Ways to say it
| Arabic | Romanization (Wiktionary) | Note |
|---|---|---|
| غَالٍ | ḡālin | indefinite |
| مُكَلَّف | mukallaf | |
| الْغَالِي | al-ḡālī | definite |
غَالٍ is used to describe something that has a high price or cost. You may also use the phrase ثمنه مرتفع, which literally means 'its price is high', as a formal way to express that something is expensive.
Which one should you use?
غَالٍ is the standard word for 'expensive'. In contrast, مُكَلَّف is used when implying that something is 'costly' specifically regarding the amount of resources or effort required to produce or maintain it.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form غَالٍ is the indefinite masculine form used when the adjective is not preceded by the definite article 'al-' and is not in a construct state. To use the definite version, use الْغَالِي. If you are describing a feminine noun, the adjective must agree in gender and becomes غَالِيَةٌ.
How do you pronounce it?
ḡālin
Did you know?
- In many Arabic dialects, people avoid the formal word for 'expensive' and instead say نَار which means 'fire'. To say a price is 'fire' means it is outrageously high.
- If you describe a person as غَالٍ in a social context, you are not saying they cost a lot of money, but rather that they are 'precious' or 'highly valued' in your heart.
- In traditional markets, the word غَالٍ is often the starting point for a social ritual of bargaining. Stating that something is 'expensive' is frequently a signal to begin negotiations rather than a refusal to buy.
Examples in context
- هٰذَا غَالٍ جِدًّا.It's too expensive.This sentence demonstrates how to use غَالٍ to say something is very expensive.Tatoeba #13134882 by atitarev, translation #276955 by CK
Example conversation
Nour and Ahmed are shopping for a new watch.
- نور Nourانْظُرْ يَا أَحْمَد، هٰذِهِ السَّاعَةُ جَمِيلَةٌ!Unẓur yā Aḥmad, hādhihi as-sāʿatu jamīlah!Look Ahmed, this watch is beautiful!
- أحمد Ahmedلٰكِنَّ سِعْرَهَا غَالٍ جِدًّا.Lākinna siʿrahā ghālin jiddan.But its price is very expensive.
- نور Nourهَلْ نَبْحَثُ عَنْ سَاعَةٍ أُخْرَى؟Hal nabḥathu ʿan sāʿatin ukhrā?Shall we look for another watch?
- أحمد Ahmedنَعَم، هٰذِهِ فَوْقَ مِيزَانِيَتِنَا.Naʿam, hādhihi fawqa mīzāniyatinā.Yes, this is over our budget.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “expensive” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
