Language in Morocco

[TinyTeapots]

Looking to go somewhere mid November for about three weeks and Morocco is on the list. Anyone who has been, what were your experiences of languages in the tourist areas? Is French widely spoken? DP and I were considering brushing up on our basic French, or trying to learn Moroccan Arabic at basic level and just wondering if French or Moroccan Arabic might be more worthwhile.

I would say Arabic is more useful, but lots of people speak English too. I never used my French when I was in Morocco (been three times).

We used English and French in Morocco. My husband's rudimentary French ended up being particularly useful when I unexpectedly found myself in hospital and almost no one spoke English! Learning a few Arabic phrases would be a good idea/good manners though - even if just please, thank you etc.

Have a great trip - it's a beautiful country!

I found French very useful when I went there a few years ago. I also encounter Algerians and Moroccans in my line of work, if their English is poor, I revert to French.

French is very widely spoken and is the only language I’ve ever spoken there. English is not spoken much outside the main tourist areas. I would brush up on your French as you’re more likely to get it to a useful level.

French is widely spoken. My GCSE french was very useful. If you're in a tourist area you'll be able to get by in English. A few very basic Arabic words..hello, goodbye, please, thank you...would be appreciated. And if you're looking at shopping outside of tourists areas I'd learn numbers in Arabic both spoken and written.

I'm there now in our camper van, and I would say that my French has been very useful. But we have been travelling in less touristy places, as camper vans and cities aren't a good match.

Where are you thinking of going?

Thanks everyone, very interesting to hear your experiences. @ShortKipper probably going to try all the key spots as we don’t think we’d be back again (travelling from Australia), so definitely Marrakech, Casablanca, edge of Sahara, Rabat, Fes, Chefchaouen. Super keen!

If you get the chance, put Essaouira on your list - absolutely beautiful Medina right by the sea with fabulous seafood.

Yes to French - very helpful to brush up.

@ElizabethinherGermanGarden Thanks for the idea re Essaouira, that sounds good as we both love seafood too

I didn't use English at all in Morocco, everybody working at all in tourism even vaguely speaks French. Good French. All menus are in French, shop signs when not just in Arabic are in French. (I speak fluent French though so perhaps I didn't fully get whether people spoke English)
I absolutely hated my visit to Morocco and would not go back. Nothing terrible happened, I was travelling with my husband and dressed respectfully, but I really disliked the constant hassle and the feeling that people were out for our money all the time. I could not relax and enjoy any of it. We went to Marrakesh and Essaouira and although attractive to look at, they were unpleasant to be in. I also really hated seeing the meat hanging out in the street and it made me feel unsure about food hygiene in general. I know many people who have not like Marrakesh in particular.

We loved Tafroute in the anti Atlas. Almond festival there is early Feb

The other point about languages is most signs etc are in Arabic & French. I suspect learning to read Arabic is a bit more onerous :)

I second Essaouira- it's stunning. Also you can buy fish straight from the boat and they will cook it for you then and there on a little barbecue to eat by the sea.

French is very widely spoken. You won’t need Arabic although a couple of phrases would be polite. Also found English widely spoken even outside of cities.

Thank you everyone, looks like we definitely need to brush up on French and include some basic Moroccan Arabic phrases too.

Forget Casablanca and Rabat, or at least forget Casablanca. Fez and Marrakesh are far more beautiful cities. Rabat has some interesting modern classic French architecture but Casablanca is nothing special at all.

I agree with a previous poster about heading south, Taroudant, inland from Agadir, which isn’t really worth stopping in, but you could drive down from Marrakech via Ait Ben Haddou and the Dra Valley, to Tafroute. I don’t really get the excitement about Essaouira. They clearly have good marketing people.

We hated marrakech too , the hassle we got was just annoying and stressful. Would not recommend it to anyone
We are quite well travelled too and not easily dazed but did not like marrakech at all

We're now in Sidi Ifni, which is very low key if you want a beach town. Spanish Art Deco architecture, great Sunday market, good beaches, a choice of places serving booze and some good restaurants.

I went to Marrakech in 2017 and found French was widely spoken. Some people didn’t speak English but French is definitely helpful