How to: Bargain in Arabic

By Baxter Jackson On July 13, 2009 · 27 Comments

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Feature photos by aiace

Bargaining over prices is a time-honored tradition in the Middle East. Here are some key Arabic phrases that will help you haggle.

If you venture to the Arab world and you’re not armed to the teeth (linguistically speaking), you’ll be taken as an easy mark by shopkeepers, touts and taxi drivers alike.

Stockpile these ten high-caliber phrases in your language arsenal, however, and you’ll be the one taking the shots. First – some pleasantries.

Photo by seier+seier+seier

Salem maelekum

Salem maelekum is an Arabic mantra. Figuratively it means ‘hello’ but literally it means ‘Peace be upon thee.’ Learn it. Love it. Live it.

Alekum salam

Malekum salam is the expected reply and translates to ‘Peace be upon thee also.’ Ironic that in the war torn Middle East, the word most often heard is peace, innit?

Nevertheless, any attempt at engaging in cultural routines will be rewarded with warm invitations for tea, dates and special ‘friend’ prices, insh’allah (God willing).

Kaffek?

Kaffek is the simplest and most widely understood way to ask ‘how’s it going?’ Inevitably, the response is ilhumdelah meaning thanks be to Allah (the ‘fine’ and the ‘thank you’ is all implied in the ilhumdelah).

Sweet tea and pleasantries aside, the bottom line is even if they like you, they’re still gonna try to fleece ya (nothing personal, it’s just business) so here’s the nitty-gritty:

Photo by aiace

Hatha ghaliah ghidan

‘That is too expensive.’

Hatha laisa al mablagh al motad

This one means ‘that’s not the normal price’ (very handy when they see your western face coming and the price gets jacked up 200%). On your first shopping expedition, get the down low on how much the locals pay by hitting the souq with a resident.

Ati khasam min fadlak

‘Give me a discount, please.’ (But don’t bust this one out until the local price has been established.)

Hal tazon anani ghabi?

‘Do you think I’m stupid?’ Guaranteed to get a laugh and maybe the best price of the day before you act like you’re gonna walk away.
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Meshy, halas

Meshy, halas means ‘OK finished.’ Once the cost has been set, fix it with this Arabic catchphrase.

Meshy, halas is also used to end phone conversations before a long series of ma’salema, ma’salema, ma’salema (Arabs have this thing about always wanting to be the last person to say goodbye).

So, good luck on your travels in the Middle East and ma’salema, ma’salema, ma’salema…

About The Author

Baxter Jackson

Baxter Jackson's goal in life is to visit every country on earth before he dies. He's 39 now and has seen only 26% of it. Think the dude'll make it? Keep track at his blog Dude Travels To Go.

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view all → Baxter Jackson

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rsw Tim Patterson

I wrote a long paper in college about the shopping dynamics of old markets in Cairo. This article brought be back to those days – the phrases would have come in very handy.
http://foxnomad.com Anil

I think it’s also important to learn the customs, local mannerisms and body language prevalent in Arab society. This will help your bargaining and make you feel more comfortable during the process, which can be disconcerting for some.

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rsw Tim Patterson

That’s a very good point, Anil. Do you know of any online resources for travelers who want to learn Arab customs, mannerisms and body language?

http://foxnomad.com Anil

Unfortunately not any easily accessible Web resources off the top of my head. I’ll do some digging for you though and post them here in a day or two.

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rsw Tim Patterson

Thanks! I checked out your website, btw. Very cool – keep it up.
http://foxnomad.com Anil

Tim, this book ‘Understanding Arabs’ is a good start for people with an interest in the society but not too concerned with scientific details or theories.

http://foxnomad.com Anil

Here’s the url:

http://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Arabs-Guide-Modern-Times/dp/1931930252/ref=ntt_at_ep_dpi_1
http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rsw Tim Patterson

Thanks Anil!

http://www.keepingpaceinjapan.com Turner

Very nice. I tried to learn some similar phrases for bargaining in Thailand – “do you think I’m stupid?” is probably the most effective one, along with “is that the foreigner price?”
http://collazoprojects.com Julie

Really enjoyed this article, Baxter; thanks!
http://www.youtube.com/user/bxt3 Baxter

Great idea, Anil and you’re totally right – body language in Arabic is fun and easy way to interact with the locals.

The classic move (when you want to show how sincere you are) is to place your right hand over your heart when speaking. Used often when meeting and greeting but could be useful for arguing about how poor you really are and hence deserve a much lower price.

