why is French spoken in Morocco?

Question

If Morocco is an Arabic country why is French the native language

Answer 1

France controlled Morocco until 1956, when it was finally ousted. Many things done in Morocco still follow the way France did things, including the banking system, some business practices, etc. While the majority of people in Morocco do know a certain amount of French, there are many who know little or none. My husband's mother had parents who completely objected to French rule and refused to send her to a school where French was used. Instead she went to a private school where only Arabic was spoked and taught. As a result she knows some French, but not enough to call it her second language. (She actually speaks a version of Berber much better than she can speak French).

If you ever visit Morocco you will see the incluence of the French everywhere, especially in the architecture. Sadly, you will also find influences that have held back the country's development.

Also- some areas of northern Morocco use Spanish far more than they use French. My friend's fiancee knows no French and speaks only Spanish and Arabic.

Answer 2

Thumbs up to Terry.

To the asker. You said, "why is French the native language". It is not the native language. It is not even the 2nd really. Native to Morocco is several different dialects of Berber. Arabic came afterward, then French came with the occupation.

Answer 3

because of the french colony, the french wanted to take over morocco and algeria they came in the country left the language there and got kicked out...and k morocco is an arab country. it may be in the north of africa but the langugage that is used is ARABIC, everything about the north african countries has a relation to the different arab countries. they were just divided just to cause complication between arabs...but the good thing is its not working.

Answer 4

French Colonization! Not only is the language left here, there is still some of the French cuisine and culture here as well. Arabic is the first language but French is taught in most of the schools as a second language. I must add, it is sad to say that many people are looked down upon if they don't speak French. Thought to be "Uneducated" or just "common folk."

Answer 5

I think your question was answered correctly i just wanted to correct something, Morocco is Arab country and the Arab language is the language of morocco, that's what the constitution of the country says.

Answer 6

Terry and Sarah and a few others got it right. My mil's parents also did not send her to the French schools....but they were out in a village in Souss and there were no private schools either so she didn't go to school and spoke Berber. She picked up Arabic later and as an adult has gone to school to learn to read Arabic. :)

Oh and she knows some French but just what people use every day in speech.

My father in law, I believe he didn't go to school either having grown up in the same place, or at least he didn't go for many years. He ran off to Casa at the age of 12 or so and started working. He learned Arabic and French and learned to read both during the next couple of years.

France was used to teach many of the subjects in school until fairly recently.

Answer 7

Morocco was a French colony, as was a number of north African countries (ie: Algeria).

BTW, Morocco isn't an Arab country. It's a north African country.

Answer 8

Morroco used to be under Frank Control

Answer 9

morocco was once a french coloney

Answer 10

Same reason as America and Australia speak English - former colony....