The Verb “To Want”

Use bghit and related forms to say what different people want.

Reading the Latin spelling

This is a simplified learning transcription adapted from the source, not a phonetic alphabet. sh = ش, kh = خ, gh = غ, 3 = ع, and 7 = ح. The numbers represent sounds. Dotted ṣ, ṭ and ḍ mark emphatic consonants; doubled letters indicate a longer consonant. Regional pronunciation and spelling can vary.

A useful verb pattern

The source teaches bgha, “to want,” using forms shaped like the past tense but with a present meaning. It also notes a “to like” meaning in present-tense conjugation. This lesson focuses on the “want” forms actually listed below.

• I want

  بغيت

  bghit

• You want (singular)

  بغيتي

  bghiti

• He wants

  بغى

  bgha

• She wants

  بغات

  bghat

• We want

  بغينا

  bghina

• You want (plural)

  بغيتو

  bghitu

• They want

  بغاو

  bghau

Verb + noun examples

• I want tea.

  بغيت أتاي.

  bghit atay.

• Do you want coffee with sugar?

  واش بغيتي القهوة بالسكر؟

  wesh bghiti l-qhwa b skkar?

• Ali wants a glass of water.

  علي بغى كاس د الما.

  Ali bgha kas d l-ma.

• Driss and Fatima don’t want soda.

  دريس و فاطمة ما بغاوش المونادا.

  Driss u Fatima ma bghau-sh l-monada.

Compare bghau, “they want,” with ma bghau-sh, “they don’t want,” in the final example.

Source and audio

Adapted for LearnLahja from Peace Corps/Morocco, Basic Introduction to Arabic, lesson 27 (PDF page 22). English learning notes, layout and simplified Latin spelling are editorial adaptations. LearnLahja is independent and is not endorsed by Peace Corps.

Audio unavailable. The source names a recording covering lessons 25–27, but no playable recording has been verified for this lesson.