The spiders' house -Bowles and Arabic

“There is a truth for everyone, and no one truth carries away all the others.”                Paul Bowles

in Gina Dagel Caponi (1993) Conversations with Paul Bowles 

 

Bowles was eager to get immersed into the North African exotic culture. It nurtured himwith fresh material from an exotic culture. What are the distorted mirrors of his prism?

LEXICON  by   S. J. Altoma The Journal of North African Studies 164-172


Bowles is specifically credited for his pioneering effort to promote numerous Moroccan works he translated or adapted from Arabic and the Moroccan vernacular or ‘Moghrebi’ as he called it. What is unique about his role is the fact that he had no knowledge of Arabic and the fact that his command of Moroccan Arabic was questionable or less than adequate for him to undertake his translation projects without the use of an intermediary language. This essay will address both issues mainly on the basis of personal conversations I had with Mr Bowles in Tangier and a review of the Arabic words or phrases he used in his works. It will show that because of his lack of knowledge of Arabic, Bowles was led to maintain distorted views of the Arabic language and its literary and cultural heritage.

Paul Bowles' knowledge of Arabic: personal observations

Salih J. Altoma - The Journal Of North African Studies Vol. 17 , Iss. 1,2012

American writer who sought to represent not only the views of his Moroccan characters but also their native-spoken idiom.

Comments marked by (A) at the end of selected entries represent Alami’s view as a native speaker of Fez dialect. 

• ‘lah imsik bekheir/ Good night
• Aachor Anniversary of the death of al-Husayn, the Prophet’s grand son. Aallem/Muslim scholar, man of learning.
• Abaden!: Never
• Ach haddou laillaha illa’ Allah: I witness there is no God but Allah Adoul: legal scribes, clerk of the court. 
• Abaden!: Never
• Ach haddou laillaha illa’ Allah: I witness there is no God but Allah Adoul: legal scribes, clerk of the court.
• Abaden!: Never
• Ach haddou laillaha illa’ Allah: I witness there is no God but Allah Adoul: legal scribes, clerk of the court.
• Affarit 1⁄4 afreet demon .places where evil spirits, djenoun and affarit abounded. . .
• Agi agi [come] agi menah! Come here! Agi ts’awouni! Come help me!
• Ahilan? Ahlan? Hello
• Ahouache A Berber ceremony of the Anti-Atlas mountains that involves groups of dancers,
• singers etc. . . A ̈ıd: feast
• A ̈ıd el Arche: The Feast of the Throne/King of Morocco’s coronation
• A ̈ıd el Kebir: celebrates the culmination of the pilgrimage to Mecca
• A ̈ıd el Seghir: the end of Ramadan/the month of Muslim Fasting-
• Aissa
• Aissa
• Aissa/sidna aissa “taking care to keep Jesus distinct from the Moslem prophet Sidna Aissa” PB. Aissoua: A Sufi brotherhood named after its founder Sidi Muhammad ben Aissa Akchil/khlass men d’akchi “Just tell me that much and then shut up” PB.
• Allah Akbar: God Is Great
• Allah istir: God help us
• Alleche/O alleche? For what? Why?
• Amara: Festival in commemoration of a Muslim saint.
• Ana? me ?Ana m’khallesik:[without/s/] I’ll pay. [I won’t let you]
• Andaluz music: [Moroccan Andalusian music]
• Ankabutz 1⁄4 ankabut: spider
• Annah! Me!
• Aoudas? Plural of oud? “Sometimes the men have fires and play songs on their aoudas” PB.
• Annah! Me!
• Aoudas? Plural of oud? “Sometimes the men have fires and play songs on their aoudas” PB.

