Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| تسنى | tsenna | |
| صبر | sber | be patient |
تسنى is the everyday command for waiting, as in تسنى شوية, 'wait a little'. صبر leans toward 'be patient' rather than a plain pause.
What does it mean word for word?
تسنى comes from a root meaning 'to expect' or 'to look forward to'. صبر is the same root used in Standard Arabic for patience.
Which one should you use?
Use تسنى to ask someone to pause for a moment. Use صبر when you are asking for patience over a longer wait, such as waiting for results or news.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both fit casual speech. صبر can sound slightly more serious or heartfelt, since it is often used with blessings like صبر، الله معاك.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The words are used the same way across Morocco.
How does it change in a sentence?
Add ي to speak to a woman in some forms: تسناي (tsennay) rather than تسنى، though many speakers keep تسنى unchanged for both.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress falls on the middle syllable: tse-NNA. The double n is held slightly longer than a single n.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Learners sometimes reach for the Standard Arabic انتظر (intazir), which Moroccans understand but rarely use in conversation.
When do people say it?
Moroccan daily life runs on a looser sense of time than many visitors expect, so تسنى شوية is heard constantly, from cafés to government offices.
Did you know?
- تسنى originally carries a sense of 'looking forward to', so asking someone to wait with this word can sound a little gentler than a plain command.
- صبر is the same word used across the Arabic-speaking world for the religious virtue of patience, not only for waiting in a queue.
Examples in context
- تسنى شوية، غادي نجي دابا.tsenna shwiya, ghadi nji daba.Wait a little, I'm coming now.
- صبر، الأمور غادي تتبدل.sber, lomur ghadi tetbeddel.Be patient, things will change.
- تسناني قدام الباب.tsennani qeddam lbab.Wait for me in front of the door.
Example conversation
Mounir calls his friend Driss, who is still getting ready to leave the house.
- Mounirواش رانا نمشيو؟wash rana nemshiw?Are we going?
- Drissتسنى شوية، مازال كنلبس.tsenna shwiya, mazal kanlbes.Wait a little, I'm still getting dressed.
- Mounirواخا، غير عجل شوية.wakha, ghir 3ajjel shwiya.Okay, just hurry a bit.
- Drissصبر، نوصل دابا.sber, nwsel daba.Be patient, I'll be there now.
