Going Broke

 

Money

We want to . . .

عاوزين . . .

Aaw-zeen . . .

buy some stuff.

نشتري حاجات.

nish-tiree Ha-gaat

change money.

نغيير فلوس.

nigh-ay-yar fi-loos.

What’s the exchange rate?

سعر الصرف كام؟

siAr iS-Sarf kaam?

Where can we find . . .

فين نلاقي . . .

fayn ni-laa’-ee . . .

Just as English words such as “mall” and “supermarket” have entered spoken Arabic, so some words of Arabic origin have come the other way. These include the word “souk” to describe a traditional market, and “bazaar” to describe somewhere selling trinkets and souvenirs.

 

At the Store

Do you have . . . ?

عندكم . . . ؟

Aandu-kum . . . ?

We want to buy . . .

عاوزين نشتري . . .

Aaw-zeen nish-tiree . . .

clothes.

هدوم.

ho-doom.

gifts.

هدايا.

ha-daa-ya.

postcards.

كارت بوستال.

kart pos-taal.

stamps.

طوابع بريد.

Ta-waa-biA ba-reed.

a map.

خريطة.

kha-ree-Ta.

a guidebook.

دليل سياحي.

da-leel si-yaa-Hee.

an umbrella.

شمسية.

sham-seyya.

I need a gift . . .

عاوز (عاوزة) هدية . . .

Aa-wiz (Aaw-za) he-deyya . . .

What do you recommend?

تنصحني بإيه؟

tin-SaH-nee bi-eh?

I’m just browsing, thanks.

أنا باتفرج بس، شكرا.

ena bat-farr-ag bass, shok-ran.

That’s . . .

دي حاجة . . .

dee Haa-ga . . .

nice.

حلوة.

Hil-wa.

perfect.

ممتازة.

mom-taaza.

beautiful.

جميلة.

ga-meela.

very
appropriate

مناسبة جدا.

mo-naas-ba
gid-dan.

not nice.

مش حلوة.

mish Hil-wa.

hideous.

بشعة.

bash-iAa.

very
beautiful.

آخر جمال.

aa-khir ga-maal.

I like this one.

دي عاجباني.

dee Aag-baanee.

I don’t like this one.

دي مش عاجباني.

dee mish Aag-baanee.

Is this handmade?

دي شغل إيد؟

dee sho-ghl eed?

Can I try it on?

ممكن أقيسها؟

momkin a-’is-haa?

Does it suit me?

مناسبة لي؟

mo-nas-ba ley-ya?

It doesn’t suit me.

مش مناسبة لي.

mish mo-nas-ba ley-ya.

It’s not my size.

مش مقاسي.

mish ma-’aa-see.

Do you have something . . .

عندكم حاجة . . .  

Aandu-kum Haa-ga . . .  

cheaper?

أرخص؟

ar-khaS?

fancier?

أشيك؟

ash-yak?

in a larger size?

مقاس أكبر؟

ma-’aas ak-bar?

in a smaller size?

مقاس أصغر؟

ma-’aas aS-ghar?

in a different color?

بلون تاني؟

bi-lone taa-nee?

Where’s the clearance section?

فين قسم التخفيضات؟

fayn qism it-takh-fee-Daat?

 

Haggling

How much is this?

بكام دي؟

bi-kaam dee?

The price is . . .

سعرها . . .

SiA-ra-haa . . .

reasonable.

معقول.

maA’-ool.

a bit expensive.

غالي شوية.

ghaa-lee shu-way-ya.

very expensive.

غالي جدا.

ghaa-lee gid-dan.

Can we talk about the price?

ممكن نتكلم في السعر؟

momkin nit-kal-lim fis-siAr?

I can pay up to . . .

أنا ممكن أدفع لحد . . .

ena momkin ad-faA li-Hadd . . .

 

Paying

I’ll pay cash.

حادفع كاش.

Had-faA kaash.

I don’t have change.

ما عنديش فكة.

ma Aan-deesh fak-ka.

Do you take . . .  

بتاخذوا . . .  

bi-takh-doo . . .  

cards?

كروت؟

ko-root?

traveler’s checks?

شيكات سياحية؟

shi-kaat siyya-Heyya?

dollars?

دولارات؟

do-laa-raat?

Can you wrap it?

ممكن تلفها؟

momkin ti-liff-ahaa?

Can you ship it?

ممكن تشحنها؟

momkin tish-Hin-haa?

Can you deliver it?

ممكن توصلها؟

momkin ti-waS-Sal-haa?

The address is . . .

العنوان هو . . .

il-Ain-waan huw-wa . . .

May I return this?

ممكن أرجع دي؟

momkin a-rag-gaA dee?