Arabic, along with Berber, is one of Morocco’s two official languages, although it is the Moroccan dialect of Arabic, namely Darija, meaning “everyday/colloquial language”; that is spoken or understood, frequently as a second language, by the majority of the population (about 85% of the total population).
Frequent question, why does Morocco speak Arabic? The Arabic dialect in Morocco is called Moroccan Arabic or Moroccan Darija. It has been heavily influenced by the Berber languages (Amazigh) and to a lesser extent by French and Spanish. Morocco was a French colony before, and because of it, most of the Moroccan people are fluent in French.
As many you asked, does Morocco still speak French? It is considered a prestige language in Morocco, and is often used for business, diplomacy, and government, serving as a lingua franca with non-Moroccans and non-Arabs. … According to the OIF, 33% of Moroccans speak French, among them 13.5% are fully francophone (fluent speakers) and 19.5% partially francophone.
Also, what are the top three languages spoken in Morocco?
- Arabic. The Standard and Classical forms of Arabic are among Morocco‘s prestige languages.
- Berber.
- French.
- English And Spanish.
Similarly, when did Morocco speak French? For decades, Morocco was a province of France. Before 1912 (when Morocco gained its independence), French was the official language for everything (business, school, diplomacy, etc.) except religious purposes where Arabic was used. French is the second most spoken language, with 33% of the population speaking it.From its independence until the year 2000, Morocco opted for Arabization as a policy, in an attempt of replacing French with Arabic. By the end of the 1980s, Arabic was the dominant language in education, although French was still in use in many important domains.
How did the Arabic language spread to Morocco?
Hilalian, or Bedouin, dialects were introduced to Morocco following the settlement of several Hilalian and Mâqilian tribes in western Morocco brought by the Berber Almohad king Yaqub Mansur.
Where is French spoken in Morocco?
French is an official language of Morocco, but is more widely spoken in the southern regions of the country. Arabic and Berber are spoken throughout, and you’ll hear Spanish in the northern region towards Tangier (which is the closest Moroccan city to Spain).
How do you say hello in Morocco?
Greetings: As-salaam Alaykum —– (literally) Peace be with you – interchangeable for “hello” Walaykum As-salaam —- response. Sbah l’kheir —– Good morning.
How many languages do Moroccans speak?
In Morocco there are two official languages, Arabic and Amazigh, which are spoken in the streets and villages of Morocco. Classical Arabic, more commonly known as Literary Arabic, is the administrative language of the country. Generally speaking, you will hear Moroccan Arabic spoken in the streets.
Is English spoken in Morocco?
English is an emerging language in Morocco, especially in larger cities. English speakers abound in Morocco. … And most taxi drivers, even in larger cities, speak very little (if any) English. So, though there are English speakers to be found, English still is not one of the most common languages in Morocco.
How many Moroccans speak Spanish?
More than 22,000 Moroccan Spanish speakers live in Morocco’s southern provinces, which Spain colonized from 1884 to 1975. The study emphasized that Spanish is the fourth most-spoken language in the world with 577 million Spanish speakers, including 480 million who speak it as their mother tongue.
What dialect of Arabic is spoken in Morocco?
Moroccan Arabic, also known as Darija, is the dialect of Arabic spoken in Morocco. It is very similar to the dialects spoken in Algeria, Mauritania, and Tunisia, but differs greatly from dialects spoken further east, in countries such as Egypt, Lebanon, and the Gulf countries.
How long did France colonize Morocco?
The French conquest of Morocco began in 1907 and continued until 1934. By the Treaty of Fez of 1912, France gained a protectorate over Morocco and spent the next two decades taking control of the country.
How did the French influence Morocco?
The laws of Morocco were influenced by the French government. Moroccan laws are written based off of French laws and laws that apply to the Islamic religion (Morocco, CIA). All in all, French and Spanish colonization has left a very big impact on Morocco.
When did the Arabic language start?
Linguists generally believe that “Old Arabic” (a collection of related dialects that constitute the precursor of Arabic) first emerged around the 1st century CE.