance
t$H
Deafen
sd$urd$r
Decline
ggz
Decrease
naqs
Dedicate
hdu
Delay
st$t$r
Delay,
to be
t$t$r
Defeat
rnu
Descend
ggz
Deserve
stahl
Desire
iri
Develop
(film)
ssuf
Die
mmt
Difficult,
to make
ssur
Dig
Digest
zd$
Dinner,
to have
mmnsw
Direct, (as
an order)
k laden
Dirty,
to get
rku
% sxsar
1$% ssumu
1 tmm
] W[ tt$aH
_ $V% sd$urd$ur
tggz
` "#

W%
W
$#
tnaqas
thdu
st$t$ar
tt$t$ar
trnu
tggz
% sxsr
$$% ssum
1 mm
WN
t$H
$_ $V% sd$urd$r
ggz
"
T
W%
W
$#
naqs
hdi
st$t$r
t$t$r
rni
ggz
\ +% stahal
tiri
13$% ssufu
+% stahl
ri
$3$% ssuf
tmtat
$% ssuar
+ mmut
$% ssur
5= qqaz
zzad$
$ tmnsaw

$
ikki laden
trku
"zi
zd$i
mmnsw
*
$
ki ladn
rki

Disappear
ak
Discover
af
Discuss
sawl xf
Dislike
ur Hmil
Dismantle
anf
Dismount
ggz
Distribute
bd$u
Dissolve
sfsi
Disturb
sxub ad$u
Divorce
rzm
Dizzy,
to get
duhdu
Dizzy,
to make
sduhdu
Do
g/skr
Draw up
agm
' [
X G%
\ Z
X #
$V9
* ;%
$_ $%
taka
tafa
sawal xf
ur tiHmil
tanf
tggz
bt$t$u
sfsay
sxub ad$u
rzzm
tduhdu
% sduhdu
%/
(
tgga/skar
tagm
[
3
X G $%
\
X #
uki
$W
9
;%
$_ $%

bd$i
ufi
sawl xf
ur Hmili
unf
ggz
sfsi
sxub ad$u
rzm
duhdi
% sduhdi
%/
(H
gi/skr
ugm
(water from
a well)
Dream
warg
Dress
ls
Drink
su
Drink,
to make
ssu
Drip
smiqqiy
Drive
ssudu/Hri
Drive
crazy
smid$r
Drop
rdl
Drop,
to make
srdl
Dry
zwu
Dye
sb

$%
$%
twirig
lssa
ssa
sswa
*U
% smiqqiy
Z/$% ssudu/Hrri
$

%
$%
warg
lsi
swi
sswi
* U% smiqqiy
Z/$% ssudi/Hri
V% smid$ir
V% smid$r
trdal
% srdal
rdl
% srdl
zggu
1% tsba
Y
zwi
sb
E
Easy,
to make
swhn
Eat
( $% swhan
y
tta
$% swhn
N+ ti
213 Tamazight
Eat
breakfast
fd$r
Eat dinner
mmnsu
Efface
sfd$
Elect
ntaxb
Eliminate
kks
Embarrass
sHm
Embarrass,
to be
Hm
Embrace
Islam
sllm
Endure
s$br
Enjoy
brr
Empty
xwu
End
fukku
Enlarge
sws
Enlighten
ssid
Enroll
zmm'm
Enter
kjm
Enter,
to make
skjm
Envy
krh
Equate
siksil
Escape
rwl
Estimate
qddr
Evacuate
suf
Exaggerate
ayd$
Examine
snis
Exchange
mbddal
Excuse
samH
Exhibit
snt
Exit
ff
Expensive,
to get
slu
Experience
jrrb
Exploit
sknd
Explain
sfru
V3 fd$d$r
$
{ ;
p G+#

