Learn Darija in 7 days · Day 3 of 7
Day 3: Shopping, prices and numbers
Today you go to the souk: ask the price, say it is too much, and follow the numbers in a real bargaining conversation.
Today’s phrases
Underlined phrases have their own free page with more examples.
| English | Darija | Arabic script | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | bshhal hada? | بشحال هادا؟ | bsh-HAAL HAA-da |
| Too expensive | ghali bezzaf | غالي بزاف | GHAA-lee bez-ZAAF |
| Can you lower the price? | nqes shwiya 'afak | نقص شوية عافاك | NQES SHWEE-ya AA-fak |
| What's your last price? | bshhal akhir taman? | بشحال آخر تمن؟ | bsh-HAAL AA-kheer TA-man |
| I'm just looking | ghir kanshuf | غير كنشوف | gheer kan-SHOOF |
| I want this one | bghit hada | بغيت هادا | BGHEET HAA-da |
| I don't want it | ma bghitsh | ما بغيتش | ma BGHEETSH |
The numbers in the conversation
You will hear these in the conversation below. All the numbers from 0 to 2000.
| English | Darija | Arabic script | Say it |
|---|---|---|---|
| 50 | khamsin | خمسين | kham-SEEN |
| 200 | myatayn | ميتين | mya-TAYN |
| 300 | tlatmya | تلتمية | tlat-MEE-ya |
| 400 | rbe'mya | ربعمية | rbe-MEE-ya |
Today’s pattern
Saying not
- To say you don't want or don't have something, these phrases wrap the word: ma in front and -sh at the end. bghit ... becomes ma bghitsh ..., and 'andi ... becomes ma 'andish ....
- ghali means It's expensive. Add bezzaf and it becomes ghali bezzaf.
- bshhal hada? and bghit hada share the word for this: hada.
In a real conversation
Bargaining in the souk
- Youbshhal hada?بشحال هادا؟How much is this?
- Sellerrbe'mya derhem.ربعمية درهم.Four hundred dirhams.
- Youghali bezzaf! myatayn.غالي بزاف! ميتين.Too expensive! Two hundred.
- Sellertlatmya, akhir taman.تلتمية، آخر تمن.Three hundred, last price.
- Youmyatayn w khamsin, wakha?ميتين وخمسين، واخا؟Two hundred and fifty, okay?
- Sellerwakha, mbruk 'lik.واخا، مبروك عليك.Okay. Enjoy it!
Good to know
- Bargaining is normal and friendly. Smile, take your time, and be ready to walk away.
- Prices in the souk are often said in 'riyals' (1 dirham = 20 riyals). Ask for dirhams to be sure.
Quick quiz
Say the Darija out loud first, then tap the phrase to check.
I don't want itShow the Darija
ma bghitsh
ما بغيتش
Say it: ma BGHEETSH
Can you lower the price?Show the Darija
nqes shwiya 'afak
نقص شوية عافاك
Say it: NQES SHWEE-ya AA-fak
How much is this?Show the Darija
bshhal hada?
بشحال هادا؟
Say it: bsh-HAAL HAA-da
I want this oneShow the Darija
bghit hada
بغيت هادا
Say it: BGHEET HAA-da
I'm just lookingShow the Darija
ghir kanshuf
غير كنشوف
Say it: gheer kan-SHOOF
Too expensiveShow the Darija
ghali bezzaf
غالي بزاف
Say it: GHAA-lee bez-ZAAF
What's your last price?Show the Darija
bshhal akhir taman?
بشحال آخر تمن؟
Say it: bsh-HAAL AA-kheer TA-man
Free finder, flashcards or the book?
Free phrase finder
Free, on this site
- 66 searchable phrases
- 20 free phrase pages with examples
- Latin letters, Arabic script and a “say it” guide
Darija Flashcards
$6, printable PDF
- 175 phrases on cards
- US Letter and A4
- Arabic script and the pronunciation guide on every card
Darija Pocket Phrasebook
$9.99, paperback on Amazon
- 305 phrases in 26 topics
- 6 real-life dialogues
- 131-word mini-dictionary
- Pronunciation guide, 5 x 8 in. pocket size
Take the phrases with you: the printable flashcards help you review, and the pocket phrasebook has every phrase in this course plus the six conversations.
Every phrase in this course comes from the word list of our Darija Pocket Phrasebook, which was checked in two separate passes: one for meaning, one for spelling.
How to read this page: in the "say it" guide, CAPITALS = stressed syllable. In the Darija spelling, ' = ع (a tight throat sound; just pause if you can't). Arabic script: spelling varies; this is common usage. (m) means said to a man, (f) means said to a woman.