Egyptian Arabic A1, Unit 16: How much is this?

How much is this?

Egyptian Arabic A1 · Unit 16

GoalAsk the price and say if something is expensive or cheap.

New words

بِكَام دَه؟ (bikām da?) · how much is this? (masculine)بِكَام دِي؟ (bikām di?) · how much is this? (feminine)غَالِي / غَالْيَة (ghāli / ghalya) · expensive (masc. / fem.)رِخِيص / رِخِيصَة (rikhīṣ / rikhīṣa) · cheap (masc. / fem.)بِكَام الكُلّ؟ (bikām il-kull?) · how much for everything?الحِسَاب (il-ḥisāb) · the bill, the total

Explanation

Point at something and ask بِكَام دَه؟ for a masculine thing and بِكَام دِي؟ for a feminine thing. The answer is a number and جِنِيه. Say if it is expensive or cheap: غَالِي (masc.), غَالْيَة (fem.), رِخِيص (masc.), رِخِيصَة (fem.). Add أَوِي to make it stronger: دَه غَالِي أَوِي. To ask for the total, say بِكَام الكُلّ؟

Masculine	Feminine	Meaning
بِكَام دَه؟	بِكَام دِي؟	how much is this?
غَالِي	غَالْيَة	expensive
رِخِيص	رِخِيصَة	cheap

Worked examples

Salma

الشَّنْطَة دِي بِكَام؟

Seller

مِيَّة جِنِيه.

Salma

غَالْيَة أَوِي!

Seller

لَأ، دِي حِلْوَة وِجَدِيدَة.

Salma asks the price of a bag. Press each line.

Price words. Press each card.

Class activity

Look at five things at home or in a shop. For each one ask the price: دَه بِكَام؟ or دِي بِكَام؟ Decide if it is غَالِي or رِخِيص and write a sentence with the correct masculine or feminine form.

Practice

Ask the price of this bag.

Say «this book is cheap».

Say «this watch is expensive».

What is the opposite of غَالِي?

Press Listen. Is the book cheap or expensive?

Shopping and prices

How much is this?