N %
N
Z
tmnsaw
sffd$
tntaxab
tkks
sHam
tHam
% tsllam

9
$G
$$3
4%$%
%

F
F%
ts$bar
tbrra
xwwu
tfukku
swsa
ssiddi
tzmmam
kjjm
skjam
V3 fd$r

{ ; %
G+

N %
N
mmnsu
sfd$
ntaxb
kks
sHm
Hm
sllm
Y

$G
$ $;
%$%
%
5
F

F%
s$br
brr
xwi
fukki
sws
ssudi
zmm'm
kjm
skjm
krrh
\ % siksil
rggl
krh
\ % siksil
rwl
"
13$%
{ [
<%

] %
%
13
$
<%
U
$3$%
N
<%

%
1;
$
<%
tqddar
sufu
tayad$
sniis
tmbddal
tsamaH
snat
tff
slu
Q tjrrab
{ % sknad
;% sfru
qddr
suf
yd$
snis
mbddal
samH
snt
ff
sli
F jrrb
{ % sknd
;% sfri

Explode
bbd$i
Exploaded,
to make
sbd$i
* V9 tbd$ay
* V% sbd$ay
V bbd$i
V% sbd$i
F
Face
nal
Fail
xsr
Faint
sxf
Fall
rdl
Fallen,
to make
srdl
Fake
zwwr
Fast
uzum
Fear
ggd
Feed
st
Feed
animals
slf
Feel
aki
Fence in
suty
Ferment,
to be
xmr
Fight
nna
Fill
mmr
Filter
s$ffa
Find
af
Finish
fukku /
kmml
Finish,
to be
smur
Fish
amz islman
/ s$yyd
Fix
skr
Flatten
rf
Fly
ayl
Fold
ud$u
#
G
X %
%
tnala
(
y +%
X
%
tzwwar
xs$s$r
tsaxaf
rddl
srdal
tuzum
tggd
sta
slaf
* taki
* $% sutuy
G txmar
#

;
\ / $$3
tnna
tmmar
ts$ffa
tafa
tfukku /
tkmmal
% tsmur

% 5
/
%
=
\
$_
tamz
islman /
ts$yyd
skar
rrf
taylal
tud$u
D
YG

%
nal
5
$
(,
N+%
%
zwwr
xsr
sxf
rdl
srdl
azum
ggd
sti
slf
* uki
$$% sutiy

-----

;Y
3
/$ $;
nna

/
% 5
Y
%
=

$_ $
mmr
s$ffa
ufi
fukki/kmml
smar
umz
islman/s$yyd
skr
rf
uyli
ad$u
215 Tamazight
Follow
t$fur
Forbid
sHrm
Force open
zll
Foretell
inniy
Free
rzm
Freeze
qqar
Fry
qla
Fulfill
kmml
Full, to be
djawn
Fun,
to make
st$s
Fun of,
to make
t$s xf
$;f t$fur
% sHram
4
tzlla
*#
tinniy
rzzm
"tar
" tqla
\ tkkmal
Q tdjawan
W% st$sa
X G f
t$ssa xf
$;f
%
D5
*
<
U

Q
W%
X G f
t$far
sHrm
zll
annay
rzm
qqur
qla
kmml
djiwn
st$si
t$si xf
G
Gain
rbH
Gamble
qmmr
Gather
smutr
Gather
(with
people)
mjma
Gaze
qqar g
Generate
aru
Get
amz
Get down
ggz
Get on
ali/ni
Get rid of
mzaray d
Give
Give a ride
s$iwd$
Give a
speech
sawl
Give back
rar
Give off
rzm
Give a
present
hdu
Glean
sfliliy
Gleam
ssid
] 9
"
$%
F
trbaH
tqmmar
smutur
tmjma
" tr g
taru
5 tamz
tggz
* #/ *
tali/tnuy
5 tmzaray d
ikki
$ s$iwid$
% sawal
$VZ
trara
rzzm
thdu
*

