How to say “ask” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “s9sa”; in Algerian, “ns9sik”, “sa9si”, “sal” and “sewwel”; in Tunisian, “tlab”, “s2el” and “sa9sa”.
In Moroccan Darija
s9sa سقصى
A verb meaning “to ask a question”; “to inquire, find out”.
سقصيتو على الطريق ديال المحطة: “I asked him the way to the station.”
In Algerian Darja
ns9sik نسقسيك
A verb meaning “I ask you”; “I inquire with you”.
حبيت نسقسيك على الدار الجديدة: “I wanted to ask you about the new house.”
sa9si سقسي
A verb meaning “to ask, pose a question”; “to inquire”.
سقسي باباك إذا يخليك تروح: “Ask your father if he'll let you go.”
sal سال
A verb meaning “to ask, to ask after someone”; “to be owed money”; “to flow (liquid)”.
سال عليك بابا البارح: “Dad asked after you yesterday.”
sewwel سول
A verb meaning “to ask a question”; “to ask after someone”; “to request”.
روح سوّل عليه في الحانوت.: “Go ask about him at the shop.”
In Tunisian Derja
tlab طلب
A verb meaning “to ask for, to request”; “to call (on the phone)”; “request, application (noun: talab)”.
طلب منّي نعاونو في الخدمة: “He asked me to help him at work.”
s2el سال
A verb meaning “to ask, ask a question”; “to ask after (s2el 3la)”; “to be owed money by someone”.
ياخي ولّى يسال علينا ... و عليه ؟: “Well, well, he's started asking after us... and what about him?”
sa9sa سقصى
A verb meaning “to ask, to ask a question”; “to ask after someone”; “to inquire about”.
سقصيت عليك البارح: “I asked after you yesterday.”