From words to mindsets: How Moroccan dialect shapes views on race and identity

As the world marks the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21, experts in Morocco are drawing attention to a less visible driver of inequality: everyday language.

While debates on discrimination often focus on laws and public policy, scholars say commonly used expressions in Moroccan Darija, can carry implicit biases that shape perceptions of identity, origin and social status.

“Language is not a neutral vessel,” said Khalid Touzani, a university professor and head of the Moroccan Center for Cultural Investment. “It reflects and reproduces social hierarchies, sometimes unconsciously.”

Touzani noted that certain widely used terms referring to regional or ethnic identities can carry negative connotations, even when used casually. These expressions, he said, often stem from historical and social dynamics, including legacies of the colonial period that contributed to divisions within Moroccan society.

He stressed that such language is rarely used with explicit intent to discriminate, but repeated usage can reinforce what he described as “symbolic discrimination” embedded in collective consciousness.

Touzani distinguished between inherited linguistic habits and deliberate discriminatory use. While many expressions are part of longstanding cultural patterns, he said their use in certain contexts can reinforce harmful stereotypes.

He called for awareness campaigns across education, media and public administration to encourage alternative expressions that preserve the spontaneity of Darija while avoiding discriminatory undertones.

“Changing a few terms can make a difference,” he said, urging institutions to lead by example in adopting inclusive language.

Mohamed Habib, a researcher in psychology and sociology, said the issue goes beyond vocabulary to deeper social representations shaped over time.

“It would be inaccurate to label Moroccan dialect itself as racist,” Habib said. “But some expressions carry implicit biases, what social psychology calls ‘implicit prejudice’, formed through repetition rather than intent.”

He explained that language not only reflects reality but also reconstructs it, making certain perceptions appear natural or unquestioned over time.

Still, Habib cautioned against placing too much responsibility on language alone, describing discrimination as a complex phenomenon influenced by economic, cultural and educational factors.

“Changing language is an important entry point,” he said. “But it must be accompanied by broader changes in education, socialization and media narratives.”

Both experts agreed that addressing discrimination in Morocco requires a comprehensive approach that extends beyond legal frameworks into daily life, where language plays a central role in shaping attitudes and social norms.