Tashelhit phrasebook

Tashelhit or Tachelhit or Shilha (also known as Tasusit) is a Berber language native to Shilha people. It is spoken by more than eight million people in south western Morocco. It is spoken in an area covering c. 100,000 square kilometres, comprising the western part of the High Atlas mountains and the regions to the south up to the Draa River, including the Anti-Atlas and the alluvial basin of the Sous River. The largest urban centres in the area are the coastal city of Agadir (population over 400,000) and the towns of Guelmim, Taroudant, Demnate, Tiznit and Ouarzazate.

Pronunciation guide

Tashelhit has been written with several different alphabets. Historically, the Arabic script has been dominant. Usage of the Latin script emerged in the late 19th century. More recently there has been an initiative to write Tashelhit in Tifinagh. In this phrasebook we are going to use the latin script to make it easier for new learners.

Vowels

Tashelhit has three vowels: a, i, u. The vowel e is used only as a schwa between two consecutive Letters (we're going to see that in an example), here are the vowels :

A - ah (Like the "a" in "father")

I - ee (Like the "ee" in "see")

U - oo (Like the "oo" in "doom")

Consonants

The following consonants are pronounced the same as in English:

; b

like the "b" in "bay" ; d like the "d" in "dog" ; f like the "f" in "fun" ; g like the "g" in "get" ; h like the "h" in "hen" ; j like the "j" in "jam" ; k like the "k" in "kit" ; l like the "l" in "lump" ; s like the "s" in "sun" ; t like the "t" in "tip" ; ɣ like the french "r" in "rouge" (red in french) ; w like the "w" in "win" ; y like the "y" in "yellow" ; z like the "z" in "zebra" ; n like the "n" in "numb"

; m

like the "m" in "mop".

; x

like the spanish "j"

;c

like the sh in "ship"

;ḍ

thick English d in "__d__ork" or "__d__oor". Emphatic d

;ɛ

‘ayn (voiced equivalent of ḥ, similar to English onomatopoeia for retching)

;ḥ

arabic ḥ in Mu__ḥ__ammad (stronger than h, similar to English onomatopoeia for being cold)

;ṣ

thick English s as in "sold". Emphatic s

;ṭ

thick English "t" in "toll". Emphatic t

;ẓ

thick English "z" in "Zorro". Emphatic z If you still have difficulties with the letters or pronunciation, you can read the whole article about Berber Latin alphabet in Wikipedia. :wikipedia:Berber_Latin_alphabet

Phrase list

Basics

; Good Morning

Tifawin ; Hello. (informal) Ssalam (most used one) / Ssalamu Ɛalaykum / Azul ; How are you? Manik a nn-tgit? ; Fine, thank you. Bixir, ak isrbḥ rbbi ; What is your name? Mad ak ism? (male) / Mad am ism? (female) ; My name i__s__ ______ . Ism inu ___ / Ism iyi ___. ; Please. I rbbi ; Thank you. Tanmmirt. ; Welcome. Brrk. ; Yes. Yah. ; No. Uhu. ; Excuse me. (getting attention) Surf iyi / Samḥ iyi / Samḥ as ; Goodbye A kk-iɛawn rbbi / A kk-yaws rbbi ; Goodbye (informal) Ha-k-inn (male) / Ha-km-inn (female) ; I don't speak tashelhit [well]. Ur bahra ssnɣ taclḥit ; Do you speak English? Is tssnt tanglizit? / Ar tsawalt tanglizit? ; Is there someone here who speaks English? Is illa ɣid kra n yan issnn tnglizit? ; Help me Aws iyi / Ɛawn iyi ; Look out! Ɛndak! ; Good morning. Tifawin ; Good evening. Timkliwin ; Good night Timnsiwin ; I don't understand what you are saying. Ur ssinɣ ma ttinit. ; Where is the toilet? Mani ɣ illa toilette?

Problems

; Leave me alone.

