Shopping

1. ده غالي أوي

   Da ghāli awi

   This is too expensive

   Usage

   The opening line of haggling after hearing a price. Say it with a smile.

   Grammar Note

   A verbless sentence of demonstrative + adjective. For a feminine noun use دي and غالية. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

2. فيه خصم؟

   Fīh khaṣm?

   Is there a discount?

   Usage

   A standard way to open a negotiation. Bargaining is expected in the bazaars.

   Grammar Note

   فيه ("there is") with rising intonation becomes a question. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

3. عندك أرخص من كده؟

   ʿAndak arkhaṣ min kida?

   Do you have anything cheaper than this?

   Usage

   For finding a cheaper item. To a woman the spelling is the same, read ʿandik.

   Grammar Note

   The comparative has the pattern أ + root (رخيص → أرخص). Composed from dictionary-verified words.

4. هاخد ده

   Hākhud da

   I will take this

   Usage

   What you say once you decide to buy. A woman says the same.

   Grammar Note

   هـ + imperfect marks the near future or a decision. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

5. باتفرج بس

   Batfarrag bass

   I am just looking

   Usage

   Said to politely decline a shop assistant's offer.

   Grammar Note

   The prefix با- marks the first-person present. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

6. ممكن ادفع كاش؟

   Mumkin adfaʿ kāsh?

   Can I pay in cash?

   Usage

   Checks the payment method. Cash is the norm in markets and street stalls.

   Grammar Note

   ممكن + imperfect asks "may I …". كاش is borrowed from English "cash". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

7. عندك مقاس أصغر؟

   ʿAndak maqās aṣghar?

   Do you have a smaller size?

   Usage

   For changing the size of clothes or shoes. To a woman the spelling is the same, read ʿandik.

   Grammar Note

   The comparative أصغر is formed from صغير. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

8. ممكن اجرب ده؟

   Mumkin agarrab da?

   Can I try this on?

   Usage

   For trying on clothes or shoes.

   Grammar Note

   A request built as ممكن + imperfect. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

9. ده مصنوع من ايه؟

   Da maṣnūʿ min ē?

   What is this made of?

   Usage

   Asks about the material, for example leather or cloth, or whether silver is real.

   Grammar Note

   مصنوع is a passive participle; the feminine is مصنوعة. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

10. عايز الأزرق

    ʿĀyiz il-azraʾ

    I want the blue one

    Usage

    Picks an item by colour. A woman says "عايزة الأزرق" (ʿĀyiza l-azraʾ). For a feminine noun the colour is "الزرقا".

    Grammar Note

    عايز is a participle; a woman says عايزة. A definite colour word stands for "the … one". Composed from dictionary-verified words.

11. ممكن فاتورة؟

    Mumkin fatūra?

    Can I have a receipt?

    Usage

    Asks for the receipt after a purchase.

    Grammar Note

    A short request with only a noun. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

12. مش عايز فاتورة

    Mish ʿāyiz fatūra

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declines a receipt. A woman says "مش عايزة فاتورة".

    Grammar Note

    The participle عايز is negated with مش. Composed from dictionary-verified words.

13. بقشيش

    Baʾshīsh

    Tip

    Usage

    In Egypt a tip is called بقشيش and is given widely, to drivers, waiters and guides. A borrowing from Turkish and Persian.

    Grammar Note

    Use this word rather than MSA إكرامية.

14. فكة

    Fakka

    Small change

    Usage

    A word that comes up often when small notes run short. "معاك فكة؟" means "do you have change?".

    Grammar Note

    A noun used in everyday speech.

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