• Bab el guissa? [The name of a historical gate in the old medina of Fes]
• Bab fteuh: Bab al-futuh? [A neighborhood in the nortrh eastern part of the Medina of Fes. It is
• also the name of one of the historical gates of the old medina.]A
• Bab mahrouk [the name of one of the historical gates in the old Medina of Fes]A
• Babouches: slippers
• Bacal! Grocery shop “she ran a bacal” PB.
• Bakhour: incense
• Balek: watch out
• Baqal, Baqqal grocer, grocery shop
• Baraka: blessing, quality possessed by holy men.
• Baraka’llahoufik/ thank you:May God bless you.
• Bastela: A Moroccan lozenge-shaped meat pie, covered in fillo dough
• Baz! That’s perfect! [Expression of disbelief or surprise]A
• B’cif: “of course”? [Hardly, perforce] A
• B’d draa
• Bastela: A Moroccan lozenge-shaped meat pie, covered in fillo dough
• Baz! That’s perfect! [Expression of disbelief or surprise]A
• B’cif: “of course”? [Hardly, perforce] A
• B’d draa/ b’d drah 1⁄4 b’drab? : it’s got to by force
• Beid el beita f’kerr el hmar “a white egg in a donkey’s anus” PB [Lay an egg in a donkey’s ass]
• Beid el beita f’kerr el hmar “a white egg in a donkey’s anus” PB [Lay an egg in a donkey’s ass]
• 1⁄4beid el beida
• Bel haq true, in truth
• Belarhlikslem bzef: [meaning “baligh lak salam” i.e. sends you his greetings]A Belgha
• Bel haq true, in truth
• Belarhlikslem bzef: [meaning “baligh lak salam” i.e. sends you his greetings]A Belgha/an old pair of belgha:slippers
• Bendir : tabor [a wooden frame drum with a membrane with two strings]A.
• Berrada: jug
• Berrani: outsider, stranger.
• B’es-sahh (true)
• Bhar el hamar? [I think he means bhal
• Bendir : tabor [a wooden frame drum with a membrane with two strings]A.
• Berrada: jug
• Berrani: outsider, stranger.
• B’es-sahh (true)
• Bhar el hamar? [I think he means bhal. . .i.e. like a donkey (stupid)]
• Bileche tabousni fi aynayah [from Abd al-Wahhab’s song] “why do you kiss me on the
• Bileche tabousni fi aynayah [from Abd al-Wahhab’s song] “why do you kiss me on the
• eyelids?”/152
• Binatzkoum
• Binatzkoum 1⁄4 binatkoum “that’s between you and them”/260
• Bismil’lah ala maketseb allah 115 Bismilla (in the name of Gad) for what God has provided us
• Bismil’lah ala maketseb allah 115 Bismilla (in the name of Gad) for what God has provided us
• with
• Bismillah in the name of God/ Bismillah rahman er rahim
• Bit el Qots
• Bit el Qots1⁄4 Bayt al-Quds Jerusalem Bled: the land/the country/countryside Bordj: fort/guard-post
• B’sah? “really”
• B’slemah: goodbye
• Burnouses: hooded cloaks
• B’sah? “really”
• B’slemah: goodbye
• Burnouses: hooded cloaks

• Cabrhozels: a kind of pastry? Ordered two teas and two cabrhozels.
• Caid 1⁄4 Qa’id) Chief. Local tribal chief. A term also used for an administrator or government
• official.
• Casbah, Kasbah:fortress, Muslim section of a town
• Ch’ andek? What’s the matter with you? [what’s wrong? Used in the north Tangier and
• Tetouan]A.
• Chaikhat singing girls and dancers
• Chechia: straw hat
• Chehada: the brief profession of faith, see his use of ach haddou laillaha illa’ Allah
• Cheikh, Cheikhs/chikh: elder, wise man, a title of respect, a leader of a group, such as “of a
• group- of folk muscicians”.
• Chemel: North, Rif.
• Cherqi: eastern wind.
• Chibb: [a kind of incense]A
• Chkama, informers. I have seen a lot of chkama. . . Most drari like you end up by turning
• informer; that’s not unuusal.
• Chkhbarek? how are you?
• Chkoun: Who/who’s there?
• Chleuh the generic Moroccan term for Berbers.Specifically it refers to the Sousis Chnou bghitisi ts’qoulli: What did you do want to tell me?
• Chleuh the generic Moroccan term for Berbers.Specifically it refers to the Sousis Chnou bghitisi ts’qoulli: What did you do want to tell me?
• Chnou hada? “what are you doing?” or: [what’s this]A.
• Chnou hadek el haraj? What is that noise? [Disturbance/commotion]A.
• Chnou?“ what?
• Chorfa (pl.of cherif) descendents of the Prophet)
• Choual: the month of Shawwal: 10th month of the Islamic calendar.
• Chouf: see, look
• Chouwal: choual Shawwal
• Chqaf/chqofa “he smoked many chqofa. . . he blew the hard ash out of the chqaf” PB. [the small
• bowl of the Moroccan pipe called “sebsi.” The chqaf is filled up with cannabis or kif] Chta: rain
• Cirf halak/Cir fhallak/Go away