;% sfliliy
% ssidi
9
U
$$%
F
rbH
<
qqur g

5
$ / *

5
*
{ $
%

$V
qmmr
smutr
mjma
iru
umz
ggz
uli/ni
mzaray d
ki
s$iwd$
sawl
ruri
rzm
hdi
*

;% --% ---

Glue
ls$s$q
Go
ddu
Go ahead
of
zwur
Go further
zayd s dat
Go out
ff
Go through
kk
Go up
ali
Gossip
about
sawl xf
Govern
Hkm
Go
ddu
Go ahead
of
zwur
Greet
sllm xf
Greet one
another
msllam
Grill
knnf
Grind
zd$
Grow
xitr
Guarantee
d$mn
Guard
Hd$u
Guide
sudu
^Y tls$s$aq
tddu
zggur

13
X G%
tzayad s
dat
tff
tkka
tali
sawal xf
Z tHkam
tddu
zggur
X G
% tsallam xf
tmsllam
X
+G
( _
$VZ
$%
knnf
zzad$
txitir
d$mmn
Ht$t$u
sudu
Y ls$s$q
ddi
zwar
5
1;

*
X G%

(
X G

zayd s
dat
ff
kki
uli
sawl xf
Hkm
ddi
zwar
sllm xf
msllam
X
+
( _
$W
Z
$%
knnf
$

iwi-d
zd$i
xatr
d$mn
Hd$i
sudi
H
Hand
awi-d
Hang
agl
Hang to dry
fsr
Happen
jru
Happy,
to be
frH
Harvest
mgr
Hatch
bd$i
Hate
krh
Have
ur

tawi-d
tagl
3 fssr
Q tjru
3 tfraH
* V9

$=
mggr
tbd$ay
krrh
ur
ugl
3 fsr
F -- ;frH
V

$=
mgr
--krh
uri
217 Tamazight
Heal, to be
jjiy
Hear
isil
Heat
sHmu
Help
awn
Herd
ks
Hidde,
to make
oneself
ffr
Hide
ffr
Hint at
wt s wawal
*Q
\ %
$ %

3
tjjiy
tisil
sHmu
tawan
kssa
tffr
3 tffr
kkat s
* F
\

$ %

;
jjiy
;
$%
ffr

*

D U#
kri
wawal
Hire
kru
Hit/fall/rain
wt
Hold
asiy
Hope
tmnna
Hungry,
to be
ina laz
Hurt
br
* %

D <#
krru
kkat
tasiy
tmnna
inqqa laz
9 brr
sla
sHmi
awn
ksi
ffr
wt s
wawal
wt
usiy
tmnna
inayi laz
9 br
I
Ignore
nxxl
Ill, to be
mrd$
Ill, to make
smrd$
Imagine
xayl
Imitate
qlld
Impose
g ddr
Imprison
Hbs
Increase
zayd
Inform
lm
Injure
jrH
Install
rkkb
Interest(s),
(something)
ihmma
Invent
skr
Invite
Iron
Hddd
\
#

%
\ G

"

Z

Q
p

tnxxal
tmrad$
smrad$
txayal
tqllad
tgga ddr
Hbbs
tzayad
llm
tjraH
trkkab
ihmma
% skar
= qqar
Z tHddad

%

U

Z
5

F

nxxl
mrd$
smrd$
xayl
qlld
gi ddr
gri g lHbs
zayd
lm
jrH
rkkb
ihmmayi
% skr
"ri
Hddd

Irrigate
ssu
Irritate
zf
$% sswa
X tzaf
$% sswi
5 zf
J
Jump
nd$w
Justify
k timitar
$V# tnd$aw
+ ikki timitar
V
+ *
$VZ Ht$t$u
$% sudum
( F/ (tgwa/tjan
$W
Z Hd$i
$% sudm
F / ggwi/jn
nd$w
ki timitar
K
Keep house
Hd$u
Kiss
sudm
Knead
ggw/jn
Know
isin
( %
tisin
(

sn
L
Lack
ngza
tngza
ngzi
Last
(time)
dum
tdum

tdum
Late,
to be
t$t$r
W
tt$t$ar
Late,
to make
st$t$r
W% st$t$ar
Laugh
t$s
Laugh,
to make
st$s
f t$ssa
W% st$sa
Lay egg
aru tiglay
Lead to
s$iwd$
Leak
smiqiy
Lean
Hdr
Learn
lmd/llm
Leave
zri/adj
Leave
alone
Hyyd
Leave
behind
zri

