كم السعر؟
kam al-si'r?
The English phrase "what is the price?" is translated into Arabic as كم السعر؟ (kam al-si'r?).
This phrase is used to ask how much something costs.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase كم السعر؟ is composed of كم, which means "how much" and السعر, which means "the price".
Which one should you use?
The much shorter form بكم؟ (bi-kam) is also very common in marketplaces and translates to "For how much?"
Is it said differently in some regions?
The informal expression قد إيه؟ is used in certain regions, such as Egypt.
How does it change in a sentence?
In a marketplace setting, the prepositional form بكم؟ is a very common and efficient way to ask for a price.
How do you pronounce it?
kam al-si'r?
Did you know?
- In many parts of the Middle East, after asking the price, the negotiation process is considered a social ritual rather than just a math problem.
- While كم السعر؟ is grammatically perfect, using it in a crowded bazaar might make you sound like a news reporter rather than a shopper.
- The word كم is used for asking about quantity, but in classical Arabic, it can also be used as an exclamatory word to mean 'how many' in a sense of abundance.
Examples in context
- من فضلك، كم الثمن؟Please, what is the price?
- من فضلك، كم الثمن؟ ممكن خصم؟Please, what is the price? Is there a discount?
- كم السعر؟kam al-si'r?What is the price?
- لو سمحت، كم السعر؟law samaht, kam al-si'r?Excuse me, what is the price?
Example conversation
Omar and Nour are at a fruit market.
- عمر Omarهذا التفاح يبدو لذيذاً، كم السعر؟hādhā at-tuffāḥ yabdu ladhīdhan, kam as-siʿr?These apples look delicious, what is the price?
- نور Nourالسعر هو خمسة ريالات للكيلو.as-siʿr huwa khamsa riyālāt lil-kīlū.The price is five riyals per kilo.
- عمر Omarحسناً، سآخذ كيلوغرامين من فضلك.ḥasanan, sa-ākudhu kīlūghrāmayn min faḍlik.Okay, I will take two kilograms please.
- نور Nourتفضل يا عمر، هذا هو طلبك.tafaḍḍal yā ʿUmar, hādhā huwa ṭalabuk.Here you go Omar, here is your order.
