In every Moroccan home, café, and street corner, there’s one thing you’ll always hear, but never admit you love.
Fez – If you live in Morocco or have Moroccan friends, you know one thing for sure: Moroccans love to gossip.
It’s everywhere, at home, in the café, in the souk, and even at weddings and funerals. But why do we love it so much?
A social tradition
Gossip is not just talk; it’s part of our culture. In Morocco, people live close to each other.
Families are big, neighbors know everything, and everyone is connected.
In small towns, if someone sneezes, the whole street knows. Even in big cities, the habit has endured.
We grow up watching our parents and grandparents talk about people. Not in a bad way, just sharing news. “Did you hear about Fatima’s daughter? She got engaged!” or “I saw Ahmed driving a new car. Where did he get the money?”
Such inquisitive comments are natural in conversations across Morocco.
The café culture
For men, the café is more than a place to drink coffee. It’s a meeting spot, a news center.
They sit for hours, sip their tea, and discuss everything, politics, football, and of course, people’s lives.
If a neighbor buys a new house, if someone got divorced, or if there’s a new couple in town, they know.
Women’s gatherings
For women, gossip flows in a different way. The hair salon, the hammam, weddings, baby showers, these are all places where stories spread fast.
A woman visits a friend, and after five minutes, the real conversation starts: “Did you see what she wore?” “Her son failed his exams.” “They say her husband is jobless.”
Social media
Before, gossip stayed between people. Now, it’s online. Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, and Moroccans use them all to share news, rumors, and scandals.
A small fight in the street? Someone films it. A wedding dress that’s too modern? People comment.
A celebrity did do something strange? Everyone talks.
Social media turned gossip into a national sport. One click, and the whole country knows your business.
Life is not always easy. Gossip is fun. It’s a way to escape problems, to laugh, to connect.
When people sit together and talk about others, they feel entertained. Some say it’s bad, but let’s be honest, sometimes it makes life more exciting.
Is gossip bad?
Not always. Sharing news is normal. But when gossip turns into lies, jealousy, or destroys someone’s life, that’s when it becomes dangerous.
Moroccans will never stop gossiping. It’s in our blood, part of who we are.
The only question is: today, are you the one gossiping, or the one being gossiped about?
Read also: The Art of Moroccan Mom’s Side-Eye
