Dialogue

Vocabulary

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Lesson Transcript

INTRODUCTION
ArabicPod101.com presents Arabic Survival Phrases. This course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Arabic speaking countries, with particular focus on Morocco. So join us for Arabic Survival phrases. You will be surprised at how far a little Arabic will go.
Now before we jump in, remember to stop by ArabicPod101.com, there you’ll find an accompanying PDF, additional learning tools in the premium learning center, and other great Arabic language learning materials. In addition, you’ll find more information in the post. And if you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment.

Lesson focus

An undeniable part of your shopping experience in Morocco is bargaining. The prices are rarely indicated on the items you want to purchase. And these prices are almost always not fixed, which means that the best bargainer gets the best deals.
Today's phrases related to the phrase “how much?” which in Arabic is bišḥaal.
In the last lesson, we also introduced “How much is this? (bišḥaal haḏā?) and "How much is that? (bišḥaal haḏāk?)
Today's phrase is used when you're at one of the most exciting places in any country around the world - the market! In Morocco, that would be the souq. When you come to Morocco, one of the most interesting and fun things to do is haggle at the souq. So when you're at the market and talking prices, there is another phrase that will come in very handy; that phrase is “Lower the price, please.”
In Arabic, “Lower the price please” is naqqiṣ al-taman ‘afâk (نقص التمن عفاك)
naqqiṣ al-taman ʿ‘afâk
Let’s break it down by syllable: naqqiṣ al-taman ʿ‘afâk
Now let's hear it once again: naqqiṣ al-taman ʿ‘afâk
The first word, naqqiṣ, means “cut shorter” or “lower.”
Let's break down this word and hear it one more time: naqqiṣ
naqqiṣ
This is followed by taman, which in Arabic is “price.”
taman
taman
Make sure you stress on the “t” when you pronounce it.
Taman, as opposed to taman.
This is followed by ʿ‘afâk, which in Arabic is “please.”
ʿ‘afâk
ʿ‘afâk
The three words together, naqqiṣ al-taman ʿ‘afâk, literally mean “lower the price please.”
Another phrase that can be used in combination with this is “Too expensive,” which in Arabic is: ġal-ī bizāf (غالي بزاف).
ġal-ī bizāf
Let’s break it down by syllable: ġal-ī bizāf
ġal-ī bizāf
Stress on the Z. ġal-ī bizāf
Now let's hear it once again: ġal-ī bizāf
Theh first word, ġal-ī (غالي), means “expensive”
The second word, bizāf (بزاف), which means “a lot” or “much.”
Altogether, ġal-ī bizāf literally means “expensive a lot,” or “too expensive.”
When you going to a souq and you’re about to start shopping, the thing you need the most besides money is patience, and well, a little bit of Arabic. When you ask for a price, people will give you what we call “a first prize,” which sometimes is double or even three times the original price. After that, you'll be asked to set your own price, and it will go on and on until both of you agree on a deal. Now, this can take a long time, depending on how much energy and time you've got. The best thing is to take a local friend with you if you can; the next best thing to do, and this is what I do all the time, is to shake your head and say ġal-ī bizāf, which is the expression we’ve learned earlier for “too expensive,” and to walk out of the store; the shop assistants will then run after you and will settle for a much lower price. Good luck!

Outro

Okay, to close out today's lesson, we'd like for you to practice what you've just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for saying it aloud. You'll have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so حظ سعيد, that means "good luck" in Arabic.
Ok, here we go!
“Lower the price please” - naqqiṣ al-taman ʿ‘afâk
naqqiṣ al-taman ʿ‘afâk
naqqiṣ al-taman ʿ‘afâk
“Too expensive” - ġal-ī bizāf
ġal-ī bizāf
ġal-ī bizāf
All right. This is going to do it for this lesson of Arabic Survival Phrases. Remember to stop by ArabicPod101.com. There you’ll find an accompanying PDF, additional learning tools in the premium learning center, and other great Arabic language learning materials. See you soon, which in Arabic is - ilā al-liqāʾ.

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