Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| واش كتهضر الإنجليزية؟ | wash katheder nglisiya? | to a man |
| واش كتهضري الإنجليزية؟ | wash kathedri nglisiya? | to a woman |
This question checks whether someone can communicate in English, as in asking a stranger for help or in a shop that serves tourists.
What does it mean word for word?
واش turns a sentence into a yes or no question. كتهضر means 'you speak', from the Darija verb هضر (heder), 'to speak' or 'to talk'. الإنجليزية is 'English'.
Which one should you use?
واش كتهضر؟ asks a man. واش كتهضري؟ asks a woman, adding ي to the verb, the usual present-tense pattern in Darija.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase works in both casual and polite situations, such as asking a stranger for directions.
Is it said differently in some regions?
هضر for 'to speak' is distinctly Moroccan. Other Arabic dialects commonly use different verbs, such as يحكي or يتكلم, for the same meaning.
How does it change in a sentence?
Darija marks the gender of the person addressed on present-tense verbs with ي for a woman, the same pattern as other 'you' questions.
How do you pronounce it?
كتهضر is said quickly: kat-HE-der, with the h as a deep throat sound.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Learners sometimes use تتكلم (tetkellem), understood but closer to Standard Arabic, instead of the distinctly Darija كتهضر.
When do people say it?
In Moroccan cities and tourist areas, many people speak some English, French or Spanish, so this question is a normal icebreaker with a stranger.
Did you know?
- The Darija verb هضر, 'to speak', is a word travelers quickly notice as distinctly Moroccan compared to other Arabic dialects.
- Many Moroccans speak more than two languages in daily life, often mixing Darija, French, Spanish or English depending on who they are talking to.
Examples in context
- واش كتهضري الفرنسية ولا الإنجليزية؟wash kathedri lfransiya wla nglisiya?Do you speak French or English?
- كنهضر شوية الإنجليزية.kanheder shwiya nglisiya.I speak a little English.
Example conversation
A tourist, Laura, asks a shopkeeper, Mounir, for help in a Marrakesh souk.
- Lauraسمح لي، واش كتهضر الإنجليزية؟smehli, wash katheder nglisiya?Excuse me, do you speak English?
- Mounirواخا، شوية، كيفاش نقدر نعاونك؟wakha, shwiya, kifash nqder n3awnek?Yes, a little, how can I help you?
- Lauraكنقلب على هدية صغيرة.kanqelleb 3la hdiya sghira.I'm looking for a small gift.
- Mounirواخا، تفضلي، عندي بزاف ديال الحوايج.wakha, tfeddli, 3andi bzzaf dyal lhwayej.Sure, come in, I have lots of things.
