What does it mean word for word?
The word بكم is composed of the preposition bi (with/at) and kam (how many/how much), literally meaning "with how much" or "for how much".
Which one should you use?
While بكم هذا؟ is a standard way to ask for a price, you can also use كم سعر هذا؟ which means "how much is the price of this?" Additionally, the phrase كم ثمن هذا؟ is a more formal way to ask the same question.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
بكم هذا؟ is a standard, formal way to ask for a price that is understood across the Arabic-speaking world. For an even more formal tone, you may use كم ثمن هذا؟.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase بكم هذا؟ uses the masculine demonstrative pronoun هذا (this), which should be used when referring to a masculine noun or object. If the object you are asking about is grammatically feminine, you should use بكم هذه؟ instead.
How do you pronounce it?
bikam hādhā?
Did you know?
- In many Arabic-speaking markets, asking بكم هذا؟ is only the start of a social ritual. It is culturally expected that the seller will quote a high price and the buyer will counter-offer, making the phrase an invitation to negotiate rather than a request for a fixed price.
- While بكم هذا؟ is understood everywhere, a speaker in Morocco or Tunisia might use بشحال to ask 'how much'. This reflects a deep regional divide between Maghrebi dialects and the Modern Standard Arabic taught in classrooms.
- The Arabic language has a specific grammatical 'dual' form for numbers. If you are asking the price of exactly two items, the structure of the question and the expected numerical answer change to a form that exists neither in English nor in most Romance languages.
Examples in context
- كم ثمن هذا؟How much is this?
- أريد شراء هذا، بكم هذا؟uridu shira'a hadha, bi kam hadha?I want to buy this, how much is this?
Example conversation
Nour is asking Omar about the price of a book in a shop.
- نور Nourبكم هذا؟bi kam hadha?How much is this?
- عمر Omarهذا بعشرة دنانير.hadha bi 'ashrati dinanir.This is ten dinars.
- نور Nourهل هو غالي؟hal huwa ghali?Is it expensive?
- عمر Omarلا، السعر جيد جداً.la, al-si'ru jayyidun jiddan.No, the price is very good.
