How to say “work” in Darija
In Moroccan, you say “khdma” and “3amal”; in Algerian, “khedma”; in Tunisian, “5edma” and “5dem”.
In Moroccan Darija
khdma خدمة
A noun meaning “work, job”; “workplace”; “task, favour, matter”.
كاين شي خدمة: “Is there any work?”
3amal عمل
A noun meaning “work, collective effort”; “action, deed”.
هادا عمل جماعي: “This is teamwork.”
In Algerian Darja
khedma خدمة
A noun meaning “work, job”; “piece of work, job done”; “service rendered”.
لقيت خدمة جديدة في شركة قريبة لدارنا.: “I found a new job at a company near our house.”
In Tunisian Derja
5edma خدمة
A noun meaning “work, job”; “workplace”; “favour, service done”.
تكون عنده خدمة قخة باش نعيشوا لاباس بجاه ربّي: “May he have a good job so that we can live well, God willing.”
5dem خدم
A verb meaning “to work”; “to function, to run (device)”; “to employ, to hire”.
باش تخدم لبلاد موش باش تتكبّر و تكسب ,: “To work for the country, not to show off and get rich.”