Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| مسا الخير | msa lkhir | |
| مسا النور | msa nnur | reply |
مسا الخير greets someone in the evening, and the usual reply is مسا النور (msa nnur), 'evening of light'.
What does it mean word for word?
مسا means 'evening', a shortened Darija form of Standard Arabic مساء. الخير means 'the good', and النور means 'the light'.
Which one should you use?
مسا الخير is the greeting itself. مسا النور is specifically the reply, the same pattern as morning greetings in Darija.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
مسا الخير fits any setting, from greeting a shopkeeper to greeting an elder relative.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The greeting is the same across Morocco.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both phrases are fixed expressions that do not change for gender or number.
How do you pronounce it?
Darija shortens the vowel, so it sounds like 'msa lkhir' rather than the Standard Arabic 'masa al-khayr'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Replying with the same مسا الخير is understood, but Moroccans expect the paired reply مسا النور, just as with the morning greeting.
When do people say it?
Evening greetings in Morocco often lead into an invitation for tea, since offering a guest أتاي (atay), mint tea, in the evening is a common gesture of hospitality.
Did you know?
- The evening greeting follows the same pattern as the morning one, الخير for the greeting and النور for the reply, a consistent structure across Darija greetings.
- Offering mint tea, أتاي, in the evening is one of the most common ways Moroccans extend hospitality after a greeting.
Examples in context
- مسا الخير جميعا.msa lkhir jmi3a.Good evening everyone.
- مسا الخير، واش تناولتي العشا؟msa lkhir, wash tnawelti l3asha?Good evening, have you had dinner?
- مسا النور، تفضلو دخلو.msa nnur, tfeddlu dkhlu.Good evening, please come in.
Example conversation
Hassan greets his neighbour Latifa as she returns home in the evening in Meknes.
- Hassanمسا الخير لطيفة.msa lkhir Latifa.Good evening, Latifa.
- Latifaمسا النور حسن، لاباس؟msa nnur Hassan, labas?Good evening, Hassan, how are you?
- Hassanلاباس الحمد لله، تفضلي اشربي أتاي.labas lhamdulillah, tfeddli shrbi atay.Fine thank God, please come have some tea.
- Latifaشكرا بزاف، بغيت نرتاح شوية أول.shukran bzzaf, bghit nertah shwiya awwel.Thank you very much, I want to rest a bit first.
