Morocco

Summary

Official Name: Kingdom of Morocco
Population: 36,911,000
Principal Languages: Moroccan Spoken Arabic, Standard Arabic
Literacy Rate: 74% (2018 UNESCO)
International Conventions: CDE (1960), CPPDCE (2006), CSICH (2012), ICCPR (1966), UNCRPD (2006)
General References: Applegate 1970, Boukouss 2006, Campbell and King 2011, Cohen 1963, Cohen 1985, Coon 1931, Boukouss 2006, Zavadovskii 1962
Deaf Population: 155,000
Language Counts: The number of established languages listed for Morocco is 15. All are living languages. Of these, 10 are indigenous and 5 are non-indigenous. Furthermore, 5 are institutional, 4 are developing, 1 is vigorous, and 5 are in trouble.

Languages

Arabic, Hassaniyya mey: Souss-Massa-Drâa region: Mhamid, western Algeria border; Western Sahara, south from Laâyoune, Laâyoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra. Users: 282,000 in Morocco (2016). Status: 5* (Dispersed). Alternate Names: Hasanya, Hassani, Maure, Mauri, Moor, Sahrawi, Sulaka Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Judeo-Moroccan aju: Casablanca-Settat region. Users: 8,930 in Morocco (2000). 90% in Casablanca (1997 World Jewish Congress). Total users in all countries: 65,910. Status: 7 (Shifting). Alternate Names: il‘arabiyya dyalna Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Moroccan Spoken ary: Widespread. Users: 27,900,000 in Morocco, all users. L1 users: 22,900,000 in Morocco (2016). L2 users: 5,000,000. Total users in all countries: 33,358,230 (as L1: 28,238,230; as L2: 5,120,000). Status: 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Originated in the Arabian Peninsula and came to Morocco in the 8th century. LWC in the 20th century during colonial time. Spoken by the vast majority of the population. Used in daily life and religion. Alternate Names: Colloquial Arabic, Maghrebi Arabic, Maghribi, Moroccan Arabic, Moroccan Colloquial Arabic, Moroccan Dareja, Moroccan Darija, Moroccan Dereja Autonym: الدارجة‎ (Darija) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
Arabic, Standard arb: Users: 14,500,000 in Morocco (2015 SIL), all users. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2011, Constitution, Article 5). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Semitic, Central, South, Arabic
English eng: Scattered. Users: 5,000,000 in Morocco (Ramaswami et al 2012), L2 users. Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
French fra: Widespread. Users: 12,705,400 in Morocco, all users. L1 users: 5,400 in Morocco (2018 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 12,700,000 (Beck et al 2018). Status: 3 (Wider communication). Alternate Names: Français Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Gallo-Romance, Gallo-Rhaetian, Oïl, French
Ghomara gho: Tangier-Tetouan region: Chechaouen province, along Rif Mountains coast. Users: 10,000 (2008 J. Hannouche). Status: 6a (Vigorous). Alternate Names: Shilha, Taghumarit, Tamazight Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Ghomara
Moroccan Sign Language xms: Scattered in urban areas. Users: 63,400 (2008 WFD). 63,400 sign language users. Another estimate: 165,000 deaf (2014 IMB). Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: LSM, Langue des signes du Maroc, Langue des signes marocaine, MSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Senhaja Berber sjs: Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate region: Ketama area west of Tarifit. Users: 86,000 (2014 census). 6,000 Ayt Bshir, 7,000 Ayt Bunsar, 9,000 Ayt Hmed, 9,000 Ayt Khennus, 10,000 Ayt Mezduy, 17,000 Ayt Seddat, 17,000 Ketama, 5,000 Taghzut, 6,000 Zerqet. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Senhaja de Srair, Senhajiya, Shilha, Shilha Barbarya, Shilha n Jbala, Tajeblit, Tamazight, Tamazight n Jbala, Tasenhajit Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Riff
Spanish spa: Scattered on north coast. Users: 1,666,590 in Morocco, all users. L1 users: 6,590 in Morocco (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 1,660,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019). Status: 7 (Shifting). Classification: Indo-European, Italic, Romance, Italo-Western, Western, Gallo-Iberian, Ibero-Romance, West Iberian, Castilian
Tachelhit shi: Guelmim-Es Semara, Marrakesh-Tensift-Al Haouz, Souss-Massa-Drâa, and Tadla-Azilal regions: coast south to Ifni, north to near Agadir, northeast to Marrakech outskirts, east to Drâa, including Sous valley, and south near the border. Users: 5,000,000 in Morocco (2017). Total users in all countries: 5,118,000. Status: 5* (Developing). Alternate Names: Shilha, Soussiya, Southern Shilha, Susiya, Tachelheit, Tachilhit, Tashelheit, Tashelheyt, Tashelhit, Tashilheet, Tashlhiyt, Tasoussit Autonym: Tašlḥiyt, تشلحيت‎ (tšlḥyt), ⵜⴰⵛⵍⵃⵉⵢⵜ‎ (taclhiyt) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Atlas
Tamazight, Central Atlas tzm: Widespread, especially Middle and east High Atlas Mountains, adjacent valleys to Taza, Rabat area. Users: 4,590,000 in Morocco (2016). 936,000 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 4,740,000. Status: 6b (Threatened). Alternate Names: Central Shilha, Middle Atlas Berber, Moroccan Amazigh, Shilha, Tachelhit, Tamazight, Tmazight Autonym: Tmaziɣt, ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ‎ (Tamazight) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Atlas
Tamazight, Standard Moroccan zgh: Widespread. Status: 1 (National). Statutory national language (2011, Constitution, Article 5). Alternate Names: Amazighe standard marocain Autonym: ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ‎ (tamaziɣt), ⵜⴰⵎⴰⵣⵉⵖⵜ ⵜⴰⵏⴰⵡⴰⵢⵜ‎ (tamaziɣt tanawayt) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Atlas
Tarifit rif: Oriental and Taza-Al Hoceima-Taounate regions. Dialects from all areas of the Rif. Users: 4,240,000 in Morocco (2016). Total users in all countries: 4,399,000. Status: 5 (Developing). Alternate Names: Arrif, Northern Shilha, Rif, Rif Berber, Rifeño, Riff, Rifia, Rifiya, Ruafa, Shilha, Tamazight, Tamazight n Arrif, Tarifiyt, Tarifyt Berber, Tmaziɣt, Tmazight Autonym: Tarifit, تاريفيت‎ (Tarifit), ⵜⴰⵔⵉⴼⵉⵜ‎ (Tarifit) Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Riff
Taznatit grr: Oriental region. Ain Chair, Figuig, and Ich (South Oran dialect). Status: 6b* (Threatened). Classification: Afro-Asiatic, Berber, Northern, Zenati, Mzab-Wargla