$
* U%
Z
/
/
Z
taru tiglay
s$iwid$
smiqiy
tHudur
tlmad/tllam
zrri/tadja
tHyyad
zrri
W
t$t$r
W% st$t$r

f t$si
W% st$si

{ $%
*U
%
$
/

Q/

aru tiglay
s$iwd$
smiqiy
Hdr
lmd/llm
zri/udjia
Hyyd
zri
219 Tamazight
Lend
rd$l
Lengthen
szif
Lessen
sdris
Let
adj
Let go of
rzm
Lie
skdub
Lift
asi
Lie (rest)
mrd$
Light
ssi
Like
iri
Lighten
sfsis
Limit
g lHd
Limp
sHizun
Line up
g s$-s$ff
Live
zd
Lock
rgl
Look
sksu
Look alike
mya
Look
behind
sksu s
d$art
Look down
on
someone
\_
X 5<%
%
%
* %
<
1%
;%

5 %
XY

rt$t$l
szif
sdris
tadja
rzzm
skdub
tasi
tmrad$
ssii
tiri
sfsis
tgga lHd
sHizun
tgga s$-s$ff
zdd
rggl
sksiw
Hqqr
$%

$%
_
UZ
Look for
inig/nada
#/
tinig/tnada
Look like
Look out
(window)
ssigi
Loosen
silw
Lose
zl
Love
iri
Lower
sigz
Lower
naqs$
Lull
(a baby)
srurd
Listen
sfld
tmya
sksiw s d$art
tHqqar
ta
* % ssigi
$
%
` "#
%
siliw
zlla
tiri
siggiz
tnaqqas$
srurud

;% sflid
\ f
X 5<%
%
Q
%
* %
<
* <%

;%

5 %
X Y

(
$%

$%
_
U
/
rd$l
szif
sdrus
udji
rzm
skdb
usi
mrd$
ssi
ri
sfsis
gi lHd
sHizun
gi s$-s$ff
zd
rgl
sksu
mya
sksu s d$art
Hqqr
anug/tnada
a
* % ssugi
$
%
D

"
%
silw
zli
ri
sigz
naqs$
srurd

;% sfld
M
+% sxitir
% skar
] 9 trbaH
+% sxatr
% skr
9 rbH
Magnify
sxitr
Make
skr
Make
money
rbH
Mark
llm
Marry
awl
Massage
kssl
Measure
br
Memorize
Hfd$
Menace
ggal g ka
Mess up
krfs
Milk
zziy
Make
mistake
xd$u
Miss
(a bus)
izri
izrri
Mix
ar
tur
Monitor
Hd$u
Move sth
smutuy
Move
residence
mutuy
[
$VZ
$+%
$+
$N
$VZ
$+%
$+
Murder
\

{ ;Z

tllam
tawl
tkssal
tbar
tHfad$
tgalla g ka
` 3 tkrfas
tzziy
$VG xt$t$u
Ht$t$u
smutuy
tmutuy
1# nqqa

;
D
llm
iwl
kssl
br
Hfd$
gulli g ka
3 krfs
5 zziy
$VG xd$i
izriy-i
ssar/ar
Hd$i
smuti
muti
U# ni
N
Name
g ism
Near
nmili
Need
ixs$s$a
tgga ism
*
# tnmili
YG txs$s$a
gi ism
*

Y
nmala
ixs$s$ayi
O
Obey
t$a
Oblige
g ddr
Observe
inniy
f tt$a

tgga ddr
*#
tinniy
f

*
t$a
gi ddr
annay
221 Tamazight
Occupy
amz adar
Occur
jru
Offer
hdu
Old, to get
wsir
Open
anf
Operate
ftH
Overcome
rnu
Own
mlk
=5
Q

