Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مبروك | mabrouk | |
| تهانينا | tahanina | more formal |
مبروك covers every happy occasion in Morocco, from a wedding or a new baby to buying a car or passing an exam. تهانينا (tahanina) is more formal, used in writing or a more official message.
What does it mean word for word?
مبروك means 'blessed', from the same root as بركة, blessing. تهانينا comes from تهنئة, congratulation.
Which one should you use?
مبروك is what is actually said out loud for nearly any good news. تهانينا appears more in written cards or formal messages.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
مبروك is used at every level of formality in speech, while تهانينا leans toward writing or more careful speech.
Is it said differently in some regions?
مبروك is used the same way across Morocco and understood throughout the Arab world.
How does it change in a sentence?
مبروك does not change for gender or number, said the same way regardless of who is being congratulated.
How do you pronounce it?
مبروك is stressed on the second syllable, 'mab-ROOK'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Saying مبروك for bad news or a difficult situation would be a clear mismatch, since the word is tied strictly to good news.
When do people say it?
In Morocco, مبروك for something new, like a car or new clothes, is often followed by بصحتك, extending the congratulations into a wish for good health and use.
Did you know?
- مبروك shares its root with بركة, blessing, the same idea behind many Moroccan expressions of good fortune.
- The phrase is flexible enough to follow almost any good news, which is why it appears constantly across Moroccan social media captions.
Examples in context
- مبروك على الزواج!mabrouk ala z-zwaj!Congratulations on the wedding!
- مبروك عليك الباك.mabrouk alik l-bac.Congratulations on your baccalaureate.
- تهانينا للعروسين.tahanina l-l3arusin.Congratulations to the newlyweds.
Example conversation
Friends Salma and Houda celebrate Houda's new job.
- Salmaمبروك على الخدمة الجديدة!mabrouk ala lkhedma ljdida!Congratulations on the new job!
- Houdaالله يبارك فيك، فرحانة بزاف.llah ybarek fik, farhana bzzaf.Bless you, I am very happy.
- Salmaكنتي كتخدمي بزاف باش توصلي هنا.knti katkhdmi bzzaf bash twesli hna.You worked hard to get here.
- Houdaشكرا بزاف على الدعم ديالك.shukran bzzaf ala ddam dyalek.Thank you so much for your support.
