How to say “maybe” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “yemken” and “imken”; in Algerian, “balek”, “balak”, “yemken”, “wa9ila” and “w9il”; in Tunisian, “yemken” and “balkchi”.
In Moroccan Darija
yemken يمكن
An adverb meaning “maybe, perhaps”; “it is possible that”.
يمكن مرة أخرى: “Maybe another time.”
imken إمكن
An adverb meaning “maybe, perhaps”; “it is possible that”; “is it possible? (polite request)”.
إمكن نشوفك غدا: “I might see you tomorrow.”
In Algerian Darja
balek بالك
An expression meaning “maybe, it may be that”; “rod balek: be careful”; “fma balek: all the more so”.
ما تستناهش، بالك ما يجيش اليوم: “Don't wait for him, he may not come today.”
balak بلاك
An adverb meaning “maybe, perhaps”; “it may be that, in case”; “watch out, beware”.
yemken يمكن
An adverb meaning “maybe, perhaps”; “it is possible that”.
يمكن يجي غدوا: “Maybe he'll come tomorrow.”
wa9ila واقيلا
An adverb meaning “maybe, probably”; “it may be that”; “no doubt, probably”.
واقيلا يجي غدوة: “He'll maybe come tomorrow.”
w9il وقيل
An adverb meaning “maybe, probably”; “it seems, I think”.
وقيل راهو نايم، ما ردّش: “Maybe he's asleep, he didn't answer.”
In Tunisian Derja
yemken يمكن
An adverb meaning “maybe, perhaps”; “it is possible (that)”.
يمكن نتأخّر شويّة الليلة: “I might be a little late tonight.”
balkchi بلكشي
An adverb meaning “maybe, perhaps”; “in case, lest”.
بلكشي يجي اليوم، استناه شوية: “He might come today, wait for him a bit.”