Chleuh

Chleuh, also known as Shilha or Tashelhit, refers to the Soussi Berber community of southwestern Morocco and the language they speak. It designates a cluster of Berber dialects that form part of the larger Amazigh (Berber) language family. The term is widely used in ethnographic, linguistic, and regional contexts to describe both the people and their speech.

Geography and varieties: The Chleuh are concentrated in the Souss region, including cities such as Agadir, Taroudant, and Tiznit, with dialectal variation extending into the Atlantic coast and the Atlas foothills. Tashelhit is a major branch within the Berber language group and exists as a dialect continuum that blends with neighboring Amazigh varieties. The language is spoken by millions in Morocco and by diaspora communities in Europe.

Language and writing: Tashelhit (Chleuh) is a Berber language of the Afroasiatic family. It features its own phonology, morphology, and vocabulary that differentiate it from other Amazigh languages. Traditionally, Berber languages in the region have used the Tifinagh script; in modern times, Latin and Arabic scripts are also employed in education, media, and literature.

Culture and status: The Chleuh are part of the broader Amazigh cultural and linguistic heritage of Morocco. Islam is the predominant religion, with local customs varying by town and region. Since Morocco’s 2011 constitution, Amazigh languages, including Tashelhit, have official status alongside Arabic, and Tashelhit is used in regional media, education, and cultural initiatives within its areas.