How to Say I Love You in Moroccan Darija: Kanbghik
The Moroccan way to say "I love you" is kanbghik (كنبغيك). It is the word you hear in songs, in families and between couples, and it is the most searched Darija word on our Instagram page. This guide explains what it means, how to pronounce it, how to make it stronger, what to answer and the small words of love that go with it, each linked to its dictionary page with free audio.
Kanbghik: the word and what it really means
Kanbghik is built from three pieces: kan- (the present-tense marker, "I ... now"), bghi (the verb bgha, "to want, to like") and -k ("you"). Literally it says "I want you / I like you", and in Morocco that is exactly how you say "I love you". Say it kan-BGHIK: the gh is the French "r" sound, made at the back of the throat.
The same word works in every direction: a man says it to a woman, a woman to a man, a parent to a child. Only the person you add after it changes:
Kanbghik bzaf: how to say "I love you so much"
Add bzaf ("a lot, very much") and you get the phrase Moroccans use every day: kanbghik bzaf (كنبغيك بزاف), "I love you very much". You will also see it written kanbghik bzzaf or kanbghik bezaf; it is the same word. To go further:
- Kanbghik men 9albi كنبغيك من قلبي — I love you from my heart. (9albi)
- Kanmout 3lik كنموت عليك — I am crazy about you (literally "I die for you").
- Kan7ebbek كنحبك — I love you, from the Arabic word for love (7ob); warmer and a little more formal.
Tanbghik: the same word in some regions
In some regions of Morocco the present marker is ta- instead of ka-, so people say tanbghik (تنبغيك). It means exactly the same thing; use whichever you hear around you. Kanbrik, which you may see online, is only a misspelling of kanbghik.
Darling, my heart, my life: the words that go with it
- My darling (to a woman) — 7biba حبيبة, or 7bibti ("my darling") from a partner. To a man: 7bibi حبيبي. (7biba)
- My heart — 9albi قلبي. Nti 9albi, "you are my heart". (9albi)
- My soul — rou7i روحي.
- My life — 7yati حياتي.
The 7 in these words stands for the Arabic letter ح, a soft "h" from the throat, and the 9 for ق. This is the chat spelling Moroccans use on their phones, and the spelling the Darija translator understands.
What to answer when someone says kanbghik
"I like": the same verb for tea, Morocco and football
Because bgha means "to want, to like", the same verb covers everyday likes. Without the -k ending it is simply kanbghi + the thing: Kanbghi atay, "I like tea"; Kanbghi lMaghrib, "I love Morocco"; Kanbghi lkora, "I love football". And bghit (bghit) is "I want": Bghit atay, "I want tea".
I love you in Darija – FAQs
What does "kanbghik bzaf" mean?
"I love you very much." Kanbghik is "I love you" and bzaf is "a lot".
How do you say "I love you" to a girl in Moroccan Arabic?
Kanbghik — the word is the same for a man or a woman. Add a 7biba ("darling") or a 9albi ("my heart") after it.
What is the difference between kanbghik and tanbghik?
Nothing in meaning. Kanbghik is the most common form; tanbghik is what you hear in some regions of Morocco.
How do you reply to kanbghik?
W ana kanbghik ("and I love you") or 7ta ana ("me too").
Practice and Next Steps
Listen to kanbghik, 7biba and 9albi in the dictionary, then write your own sentence in the Moroccan Darija translator and hear it read aloud.
