How to say “look” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “choufa”; in Algerian, “khazra” and “okhzor”; in Tunisian, “chouf”, “rah”, “nadhra” and “tokhzor”.
In Moroccan Darija
choufa شوفة
A noun meaning “look, way of looking”; “view, panorama”.
شفت فيا شوفة نقصة: “He gave me a contemptuous look.”
In Algerian Darja
khazra خزرة
A noun meaning “look, glance”; “long or sideways look”.
دير خزرة على الطاجين باش ما يتحرقش.: “Keep an eye on the tajine so it doesn't burn.”
okhzor اخزر
A verb meaning “look! (imperative)”; “to look, to watch”; “to glare at”.
أخزر واش راهو يدير: “Look what he's doing.”
In Tunisian Derja
chouf شوف
A verb meaning “look! (imperative)”; “to see, to look”; “to check, go and see”.
شوف شكون جا: “Look who came.”
rah راه
A particle meaning “look, note that (emphasis)”; “he is (currently)”.
راهو الوقت فات، يزّي من الحكي.: “Look, it's late, enough talking.”
nadhra نظرة
A noun meaning “look, glance”; “vision, point of view”; “insight, discernment”.
إعطيني نظرة على الورقة هاذي.: “Take a look at this paper for me.”
tokhzor تخزر
A verb meaning “you look / she looks”; “to seem, to look like”.
علاش تخزرلي هكا؟: “Why are you looking at me like that?”