Wiping the palms of your hands against each other is used to emphasize just how ‘halas’ (finished) you/it/they really are. A very common manner of washing your hands of a situation most often used in conjunction with ‘halas.’

Anyway, thanks for reading and all the comments!

http://matadortravel.com/travel-community/rsw Tim Patterson

Thanks for those 2 tips, Baxter.

http://thelonglayover.blogspot.com Carlo Alcos

Another fine piece Baxter! Keep up the great writing.
http://nodebtworldtravel.com brian from nodebtworldtravel.com

I wish I knew some this before I went to Marrakesh. Didn’t get a chance to really see the markets when I was Cairo.
http://www.mikesryukyugallery.com Ryukyu Mike

Makes ya wonder; what countries don’t have Tourist prices?

http://foxnomad.com Anil

haha, as far as the vendors are concerned, there are tourist prices!

Tonya

These phrases will be very handy as my friends and I will be traveling over to that part of the world in a few months. Thanks!

http://www.youtube.com/user/bxt3 Baxter

That’s so hamas (means cool in Oman). I’m sure you’ll have a blast. Tallying up the marriage proposals at the end of the day is always fun for female travelers in Middle East (or so I’ve heard;-)

Hind

Baxter… nice article

but the phrases are not accurate. Allow me

if your going to Cairo here how you should say it:
Hello = “Asslam alikom” or
“Ahlan” which means only hello

how’s it going? = “Ezzay el-haal”

That is too expensive= “da ghali awi”

that’s not the normal price= “da mosh esse’er el’Aadi”

Do you think I’m stupid?= “enta fakerni ahbal?” lol the locals there sound just like that.

in most of the middle east countries they understand the egyptian slang. so you ‘ll be ok

one more thing:
“Salem maelekum” the right way to say it is “salam alaikum”
& “Malekum salam” = “Wa alaikum assalam”!

have fun
http://www.youtube.com/user/bxt3 Baxter

Thanks for your input, Hind.

The thing is that everybody transliterates differently and while many people understand colloquial Egyptian (thanks to the film industry there) Gulf Arabic is more widely spoken and hence it’s the dialect I went with.

Salem maelekum,
Baxter

Hind

wa alaikom assalam

Well… i’m from Riyadh. So, any thing i can help with? i’ll be glad to

http://www.youtube.com/user/bxt3 Baxter

Shokran jazilan, Hind.

So have you by any chance read Girls of Riyadh? Heard it was spot on but was am looking for a second opinion…

Hind

Ahlan wo sahlan

about “Girls of Riyadh” you’ll enjoy it if you like girly gossip =P . Otherwise, its empty!! I fell asleep in the middle of it xp & never thought of getting back to it.

they say it tells a real story of real girls. maybe it does! but the 4 girls in the story are only 4! it couldn’t possibly be “spot on”. Riyadh society is full of diversity. the book reflects only a small fraction of it !!

http://www.youtube.com/user/bxt3 Baxter

Hey, Hind -

I do enjoy me some girly gossip now and again – might be a fun poolside read.

Had no idea Riyadh was diverse – guess I need to come experience it first hand to get the full scoop.

So what was the local reaction to the movie ‘The Kingdom’?

Wondering in Oman,
Baxter

Hind

Hey Baxter,
i haven’t been to that movie. i heard of it, but don’t know any one who has been to it. so, sorry cannot help u with that :\

hope u enjoy Oman, i hear its nice
Sarah

Ugh, sorry, but while I support the spirit of this article, your phrases are totally off. FYI, the phrases you provided are actually in Modern Standard Arabic, the formal variety of Arabic, NOT the gulf dialect. You’ll really be laughed at if you try to use Modern Standard while bargaining. Modern Standard is more appropriate for giving speeches to congress or writing an op-ed in the newspaper.

Egyptian Arabic is actually the most widely understood variety, so I recommend that everyone who’s interested in learning something you can actually use while shopping look at the previous commenter’s phrases in Egyptian.
http://www.dudetravelstogo.com Baxter Jackson

Despite my later comment Sarah, the Arabic transliterated here is actually a cocktail of amia (colloquial) and fusHa (classical) which is what most people actually speak on the street. Nobody speaks ‘pure’ Egyptian or ‘pure’ classical or pure anything else on the ground – it’s all a mix of this and that, just like the Arabic in this article

In the early stages, you’re gonna be laughed whether it’s MSA, classical, colloquial or a mix of all three so best just to accept it and get over that fact as soon as possible, innit? Oh, and remember, Sarah – don’t ever take yourself so seriously

How to: Bargain in Arabic

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