%
X #
] +3
$#
'

tamz adar
tjru
thdu
twsir
tanf
tftaH
trnu
tmlak
=5
F
T
%$
X #
+;
$#

umz adar
jeu
hdi
wsir
unf
ftH
rni
mlk
P
Pacify
sfst
Pack
smutr/jm
pardon
samH
part
bd$u
Participate
umu
Pay
xlls$
Peel
qr
Photograph
s$wr
Pierce
ugu
Plant
zzu
Play
lb
Please
(someone)
jb
Plow
krz
Pluck
nf
Pour
xwu
Practice
lmd
Praise
kr
Pray
zzal
Precede
zwur
Prepare
swjd
Press
adr
Prevent
mn
Profit
snf
Progress
zayd s dat
;%
/ $%
4Q
] %
$V9
$
`
G
N"
$
(
p
p F

X N[
$G

[
Q$%
4
4;%

sfsta
smutur/tjma
tsamaH
bt$t$u
tumu
txllas$
tqar
ts$war
tugu
tzzu
tlab
tjab
krrz
naf
xwwu
tlmmad
tkar
tzalla
zggur
swjad
tadr
tmna
snfa
tzayd s dat
+;% sfti
F/$+% smutr/jm

$V9
$

NU
$Y
"(H
5

F

N[
$G

N
D5
(
Q$%

;%
5
samH
bd$i
amu
xlls$
qr
s$wr
ugi
zzi
lb
jb
krz
nf
xwi
lmd
kr
zzuli
zwar
swjd
udr
mn
snf
zayd s dat

Prohibit
sHrm/mn
Promise
qawl
Protect
Hd$u
Pull
jbd
Punish
wt
Push
dHi
Push a
button
adr
Put (down)
srs
Put out
(light)
sxsi
Put
together
zdiy
/ %
4
"
$VZ
Q
* Z
sHram/tmna
tqawal
Ht$t$u
jbbd
kkat
dHHi
tadr
% siris
* % sxsay
zddiy
/ % sHrm/mn
U
$VZ
Q

*Z

qawl
Hd$i
jbd
wt
dHi
udr
% sirs
% sxsi
zdiy
(from parts)
Q
Quarel
nna
Quiet, to
make
sfst
# tnna
;% sfsta
Quiet
fst
3 tfsta
nna
+;% sfsti
+;
fsti
R
Rain
iwt unzar
Raise
sbd
Raise
children
sxitr iiran
Reach
awd$
Read
Receive
amz
Recognise
akz
Record
sjjl
Reduce
naqs
Refuse
ur iri
5# kkat unzar
% sbdda
[+% sxitir
5# --% sbdi
+% sxatr
iirran
=
5
5
\F
%
` "#

tawd$
qqar
tamz
takz
tsjjal
tnaqqas
ur tiri
iirran

"
5
5
F
U

iwd$
ri
umz
ukz
sjjl
naqs
ur ri
223 Tamazight
(not want)
Regret
ndm
Relax
swunfu
Release
rzm
Remain
qqim
Remember
qql
Remind
sktiy
Remove
kks
Renew
jddd
Rent
kru
Repair
dl
Repeat
awd
Repent
tub
Reply
jawb
Request
ttr
Resemble
Rest
swunfu
Retire
amz lintrit
Return
ayd
Return
something
rar
Ride
ni
Ride,
to give
sni
Rinse
slil
Rise (sun)
ali
Rise
(get up)
nkr
Rot
xmj
Round,
to go
d$ur
Rub
mri
Run
rwl
Run away
azl
Run out of
ismar
Rush
sdrf
#
$;#$%
"
\U

* +%

Q

$
Q

$;#$%
+5

tndam
swunfu
rzzm
tqqima
tqqal
sktay
tkks
tjddad
krru
ddl
tawad
--tjawab
t'ttr
ta
swunfu
tamz
lintrit
tayad
trara

$;#$%
U
U
+%

F

vvvv
F
+

$;#$%
+
5

ndm
swunfi
rzm
qqim
qqal
sktiy
kks
jdd'd
kri
skr
awd
tub
jawb
ttr
a
swunfi
umz
lintrit
ayd
ruri
* # tnuy
* % snuy
$ ni
$% sni
\
% slili
*
tali
# nkkr
*