• Dahir: Sultan’s Decree. “I shouldn’t be surprised if there were a dahir prohibiting ever those simple subsitututes for partaking of sustenance” PB.
• Darbou? Beat it/alleche bghitsidarbou? Khallih [why do you want to beat/hit him? Leave him]A.
• Darbouka large ceramic hand drum. Deba labes enta? You feel better? Dem: howling “ed dem”!“blood” Derb: neighberhood, alley.
• Derb el Heurra? (181) [the name of a street in of Fes]A.
• Derri: child
• Dirhams: Moroccan currency
• Djaoui A resin incense, of a hard and rock-like appearance
• Djebala: straight from the mountains [inhabitants of the mountainous area called djebala] Djebel Zalagh [the name of the mountain that overlooks the Medina of Fes from the north. It is also the beginning of the Rif mountains]
• Djellaba/djellabas Traditional Moroccan long-sleeved burnous/garment with hood. [worn by both men and women]A.
• Djemaa andaluz: andalus mosque.
• Djenane es Sebir: Garden in Fes.
• Djibli: peasant (perjorative) [from Jbala (from Arabic Jbel/ mountain). Djibli is an inhabitant of
• Jbala, the north-western region of Morocco)A.
• Djinn, djinniya (f) djenoun (plural): jinn, evil spirit
• Drbouka Large ceramic hand drum used in traditional music. Drissiyine (descendents of the first dynasty) [Idrissids] 

• Echkoun Who?
• Ed dounia mamzianche: the world was very bad, lit: the world is not good Egless: sit
• Eheud Incense associated with Moroccan Jews
• El aidek mabrouk: holiday greetings
• El hassil: Anyway
• En noua(he had en noua)he knew that was a bad disease
• Enta hmuq bzef: you’re very crazy
• Enta m’douagh, he said with disgust. You’re crazy.
• Entina ketsfham hsin minn hnaya:you understand better than we do Entina ouahad rajel hsin: you are a fine man
• Er rabi mabrhach God does’nt want it easy [God does/did not want it] Essbar: wait.
• Essmah Listen 

• Fasoukh: incense, of gummy texture, used to drive away sorcerers and malevolent spirits Fasoukh and other incenses: I’m going to buy fasoukh and tib and nidd, and hasalaba and mske
• and all the bakhour in the Djmaa, and put them in the mijmah? And burn them. Fejr: Islamic dawn prayer
• Fel louwil first
• Fellah, fellahin: peasant, farmer
• Fhemti? Did/do you understand
• Fik ej jeuhor? Hungry?
• Fik ej jeuhor? Hungry?/. [It should be: fik ju’]A.
• Filfil: pepper
• Fjer: dawn
• Flouss:Generic term for money
• Filfil: pepper
• Fjer: dawn
• Flouss:Generic term for money/small change
• Fondaq
• Fondaq/fondouq: “during the French occupation fondouq and fondaq were used interchnageably
• to mean ‘hostelry’; present-day usage distinguishes bewteen a fondouq-a caravanserai where
• animal are accommodated- and a fondaq, a hotel”. (Points in Time, 92). Foundouk, fondouq: hotel
• Fqih: holy man, religious scholar
• Fraja: I was watching the fraja: mass dancing [the spectacle]A.
• Fqih: holy man, religious scholar
• Fraja: I was watching the fraja: mass dancing [the spectacle]A.
• Gandoura: Long dress worn by both sexes. [Ghandoura is a traditional loosely fitting sleeveless garment similar to djellaba but without hood]A 

• Gnaoua or gennaoua quasi-mystical brotherhood of blacks, known for dancing and sorcery. From the Tuareg agnaw“black”
• Gourba: [jug, jar]A 
• Guinbri: A Rustic flute, Plucked lute-like instrument [Also known as Guembri which is a three- stringed instrument, like a lute, with a body made of log and covered with animal skin usually played by the Gnawa people.]A.
• Guirch: piaster?
• Gzara (at the feet of the gzara) butcher

