Talking about money is one of the most confusing aspects of Moroccan Darija for learners, visitors, and even some Moroccans themselves. While the official currency of Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham, daily conversations rarely follow official terminology. Instead, people rely on older units, slang, and mental shortcuts that can sound overwhelming at first.

This lesson explains how Money in Moroccan Darija is actually spoken, why prices often sound much higher than they really are, and how you can quickly understand what people mean without stress.

The Official Currency vs. Spoken Darija

The official currency of Morocco is the Moroccan Dirham (MAD).

• 1 dirham equals 100 centimes
  

However, in everyday speech, (especially in popular areas ) Moroccans rarely say “dirham” or “centime.” Instead, you will hear terms like ryal, franc, or even million. These words are not random. They follow a cultural logic that has been passed down for generations.

Understanding this system is essential if you want to shop, negotiate, or simply avoid confusion.

Moroccan Currency Conversion Rule to Remember

If you remember only one rule, remember this:

Divide by 20 to get the price in dirhams.

For Money in Moroccan Darija , In many everyday situations, people speak in ryal without saying the word. When someone gives you a number that seems too high, dividing it by 20 usually reveals the real price in dirhams.

For example:
Someone says 400 ryals.
400 divided by 20 equals 20 dirhams.

This simple rule explains most market conversations.

What Is Ryal in Moroccan Darija?

Ryal is an old unit that is still widely used in speech.

• 1 dirham equals 20 ryal
  
• 1 ryal equals 0.05 dirham
  

This means that prices are often expressed in ryal, especially for small and medium amounts.

Common examples:

• 20 ryal equals 1 dirham
  
• 100 ryal equals 5 dirhams
  
• 200 ryal equals 10 dirhams
  
• 1,000 ryal equals 50 dirhams
  

In markets, people often say only the number, assuming you already know the unit.

If a seller says “800,” they usually mean 800 ryal, which equals 40 dirhams.

Why Prices Sound Exaggerated in Morocco

New Moroccan Darija learners are often surprised when they hear large numbers for small purchases. This happens because Moroccans usually omit the unit. Instead of saying “22 dirhams,” someone might simply say “440.”

This means 440 ryal, which equals 22 dirhams. understanding Money in Moroccan Darija can save you money.

Locals instantly understand this, but for learners it can sound shocking until the logic becomes familiar.

Understanding “Million” in Moroccan Darija

The word “million” causes the most confusion.

In Moroccan Darija, when people say “million,” they mean one million centimes, not one million dirhams.

• 1 million centimes equals 10,000 dirhams
  

So:

• 1 million means 10,000 dirhams
  
• 5 million means 50,000 dirhams
  
• 8 million means 80,000 dirhams
  

If someone says a house costs “8 million,” they are saying it costs eighty thousand dirhams, not eight million dirhams.

There is no such thing as one million ryal in everyday Moroccan speech.

Learn more about Numbers in Moroccan Darija
You may also like: Master Price Negotiation in Moroccan Darija

Franc and Centime Usage

Another term you will hear is “franc,” especially from older generations.

In practice:

• 1 franc equals 1 centime
  
• 100 francs equal 1 dirham and also 100 centimes equal 1 dirham
  

This means:

• 10,000 francs equal 100 dirhams
  
• 100,000 francs equal 1,000 dirhams
  
• 1 million francs equal 10,000 dirhams
  

This explains why “franc” and “million” often overlap in meaning. Both are based on centimes rather than dirhams.

Common Slang Words for Money in Moroccan Darija

Moroccan Darija includes many informal terms for specific amounts of money. These are widely understood and often used casually.

Some common examples include:

• Fayva for 5 dirhams, comes from “five”
  
• 7emra for 10 dirhams. “7mer” means red. The old 10-dirham bill was red and no longer exists
  
• Alf franc for 10 dirhams. Alf franc means one thousand francs
  
• Khedralf for 50 dirhams. “Khdar” means green, referring to the color of the bill
  
• Wri9a for 100 dirhams. “Wri9a” means one paper
  
• Zer9alaf for 200 dirhams. “Zra9” means blue, referring to the color of the bill
  
• Brika for 10,000 dirhams. This is a large amount for many Moroccans. “Brika” comes from building brick, because it represents a big block of money

Want to hear how these words are pronounced and learn even more vocabulary? Follow us on Instagram and Pinterest where we share daily Darija words, audio clips, and tips to boost your learning!

How the System Changes by Price Range

Moroccans naturally change how they speak about money depending on the amount.

From 0 to 5 dirhams

Prices are usually spoken in ryal.
Example: 3 dirhams becomes 60 ryal. We simply multiply by 20.

From 5 to 50 dirhams

Hundreds of ryal are commonly used.
Example: 43 dirhams becomes 860 ryal. 43×20 = 860 ryal.

From 50 to 10,000 dirhams

Thousands of ryal are used.
Example: 1,000 ryal equals 50 dirhams.

Above 10,000 dirhams

Prices are usually spoken in million (centimes).
1 dirham equals 100 centimes, so 10,000 dirhams equals 1 million.
When people in Morocco say “1M,” they mean 10,000 dirhams.

This system is not taught formally. It is absorbed naturally through daily life.

A Special Case: Northern Morocco

In northern regions of Morocco, such as Tangier, Tetouan, and Chefchaouen, ryal can have a different value.

• 1 ryal equals 0.50 dirham instead of 0.05
  

Because of this difference, even Moroccans from other regions can get confused in the north. The good news is that people there usually specify the unit clearly to avoid misunderstandings.

Useful Phrases When You Are Confused

If you are unsure about a price, these phrases are very helpful:

• “Bsh7al b-dirham?”
  How much in dirhams?
  
• “Ghir goulha liya b-dh.”
  Just tell me in dirhams.
  
• “Ma fhemtsh, bsh7al?”
  I did not understand, how much?
  

Most Moroccans are happy to clarify when asked politely.

Money in Moroccan Darija

Understanding Money in Moroccan Darija takes time, but it is one of the most rewarding skills for real-life communication. Once you understand ryal, million, and the divide-by-20 rule, prices start to make sense, and conversations feel much more natural.

Even many Moroccans admit they prefer hearing prices directly in dirhams. Take your time, ask questions, and trust that with practice, this system will become familiar.

FAQs about Money in Moroccan Darija