% slil
*
uli
# nkr
G txmaj
td$ur

$V
xmj

\
D
$
%
mri

%
%
mrri
rggl
tazla
tsmur
sdrruf
d$ur
rwl
uzli
--sdrf
S
Save
Hd$u
Say
ini
Scratch
kmz
Scream
suy
See
inniy
See one
another
myinniy
Sell
znz
Send
azn
Separate
bd$u
Serve
srba
Set a bone
(close)
qqn
Settle
zd
Sew
gnu
Shake
ssur/ur
Shake
hands
with/greet
msllam
$VZ
* #
5
$<%
* #
*
Ht$t$u
5#
$V9
9%
( "
znza
"?(
$[ /$%

tini
kmmz
suyu
tinniy
tmyinniy
tazn
bt$t$u
tsrba
tqqn
zd
gnnu
tsur/tur
tmsllam
$VZ
*
5
$$<%
*
*
Hd$i
5#

$V9
9
(U

znzi
"?(
$N /$

ni
kmz
suyi
annay
myannay
uzn
bd$i
srba
qqn
zd
gni
sar/ar
msllam
each other
Shave
Hssn
Sharpen
wu
Shepherd
ks
Shine
sfliliy
Shiver
rgigi
Shorten
smziy
Shout
suy
Show
snt
Shut
qqn
Shut up
fst
Sift
ssif
Sign
snya
Silence
sfst
Simplify
suhn
Sit
qqim
Skin
ks abt$t$an
(
Z
$[

*

;%
*
* 5%
$<%
%
( "
3
X %
%
;%
( $%
"
W9
Hssn
wu
kssa
sfliliy
trgigi
smzay
suyu
snat
tqqn
tfsta
ssifif
tsnya
sfsta
suhan
tqqima
tkks
abt$t$an
(
Z
$[

*

;%
*
5%
$$<%
%
(U

+;
X ;%

+;%
$%
U
W9
rn
wi
ksi
-rgigi
smziy
suyi
snt
qqn
fsti
ssif
snya
sfsti
suhn
qqim
ks abt$t$an
225 Tamazight
=
{ [

$V
f
*
5
%
%
$
;
#
Slaughter
rs
Sleep
gn
Slide
d$
Smear
ams
Smell
kd$u
Smile
t$s
Smoke
kmi
Sneeze
wt tinzi
Solder
lHm
Speak
sawl
Spend
money
sxsr l-flus
Spend the
night
ns
Spend time
zri luqt
Spin
llm
Spit
sutf
Spoil
sxsr
Squat
qqim xf
tiiiyin
Squeeze
zm
Stand
bdd
Start
bdu
Startle
sduy
Stay
qqim
Stay up
late
muyd
Steal
akr
Step on
akl xf/ fs
Sting
qqs
Stink
xmj
Stir
Hrrk
Stop
bdd
Store
xzn
Strangle
zlg
"
G
Z
9
5G
Stretch
mldiy
*
tmlday
"$
X $%
Y %
X G"
( <<
9
9
%
"
$
rrs
ggan
td$
tams
kt$t$u
t$ssa
kmmi
kkat tinzi
tlHam
sawal
sxsar
l-flus
nssa
zrri luqt
tllm
sutf
sxsar
tqqima xf
tiiiyin
zmma
tbdda
bddu
sduy
tqqim
tmuyud
takr
\ takl xf/
;/X G fs
tqqs
txmaj
tHrrak
tbdda
txzan
tzlag
=
{ N

$V
Y
*
5

%
%
$
;
#
"$

X $%
Y%
X G U
( <<

9
%
U
$$
rs
gn
d$
ums
kd$i
t$si
kmi
wti tinzi
lHm
sawl
sxsr
l-flus
nsi
zrri luqt
llm
sutf
sxsr
qqim xf
tiiiyin
zmi
bddi
bdi
sduy
qqim
muyd