• Hachouma: shame
• Hada echouf This one sees.
• Hadji: pilgrim
• Haik: [a traditional outer garment consisting of a large piece of cloth worn by women. It covers
• the woman from head to foot with only the eyes showing]A. Haiti: traditional Moroccan wall-covering
• Hamdou’llah Praise Be to God
• Hammam: bathhouse
• Hanout, hanoute: store. shop
• Haouma: quarter “she [the Jewish woman] began to tell..that the Moslems in her haouma had
• bought charms to use against her daughter” PB.
• Haram sin prohibited see also Hachouma shame. “Shame and Sin were the most useful words in
• the common people’s vocabulary” PB.
• Harami: dishoest one, thief
• Harira: Moroccan soup
• Haroun- al -Rachid: “Some sort of native dramatic company which is presenting Haroun-al-
• Raschid at Fez and soon at Tanger. (In Touch 89 from a letter October or November 1931 to
• Aaron Copland).
• Hasaluban Gum incense.frankincense.
• Haschich: /hashish
• Hasira: woven-grass mat
• Hassil,el: anyway
• H’dia “gift” he had the h’dia, the gift.
• Hekaya: story;tale
• Hindiyats :pricky pears[cactus fruit]
• Hmuq: Crazy.
• Horm: took sanctuary inside the horm of Moulay Idriss: holy enclosure Huwa hada It is this one
• Hasira: woven-grass mat
• Hassil,el: anyway
• H’dia “gift” he had the h’dia, the gift.
• Hekaya: story;tale
• Hindiyats :pricky pears[cactus fruit]
• Hmuq: Crazy.
• Horm: took sanctuary inside the horm of Moulay Idriss: holy enclosure Huwa hada It is this one 

• Imam: Prayer leader
• Ikoun: be
• inchaAllah,incha’Allah: God willing.
• Inch’Allah rahman er rahim [Inhsa’Allah and some Moroccan add rahman rahim i.e Most Gracious, Most Merciful]A.
• Istiqlal Independence, refers to Moroccan independence from French/Spanish colonialism in
• 1956. Also Moroccan Independence Party:Hizb al-Istiqlal. 

• Jaffar name 1⁄4ja’far I said “Si Jaffar. . .”
• Jaou
• Jaou/menene jaou? From where did they come? Jiaou “they came”
• jduq jmel Literally “camel’s cud” A hallucinogenic plant. [Correct spelling: “Shdeq” jmel] Jehennam: hell “Allah’s most terrible punishment this side of the fires of jehennem”.
• Jiffa: carrion
• jduq jmel Literally “camel’s cud” A hallucinogenic plant. [Correct spelling: “Shdeq” jmel] Jehennam: hell “Allah’s most terrible punishment this side of the fires of jehennem”.
• Jiffa: carrion
• Jihad,: “The man meant, jihad, the wholesale slaughter by every Moslem of all available unbleivers(The Spider’s House 46-47)
• Jilala Religious brotherhood. Name refers to “glory” of God as well as to the twelfth-century saint of Baghdad Abd el-Qadir el-Jilani or “Jilali”. 

• Kabila, tribe
• Kadah, Du El Kadah: 1⁄4 Dhu al-Qa’dah 11th month in the Islamic calendar.
• Kaffirine: unbelievers, heathens..
• Kaftan a long sleeved outer garment, see also Qaftan below
• Kamenja: violin, fiddle
• Katib: clerk, Secretary
• Kdoub: lie
• Keddane [the name of a neighborhood in old medina of Fes in the Andalusian quarter]A. Khabaeuh:put it away please,hide it
• Kaffirine: unbelievers, heathens..
• Kaftan a long sleeved outer garment, see also Qaftan below
• Kamenja: violin, fiddle
• Katib: clerk, Secretary
• Kdoub: lie
• Keddane [the name of a neighborhood in old medina of Fes in the Andalusian quarter]A. Khabaeuh:put it away please,hide it/him
• Khai brother
• Khalatini” you frightened me.
• khalifa Government official; assistant to a caid, a deputy official
• Khalih leave him alone
• Khamstache fifteen
• Khaouf: fear
• Khai brother
• Khalatini” you frightened me.
• khalifa Government official; assistant to a caid, a deputy official
• Khalih leave him alone
• Khamstache fifteen
• Khaouf: fear/Fi el khaouf :I’m afraid.
• Kharra Shit.Moroccan vulgarity
• Khlass: Stop it
• Khoya: brother
• Kif: Cannabis sativa The fine leaves at the base of the flowers of the common hemp plant,-
• Kharra Shit.Moroccan vulgarity
• Khlass: Stop it
• Khoya: brother
• Kif: Cannabis sativa The fine leaves at the base of the flowers of the common hemp plant,-
• Cannabis sativa,chopped fine and usually mixed with tobacco grown in the same soil. Kif enta? How are you?
• Kifach: enough?
• Kiffed smoked kif (under the influence of kif)
• Kissaria: the quarter of the souk devoted to the sale of textiles, clothing and luxury items. Kouffa: basket 1⁄4Arabic quffa [A Morrocan bag made out of reeds]A.
• Ksar: p-alace.
• Ksour Fortified villages.Usually in southern Morocco.
• Ksar: p-alace.
• Ksour Fortified villages.Usually in southern Morocco. 