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Arabic, Standard

[arb] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2011, Constitution, Article 5). 14,500,000 in Morocco (2015 SIL), all users.

Tamazight, Standard Moroccan

[zgh] 1 (National). Statutory national language (2011, Constitution, Article 5).

3 (Wider communication)

Arabic, Moroccan Spoken

[ary] 3 (Wider communication). De facto national working language. Originated in the Arabian Peninsula and came to Morocco in the 8th century. LWC in the 20th century during colonial time. Spoken by the vast majority of the population. Used in daily life and religion. 27,900,000 in Morocco, all users. L1 users: 22,900,000 in Morocco (2016). L2 users: 5,000,000. Total users in all countries: 33,358,230 (as L1: 28,238,230; as L2: 5,120,000).

French

[fra] 3 (Wider communication). 12,705,400 in Morocco, all users. L1 users: 5,400 in Morocco (2018 J. Leclerc). L2 users: 12,700,000 (Beck et al 2018).

4 (Educational)

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 5,000,000 in Morocco (Ramaswami et al 2012), L2 users.

5 (Dispersed)

Arabic, Hassaniyya

[mey] 5* (Dispersed). 282,000 in Morocco (2016).

5 (Developing)

Moroccan Sign Language

[xms] 5 (Developing). 63,400 (2008 WFD). 63,400 sign language users. Another estimate: 165,000 deaf (2014 IMB).