X G \
ukr
U

5
D5
qqs

mldiy
ukl xf
xmj
Hrrk
bddi
xzn
zlg

Study
Succeed
njH
Suck
ssum
Sunbathe
r tafuyt
Swallow
srd$
Swear
ggal
Sweat
rg
Sweep
frd$
Swell
bziy
Swim
um/ f
=
] F#
$%
$3
qqar
tnjaH
ssumum
rqqa
tafuyt
"
F
$%
$3 "
ri
njH
ssumi
ri tafuyt
% srrd$
tgalla
% srd$
D gguli

traq
3 frrd$
* 59 bzziy
X [ /$ tum/ tf
rg
3 frd$
59 bziy
XN
/$ f /
um
Switch
(off)
sxsi
Switch
(on)
ssi
* %
sxsay
1% ssii
%
sxsi
* <% ssi
T
* %
/
T
tasi
* %
/
T
Take
asi
Take away
kks /awi
Take care
of
thlla
Take
charge of
kllf
X
tkllaf
Talk
sawl
Tape
(record)
sjjl
% sawal
\F
% tsjjal
% sawl
\F
sjjl
Tape
(scotch)
ls$s$q
^Y tls$s$aq
Y ls$s$q
Taste
md$i/arm
Teach
sr
Tear
(something)
bbi
Tease
tflla
Telephone
(call)
g ttilifun
Tell
ini
tkks/tawi
thlla
/* V tmd$ay/tarm
<% sra
*9
tbbi
;
$;
+
tflla
tgga
ttilifun
* # tini
usi
kks/iwi
thlla
kllf
/* V
md$i/urm
<% sri
* bbi
;
$;

*
tflla
gi ttilifun
ni
227 Tamazight
<
Tempt
g lrr
tgga lrr
Tend house
qqabl
Think
xxm'm
Think (an
opion)
al
Threaten
(someone)
ggal g
Thresh
srwt
Throw
zrd$
Tickle
g tiglgad$
Tie
Hzzm
Tie (belt)
Hzzm
Tighten
zyyr
Tired,
to be
wHl
Tired,
to make
swHl
\ Z$% swHal
Torture
ddb
Touch
ggr

Travel
safr
Trick
skr t i ka
Trust
amn
Try on
arm
Turn down
(volume)
naqs
Turn over
snqlb
Twist
smund$
\ 9" tqqabal
G txmmam
=tal

tgalla g
% srwat
zrrd$
( A(, tgga tiglgad$
5Z
5Z

\ Z
3%
%
(
` "#
tHzzam
tHzzam
tzyyar
twHal
tddab
tggar
tsafar
skar t i ka
tamn
tarm
tnaqas
p
U+% snqlab
{ #$% smunud$
<

gi lrr
9U qqabl
xmm'm
<al
D
gulli g
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zrd$
( A(, gi tiglgad$
5
5
5
Z$
Hzm
Hzm
zyyr
wHl
Z$% swHl

3
%
(

"
ddb
ggr
safr
skr t i ka
umn
urm
naqs
U% snqlb
$#$% smund$
U
sfhm
T3 tfham
T;% sfham
T; fhm
T;% sfhm
Upset
(somone)
sqllq
U% sqllaq
U% sqllq
Upset,
to be
qllq
Understand
fhm
Understood,
to make
^
" tqllaq
U qllq

Used to,
to become
walf
twalaf
D$
walf
F
5
jlb

ruri
V
Vaccinate
jlb
Visit
(saint)
zur
Vomit
rar
p
Q tjlab
tzur
trara
zur
W
\ " tqql
% snkar
\U
qql
% snkr
#
$ %

#

$ %
Wait
qql
Wake
someone
snkr
Wake up
nkr
Walk (go)
ddu
Want
iri
Warm,
heat
sHmu
Warm,
to be
Hmu
$Z Hmmu
$Z Hmi
Warn
lm
Water
(something)
ssuw
llm
$% sswa
lm
$% swi
Wash
sird
Waste
sxsr
Watch
frrj
Wave
yyr
Wear
ls
Weary
mmt
Weave
gr ast$t$a
Weep
al
Weigh
br
Welcome
rHHb
Well, to be
jiy
Whistle
s$ffr
%
Y%
3
[

