Ways to say it
| Moroccan Arabic | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| بشحال؟ | bshhal? | |
| شحال؟ | shhal? | shorter, also common |
In casual speech the shorter شحال؟ (shhal?) is just as common, used for both price and quantity, such as asking how many people are coming.
What does it mean word for word?
بشحال joins ب, 'for' or 'by', with شحال, a Darija word for 'how much' or 'how many' not shared with Standard Arabic.
Which one should you use?
بشحال؟ usually asks specifically about a price, as when shopping. شحال؟ alone can ask about price or any other quantity, such as time or distance.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Both are informal but used constantly in everyday Moroccan life, including in markets, shops and taxis.
Is it said differently in some regions?
بشحال and شحال are distinctly Darija, one of the clearest words that sets Moroccan Arabic apart from Standard Arabic كم (kam).
How does it change in a sentence?
Neither word changes for gender or number, and both can be followed directly by a noun, as in شحال هاد الكتاب؟, 'how much is this book'.
How do you pronounce it?
The stress falls on the second syllable, 'bsh-HAL', with a rough throat sound on the h.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using the Standard Arabic كم in a Moroccan market is understood but sounds out of place next to the dialect's own بشحال.
When do people say it?
Bargaining over the answer to بشحال؟ is a normal part of shopping in Moroccan markets, where the first price given is rarely the final one.
Did you know?
- شحال has no equivalent in Standard Arabic, which instead uses كم, making it one of the clearest Darija-only words in daily use.
- Bargaining over a price asked with بشحال؟ is expected in Moroccan markets and is not considered rude, but rather part of the normal shopping routine.
Examples in context
- بشحال هاد القفطان؟bshhal had l-qaftan?How much is this kaftan?
- شحال كلاو الكيلو؟shhal kla l-kilo?How much does the kilo cost?
- شحال من الناس غاديين يجيو؟shhal mn n-nas ghadyin yjiw?How many people are going to come?
Example conversation
Shopper Imane bargains with vendor Hamid at a market stall.
- Imaneبشحال هاد الطاجين؟bshhal had t-tajin?How much is this tagine?
- Hamidبمية وخمسين درهم.b-miya w khamsin dirham.For a hundred and fifty dirhams.
- Imaneغالي بزاف، نقص شوية.ghali bzzaf, nqes shwiya.That is too expensive, lower it a bit.
- Hamidواخا، بمية ليك.wakha, b-miya lik.Okay, for a hundred for you.
