How to say “when” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “mli”, “fo9ach”, “imta”, “w9tach”, “fw9tach” and “mlli”; in Algerian, “ki”, “wa9tach”, “wenta” and “fouqach”; in Tunisian, “ki”, “wa9tech”, “wa9teh”, “wa9telli” and “emtin”.
In Moroccan Darija
mli ملي
A conjunction meaning “when, as”; “since (time)”; “since, given that”.
fo9ach فوقاش
An adverb meaning “when? (question)”; “when (indirect question)”.
فوقاش مشيتي لتما: “When did you go there?”
imta إمتا
An adverb meaning “when? (question)”; “since when, from when”; “when (in questions)”.
إمتا وقع هادشي: “When did this happen?”
w9tach وقتاش
An adverb meaning “when? (interrogative)”.
وقتاش غادي تسالي للخدمة؟: “When are you finishing work?”
fw9tach فوقتاش
An adverb meaning “when? (interrogative)”; “at what time”.
فوقتاش غادي ترجع للدار؟: “When are you going back home?”
mlli ماللي
A conjunction meaning “when, whenever”; “since (the time when)”; “since, given that”.
ماللي كنت صغير كنت ساكن ف كازا.: “When I was little, I lived in Casablanca.”
In Algerian Darja
ki كي
A conjunction meaning “when, at the time that”; “like, as”; “how”.
كي تجي عيطلي.: “Call me when you arrive.”
wa9tach وقتاش
An adverb meaning “when? (interrogative)”; “at what time (indirect question)”.
وقتاش تولّي للدار؟: “When are you coming home?”
wenta وينتا
An adverb meaning “when? (interrogative)”; “when, at the time that”.
fouqach فوقاش
An adverb meaning “when? at what time?”; “since when (with men)”.
فوقاش راك راجع للدار؟: “When are you coming back home?”
In Tunisian Derja
ki كي
A conjunction meaning “when, whenever”; “like, as”.
كي نوصل نكلمك: “When I arrive, I'll call you.”
wa9tech وقتاش
An adverb meaning “when? (interrogative)”; “when, at the time that”.
ولّاهي موجود وقتاش تحبّ نجيب لكم: “I swear it's available, when do you want me to bring it to you?”
wa9teh وقتاه
An adverb meaning “when? (interrogative)”.
وقتاه تحل البوسطة؟: “When does the post office open?”
wa9telli وقتلي
A conjunction meaning “when, whenever”; “at the moment when”.
وقتلي نوصل للدار نكلمك: “When I get home, I'll call you.”
emtin امتين
An adverb meaning “when? (interrogative)”; “when (indirect question)”.
إمتين تجي لدارنا؟: “When are you coming to our place?”