In English to express the future, some of the ways is using the verb “will” or this form “be going to“.
In the French language, one of the future tense forms is using the verb “Aller” in present tense + the verb in the infinitive form.
In DARIJA, to express the future tense, we use the word “Ghadi“. So, if Moroccans are talking and you hear this word, that means they are talking about the future.
NB: you may need to check first the lesson about the present conjugation in Moroccan Arabic to understand this lesson.
Contents
The Future Tense Form in DARIJA
Express The Future Tense: “Ghadi” or “Gha”
To form the future tense in Darija, take the present tense form of the verb, drop the prefix “ka“, and add the word “Ghadi” or shortened to “Gha” attached to the verb :
” Ghadi ” or ” Gha “+ The Verb in present tense without the prefix “KA”
Compared to Algerian and Tunisian people, Moroccans are known to speak very quickly. So, you may not hear the word “Ghadi ” or the prefix “Gha”. But, paying also attention to words like tomorrow (Ghedda), after (ba3d), later (mn ba3d) will help you to guess if the speaker is talking about the future or not.
The verb to travel “Safr” in Future Tense
The verb to travel ” Safr” in Present Tense : Ana Kansafr, Nta Katsafr, Nti Katsafri, Howa Kaysafr, Hiya Katsafr, 7na Kansafro, Ntouma Katsafro, Houma Kaysafro.
We drop the prefix “KA” : Ana Kansafr, Nta Katsafr, Nti Katsafri, Howa Kaysafr, Hiya Katsafr, 7na Kansafro, Ntouma Katsafro, Houma Kaysafro.
So the verb to travel “Safr” in Future Tense will be as follows:
I will travel Ghadi nsafr / Ghansafr
You will travel (Masc Sing) Ghadi tsafr / Ghatsafr
You will travel (Fem Sing) Ghadi tsafri / Ghatsafri
He will travel Ghadi ysafr / Ghaysafr
She will travel Ghadi tsafr / Ghatsafr
We will travel Ghadi nsafro / Ghansafro
You will travel (Plur) Ghadi tsafro / Ghatsafro
They will travel Ghadi ysafro / Ghaysafro
Feminine and Plural form of “Ghadi”
Ghadi may be used with a feminine form “Ghadya” and the plural form “Ghadyin” in some places as shown in the following example:
I will travel (Masc) Ghadi nsafr
I will travel (Fem) Ghadya nsafr
You will travel (Masc Sing) Ghadi tsafr
You will travel (Fem Sing) Ghadya tsafri
He will travel Ghadi ysafr
She will travel Ghadya tsafr
We will travel Ghadyin nsafro
You will travel (Plur) Ghadyin tsafro
They will travel Ghadyin ysafro
Examples of sentences:
Ghadi nsafr ba3d ghedda: I will travel after tomorrow.
Ghansafr ba3d ghedda: I will travel after tomorrow.
Ghadya nsafr ba3d ghedda: I (Fem) will travel after tomorrow.
Ghadi ntasl bik ghedda: I will call you tomorrow.
Ghantasl bik ghedda: I will call you tomorrow.
Ghadi n3tik ghir 200 darhm: I will give you just 200 dhs.
Ghan3tik ghir 200 darhm: I will give you just 200 dhs.
Ghadi ngls m3akoum 3chr ayam: I am going to spend 10 days with you.
Ghangls m3akoum 3chr ayam: I am going to spend 10 days with you.
Second Meaning of The Word “Ghadi”
The interesting thing about this word is that it can also be used as the meaning of “Going” in English.
Examples of sentences:
Ana ghadi L dar: I (Masc) am going home.
Ana ghadya L dar: I (Fem) am going home.
7na ghadyin L mdrasa: We are going to school.