Riffian (Tarifit / ⵜⴰⵔⵉⴼⵉⵜ‎ / تاريفيت‎)

Riffian is a member of the Northern Zenati branch of the Berber language family. It is spoken mainly in the Rif region of northern Morocco, and also in nearby parts of western Algeria, by about 4.3 million people.

In Morocco, Riffian is spoken mainly in the provinces of Al Hoceima, Nador, Driouch and Berkane, and also in Tangier, Oujda, Tetouan and Larache. There were about 4.24 million speakers 2016. In Algeria it is spoken in Oran and Tlemcen provinces, and in 2010 there were about 126,000 speakers. There are also communities of Riffian speakers in Belgium, the Netherlands and a few other countries.

Riffian is also known as Tarifit, Arrif, Northern Shilha, Rif, Rif Berber, Riff, Rifia, Rifiya, Ruafa, Shilha, Tamazight, Tarifiyt, Tarifyt Berber, Tmaziɣt or Tmazight.

Riffian has been written with versions of the Arabic, Tifinagh (Berber), and Latin alphabets. It is used to some extent in literature and newspapers, on the radio and TV, and parts of the Bible have been translated into it.

Latin alphabet for Riffian

Latin alphabet for Riffian

Tifinagh alphabet for Riffian

Tifinagh alphabet for Riffian

Download alphabet charts for Riffian (Excel)

Hear how to pronounce Riffian:

Sample text

Ijen n nhar, Baba-s n Jaḥa iuch-as suntim, ḥuma ad isɣ azdjif n tixsi. Isɣa t, icca aysum nns ikmel tqqim-as ɣir ixsan ixwan. Yiwitid ɣar baba-s uca wami iẓṛit isɣuy khafes : " Manaya ? " Inn-as: " Azdjif n tixsi".
-Maca mani djan imjjan nns ay amchum ?
- Tuɣa war tssri -Mani djant tiṭṭawan nns ?
- Tuɣa war ttwiri
-Mani yidja ires nns ?
- Tuɣa war tsiwir
-Mani yidja Irem uzedjif nns ?
- Tuɣa-t taqchart

Source: https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ghomari#Exemple_de_texte

Translation

One day, Jehha's father gave him a franc to buy a sheep's head. He bought it and then ate all the meat. Only an empty carcass was left, which he brought to his father. Then, when he saw it, he cried out, "What is it?" Jehha replied, "A sheep's head."
"You rascal, where are his (sheep's) ears?"
"He was deaf."
"Where are his eyes?"
"He was blind."
"Where is his tongue?"
"He was mute."
"And the skin on his head, where is it?"
"He was bald."

Sample of spoken in Riffian

Information about Rifian | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about the Riffian language
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Riffian_language
https://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Idioma_rifeño
https://www.ethnologue.com/language/rif
http://menalafkioui.weebly.com/uploads/7/2/9/5/7295665/le_rifain_et_son_orthographe-lafkioui-2002.pdf

Berber languages

Ancient Berber, Ghadamès, Ghomara, Guanche, Kabyle, Riffian, Shilha (Tashelhit), Shawiya, Shenwa, Siwi, Tamahaq, Tamasheq, Tamazight, Tawallammat Tamajaq, Tayart Tamajeq, Zenaga, Zuwara Berber

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Languages written with the Tifinagh alphabet

Kabyle, Riffian, Shilha (Tashelhit), Siwi, Tamasheq, Tamazight, Tayart Tamajeq

Page last modified: 06.07.25

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