During lockdown, Rotterdam native Robbie began learning Darija to better connect with Moroccan patients and neighbors in the Netherlands. His journey—from TikTok videos to solo travels across Morocco—turned into a cultural adventure filled with laughter, hospitality, and a growing love for Moroccan languages. Learning Darija was never on the bucket list of Robbie, a Rotterdam native, who in the 2020 global health crisis found himself, like the rest of the world, confined to his house. Bored and with a lot of time to kill, the young man decided to learn a language, one he could use in the Netherlands. He thought of French or Spanish, but realized he doesn't meet many speakers in his hometown. However, Darija was the choice he ended up with. «I grew up with a lot of ethnicities and with Moroccans all around, so I decided to learn some Darija, just some words and sentences I could use», the 28-year-old Robbie told Yabiladi in a candid interview. What also encouraged Robbie to learn Darija is the nature of his job. As a nurse, he enters homes in the Netherlands of different backgrounds, including those belonging to the Moroccan community. «I thought if I visit Moroccan households I can use those sentences», he recalled, adding that it «makes the work and the nurse–patient relationship much better». Like many youngsters his age during the Covid-19 lockdown, Robbie took to TikTok, making a video of the few Darija words he had learned, basic animal words that he struggled to pronounce but had fun sharing, and it resonated with people who followed him, Dutch and Moroccans alike. «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. That encouragement is what kept him going, wanting to know more, learn more Darija words, and understand the culture, although challenging at the beginning with guttural (throat) consonants. «My best friend since I was nine is Moroccan so I am familiar with these sounds, but pronouncing them was hard», he joked. Robbie did much of his Darija learning through YouTube, watching videos for Moroccans learning English and Darija, and he kept making videos on TikTok about everything he learned, «to make people laugh», he said. Learning Darija with laughter But to really learn Darija, practice it every day, Robbie learned that he couldn't just rely on his Moroccan friends in the Netherlands. He decided he should go on a solo trip to Morocco to fully immerse. «In summer 2024, I did a solo trip across Morocco, visiting 11 cities and using the Darija I had», he recalled. Robbie filmed every interaction and posted them on his social media, spontaneous and funny, 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. With his Darija learning journey came also discovering the Moroccan culture. Hospitality and the non-judgment of Moroccans toward people learning their language is what struck Robbie. «Moroccans are very hospitable and proud of their culture», he said. «I've been invited by people who didn't even know me, neighbors, family friends. That care is beautiful», he said. One thing that Robbie is still struggling to grasp is Moroccan humour. «Some expressions and humor in Darija don't land for me … I might take idioms literally and miss the joke», he joked. This summer, Robbie came back to Morocco with his brother, who joined the quest of learning Darija. Together they traveled Morocco, making videos of their interactions in Darija and discovering the culture and customs. But that doesn't pass without some hilarious moments. One that resonates with Robbie is when his brother and he 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 the list for RobbieDarija, on social media, is Tarifit, which he has started learning, and he's having a lot of fun doing so.