• La,khoya,la no brother no
• Labess: Fine, well
• Latif/yah latif : gentle ya latif: O My God! Latif is also a form of public prayer in a mosque. Lirah : cane flute
• Litham: veil, the cloth worn over the lower half of a woman’s face. “they [nationalists] hoped to
• Litham: veil, the cloth worn over the lower half of a woman’s face. “they [nationalists] hoped to
• induce them[women] to discard the litham, and show their faces openly,like Jewesses or Christians” PB.
• Loulli/prayer of the- [The mid-day prayer of Dhuhr] A

• Maallem “Good maallem” Master
• Maferhanche bzef: not happy at all
• Maghreb al Aqsa’: was the name of the country
• Maghreb, Morocco: afternoon prayer
• Majabekfina: Don’t worry about me.. [You do not have anything to do with us. None of your
• Maferhanche bzef: not happy at all
• Maghreb al Aqsa’: was the name of the country
• Maghreb, Morocco: afternoon prayer
• Majabekfina: Don’t worry about me.. [You do not have anything to do with us. None of your
• business]A

• Majoun: Jam. Here made of figs and powdered cannabis: sometimes mixed with hashish oil. Mamelouah(it’s forbidden) ?
• Mamil 1⁄4 ma`mal/shop/factory “let’s see if you can run the mamil” PB.
• Mcid: Tangier pronunciation of msjid, primary school attached to a mosque. [Also in Fes]A Mechoui
• Mcid: Tangier pronunciation of msjid, primary school attached to a mosque. [Also in Fes]A Mechoui/mchoui the greatest delicacy of the Southern Territory, Barbeque,usually of an entire
• sheep)
• Medersa karouine : qarawiyyin: school or college and mosque in Fez.
• Medersa: Qur’anic/religious school
• Medina: city [older traditional quarter of city]A
• Mehari: camel
• Mehboul: idiot
• Mejdoub: insane, possessed, deranged person believed to be possessed by spirits.
• Mektoub It is writte, destiny
• Melhoun(qsida) The language in which qsidas, poetic odes,are usually sung. [Also Malhoun:
• Medina: city [older traditional quarter of city]A
• Mehari: camel
• Mehboul: idiot
• Mejdoub: insane, possessed, deranged person believed to be possessed by spirits.
• Mektoub It is writte, destiny
• Melhoun(qsida) The language in which qsidas, poetic odes,are usually sung. [Also Malhoun:
• Moroccan music based on Qasida of a melodic poem that is organized around stanzas and a refrain called “harba”. Originally it started in Tafilalet (south east Morocco) and flourished in historical cities, namely Fes, Meknes and Marrakech]A.
• Mellah: Jewish quarters
• Menene jaoui? O alleche? Where did they come from? And why?
• Merhmoum? 1⁄4mehmoum?: sad . Gallik merhmoum bzef. It is very sad.
• Metallem:[I am only a
• Metallem:[I am only a metallem apprentice]
• Meziane delightful. good.
• Mijmah (
• Meziane delightful. good.
• Mijmah (1⁄4mijmar) a terra-cotta brazier, censor [correct spelling is mijmar]A
• M’kiyif smoked kif :under the influence of kif
• Mkiyif ma rassou: [High on smoked cannabis
• M’kiyif smoked kif :under the influence of kif
• Mkiyif ma rassou: [High on smoked cannabis/marijuana]A.
• Moghrebi: Moroccan
• Mokhazni, mokhaznia: Soldier, government official
• Mokhfia, El [makhfiyya?] [the name of a quarter
• Moghrebi: Moroccan
• Mokhazni, mokhaznia: Soldier, government official
• Mokhfia, El [makhfiyya?] [the name of a quarter/neighborhood in medina of Fes]A. Moqaddam Gauleioter of quarter or village;local head of religious brotherhood.
• Moqaddem official title
• Mottoui : leather purse for kif [ Correct spelling is Matwi: the leather case that holds the finely
• Moqaddem official title
• Mottoui : leather purse for kif [ Correct spelling is Matwi: the leather case that holds the finely
• clipped pieces of kif/cannabis.]A
• Mouiddin -Mouiddin/Muezzin prayer caller.
• moul: master,owner
• Moulana: Our Lord, God. “Only Moulana knows how next year will be” PB.
• Moulay: Master, Lord, a title of respect, often reserved for one who is a cherif, or descendent of
• moul: master,owner
• Moulana: Our Lord, God. “Only Moulana knows how next year will be” PB.
• Moulay: Master, Lord, a title of respect, often reserved for one who is a cherif, or descendent of
• the Prophet.
• Mouloud Prophet’s birthday celebration (Aid al-Mouloud); also used for a saint’s birthday
• celebration.
• Moussem: fair, Seasonal festival held at the tomb of a saint.
• Mouwal : mawwal
• Mroziya Meat baked with honey [–prepared with lamb and raisins, especially during Aid al-
• Adha]A.
• Msalkheir: Good afternoon [good evening] A M’ska: Gum arabic for incense.
• Muezzin see Mouiddin 