Ajj iyi waḥdu iyi / itti nn gigi / fk iyi ttisaɛ ; Don't touch me! Ad iyi ur tslit (pronounced: Ayyur tslit) ; I'll call the police. Rad ɣrɣ i lbulis ; Police! Bulis! ; Stop! Thief! Bidd! Amxxar! ; I need your help. Ḥtajjaɣ-k ad yi tawst. ; I'm lost. Jliɣ ; I lost my bag. Ijla yi ssak inu ; I lost my wallet. Ijla yi lbẓḍam inu ; I'm sick. hrcɣ / uḍnɣ ; I need a doctor. Ixṣṣa yi uḍbib ; Can I use your phone? Is ẓḍarɣ ad stɛmlɣ ttilifun nnk?

Numbers

; 1

Yan ; 2 Sin ; 3 Kraḍ ; 4 Kkuẓ ; 5 Smmus ; 6 Sḍiṣ ; 7 Sa ; 8 Tam ; 9 Tẓa ; 10 Mraw ; 11 Yan d mraw ; 12 Sin d mraw ; 13 Kraḍ d mraw ; 14 Kkuẓ d mraw ; 15 Smmus d mraw ; 16 Sḍiṣ d mraw ; 17 Sa d mraw ; 18 Tam d mraw ; 19 Tẓa d mraw ; half Azgn ; less Qell ; more Uggar

Time

; now

Ɣilad ; later Ar kiɣ ; before Qbl ; morning Taṣbḥit ; afternoon Tazdwit ; evening Tadggʷat ; night Yiḍ / Diyiḍ

Clock time

; one o'clock AM

Lwḥda n diyiḍ ; two o'clock AM Jjuj n diyiḍ ; noon Azal ; one o'clock PM Lwḥda n tdggʷat ; two o'clock PM Jjuj n tdggʷat ; midnight Tuẓẓumt n diyiḍ

Duration

; _____ minute(s)

ddqiqt / ddqiqa (plr) ; _____ hour(s) tassaɛt / tassaɛin (plr) ; _____ day(s) wass / ussan (plr) ; _____ week(s) imalass / imalassn (plr) ; _____ month(s) wayyur / iyyirn (plr) ; _____ year(s) usggʷas / isggʷasn (plr)

Days

; today

Ɣassad ; yesterday Iḍgam ; tomorrow Azkka Ṣbaḥ ; this week Imalass ad ; last week Imalass ad lli izrin ; next week Imalass lli d yuckan

; Sunday

Lḥdd ; Monday Ltnin ; Tuesday Ṭṭlaṭa ; Wednesday Lɛrba ; Thursday Lxmis ; Friday Ljamɛ ; Saturday Ssbt

Months

; January

Yanayr ; February Fibrayr ; March Mars ; April Abril ; May May ; June Yunyu ; July Yulyuz ; August Ɣuct ; September Cutanbir ; October Uktubr ; November Nuwanbir ; December Dijanbir

Colors

; black

asggan ; white umlil ; red azuggaɣ ; blue azṛqi (some times we use "azgzaw" also to mean blue) ; yellow awraɣ ; green azgzaw ; orange altcin

Transportation

Bus and train

; How much is a ticket to _____?

Mnck ad tskar tawriqt s _____? ; One ticket to _____, please. I rbbi bbi yat tuwriqt s _____. ; Where does this train/bus go? Mani ira ttran/ṭṭubis ad? ; Where is the train/bus to _____? Mani ɣ illa ttran/ṭṭubis lli ttddan s _____? ; Does this train/bus stop in _____? Is ar isras ttran/ṭṭubis ad ɣ _____? ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? Managu a rad izzigiz ttran/ṭṭubis lli ttddan s _____? ; When will this train/bus arrive in _____? Managu a rad ilkm ttran/ṭṭubis ad s _____?

Directions

; How do I get to _____ ?

