Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| تصبح على خير | tsbah 'la khir | |
| ليلة سعيدة | lila saida | good night, a wish |
ليلة سعيدة (lila saida), 'happy night', is a simpler alternative, used the same way before someone goes to sleep.
What does it mean word for word?
تصبح على خير literally means 'may you wake up to goodness', linking the night's wish to the next morning. ليلة سعيدة joins ليلة, 'night', and سعيدة, 'happy'.
Which one should you use?
تصبح على خير is the more traditional, slightly warmer phrase, used within families. ليلة سعيدة is shorter and fits a quick goodnight to anyone.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are polite enough for any setting, including with elders, and neither has a separate formal version.
Is it said differently in some regions?
These phrases are used across Morocco without notable regional differences.
How does it change in a sentence?
تصبح على خير changes with the listener: tsbah to a man, tsbahi to a woman, tsbaho to a group.
How do you pronounce it?
The Darija pronunciation drops the first vowel of تصبح, unlike the fuller Standard Arabic form, so it sounds clipped, 'tsbah'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using تصبح على خير in the middle of the day instead of at bedtime is a clear mismatch, since the phrase is tied specifically to nighttime.
When do people say it?
Moroccan households often say تصبح على خير to each family member individually before everyone goes to their rooms, rather than as one group goodnight.
Did you know?
- تصبح على خير links the night directly to the next morning in its wording, wishing the person well for when they wake, not just while they sleep.
- Darija regularly drops short vowels that Standard Arabic keeps, which is why تصبح sounds clipped compared to its fuller classical form.
Examples in context
- تصبح على خير، نعاس مزيان.tsbah 'la khir, n3as mzyan.Good night, sleep well.
- ليلة سعيدة لكم جميعا.lila saida likom jmi3an.Good night to all of you.
- تصبحي على خير يا ماما.tsbahi 'la khir ya mama.Good night, mom.
Example conversation
Father Said says goodnight to his daughter Zineb before bed.
- Saidتصبحي على خير زينب.tsbahi 'la khir zineb.Good night, Zineb.
- Zinebتصبح على خير بابا.tsbah 'la khir baba.Good night, dad.
- Saidنعاسي مزيان، غدا فالمدرسة.n3asi mzyan, ghedda f-lmadrasa.Sleep well, tomorrow is school.
- Zinebواخا، ليلة سعيدة.wakha, lila saida.Okay, good night.
