خَصْم
ḵaṣmmasculine
The English word "discount" can be translated into Arabic using several terms, primarily خَصْم (ḵaṣm), تَخْفِيض or حَسْم.
Meaning: reduction in price (noun)
Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| خَصْم | ḵaṣm | masculine |
| تَخْفِيض | taḵfīḍ | masculine |
| حَسْم | ḥasm | masculine |
These words refer to a reduction in price. In commercial and retail environments, you will often see the plural form تَخْفِيضَات used in shop signs or advertisements to signal a "sale" or a period of general price reductions. You may also see the word عَرْض, meaning "offer", used alongside discount terms to describe a specific promotional deal.
Which one should you use?
While خَصْم and حَسْم are valid ways to express a discount, تَخْفِيض is the most common term used specifically in retail and commercial contexts to refer to a price reduction.
How does it change in a sentence?
To specify the exact amount of a discount, place the percentage immediately after the noun خَصْم or تَخْفِيض, such as خَصْم 10%.
How do you pronounce it?
ḵaṣm
Did you know?
- In some dialects, the word for 'discount' is replaced by a phrase meaning 'your kindness' or 'your generosity' when asking a vendor to lower a price.
- The root of خَصْم also forms the word for 'opponent' or 'adversary' in a legal case. This links the act of subtracting a price to the act of disputing or contending with another person.
- In many Arabic-speaking markets, the process of getting a 'discount' is not just a price change but a social ritual called 'mufasala'. This involves a rhythmic, back-and-forth verbal negotiation between the buyer and the seller.
Examples in context
- هل يوجد تخفيض؟Is there a discount?
- هَلْ هُنَاكَ خَصْمٌ لِلطلاب؟hal hunāka khaṣmun lil-ṭullāb?Is there a discount for students?
- أُريدُ خَصْمًا كَبِيرًا عَلَى هَذَا القَمِيص.urīdu khaṣman kabīran ‘alā hādhā al-qamīṣ.I want a big discount on this shirt.
- هَذَا المَتْجَرُ يُقَدِّمُ خَصْمًا جَيِّدًا.hādhā al-matjaru yuqaddimu khaṣman jayyidan.This shop offers a good discount.
Example conversation
Mariam is asking Yusuf about the price of a bag in a shop.
- مريم Maryamهَلْ يُمْكِنُكَ أَنْ تَعْطِيَنِي خَصْمًا؟hal yumkinuka an tu‘tiyanī khaṣman?Can you give me a discount?
- يوسف Youssefسَأُعْطِيكِ خَصْمَ عَشَرَةِ دَرَاهِم.sa-u‘ṭīki khaṣma ‘asharati dirāhim.I will give you a discount of ten dirhams.
- مريم Maryamشُكْرًا جَزِيلًا يَا يُوسُف.shukran jazīlan yā Yūsuf.Thank you very much, Yusuf.
- يوسف Youssefعَفْوًا، هَذَا عَرْضٌ خَاصٌّ.‘afwan, hādhā ‘arḍun khāṣ.You are welcome, this is a special offer.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “discount” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