W%

pZ

*Q
;
nkkr
tddu
tiri
sHmu
sirid
sxsar
tfrraj
tyyar
lssa
tmmtat
ggar ast$t$a
talla
tbar
trHHab
tjjiy
ts$ffar
%
Y%
;
N

+
W%
D

Z
*F

;Y
nkr
ddi
ri
sHmi
sird
sxsr
frrj
yyr
lsi
mmut
gri ast$t$a
ulli
br
rHHb
jiy
sing
229 Tamazight
Widen
sws
Win
rbH
Wipe off
sfd$
Wipe dry
zwu
Wish
tmnna
Wither
sllaw
Witness
hd
Wonder at
rb
Work
xdm
Worry
qllq
Wormy,
to get
nkr dig..
ibxun
Worth,
to be
swa
Wound
jrH
Write
uru
4%$%
] 9
{ ;%
swsa

%
T[
p
G
^
"
..# E<?
aQ"LM
$%
tmnna
trbaH
sffd$
zggu
tslliw
thad
trab
xddm
tqllaq
nkkr dig..
ibxun
swa
Q jrrH
turu
%$%
9
{ ; %

TN

G
U
.. # E<?
aQ"LM
$%
sws
rbH
sfd$
zwi
tmnna
--hd
rb
xdm
qllq
--swi
Q jrH
$ aru
Y
Yawn
fa
3 tfa
;
fa
Nom du document :
TAMAZIGHT 2007 12
Rpertoire :
C:\Documents and
Settings\Administrateur\Bureau\Tamazight calque
Modle :
C:\Documents and Settings\Administrateur\Application
Data\Microsoft\Modles\Normal.dot
Titre :
Sujet :
Auteur :
Mots cls :
Commentaires :
Date de cration : 27/11/2007 10:44:00
N de rvision :
61
Dernier enregistr. le :27/08/2008 20:46:00
Dernier enregistrement par :
user
Temps total d'dition :
566 Minutes
Dernire impression sur : 27/08/2008 20:55:00
Tel qu' la dernire impression
Nombre de pages :
229
Nombre de mots :
36 857 (approx.)
Nombre de caractres :
202 717 (approx.)

Tamazight Textbook 2007

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Table of Contents

GETTING STARTED SHOPPING

Negation of The Conditional ................................................................................145

Nom du document : TAMAZIGHT Table of Contents 2007

Peace Corps has over forty years of experience in Morocco: your

Sounds you already know.

the normal English sound /d/

transcription character is not used often,

the normal English sound /f/

the normal English sound /g/ as in go

the normal English sound /h/ as in hi.

the normal English sound /k/

the normal English sound /l/

the normal English sound /m/

the normal English sound /n/

the long ee sound // as in meet

the long o sound // as in bone (this

transcription character is not used often,

the normal English sound /p/

flap similar to the Spanish r or to the

the normal English sound /s/

the normal English sound /t/

the long oo sound // as in food

the normal English sound /v/

the normal English sound /w/

the normal English sound /y/

the normal English sound /z/

the normal English sound /sh/ as in she

Some vowel combinations

the ee you as in see you later

These sounds are pronounced

like their non-emphatic

Like the English /k/ but pronounced further back

voice box; similar to the French r

approximated by pronouncing the a in fat with

This small character,

Words and syllables without vowels.

Why not just write sh.

Greet people and introduce yourself.

Dont be surprised if you are

How do people greet each other in

Greeting expressions and appropriate responses.

A: Peace be upon you

B: And peace be upon you

A: Good afternoon / evening

B: Good afternoon / evening

A: May God help you

B: And peace be with you

How are you?

How are you doing?

mayd dis tnit

Good, thanks be to God

Goodbye (I leave you in

Goodbye (You go in peace)

What is your name?

Your name is (m)

Your name is (f)

labas tnit l-xir. is thnna

isminu Chris. i kiy?

You (masculine singular)

You (feminine singular)

You (masculine plural)

You (feminine plural)

Your house (m, s)

. ( 9

' ( +9 F