How to say “night” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “lil” and “lila”; in Algerian, “lila” and “lil”; in Tunisian, “lila” and “lil”.
In Moroccan Darija
lil ليل
A noun meaning “night (period)”.
ماكيجينيش نعاسّ ف ليل: “I can't sleep at night.”
lila ليلة
A noun meaning “a specific night”; “evening party, festive gathering”; “nocturnal ritual (Gnawa, brotherhoods)”.
مانعستش ديك ليلة: “I didn't sleep that night.”
In Algerian Darja
lila ليلة
A noun meaning “night”; “festive evening”.
البارح ما رقدتش الليلة كاملة.: “Last night I didn't sleep the whole night.”
lil ليل
A noun meaning “night”; “at night, during the night (adverbial)”.
ما رقدتش الليل كامل: “I didn't sleep all night.”
In Tunisian Derja
lila ليلة
A noun meaning “night”; “evening, eve of a celebration”.
ليلة البارح ما رقدتش بالكل: “Last night I didn't sleep at all.”
lil ليل
A noun meaning “night”; “evening, night-time”.
هاذي كان ما طاح علينا الليل , ما نعرفوش وين باش نباتوا .: “If night falls on us, we won't know where we'll spend the night.”