How to say “desert” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “s7ra”; in Algerian, “sahra”; in Tunisian, “5lè”, “sa7ra” and “sahra”.
In Moroccan Darija
s7ra صحرا
A noun meaning “desert”; “the Sahara, the South”.
مشينا للصحرا ونعسنا فالخيمة: “We went to the desert and slept in the tent.”
In Algerian Darja
sahra صحرا
A noun meaning “desert”; “the Algerian South, the Sahara”; “very hot or remote place”.
خويا راه يخدم في الصحرا، يجي كل شهر.: “My brother works in the Sahara, he comes home every month.”
In Tunisian Derja
5lè خلا
A noun meaning “deserted place, empty expanse”; “open countryside, outdoors”.
خلا و قفار: “Nothing but desert and barren land.”
sa7ra صحراء
A noun meaning “desert”; “the Sahara, the South”.
مشينا للصحراء في دوز.: “We went to the desert, in Douz.”
sahra صحرا
A noun meaning “desert”; “empty, deserted place (figurative)”.
دنيا صحرا صحرا , شي اصفر و شويّة بنيات بيوض !: “Nothing but desert as far as the eye can see, some yellow and a few small white houses!”