Dutch Robbie Masters Darija: A Laughter-Filled Journey

A Journey of Language and Culture

During the lockdown, a Rotterdam native named Robbie embarked on an unexpected journey that would change his life. Initially, learning Darija wasn’t on his list of goals, but the global health crisis in 2020 forced him to stay at home. With time on his hands, he decided to learn a language that could help him connect with Moroccan patients and neighbors in the Netherlands.

Robbie, who is 28 years old, had always been surrounded by a diverse community, including many Moroccans. This environment sparked his interest in Darija, the colloquial Arabic dialect spoken in Morocco. He started with basic words and sentences, hoping to use them in his work as a nurse.

His job as a nurse required him to visit homes of different backgrounds, including those belonging to the Moroccan community. Learning Darija allowed him to communicate more effectively with patients, making the nurse-patient relationship better. "I thought if I visit Moroccan households, I can use those sentences," he recalled, emphasizing how it improved his work.

Like many others during the pandemic, Robbie turned to TikTok to share his progress. He made a video of the few Darija words he had learned, focusing on animal names, which he struggled to pronounce but found fun to share. The response was overwhelming; both Dutch and Moroccan viewers appreciated his efforts.

"I got a lot of appreciation; Moroccans reacted very positively: 'You're doing well!' My accent back then wasn't good, but they understood me and kept encouraging me," Robbie acknowledged. This encouragement motivated him to keep learning and exploring the culture, even though the guttural consonants were challenging.

Robbie mainly learned Darija through YouTube, watching videos for Moroccans learning English and Darija. He also continued making TikTok videos about everything he learned, aiming to make people laugh. His approach to learning was not just about memorizing words but also about enjoying the process.

To truly immerse himself in the language, Robbie decided to take a solo trip to Morocco in the summer of 2024. He visited 11 cities and used the Darija he had learned. He filmed every interaction and posted them on his social media, showing spontaneous and funny moments while allowing room for mistakes and learning.

"I can say everything I want, maybe with grammar mistakes or by phrasing it differently, but I can make myself clear," he explained. His journey was not just about language but also about discovering Moroccan culture. The hospitality and non-judgmental attitude of Moroccans toward people learning their language left a deep impression on him.

One aspect that Robbie still finds challenging is Moroccan humor. "Some expressions and humor in Darija don’t land for me... I might take idioms literally and miss the joke," he joked. Despite this, he continues to embrace the culture and its nuances.

This summer, Robbie returned to Morocco with his brother, who joined the quest of learning Darija. Together, they traveled across the country, making videos of their interactions in Darija and discovering the culture and customs.

However, their journey was not without some hilarious moments. One that stands out is when they decided to make a tajine. "I asked for '300 grams of kofta spices' instead of saying we had 300 g of meat and needed spices, we ended up with a mountain of spices and loads of vegetables for a tiny kofta tajine," he joked. "Also, we put cucumber on tajine," Robbie face-palmed.

Next on Robbie's list for Darija is learning Tarifit, a Berber language spoken in Morocco. He has started learning it and is having a lot of fun doing so. His journey from learning a few words to immersing himself in the culture is a testament to his dedication and passion for connecting with others through language.