الباقي لك
al-bāqī lak
The phrase "keep the change" in Arabic is translated as الباقي لك (al-bāqī lak).
This phrase is used as an instruction to keep the change (phrase).
Meaning: instruction to keep the change (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of al-bāqī, meaning "the remainder" or "the rest" and lak, meaning "to you" or "for you".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
you can use the more formal يمكنك الاحتفاظ بالباقي to say "You can keep the change". For a more colloquial approach, خلي الباقي لك is common in many spoken dialects. If you want to be informal, you can use احتفظ بالباقي.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Egyptian Arabic, you can say خليها عليك to mean "Keep it for yourself", which specifically indicates that the change is intended as a tip. In Levantine Arabic, the phrase خلّيها عليك is used to convey a similar meaning.
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing a female, the pronoun suffix changes from lak to laki, resulting in the form الباقي لكِ.
How do you pronounce it?
al-bāqī lak
Did you know?
- In many Arabic-speaking cultures, instead of saying 'keep the change', a person might simply say بارك الله فيك, which means 'God bless you'.
- The word الباقي (al-bāqī) is also used in a religious context to refer to 'the remaining' or 'eternal' things that belong only to God.
- Using the highly formal version يمكنك الاحتفاظ بالباقي in a casual setting, like a taxi, can make you sound as stiff as a person reading a legal contract.
Examples in context
- شكراً، الباقي لك.shukran, al-baqi lak.Thank you, keep the change.
- لا بأس، الباقي لك.la ba's, al-baqi lak.It's fine, keep the change.
- تفضل، الباقي لك.tafaddal, al-baqi lak.Here you go, keep the change.
Example conversation
Omar is paying a delivery driver.
- عمر Omarتفضلي هذه عشرون ريالاً.Tafaddali hadhihi 'ishrun riyalan.Here is twenty riyals.
- نور Nourلكن الحساب خمسة عشر فقط.Lakin al-hisab khamsat 'ashar faqat.But the total is only fifteen.
- عمر Omarلا بأس، الباقي لكِ.La ba's, al-baqi laki.It's okay, keep the change.
- نور Nourشكراً جزيلاً يا عمر.Shukran jazilan ya Omar.Thank you very much, Omar.
