Greetings
السلام / Salam
sa-LAM
Hello. The everyday greeting, shortened from as-salamu alaykum. Casablancans then answer half in Darija and half in French without noticing.
لاباس / Labas
la-BAS
'All good?' — both the question and the answer. The standard opening exchange, and repeating it back is the correct reply.
Daily life
بزاف / Bezzaf
bez-ZAF
'Too much' or 'a lot'. The single most useful word in a souk, a taxi, or any negotiation.
طاكسي صغير / Taxi sghir
TAK-si s-GHEER
The small red petit taxi, metered and shared. In Casablanca the driver will pick up other passengers going the same way — that is normal, not a scam.
كارت دو سيجور / Carte de séjour
kart duh say-ZHOOR
The residence card, formally the carte d'immatriculation. Applied for at your local police prefecture and required for stays beyond three months.
شهادة السكنى / Attestation de résidence
at-tes-ta-SYON duh ray-zee-DONCE
Proof that you live where you say you do, issued by the local authority (moqata'a). It blocks more residence-card files than any other document.
Culture
الدار البيضاء / Dar el Beida
dar el BAY-da
'The white house' — the city's Arabic name. Casablanca is the Spanish translation, and both are in daily use.
Work
درهم قابل للتحويل / Dirham convertible
dir-HAM kon-ver-TEEBL
A convertible-dirham bank account — money that can be sent back out of Morocco. An ordinary resident dirham account cannot. This distinction decides your financial life here.
Social
مزيان / Mezyan
mez-YAN
'Good', 'fine', 'nice'. Used constantly, for food, weather, plans and people.
إن شاء الله / Inchallah
in-sha-ALLAH
'God willing'. Genuinely devotional, and also the polite way to leave a commitment open. Reading it as a firm yes is the classic newcomer error.
Emergency
19 / 15 / 150
—
19 for police in the city, 15 for an ambulance, 150 for the protection civile (fire and rescue). 177 is the Gendarmerie Royale, which covers the roads outside town.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.