• Na’als sandals
• Naam, sidi: yes.sir .
• Naqous: bell, a percussion instrument
• Narghile: water-pipe
• Nazarene: Christian
• Nchoufou menbad: we’ll see you later
• Nesrani: Christian
• Nimchi o nji" [ I’ll go and come back]A.
• Nimchiou: let’s go.
• N’khalleslik" it’s on me" [I will pay]A 

• Om Kalsoum(1⁄4Umm Kulthum): Most famous Egyptian singer.
• Oua-a-l ach f’n nebbi
• Oua-a-l ach f’n nebbi/selliou alih/oual’laah m’selli alih/karrasoul’llah(a pilgrim’s prayer?"/
• [spiritual sayings in praise of the prophet very commonly used in most Moroccan celebra-
• tions.]A.
• Ouahira? Difficult? “Ed dounia ouahira,” he said. “The world is a difficult place.” Ouakha: yes OK.
• Ouallah? Swear to God, by God
• Oud: ‘ud musical instrument “he could hear the high thin notes of the oud”
• Oued: Stream bed or watercourse, usually dry.
• Ouled Nail: Berber singing girls and courtesans from the Aures mountains of Algeria. Pacha rank[ Local governor]

• Qachla?: Garrison
• Qaftan: a long sleeved outer garment
• Qahwaji/qaouaji: Coffeehouse owner, see also qaouji
• Qalaoui
• Qalaoui/ “in the police station where they woud attach electrodes to his qalaoui-/ Testicles” PB Qaouji: waiter, coffehouse owner
• Qoadi: qadi: A Muslim judge who rules on the basis of Islamic law.
• Qsbah: Large reed transverse flute with a low register.
• Qsida: qasida a poem
• Qulb ? Qalb heart. «They have a passion for falling back on the « heart » in explaining a thing. El
• Qoadi: qadi: A Muslim judge who rules on the basis of Islamic law.
• Qsbah: Large reed transverse flute with a low register.
• Qsida: qasida a poem
• Qulb ? Qalb heart. «They have a passion for falling back on the « heart » in explaining a thing. El
• Qulb they whisper. . . In Touch 182».

• Rabi
• Rabi/ya rabi [1⁄4, rabb, rabbi] /God
• Rais: head
• Raita (datura)Hallucinogenic plant
• Razzia: “the raids proliferated, each razzia was attributed to the ghosts of the Medaganat” PB Reales, Silver
• Rais: head
• Raita (datura)Hallucinogenic plant
• Razzia: “the raids proliferated, each razzia was attributed to the ghosts of the Medaganat” PB Reales, Silver reales 1⁄4 riyal a silver coin
• Rebab: Violen-like instrument with one to three strings, played with a bow, .rebec, fiddle Rebtas: tin of kif
• Reguibat: Nomadic tribespeople from the Western Sahara
• Rhaddi noud el haraj men deba chouich "it’s going to be war this time, not just games” PB Rhaita: An oboe-like reed instrument. [Ghaytah a double-reed instrument like a flute]A.