Tachelhit

[shi] 5* (Developing). 5,000,000 in Morocco (2017). Total users in all countries: 5,118,000.

Tarifit

[rif] 5 (Developing). 4,240,000 in Morocco (2016). Total users in all countries: 4,399,000.

6a (Vigorous)

Ghomara

[gho] 6a (Vigorous). 10,000 (2008 J. Hannouche).

6b (Threatened)

Senhaja Berber

[sjs] 6b (Threatened). 86,000 (2014 census). 6,000 Ayt Bshir, 7,000 Ayt Bunsar, 9,000 Ayt Hmed, 9,000 Ayt Khennus, 10,000 Ayt Mezduy, 17,000 Ayt Seddat, 17,000 Ketama, 5,000 Taghzut, 6,000 Zerqet.

Tamazight, Central Atlas

[tzm] 6b (Threatened). 4,590,000 in Morocco (2016). 936,000 monolinguals. Total users in all countries: 4,740,000.

Taznatit

[grr] 6b* (Threatened).

7 (Shifting)

Arabic, Judeo-Moroccan

[aju] 7 (Shifting). 8,930 in Morocco (2000). 90% in Casablanca (1997 World Jewish Congress). Total users in all countries: 65,910.

Spanish

[spa] 7 (Shifting). 1,666,590 in Morocco, all users. L1 users: 6,590 in Morocco (Instituto Cervantes 2019). L2 users: 1,660,000 (Instituto Cervantes 2019).

Maps

Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Morocco with respect to their level of language vitality. Each individual language that has an entry for Morocco is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of vitality. The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level.
The vitality levels and the color coding of the bars match the scheme used in the guide on How many languages are endangered? In this scheme, the levels and colors are as follows:
- Dark green = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Light green = Stable (EGIDS 5-6a) — The language is not being sustained by formal institutions, but It is still the norm in the home and community that all children learn and use the language.
- Red = Endangered (EGIDS 6b-9) — It is no longer the norm that children learn and use this language.
These three summary levels have been derived by grouping levels in the Expanded Graded Intergenerational Disruption Scale (EGIDS), which is the more fine-grained scale that Ethnologue uses to assess the status of every language in terms of development versus endangerment; see the Language Status page for a description of the levels of that scale. See also the pages on Development and Endangerment for more discussion.
Language Status Profile
Full explanation
This graph shows the profile of languages in Morocco with respect to their status of language development versus language endangerment. Each individual language that has an entry for Morocco is included in the profile. The horizontal axis represents the estimated level of development or endangerment as measured on the EGIDS scale. (See the pages on Development and Endangerment for a fuller explanation.) The height of each bar indicates the number of languages that are estimated to be at the given level. Consult the Status listings for Morocco in order to see the specific languages for each level.
The color coding of the bars matches the color scheme used in the summary profile graphs on the navigation maps for the site. In this scheme, the EGIDS levels are grouped as follows:
- Purple = Institutional (EGIDS 0-4) — The language has been developed to the point that it is used and sustained by institutions beyond the home and community.
- Blue = Developing (EGIDS 5) — The language is in vigorous use, with literature in a standardized form being used by some though this is not yet widespread or sustainable.
- Green = Vigorous (EGIDS 6a) — The language is unstandardized and in vigorous use among all generations.
- Yellow = In trouble (EGIDS 6b-7) — Intergenerational transmission is in the process of being broken, but the child-bearing generation can still use the language so it is possible that revitalization efforts could restore transmission of the language in the home.
- Red = Dying (EGIDS 8a-9) — The only fluent users (if any) are older than child-bearing age, so it is too late to restore natural intergenerational transmission through the home; a mechanism outside the home would need to be developed.
- Black = Extinct (EGIDS 10) — The language has fallen completely out of use and no one retains a sense of ethnic identity associated with the language.

Resources

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Digest of the languages of Morocco ($149.95, 27 page PDF)

Morocco

Summary

Languages

Languages by Status

Maps

Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Western Sahara

Graphs

Language Vitality Profile

Language Status Profile

Resources

Contributions

Editorial Action