Egyptian Arabic A1, Unit 16: In the market

In the market

Egyptian Arabic A1 · Unit 16

GoalBuy fruit and vegetables by the kilo.

New words

كِيلُو (kīlu) · kiloنُصّ كِيلُو (nuṣṣ kīlu) · half a kiloحَبَّة (ḥabba) · one pieceطَمَاطِم (ṭamāṭim) · tomatoesخِيَار (khiyār) · cucumbersتُفَّاح (tuffāḥ) · applesمَوْز (mōz) · bananasبُرْتُقَان (burtuʾān) · oranges

Explanation

In the market you buy by weight or by piece. Say كِيلُو for one kilo and نُصّ كِيلُو for half a kilo. Ask the price with الكِيلُو بِكَام؟ Say what you want with عَايِز (a man) or عَايْزَة (a woman): عَايِز نُصّ كِيلُو طَمَاطِم. For one piece ask الحَبَّة بِكَام؟ Say the price with بِـ: الكِيلُو بِعَشَرَة جِنِيه.

Say	Meaning
الكِيلُو بِكَام؟	how much is a kilo?
نُصّ كِيلُو طَمَاطِم	half a kilo of tomatoes
الكِيلُو بِعَشَرَة جِنِيه	the kilo is ten pounds
الحَبَّة بِكَام؟	how much is one piece?

Worked examples

Mariam

صَبَاح الخَيْر. الطَّمَاطِم بِكَام؟

Seller

صَبَاح النُّور. الكِيلُو بِعَشَرَة جِنِيه، وِالمَوْز بِعِشْرِين.

Mariam

عَايْزَة نُصّ كِيلُو طَمَاطِم وِكِيلُو مَوْز.

Seller

الكُلّ خَمْسَة وِعِشْرِين جِنِيه.

Mariam

تَمَام، شُكْرًا.

Mariam buys vegetables and fruit. Press each line.

Fruit and vegetables. Press each card.

Class activity

Make a shopping list with four things and how much you want of each, for example نُصّ كِيلُو تُفَّاح. Then play the market scene with a friend: ask the prices, buy and say the total.

Practice

Say «half a kilo of apples».

Ask the price of the bananas per kilo.

A woman asks for a kilo of these. What does she say?

Say «the kilo is ten pounds».

Press Listen. What does the man want?

Shopping and prices

In the market