Ways to say it
| Iraqi Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بيش | beesh | |
| شكد | shgad | |
| كم | kam | Standard Arabic, for numbers |
شكد (shgad) means the same thing and is used just as often, especially for quantities in general, not only prices. كم (kam) is the Standard Arabic word, more common in writing or for counting specific numbers.
What does it mean word for word?
بيش is likely a contraction related to بأي شيء, roughly 'with what', asking for the price. شكد joins شو, 'what', with a word for amount.
Which one should you use?
بيش is the natural question at a market or shop. شكد can ask about price just as easily, or about quantity in a broader sense, such as how many years someone has lived somewhere.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both بيش and شكد are casual, everyday words. كم feels slightly more neutral or written.
Is it said differently in some regions?
بيش is shared with Gulf Arabic for asking a price, another link between Iraqi and Khaleeji speech, while شكد feels more distinctly Iraqi.
How does it change in a sentence?
Both words stay the same regardless of gender or number, functioning as simple question words.
How do you pronounce it?
بيش is said quickly, almost as one syllable, while شكد has a slightly heavier final consonant.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using كم alone in a casual market exchange is understood but sounds more careful or formal than the natural بيش.
When do people say it?
Bargaining is common in Iraqi markets, so بيش often opens a back-and-forth over price rather than getting a single fixed answer.
Did you know?
- بيش, used for asking a price across Iraq and the Gulf, is one of several words that reveal how closely linked Mesopotamian and Khaleeji Arabic remain.
- Bargaining over the exact meaning of بيش at a market stall is considered a normal, even expected, part of shopping in Iraq rather than haggling in a negative sense.
Examples in context
- بيش هذا القميص؟beesh hatha il-gamees?How much is this shirt?
- شكد عمرك؟shgad umrak?How old are you?
- كم كيلو تريد؟kam kilo trid?How many kilos do you want?
Example conversation
Hiba shops for fruit at a market stall run by Abu Karim.
- Hibaبيش كيلو التفاح؟beesh kilo it-tuffah?How much is a kilo of apples?
- Abu Karimالكيلو ألفين دينار.il-kilo alfein dinar.The kilo is two thousand dinars.
- Hibaزين، أعطيني كيلوين.zein, a'tini kiloein.Good, give me two kilos.
- Abu Karimتفضلي، الله يبارك فيچ.tfaddali, Allah ybarik feech.Here you go, God bless you.
