Shopping at the souq (market) is a daily activity in Arab culture. Whether you are buying vegetables, clothes, or souvenirs, these phrases will help you navigate the market, ask prices, and bargain effectively. Bargaining is expected in many markets and is considered a social interaction, not just a transaction.
At the Market
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| كم السعر؟ | kam as-si’r? | how much does it cost? |
| بكم؟ | bikam? | how much? (colloquial) |
| غالي | ghālee | expensive |
| رخيص | rakhīṣ | cheap |
| أريد… | urīd… | I want… |
| عطيني… | 3aṭṭeenī… | give me… (colloquial) |
| شوية | shwayya | a little / some |
| أكثر | akthar | more |
| أقل | aqall | less |
| كله | kulluhu | all of it |
| نص | niṣṣ | half |
| ممكن أساعدك؟ | mumkin as3idak? | can I help you? |
| لا شكراً | lā shukran | no, thank you |
| دفع | daf3 | payment |
| كاش | kāsh | cash |
| بطاقة | biṭāqa | card |
| تفضل | tafaddal | here you go |
| لا بأس | lā ba’s | no problem |
| من فضلك | min faḍlak | please |
Useful Expressions
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| هل عندك…؟ | hal 3indak…? | do you have…? |
| أنا أشتري… | ana ashtarī… | I am buying… |
| أين الدكان؟ | ayna ad-dukkān? | where is the shop? |
| هل هذا طازج؟ | hal haadha ṭaazij? | is this fresh? |
| هل يمكن تقليص السعر؟ | hal yumkin taqlees as-si’r? | can you reduce the price? |
| آخر سعر؟ | ākhir si’r? | final price? |
Numbers for Shopping
| Arabic | Transliteration | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| واحد | waahid | one |
| اثنان | ithnaan | two |
| ثلاثة | thalaatha | three |
| خمسة | khamsa | five |
| عشرة | ashara | ten |
| عشرين | ishreene | twenty |
| خمسين | khamsheene | fifty |
| مئة | mi’a | hundred |
Dialogue at the Souq
Buying vegetables
- Amarhaban, kayfa ḥaaluk?Hello, how are you?
- Bal-ḥamdu lillāh, bi-khayr. urīd tamaatimPraise God, I'm fine. I want tomatoes
- Atafaddal, ṭaazijaHere you go, fresh
- Bkam as-si'r?How much does it cost?
- Akhamsatu riyālāt al-kīlūFive riyals per kilo
- Bghālee jiddan! mumkin arba3u riyālāt?Very expensive! How about four riyals?
- Akhamsa wa ana a3ṭeek al-mawz majānanFive and I'll give you the bananas for free
- Btamaam, shukranPerfect, thank you
Dialogue: Buying Clothes
Shopping for clothes
- Ahal tabḥathu 3an shay'?Are you looking for something?
- Bna3am, urīdu qameeṣan abyaḍYes, I want a white shirt
- Atafaddal, haadha qameeṣun jamīlHere, this is a nice shirt
- Bkam as-si'r?How much?
- Ami'atu riyālOne hundred riyals
- Bghālee! mumkin khamsheene riyāl?Expensive! How about fifty?
- Asab'een wa ana a3ṭeek ḥizāman majānanSeventy and I'll give you a belt for free
- Btamaam, adfa3 kāshPerfect, I'll pay cash
Bargaining Tips
- Always start by asking the price and then offering about half
- Be polite and smile — bargaining is a social activity
- If the price is too high, you can walk away — the seller may call you back
- Use غالي جداً (very expensive) to show you think the price is high
- Use تمام (perfect) when you agree on a price
Practice
How do you ask 'how much does it cost?' in Arabic?
hint: Think of 'how much the price?'
What is the Arabic word for 'expensive'?
hint: It's the opposite of 'cheap'
How do you say 'I want tomatoes' in Arabic?
hint: Use 'أريد' for 'I want'
Match each pair — start with Arabic (left)
0 / 8Arabic
English
← Select an Arabic word, then tap its meaning →
Ready for the cafe? Continue to At the Cafe.
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