Morocco (/m?'r?ko?/), officially the Kingdom of Morocco, is a country in the Maghreb region of North Africa. It overlooks the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Atlantic Ocean to the west, and has land borders with Algeria to the east, and the disputed territory of Western Sahara to the south.

The official, "real" name of Morocco in English is the Kingdom of Morocco. In Arabic, the country's formal name is Al-Mamlakah al-Maghribiyah, which literally translates to "The Western Kingdom." This name is often shortened to Al-Maghrib, meaning "The West" or "The Place where the Sun Sets," reflecting its position as the westernmost part of the Arab world. In the native Berber (Amazigh) language, which gained official status alongside Arabic, the country is known as Lmaghrib. Interestingly, the English name "Morocco" is actually derived from the city name Marrakech, which served as the capital during several historic dynasties. When European traders and diplomats visited the "Kingdom of Marrakech," the name eventually evolved into "Morocco" to describe the entire nation. In 2026, the country continues to emphasize its dual Arab and Amazigh identity under the reign of King Mohammed VI, making it one of the few stable monarchies in the region. Whether you call it Morocco, Maghrib, or the Kingdom, the "real" name reflects its unique geographical and cultural status as the gateway between Africa and Europe.