Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| توحشتك | twhashtek | |
| توحشتك بزاف | twhashtek bzzaf | very much |
| توحشناك | twhashnak | we miss you |
To say 'I miss you a lot', add بزاف and say توحشتك بزاف. When a whole family misses someone, they say توحشناك (twhashnak), 'we miss you'.
What does it mean word for word?
توحشت means 'I missed' or 'I felt lonely for', and the ending ك means 'you'. The root carries the idea of loneliness and emptiness.
Which one should you use?
توحشتك is the everyday phrase. توحشتك بزاف is warmer and very common in messages. توحشناك speaks for a group.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase is personal and used with family, friends and partners. It does not change for politeness.
Is it said differently in some regions?
Algerians use the same توحشتك. Egyptians and Levantines say وحشتني instead, with the grammar reversed, and Moroccans understand it from television but rarely say it.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb follows the person who misses: توحشتك is 'I miss you', توحشناك is 'we miss you'. The ending ك is the same for a man and a woman. To miss him or her, change the ending: توحشتو (twhashtu) and توحشتها (twhashtha).
How do you pronounce it?
The word starts with t followed directly by w, 'twhash-tek', with no vowel between them. The h is a breathy sound made in the throat.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using the Egyptian وحشتني marks you as a foreigner in Morocco. Say توحشتك, and remember it already contains 'you', so no extra word is needed.
When do people say it?
Many Moroccan families have relatives working in Europe, and توحشتك بزاف is one of the most common lines in their calls and voice messages. The usual answer is حتى أنا توحشتك (hta ana twhashtek), 'I miss you too'.
Did you know?
- توحشتك comes from the same Arabic root as وحش, 'wild beast', a root tied to wilderness and loneliness.
- Moroccan and Egyptian Arabic build 'I miss you' in opposite directions: Moroccans say 'I missed you', Egyptians say 'you made me feel lonely'.
Examples in context
- توحشتك بزاف آ خويا.twhashtek bzzaf a khuya.I miss you a lot, brother.
- توحشتك من نهار مشيتي.twhashtek men nhar mshiti.I have missed you since the day you left.
- الوالدة توحشاتك بزاف.l-walida twhashatek bzzaf.Mom misses you a lot.
Example conversation
Ayoub calls his sister Salma, who is studying abroad.
- Ayoubتوحشتك بزاف آ سلمى.twhashtek bzzaf a Salma.I miss you a lot, Salma.
- Salmaحتى أنا توحشتك. كي دايرة الوالدة؟hta ana twhashtek. kidayra l-walida?I miss you too. How is mom?
- Ayoubلاباس، ديما كتهضر عليك.labas, dima kat-hder alik.She is fine, she always talks about you.
- Salmaغادي نرجع فالعطلة إن شاء الله.ghadi nrje' f l-otla inshallah.I will come back for the holidays, God willing.
