Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| صباح الخير | sbah l-khir | |
| صباح النور | sbah n-nur | reply |
| بونجور | bonjour | from French |
The usual reply is صباح النور (sbah n-nur). In cities many Moroccans also greet each other in the morning with the French بونجور (bonjour).
What does it mean word for word?
صباح means 'morning' and الخير means 'the good', so صباح الخير is 'morning of goodness'. صباح النور is 'morning of light'.
Which one should you use?
صباح الخير suits anyone at any time before midday. صباح النور is the reply. بونجور is common in shops, offices and among city friends.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
صباح الخير is polite in every setting. For extra respect with elders, start with السلام عليكم and then add صباح الخير.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The phrase is the same across Morocco, but the share of French varies. بونجور is more frequent in Casablanca and Rabat than in small towns.
How does it change in a sentence?
صباح الخير does not change for a man or a woman. Questions that follow do: كي داير؟ (kidayer?) to a man and كي دايرة؟ (kidayra?) to a woman.
How do you pronounce it?
Darija drops the first vowel, so صباح الخير sounds like 'sbah l-khir' rather than the Standard Arabic 'sabah al-khayr'. The kh is a rough sound from the back of the throat.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Answering صباح الخير with the same words is understood, but صباح النور is the natural reply.
When do people say it?
Mornings in Morocco often start with mint tea, أتاي (atay), and offering a guest a glass is part of a warm welcome. Shopkeepers opening up are often greeted with الله يعاون (llah y3awen), 'may God help you'.
Did you know?
- Darija often drops short vowels, which is why صباح sounds like 'sbah' in Morocco but 'sabah' in Egypt or the Gulf.
- الله يخليك (llah ykhallik), literally 'may God keep you', is used in Morocco to mean both 'please' and 'thank you'.
Examples in context
- صباح الخير، لاباس عليك؟sbah l-khir, labas alik?Good morning, are you well?
- صباح الخير، بغيتي شي أتاي؟sbah l-khir, bghiti shi atay?Good morning, would you like some tea?
- صباح الخير، نعستي مزيان؟sbah l-khir, n3sti mzyan?Good morning, did you sleep well?
Example conversation
Khadija greets her neighbour Karim as he opens his shop in Fes.
- Khadijaصباح الخير.sbah l-khir.Good morning.
- Karimصباح النور، لاباس؟sbah n-nur, labas?Good morning, how are you?
- Khadijaلاباس الحمد لله. الله يعاون.labas l-hamdulillah. llah y3awen.Fine, thank God. Good luck with your work.
- Karimآمين، الله يخليك.amin, llah ykhallik.Amen, thank you.
