Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| نتا | nta | masculine |
| نتي | nti | feminine |
For a woman, the same word becomes نتي (nti). Both are used constantly, often added for emphasis even when the verb already shows who is meant.
What does it mean word for word?
نتا and نتي descend from the same Arabic root as Standard Arabic أنت, shortened and reshaped as is typical of Darija.
Which one should you use?
نتا and نتي differ only by the gender of the person being addressed. There is no separate polite form for 'you' in Darija.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The pronoun itself does not carry formality. Politeness comes from tone, added blessings or using a title instead of the pronoun with someone very senior.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The pronouns are used the same way across Morocco. Algerian Darija uses the same forms, نتا and نتي.
How does it change in a sentence?
Darija has no formal 'you', unlike French 'vous'. The plural for a group, regardless of gender, is نتوما (ntuma).
How do you pronounce it?
نتا rhymes with 'star' minus the r, while نتي ends with a clear long i sound.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using نتا with a woman or نتي with a man is a common mistake for learners, since the gender ending changes the whole word.
When do people say it?
Darija speakers often drop the pronoun entirely when the verb ending already shows who is meant, using نتا or نتي mainly for emphasis or contrast.
Did you know?
- Darija kept the masculine and feminine forms of 'you' from older Arabic but shortened the vowels, which is why نتا and نتي sound quicker than Standard Arabic.
- Darija has no formal 'you' at all, so politeness toward an elder is shown through tone and extra blessings rather than a different pronoun.
Examples in context
- نتا فين كنتي؟nta fin kunti?Where were you (to a man)?
- نتي شنو رايك؟nti shnu rayek?What do you think (to a woman)?
- نتوما غاديين فين؟ntuma ghadiin fin?Where are you (plural) going?
Example conversation
Brahim asks his sister Asma where she wants to eat tonight.
- Brahimنتي شنو بغيتي تاكلي؟nti shnu bghiti takli?What do you want to eat?
- Asmaنتا شنو رايك؟nta shnu rayek?What do you think?
- Brahimبغيت بيتزا، ونتي؟bghit pitza, w nti?I want pizza, and you?
- Asmaواخا، نتا خايرتي مزيان.wakha, nta khayrti mezyan.Okay, you chose well.
