The languages of Morocco are classical Arabic as an official language (it is the "classical" Arabic of the Qur'an, literature and news media), also the country has a distinctive dialect of Arabic known as Moroccan Arabic or Darija. Approximately 12 million Moroccans speak Berber, which exists in Morocco in three different dialects (Tarifit, Tachelhit, and Tamazight) — either as a first language or bilingually with the spoken Arabic dialect.

French, which remains Morocco's unofficial second language, is taught universally and still serves as Morocco's primary language of commerce and economics; it is also widely used in education and government. Morocco is a member of La Francophonie. Amazigh (Berber) activists have struggled for half a century for the recognition of their language as the official language of Morocco in the Moroccan constitution. They also demand that this language should be taught in all Moroccan schools and universities.

Arabic is Morocco's only official language although it is the Moroccan dialect of Arabic, namely Darija that is spoken or understood, frequently as a second language, by the great majority of the population (about 85% of the total population).

The exact population of Berber speakers is hard to ascertain, since most North African countries do not record language data in their censuses. The Ethnologue provides a useful academic starting point; however, its bibliographic references are inadequate, and it rates its own accuracy at only B-C for the area. Early colonial censuses may provide better documented figures for some countries; however, these are also very much out of date. It is generally assumed that at least 55-70% of the Moroccan population, maybe more, are native Berber speakers.

About 20,000 Moroccans in the northern part of the country speak Spanish. English, while still far behind French and Spanish in terms of the number of speakers, is rapidly becoming the second foreign language of choice among educated youth, after French. As a result of national education reforms entering into force in late 2002, English will be taught in all public schools from the fourth year on.