Man aɣaras a rad kkɣ iɣ riɣ _____ ? ; ...the train station? ...lagar n ttran? ; ...the bus station? ...lblaka n ṭubis? ; ...the airport? ...lmaṭar? ; ...downtown? ...tuẓẓumt n lmdint? ; ...the youth hostel? ...Luṭil n iɛrrimn? ; ...the _____ hotel? ...Luṭil n _____? ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? ...Lqunṣulya n Mirikan/Kanaḍa/Nngliz? ; Where are there a lot of... Mani ɣ llan tugtt n... ; ...hotels? ...luṭilat? ; ...restaurants? ...riṣṭuyat? ; ...bars? ...lbiran? ; ...sites to see? ...idɣarn ifulkin ma nẓrra ? ; Can you show me on the map? Is tẓḍart ad iyi tmlt ɣ Lxariṭa? ; street tsukt ; Turn left. Ḍuwr f ufasi. ; Turn right. Ḍuwr f uẓlmaḍ. ; left afasi ; right aẓlmaḍ ; straight ahead nnican ; towards the _____ nnawaḥi n _____ ; past the _____ iɣ tzrit _____ ; before the _____ qbl ad tlkmt s _____ ; north iẓẓlmḍ ; south iffus ; east lqblt ; west tagut

Taxi

; Taxi!

Taksi! ; Take me to _____, please. Awi iyi s _____, Ɛafak. ; How much does it cost to get to _____? S mnck as rad iyi tsslkmt s _____? ; Take me there, please. Awi iyi s ɣinn, Ɛafak.

Lodging

; Do you have any rooms available?

Is xwan darun kra n ccumbṛat? ; How much is a room for one person/two people? Mnck ad tskar ccumbṛ i yan/sin middn? ; Does the room come with... Is illa ɣ ccumbṛ ... ; ...bedsheets? ...tfrṣaḍin? ; ...a bathroom? ...bitlma? ; ...a telephone? ...ttilifun? ; ...a TV? ...ttlfaza? ; May I see the room first? Is ẓḍarɣ ad zwar ẓrɣ ccumbṛ manik ad tga ? ; Do you have anything quieter? Is ẓḍarɣ ad darun afɣ kra yaḍn nna ɣ ur illi ṣṣḍaɛ? ; ...bigger? ...imqqurn? ; ...cleaner? ...iɣusn? ; ...cheaper? ...irxṣn? ; OK, I'll take it. Waxxa, rad t awiɣ. ; I will stay for _____ night(s). Rad gis ɣumuɣ _____ waḍan. ; Can you suggest another hotel? Is tẓḍart ad iyi tnɛtt kra n luṭil yaḍn? ; Is breakfast/supper included? Is gis ikcm lfḍur? ; What time is breakfast/supper? Managu aɣ ittili lfḍur? ; Please clean my room. Irbbi, sɣus ccumbṛ. ; Can you wake me at _____? Is tẓḍart ad iyi tsnkrt ɣ _____? ; I want to check out. Riɣ ad ẓrɣ.

Money

; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

Is a ttamẓt ddular n Mirikan/Ustralya/Kanaḍa? ; Do you accept British pounds? Is a ttamẓt iqariḍn n Nngliz? ; Do you accept euros? Is a ttamẓt luru? ; Do you accept credit cards? Is a ttqbalt ad xlsɣ s lakarṭ? ; Can you change money for me? Is tẓḍart ayi tsbadlt iqariḍn? ; Where can I get money changed? Mani ɣ ẓḍarɣ ad sbadlɣ iqariḍn?

Eating

; A table for one person/two people, please.

