What does it mean word for word?
زلزال is shared with Standard Arabic and most Arabic dialects, built on a root suggesting shaking or trembling, repeated for emphasis.
Which one should you use?
There is one everyday word for earthquake in Darija, used the same way across registers.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
زلزال is used at every level, from casual talk to official news reports.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The word is the same across Morocco and across the Arabic-speaking world.
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural زلازل (zalazil) is used for more than one earthquake, as in كاين زلازل كتر من مرة, 'there have been earthquakes more than once'.
How do you pronounce it?
The word repeats a similar sound twice: zel-ZAL.
When do people say it?
Morocco was struck by a severe earthquake near Al Haouz, in the High Atlas region, in September 2023, a disaster still referred to often in the news and daily conversation.
Did you know?
- The word زلزال repeats a similar root sound twice, a pattern common to several Arabic words describing violent shaking.
- The September 2023 earthquake near Al Haouz was the deadliest in Morocco's modern history, striking villages in the High Atlas mountains.
Examples in context
- ضرب الزلزال منطقة الحوز.dreb zzelzal mentaqat lhawz.The earthquake struck the Al Haouz region.
- حسينا بالزلزال فالليل.hassina b zzelzal f llil.We felt the earthquake at night.
- كانت الناس خايفة من الزلزال.kanet nnas khayfa men zzelzal.People were afraid of the earthquake.
Example conversation
Two friends, Khalid and Omar, remember the night of a strong earthquake.
- Khalidواش حسيتي بالزلزال هاد الليلة؟wash hssiti b zzelzal had llila?Did you feel the earthquake last night?
- Omarواخا، حسينا بيه بزاف هنا.wakha, hssina bih bzzaf hna.Yes, we felt it a lot here.
- Khalidالحمد لله ماكاينش شي ضرر.lhamdulillah ma kaynsh shi dder.Thank God there was no damage.
- Omarالحمد لله، بصح خفنا بزاف.lhamdulillah, basah khfna bzzaf.Thank God, but we got very scared.
