Five Reasons Fes is the Best Place to Study Darija
In the four years since moving to Morocco, I can look back on many “What-have-we-gotten-ourselves-into?”-moments. The first one I can remember is our first night doing a homestay in Fes. My wife and I slept with our heads perpendicular to each other on adjacent froshes (Moroccan couches). It was January and both of us were bundled up in multiple layers, seeing our breath inside the house during the day. The following day we began our language studies, little-by-little learning the Arabic alphabet, picking up phrases, and slowly improving our conversational skills over the months. Fes was our home for two years, then we moved to Casablanca only to return to Fes. This city has always held a special place in our hearts, and we are convinced it is the best place to learn Darija. Here’s why…
1. The Fessi dialect of Moroccan Arabic is understood in all of Morocco
The people of Fes are known for their clear pronunciation and purity of language. When traveling or studying in other parts of Morocco, you will encounter regional words, phrases, and pronunciations specific to that region. Amidst the regionalisms of the country, Fes stands out as the place where regionalisms are fewer, and your language abilities in Moroccan Arabic acquired in the city will be understood wherever you travel in the country.
Additionally, the Fessi dialect has traditionally been regarded as a prestige dialect over other forms of Moroccan Darija—particularly those seen as rural or 'arūbi (عروبي "of the rural Arabs")—due to its (in the words of Mohammed Errihan) “association with the socio-economic power and dominance that its speakers enjoy at the national level.” Fes is the scientific and spiritual capital of Morocco, and as a result, garners a high level of respect throughout the country. Moreover, the Darija spoken in Fes is purer than that of the coastal cities of the north and west, where the language has been diluted with French and Spanish. The Fessi dialect uses more Fossha (Modern Standard Arabic) vocabulary and the pronunciation is more related to Fossha. This makes Fes an excellent place for students to learn Moroccan Arabic and then advance in their studies to also learn Modern Standard Arabic.
2. Fes has a rich history and culture
Due to its unique place as a historical and cultural center, the city of Fes offers the amenities of a large city while maintaining its traditional charm. Fes is the oldest city in Morocco, dating back to the 700s AD, and entering the medina is like stepping back in time. Founded by Moulay Idriss II and quickly settled by Arab immigrants from the East, the old city (Fes el-Bali) has numerous historical sites. The University of Al-Qarawiyyin, which was founded in 857, is considered by some to be the oldest continuously functioning institute of higher education in the world. One of the oldest tanneries in the world is also located in Fes el-Bali, and the entire Medina quarter is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and the world's oldest urban pedestrian zone (car-free area). An Imperial City, meaning that Fes served as the capital under several different dynastic reigns, Fes reached its Golden Era in the 13th-15th centuries; evidence of this era can be seen in the area called Fes Jdid. Fes was even the capital under the current dynasty (the Alaouite dynasty, of which King Mohammed VI is descended) until 1912. Fes is still considered the spiritual and cultural capital of Morocco.
3. The friendly people of Fes are curious and willing to converse with you
The key to learning any language is the opportunity to practice with native speakers. The people of Fes are friendly, curious, and willing to speak. Whether it be the taxi driver or the server at the coffee shop, you will find patient people excited to speak Moroccan Arabic with you. Compared to other large cities in Morocco, the people of Fes live more relaxed lives and have time for getting together. It is not uncommon for you to meet someone on the street, exchange Whatsapp numbers, then meet up later that day or week for coffee. You will probably not be able to keep up with all the people you meet in your neighborhood, market, and day-to-day life! Local people are generally curious to get to know you, so you will find yourself in dialogues rather than having to carry the weight of the conversation. Even if you meet someone at their work (shop owner, butcher, server), they will make the time to talk with you. It has been said that a language learner will make over 10,000 mistakes while striving to learn a language. You will discover that the people of Fes are very sympathetic to someone who wants to learn their language and will gladly listen to you and help you improve your language skills as you make thousands of mistakes.
4. The Fes Medina is the perfect place to experience Moroccan hospitality
Moroccan hospitality is legendary, with people quick to welcome you and make you feel comfortable. While exploring through the streets of the medina, you will sip tea or orange juice as you sit and converse with the shop owner. Do not be surprised if the hospitality extends to the home, where Moroccans feel honored to receive guests, even if it's spontaneous. If you are privileged to be invited for Friday couscous, you will learn not only the language but also the culture and traditions found in every Moroccan home.
Moroccans have a special way of welcoming their guests for a meal. When the host and guests surround the table of food, the host usually says repeatedly: “Kol/koli/kolu…zid kol!” This means, “Eat, eat…keep eating!” As a foreigner, don’t worry about how much you have to eat; the more they say this, the happier they are with having you with them sharing the meal. You can learn more about this legendary hospitality and experience it yourself through a homestay.
While doing a homestay, you will live with a Moroccan family and experience all the daily rhythms of life with them. Your food is provided—breakfast, lunch, dinner, and Moroccan tea, and you get to eat with the family while building friendships and language abilities. A homestay can last anywhere from one or two nights to a week or two, or even months. This gives you the perfect opportunity to deepen cultural understanding and grow in your language skills.
5. Fes has a low cost of living while providing accessibility to nearby places
While there are language centers throughout the country, you are likely to end up studying in one of the major cities. Compared to Marrakech, Casablanca, Rabat, and Tangier, the city of Fes boasts the lowest cost of living overall. The cities along the coast have a pleasant climate, but your dollars, euros, and pesos will last longer in Fes. (See some of our favorite things to do and eat in Fes here.)
Fes is the second largest city in Morocco in terms of population and is easily reachable by train and plane. The city of Fes has an airport with daily low-cost flights to many cities in Europe. For students and tourists seeking multiple stamps on their passports, Fes is a gateway city to many nearby European countries. From Casablanca, the train ride is only about 5 hours from Mohammed V International airport to the train station in Fes. The Gare (train station) in Fes also has daily train rides to just about anywhere else in the country. And for those who desire an escape to the Middle Atlas Mountains or the desert, Fes is a gateway city to the natural beauty around Ifrane and Azrou and the sand dunes of Merzouga.
Conclusion
Fes is a beautiful city where the old and new worlds collide, displaying the richness of Moroccan traditions and culture through time. It is certainly worth the visit, but even more so, if you are considering learning a language, especially Moroccan Arabic, then Fes is the best place for you to spend your time. Experience legendary hospitality, immerse yourself in the rich history and culture, take advantage of the affordability, meet ready conversation partners, and learn a dialect of Arabic that will serve you wherever you travel in Morocco.
And of course, we think our Moroccan Arabic program at our center in Fes will help you meet your language learning goals through our experienced teachers, structured material, and flexible scheduling. With our Darija program, in the first week, you'll learn words, expressions, and dialogues that you can start using right away. You will clearly notice your progress from the beginning, which will encourage you and keep you motivated for future learning.
Study Moroccan Arabic online or in-person in Morocco. We offer flexible scheduling and a structured learning approach that focuses on communication and cultural awareness.
Try a free trial session or placement test to see if our program is right for you. Just contact us at hello@crossroadsculturalexchange.com.
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The local dialect of Arabic in Morocco is called Darija (الدارجة), which means “everyday, colloquial language.” Modern Standard Arabic (MSA/Fossha), which is the international Arabic language, is used in writing and in official communication, but often feels somewhat artificial, or stuffy, because people don’t actually speak MSA.