Fablingo / Fablingo Arabic / Level A1
Episode 37 · How much is this?
Duration: 5:32
▶ 22 December
After this lesson you can:
I can ask a price, buy a few things and handle simple money.
In this episode
Sam does his first real shopping — bread and dates — asks the price, mutters *hādhā ghālin!* ("that's dear!") the way every local does for sport, and, coins short again, murmurs *ʿalā l-ḥisāb* — on the tab. Ḥajj Mahmoud grins and adds a line to the slate. The little worry that grounds the whole season: a newcomer living on other people's goodwill.
Welcome back to the Book Quarter. Last time, Hajj Mahmoud made Sam count dates into a paper cone, one by one, to learn his numbers. Today, Sam's back at the stall. He's hungry, but there's a problem.
Sam is checking his pockets. He pulls out three coins. It's dawning on him that living in a new place without a job means your savings disappear very quickly.
Hajj Mahmoud notices Sam hovering near the fresh flatbreads. He raises an eyebrow, waiting for Sam to use his Arabic.
بِكَمْ هٰذا؟
بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ — How much is this? · bi-KAM HAA-dhaa
That's how you ask the price. بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ Literally, 'with how much is this?'
بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ — How much is this? · bi-KAM HAA-dhaa
We know كَمْ from our question words—it means 'how much' or 'how many'. By adding the little prefix بِ, we get بِكَمْ, meaning 'for how much'. Say it with me: بِكَمْ هٰذا؟
بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ — How much is this? · bi-KAM HAA-dhaa
Try it again. You point to a basket of dates. Ask: بِكَمْ هٰذا؟
بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ — How much is this? · bi-KAM HAA-dhaa
بِخَمْسة.
بِخَمْسة. — For five. · bi-KHAM-sa
He answers بِخَمْسة. For five.
بِخَمْسة. — For five. · bi-KHAM-sa
Notice how the answer uses that same little prefix? The question was بِكَمْ, and the answer is بِخَمْسة. It attaches right to the number we learned last time. Say it: بِخَمْسة.
بِخَمْسة. — For five. · bi-KHAM-sa
أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا.
أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا. — I want bread and dates. · u-REE-du KHUB-zan wa-TAM-ran
This is your basic survival phrase for any shop or restaurant: أُريدُ. I want. The first sound is a tight, short u.
أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا. — I want bread and dates. · u-REE-du KHUB-zan wa-TAM-ran
He wants bread, خُبْز, and dates, تَمْر. But because he is asking for them—they are the object of what he wants—they get an 'an' sound added to the end in proper formal Arabic. That's why he says خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا.
أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا. — I want bread and dates. · u-REE-du KHUB-zan wa-TAM-ran
Listen to the whole phrase, and try it with me. Notice the raspy خ in خُبْزًا. Say: أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا.
أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا. — I want bread and dates. · u-REE-du KHUB-zan wa-TAM-ran
Let's take a quick breath and review what Sam just managed. How much is this? بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ ... بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ For five. بِخَمْسة. ... بِخَمْسة. I want bread and dates. أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا. ... أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا.
Hajj Mahmoud puts the bread and a scoop of dates into a paper bag. He holds up both hands—ten fingers. Sam looks at the three coins in his palm.
هٰذا غالٍ!
هٰذا غالٍ! — This is expensive! · HAA-dhaa GHAA-lin
He's playing the game! هٰذا غالٍ means 'this is expensive!' It's practically a local sport to mutter this at the market.
هٰذا غالٍ! — This is expensive! · HAA-dhaa GHAA-lin
The word for expensive is usually pronounced ghali, but in this specific formal structure, it takes a hidden 'n' sound at the end: غالٍ. The غ is that deep gargle at the back of the throat. Try it: هٰذا غالٍ!
هٰذا غالٍ! — This is expensive! · HAA-dhaa GHAA-lin
Hajj Mahmoud lets out a booming laugh. He knows Sam is broke, and he appreciates the attempt at a haggle.
عَلى الحِساب، مِن فَضْلِك.
عَلى الحِساب، مِن فَضْلِك. — On the tab, please. · ʿa-lal-ḥi-SAAB, min FAD-lik
عَلى الحِساب. On the account, or on the tab. When you live in a tight-knit medina, credit is based on trust.
عَلى الحِساب، مِن فَضْلِك. — On the tab, please. · ʿa-lal-ḥi-SAAB, min FAD-lik
The ح in حِساب is a sharp, breathy sound, like you're fogging up a mirror. Say the whole phrase with me: عَلى الحِساب، مِن فَضْلِك.
عَلى الحِساب، مِن فَضْلِك. — On the tab, please. · ʿa-lal-ḥi-SAAB, min FAD-lik
Hajj Mahmoud doesn't miss a beat. He pulls out his little chalkboard and makes a fresh chalk mark next to Sam's name. No fuss, no shame.
شُكْرًا.
Sam walks away with his food, but the relief is short-lived. A tab is just a debt with a friendly face. He can't keep living on the neighborhood's goodwill forever.
He really needs to find a way to earn some money. Maybe Farid knows someone who needs help. We'll see tomorrow.
Before we go, let's review the survival phrases for the souk. How much is this? بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ ... بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ For five. بِخَمْسة. ... بِخَمْسة. I want bread and dates. أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا. ... أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا. This is expensive! هٰذا غالٍ! ... هٰذا غالٍ! On the tab, please. عَلى الحِساب، مِن فَضْلِك. ... عَلى الحِساب، مِن فَضْلِك.
Great job today. We upload new lessons every Tuesday and Friday, so you'll find out what Sam does next very soon. See you then!
Vocabulary
| Phrase | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بِكَمْ هٰذا؟ | How much is this? | |
| بِخَمْسة. | For five. | |
| أُريدُ خُبْزًا وَتَمْرًا. | I want bread and dates. | |
| هٰذا غالٍ! | This is expensive! | |
| عَلى الحِساب، مِن فَضْلِك. | On the tab, please. |
Grammar in this lesson
asking and answering a price (*bikam? — bi-khamsa*), and أُريد (*urīd*, "I want") + the thing wanted (*khubzan, tamran* wear the little -an ending of a thing you want/take — a first, soft brush with the accusative, felt not named). *ghālin* ("expensive") opens with the gargled gh. · bikam?, bi-khamsa, urīd, khubz, tamr, ghālin, al-ḥisāb.