Shopping for Clothes in Arabic: Phrases

Shopping for clothes in Arabic-speaking countries is a vibrant experience, from modern malls in Dubai to traditional souqs in Marrakech. This lesson teaches you how to find the perfect outfit, ask about sizes and colors, and bargain like a local.

Clothing Items

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
قميص	qamīṣ	shirt
فستان	fustān	dress
بنطلون	banṭalūn	pants / trousers
حذاء	hidhā’	shoe(s)
جوارب	jawārib	socks
سترة	sutra	jacket / sweater
معطف	mi3ṭaf	coat
حزام	ḥizām	belt
قبعة	qub3a	hat
نظارات	naẓẓārāt	glasses / sunglasses
حقيبة	ḥaqība	bag
وشاح	wishāḥ	scarf
فستان سهرة	fustān sahra	evening dress
بدلة	badla	suit
ملابس داخلية	malābis dākhiliyya	underwear

Sizes

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
صغير	ṣaghīr	small (S)
متوسط	mutawassiṭ	medium (M)
كبير	kabeer	large (L)
كبير جداً	kabeer jiddan	extra large (XL)
مقاس	miqās	size
مقاس واحد	miqās wāḥid	one size
ضيق	dayyiq	tight
فضفاض	faḍfāḍ	loose / baggy
طويل	ṭaweel	long
قصير	qaṣeer	short
واسع	wāsi3	wide / spacious

Colors for Shopping

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
أحمر	ahmar	red
أزرق	azraq	blue
أخضر	akhḍar	green
أصفر	asfar	yellow
أبيض	abyaḍ	white
أسود	aswad	black
بني	bunnī	brown
رمادي	ramaadī	gray
وردي	wardī	pink
برتقالي	burtuqaalī	orange
بنفسجي	banafsajī	purple
ذهبي	dhahabī	gold

Shopping Phrases

Arabic	Transliteration	Meaning
كم السعر؟	kam as-si’r?	how much does it cost?
بكم؟	bikam?	how much? (colloquial)
غالي جداً	ghālee jiddan	very expensive
رخيص	rakhīṣ	cheap
أريد قميصاً أزرقاً	urīdu qamīṣan azraq	I want a blue shirt
هل عندك هذا بحجم أكبر؟	hal 3indak haadha bi-ḥajm akbar?	do you have this in a larger size?
هل يمكنني تجربته؟	hal yumkinnee tajribatah?	can I try it on?
غرفة التبديل	ghurfat at-tabdīl	fitting room
أريد أن أشتري…	urīdu an ashtarī…	I want to buy…
هل هذا يناسبني؟	hal haadha yunāsibnee?	does this suit me?
لا يعجبني	lā ya3jibnee	I don’t like it
آخر سعر؟	ākhir si’r?	final price?
أدفع كاش	adfa3 kāsh	I’ll pay cash
بطاقة	biṭāqa	card
فاتورة	fātūra	receipt / bill

Dialogue: At the Clothing Store

Shopping for a shirt

A
ahlan, kayfa ḥaaluk?Hello, how are you?
B
bi-khayr shukran. urīdu qamīṣanFine, thank you. I want a shirt
A
tafaddal, haadhihi qumṣān jamīlaHere, these are beautiful shirts
B
urīdu azraq, hal 3indak azraq?I want blue, do you have blue?
A
na3am, tafaddal. haadha azraq fātiḥYes, here. This is light blue
B
jamīl. kam as-si'r?Beautiful. How much?
A
mi'atu riyālOne hundred riyals
B
ghālee! mumkin khamsheene riyāl?Expensive! How about fifty?
A
sab'een ākhir si'rSeventy final price
B
tamaam, adfa3 kāshPerfect, I'll pay cash

Dialogue: At the Shoe Store

Buying shoes

A
marhaban, abḥathu 3an hidhā'Hello, I'm looking for shoes
B
tafaddal, haadha hidhā' riyāḍī jamīlHere, these are nice sports shoes
A
hal 3indak bi-miqās akbar?Do you have a larger size?
B
na3am, intaẓir lahẓaYes, wait a moment
A
tafaddal, haadha miqās akbarHere, this is a larger size
B
mumtāz. kam?Excellent. How much?
A
mi'atu wa khamsūna riyālOne hundred and fifty riyals
B
mumkin taqlees as-si'r?Can you reduce the price?
A
mi'atu wa thalātheene ākhir si'rOne hundred thirty final price
B
tamaam, shukran jazeelanPerfect, thank you very much

Bargaining Tips for Clothes

Start by offering about half the asking price
Be polite and smile — bargaining is expected in markets
If the price is too high, you can walk away — sellers often call you back
Use غالي جداً (very expensive) to show you think the price is high
Use آخر سعر (final price) to seal the deal
In malls and modern stores, prices are fixed — no bargaining
Always try on clothes before buying when possible

Cultural Notes

Modest clothing is appreciated in many Arab countries
In Gulf countries, traditional dress is ثوب (thobe) for men and عباءة (abaya) for women
Shopping is a social activity — expect friendly conversation
Many shops offer tea or coffee while you browse
Credit cards are widely accepted in cities, but cash is preferred in markets
Keep your receipt (فاتورة) for returns

Practice

How do you say 'I want a blue shirt' in Arabic?

hint: Use 'أريد' for 'I want'

What is 'غرفة التبديل' in English?

hint: Where you try on clothes

How do you ask 'how much does it cost?' in Arabic?

hint: Think of 'how much the price?'

What does 'غالي جداً' mean?

hint: 'غالي' means expensive

Match each pair — start with Arabic (left)

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Arabic

English

← Select an Arabic word, then tap its meaning →

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Shopping for Clothes