• Sa’a, sa’a: sometimes, I come and stay a few days. Safi/: done, enough
• Safsaf trees: eucalyptus. poplar trees or weeping willows Sahel, sahel: easy
• Safsaf trees: eucalyptus. poplar trees or weeping willows Sahel, sahel: easy
• Sala: hall
• Salaam ou aleikoum: peace be upon you, greetings
• Salaamed (derivative of salaam) “they salaamed in unison facing the empty hammada” PB Salaams: greetings
• Saqqaya [water fountain]A
• Sabahal kheir, Sbalkheir: good morning
• Sebsi: long thin pipe for smoking kif [Morrocan pipe made out of a clay or reed to smoke
• cannabis/kif]A
• Seguia: stream
• Semsar: broker, agent middle man
• Serrouelles: trousers
• Shish kebab
• Sidi Boukhari “district in Tangier"
• Sidi Kacem Town in northwest Morocco
• Skout: shut up.
• Skse huwa [ask him]
• s’l’m aleikoum: peace be upon you, i.e greeting) [sends his greetings to you]A Smahli: I’m sorry [excuse me]A
• Smatsi: Listen
• Smitsck? What is your name?
• Souk, souks: market
• Souq: souk
• Seguia: stream
• Semsar: broker, agent middle man
• Serrouelles: trousers
• Shish kebab
• Sidi Boukhari “district in Tangier"
• Sidi Kacem Town in northwest Morocco
• Skout: shut up.
• Skse huwa [ask him]
• s’l’m aleikoum: peace be upon you, i.e greeting) [sends his greetings to you]A Smahli: I’m sorry [excuse me]A
• Smatsi: Listen
• Smitsck? What is your name?
• Souk, souks: market
• Souq: souk 

• Taguia: small Muslim skull-cap
• Tajine [Moroccan pot made of clay and the dish that is cooked in it]A
• Tanja: Tangier
• Tanja Alia: the great Tangier [a very popular song about Tangier literally: “Tangier the high] A Tarbouche: fez
• T’barak’ Allah :God bless
• Tchamir [a traditional Moroccan garment similar to Ghandourah, usually convenient to wear at
• home]A
• Tib, nidd, basalouban and mska and the bakhour [names of different incences associated with
• repelling magic spells]
• Tlah: Go Up
• Tolba: “students” usually professional Qur’an reciters
• Toubib: doctor
• Ts’awouni/agi agi ts’awouni! (ta’awouni without /s/Help me
• Tseuheur (
• Tseuheur (1⁄4 sheur form sihr) Generic term for magic specifically it is word and sympathetic.
• magic
• Tsoukil (1⁄4 toukal) Euphemism for poison [He means “tawkal” i.e. feeding someone food or
• drink that contains some magically prepared potion or poison in order to make him/her love you and be submissive] 

• Ulema: religious leaders, scholars

• Wattanine: patriots “Now he understood the Wattanine whom the French called les terrorists and les assassins” PB.
• Wazzara? ..the son chose his wazzara who would paint the designs . . .build the wall. Ya altif! My God

• Ya ouilidi: my boy, my son
• Yallah: let’s go
• Ya ouilidi: my boy, my son
• Yallah: let’s go
• Yehoudi: Jew. “Chouf had l’yehoudi. Look at that Jew!” PB Yehoudia: Jewess, Judaism
• Yemkin, yimkin: possible, maybe. 

• Zamar: Riffian double reed musical instrument.
• Zaouia: zawiyah Holy shrine, Seat of a religious brotherhood, genrally comprising a mosque, a
• school and the tomb of the sect’s founder.
• Zduq: right, correct
• Zekak er Roumane [zqaq al-romaan: the name of a street/quarter in old Medina in Fes.]A 

• Zouamel’: “So they were not women at all; they were merely dresses as girls” [Moroccan for gays (especially the passive]A.

• Zqaq: alley, street.