Ways to say it
| Egyptian Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بكام | bikam | |
| كام ده | kam da | pointing at an item |
When pointing at a specific item, Egyptians often say كام ده؟ (kam da?), 'how much is this?' Both are heard constantly in markets, shops and taxis.
What does it mean word for word?
كام means 'how much' or 'how many', and the ب prefix in بكام works like 'for', asking the price something comes 'for'.
Which one should you use?
بكام usually asks about the price of something already mentioned or obvious from context. كام ده؟ is used while actually pointing at or holding the item.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are neutral and used with anyone, from a street vendor to a shop cashier.
How does it change in a sentence?
كام does not change with gender, but it can be placed before or after the noun: الكيلو بكام؟, 'how much is the kilo', or بكام الكيلو؟, both are natural.
How do you pronounce it?
بكام is said bi-KAM, with the stress on the second syllable.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Standard Arabic بكم, pronounced 'bikam' with a different vowel, is understood but sounds formal next to the everyday Egyptian بكام.
When do people say it?
In many Egyptian markets, asking بكام is just the opening move, since bargaining over the answer is expected and common, especially outside of fixed-price shops.
Did you know?
- In Egyptian street markets, the first price quoted after بكام is often an opening offer, and some back and forth before agreeing is normal and expected.
- كام alone can also ask about age or time, as in عندك كام سنة؟, 'how old are you', showing it is not only used for prices.
Examples in context
- الكيلو بكام يا أسطى؟el-kilo bikam ya osta?How much is the kilo, boss?
- كام ده؟ غالي شوية.kam da? ghali shwaya.How much is this? A bit expensive.
- التاكسي بكام للمطار؟et-taxi bikam lel-matar?How much is the taxi to the airport?
Example conversation
Mona asks a fruit seller named Am Sayed about the price of mangoes.
- Monaالمانجا بكام يا عم سيد؟el-manga bikam ya amm Sayed?How much are the mangoes, Am Sayed?
- Am Sayedبخمسين جنيه الكيلو.bi-khamseen geneh el-kilo.Fifty pounds a kilo.
- Monaكام ده بالضبط؟ تنين كيلو؟kam da bed-dabt? etnein kilo?How much is this exactly? Two kilos?
- Am Sayedتمام، مية جنيه بس.tamam, meyya geneh bas.Right, just a hundred pounds.