Yat ṭṭbla i yan/sin middn, ak isrbḥ rbbi. ; Can I look at the menu, please? Is ẓḍarɣ ad ẓrɣ lmenu, ak isrbḥ rbbi. ; Can I look in the kitchen? Is ẓḍarɣ ad ẓrɣ anwal? ; I'm a vegetarian. Ur a cttaɣ tifiyi. ; I don't eat pork. Ur a cttaɣ lḥlluf. ; I don't eat beef. Ur a cttaɣ afunas. ; Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) Is tufit ad as ur tsuggt lidam? ; fixed-price meal tirmt iṭṭafn yan watig ; breakfast lfḍur ; lunch imkli ; supper awzwit ; dinner imnsi ;tea (meal) atay ; soup azkkif ; I want _____. Riɣ _____. ; I want a dish containing _____. Riɣ kra n tirmt a gis yili _____. ; chicken afullus ; beef afunas ; fish aslm ; cheese lfrmaj ; eggs tiglay ; salad claḍa ; vegetables lxḍrt ; bread aɣrum ; noodles cɛriyya ; rice rruz ; lentil tilintit ; May I have a glass of _____? Is tẓḍart a iyi tfkt yan lkass n _____? ; May I have a bottle of _____? Is tẓḍart a iyi tfkt yat tqrɛit n _____? ; coffee lqhwa ; tea (drink) atay ; juice ɛaṣir ; water aman ; beer birra ; red/white wine aman waḍil azuggaɣ/umlil ; May I have some _____? Is tẓḍart ayi tfkt imik n _____? ; salt tisnt ; Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server) Surf yi, a gʷma? ; I'm finished. Kmlɣ ; It was delicious. Immim lxir ad. ; Please clear the plates. I rbbi smun irukutn.

Bars

; Do you serve alcohol?

Is illa darun ccrab? ; Is there table service? Is tlla kran ṭṭbla ixwan? ; A beer/two beers, please. Yat lbirra/snat lbirrat, ak isrbḥ rbbi. ; A glass of red/white wine, please. Yan lkass n aman waḍil azuggaɣ/umlil, ak isrbḥ rbbi. ; A bottle, please. Yat tqrɛit, ak isrbḥ rbbi. ; whiskey wiski ; vodka vudka ; water aman ; orange juice lɛaṣir n llimun ; Coke (soda) Kuka kula ; Do you have any bar snacks? Is darun snakat? ; One more, please. Zaydiyi, ak isrbḥ rbbi. ; Another round, please. Yan ṭṭrḥ yaḍn, ak isrbḥ rbbi. ; When is closing time? Manag ad tqqnm? ; Cheers! Bsaḥtk

Shopping

; Do you have this in my size?

Is tlla tagadda niw? ; How much is this? Mnck ay skar? ; That's too expensive. Iɣla lxir ad ; Would you take _____? Is ra dari tamẓt _____? ; expensive iɣla ; cheap irxṣ ; I can't afford it. ur ẓḍarɣ ast sɣ. ; I don't want it. ur tt riɣ. ; You're cheating me. Trit ad flli tnṣbt. ; I'm not interested. Wa ur tt riɣ uu. ; OK, I'll take it. Waxxa, rast awiɣ ; Can I have a bag? Is dark kran lmikka? ; I need... Ḥtajjaɣ... ; ...toothpaste. ...ḍuntifris. ; ...a toothbrush. ...ccita n wuxsan ; ...soap. ...taṣṣabunt. ; ...shampoo. ...ccampwan. ; ...medicine. ... asafar. ; ...a razor. ...riẓwar. ; ...batteries. ...lbatri. ; ...paper. ...tawriqt. ; ...a pen. ...stilu. ; ...English-language books. ...idlisn n tanglizit. ; ...an English-English dictionary. ...imawaln n tanglizt s tanglizt.

Driving

; I want to rent a car.

Riɣ ad kruɣ kra n ṭṭanubil. ; Can I get insurance? Is ẓḍarɣ ad skrɣ lasiranṣ? ; stop (on a street sign) bidd ; one way yan uɣaras ; no parking war lparking ; petrol liṣanṣ ; diesel lmaẓuṭ

Authority

; I haven't done anything wrong.

Ur skrɣ ma ihrcn. ; It was a misunderstanding. Is ka ur nttfihim. ; Where are you taking me? Ma sri trit? ; Am I under arrest? Is ttyamaẓɣ ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. Giɣ Amirikani/Anglizi/Akanaḍi. ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. Riɣ ad sawlɣ s uqunṣul n Marikan/Nngliz/Kanaḍa. ; I want to talk to a lawyer. Riɣ ad sawlɣ s lmuḥami. ; Can I just pay a fine now? Is ẓḍarɣ ad ka xlṣɣ lxṭiyt ɣilad?