The main languages I have encountered in Morocco are Arabic and French. English is definitely hit or miss. Sometimes I can find someone who speaks English, especially in larger cities, but often I cannot. As I have traveled through smaller towns by bicycle, I have found myself relying much more on other ways to communicate.
I have been using Google Translate and ChatGPT on my phone to translate what I need to say into Arabic or French. Sometimes technology works, and sometimes it is easier just to use hand signals, point at something, or try a few words in the local language. I always think it is a good idea to learn a few basic words wherever you travel, such as “please,” “thank you,” “hello,” “good morning,” and “water.” Even if you do not pronounce everything perfectly, making an effort goes a long way. And when all else fails, patience, hand signals, and a lot of smiles can get you surprisingly far.
Morocco uses the Moroccan dirham, abbreviated MAD. The exchange rate changes from day to day, but right now one U.S. dollar is worth about 9.5 Moroccan dirhams. An easy way for me to estimate prices is to think of 10 dirhams as roughly one U.S. dollar.
