Markets & Souvenirs

1. بكم هذا؟

   bi-kam hādhā?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking the price at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   "Bikam" asks for a price. Use "hādhā" for masculine nouns and "hādhihi" for feminine

2. هل يمكن التفاوض على السعر؟

   hal yumkinu at-tafāwuḍ ʿalā as-siʿr?

   Can I bargain on the price?

   Usage

   Asking whether the price is negotiable

   Grammar Note

   "Hal" forms yes/no questions. Bargaining is common in Arab markets

3. سأعطيك عشرين دولاراً

   saʾuʿṭīka ʿishrīn dūlāran

   I'll offer twenty dollars

   Usage

   Offering a counter-price during bargaining

   Grammar Note

   "Sa-" prefix marks the immediate future. Replace the currency to match the destination

4. هل يمكنك إعطائي خصماً؟

   hal yumkinuka iʿṭāʾī khaṣman?

   Can you give me a discount?

   Usage

   Directly requesting a discount

   Grammar Note

   "Khasm" means discount. Adding "kathīran" emphasizes the amount you want off

5. هل هذا مصنوع يدوياً؟

   hal hādhā maṣnūʿ yadawiyyan?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Checking whether a craft item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "Yadawiyyan" is the adverbial form for "by hand". Replace with "maḥalliyyan" to ask if it is locally made

6. من أي مادة هذا مصنوع؟

   min ayyi māddatin hādhā maṣnūʿ?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking about the material or fabric

   Grammar Note

   "Māddah" means material. Useful to know ḥarīr (silk), quṭn (cotton), jild (leather)

7. هل يمكنك تغليفه كهدية؟

   hal yumkinuka taghlīfahu ka-hadiyya?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping for a present

   Grammar Note

   "Ka-hadiyya" means "as a gift". Some Arab market shops offer decorative wrapping

8. أين السوق الليلي؟

   ayna as-sūq al-laylī?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   "Ayna" is the "where" question word. Night markets are cultural hubs in many Middle Eastern cities

9. هل يمكنني الحصول على إيصال؟

   hal yumkinunī al-ḥuṣūl ʿalā īṣāl?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Asking for a receipt after purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Īṣāl" is the formal word for receipt. "Waṣl" is more common in informal market settings

10. ما هي مواعيد عمل السوق؟

    mā hiya mawāʿīd ʿamal as-sūq?

    What are the market opening hours?

    Usage

    Checking when the market opens and closes

    Grammar Note

    In Arab countries, markets may close during the midday siesta (qaylūla)

11. أنا أتفرج فقط، شكراً

    anā atafarraj fa-qaṭ, shukran

    I'm just looking, thank you

    Usage

    Politely declining a sales pitch while window-shopping

    Grammar Note

    "Faqaṭ" means "only/just". Useful in bazaars where shopkeepers often approach browsing visitors

12. هل تقبلون البطاقة الائتمانية؟

    hal taqbalūna al-biṭāqa al-iʾtimāniyya?

    Do you accept card payment?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    Many markets and street vendors are cash-only. Always confirm before selecting items

13. أشتري هذا هدية لشخص ما

    ashtarī hādhā hadiyyatan li-shakhṣin mā

    I'm buying this as a gift for someone

    Usage

    Telling the seller this purchase is a gift for someone

    Grammar Note

    "Li-shakhṣin mā" means "for someone". Mentioning it is a gift may prompt extra services

14. هل يمكن شحن هذا دولياً؟

    hal yumkinu shaḥnu hādhā duwaliyyan?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking whether a large item can be shipped abroad

    Grammar Note

    "Duwaliyyan" is the adverbial form of "international". Essential when buying large crafts

15. ما هو أفضل منتج لديك؟

    mā huwa afḍal muntaj ladayka?

    What is your best item?

    Usage

    Asking the shopkeeper for their top item

    Grammar Note

    "Afḍal" is the elative/superlative. "Ladayka" means "at your place / in your stock"

16. هل السعر قابل للتفاوض؟

    hal as-siʿr qābil lil-tafāwuḍ?

    Is this price negotiable?

    Usage

    Directly asking if the price is fixed or open to negotiation

    Grammar Note

    "Qābil lil-tafāwuḍ" is the standard phrase for "negotiable". Expect a yes in bazaars

17. هل لديك مقاس مختلف؟

    hal ladayka maqās mukhtalif?

    Do you have a different size?

    Usage

    Looking for a different size of clothing or goods

    Grammar Note

    Add "akbar" (bigger) or "aṣghar" (smaller) to be more specific about what size you want

18. هذا غالٍ جداً

    hādhā ghālin jiddan

    This is too expensive

    Usage

    Expressing that the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "Jiddan" intensifies the adjective. Replace with "qalīlan" (a little) for a softer approach

19. ملح

    milḥ

    Salt

    Usage

    Shown when pointing at a seasoning in a market or eatery

20. سكر

    sukkar

    Sugar

    Usage

    Shown when pointing at a seasoning in a market or eatery

21. فلفل أسود

    filfil aswad

    Black pepper

    Usage

    Aswad (black) is kept because filfil alone also covers bell peppers and chilies

22. زيت طعام

    zayt ṭaʿām

    Cooking oil

    Usage

    Ṭaʿām (food) is kept because zayt alone can also mean petroleum

23. خل

    khall

    Vinegar

    Usage

    Shown when pointing at a seasoning in a market or eatery

24. زبدة

    zubda

    Butter

    Usage

    Also used when checking for dairy you need to avoid

25. جبنة

    jubna

    Cheese

    Usage

    Also used when checking for dairy you need to avoid

26. عسل

    ʿasal

    Honey

    Usage

    Shown when buying it at a market

27. زبادي

    zabādī

    Yogurt

    Usage

    Understood in Egypt and the Gulf; the Levant says laban, but in Egypt laban means milk

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