Language/Moroccan-arabic/Vocabulary/Bargaining-and-Haggling

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Moroccan Arabic Vocabulary → Shopping and Bargaining → Bargaining and Haggling

As a Moroccan Arabic language teacher, I firmly believe that to fully embrace the Moroccan culture, one must understand and engage in the art of bargaining or haggling. Haggling is an essential part of shopping in Morocco, and it is something that locals and tourists alike engage in daily. In this lesson, I will help you learn the common Moroccan Arabic phrases and vocabulary related to bargaining and haggling.

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Expressions for Nighttime Sleeping & Geography.

Vocabulary

Before getting into the phrases, it's essential to understand some common Moroccan Arabic vocabulary related to bargaining:

Moroccan Arabic	Pronunciation	English
كَتّاب	katāb	Book
قاموس	qāmūs	Dictionary
ساعة	sāʿa	Watch/clock
شنطة	shanṭa	Bag
جزمة	jzma	Shoe
فستان	fstān	Dress
سعر	sar	Price
غالي	ghālī	Expensive
خفيف	khfīf	Cheap/Light

Phrases

Now that you know the vocabulary, it's time to learn some bargaining phrases. Here are some common phrases you can use when bargaining in Morocco:

• أعطني سعرا جيدا. (ʾuʿṭinī sarān jayyidā) – Give me a good price.
• بالكامل كم تبيع؟ (bil-kāmīl kam tbīʿ?) – How much for the whole thing?
• السعر غالي جدا. (s-sar ghālī jiddan) – The price is too expensive.
• يمكن تخفيض السعر؟ (yumkin takhfīḍ s-sar?) – Can you lower the price?
• ممكن كسر السعر؟ (mumkin kisr s-sar?) – Can you give me a discount?
• هل يمكن تقديم عرض خاص؟ (hal yumkin taqdīm ʿarḍ khāṣṣ?) – Can you give me a special offer?
• هذا غير معقول. (hada ghīr maʿqūl) – This is unreasonable.

These phrases are just examples, feel free to use them or tailor them to fit your unique situation. It's important to be polite when bargaining and to understand that it's part of the culture in Morocco. Bargaining is a game, and it's possible to enjoy it, so don't be afraid to make a counteroffer or start with a lower number than the one offered by the seller.

Tips for Bargaining in Morocco

Here are some tips to keep in mind when bargaining in Morocco:

• Start at 30-40% of the initial asking price and gradually increase your offer.
• Always be respectful and polite. The seller has a better chance of going lower if they like you.
• If you're not sure you want to buy something, it's best not to bargain too hard. The seller might become frustrated and not want to sell to you at all.
• Don't be afraid to walk away. Often, sellers will change their mind and offer you a lower price as you're walking away.
• Lastly, remember to enjoy the experience! Bargaining in Morocco is not just about getting a great deal, it's also about engaging with the shopkeeper and experiencing Moroccan culture.

Sources

• Moroccan Arabic
• Culture of Morocco

Table of Contents - Moroccan Arabic Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction

• Alphabet and Writing
• Pronunciation

  ---

Greetings and Basic Phrases

• Introducing Yourself and Others
• Asking for Directions
• Numbers and Counting

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Plurals
• Demonstratives
• Possessive Pronouns

  ---

Food and Drink

• Ordering Food in a Restaurant
• Describing Food
• Beverages and Ordering Drinks

  ---

Verbs

• Present Tense
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

  ---

House and Home

• Rooms and Furniture
• Household Chores
• Renting an Apartment

  ---

Adjectives

• Adjective Agreement
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives

  ---

Traditions and Customs

• Weddings and Celebrations
• Greetings and Etiquette

  ---

Prepositions

• Directional Prepositions
• Temporal Prepositions

  ---

Transportation

• Taking a Taxi
• Public Transportation

  ---

Imperative Mood

• Affirmative Imperative
• Negative Imperative

  ---

Shopping and Bargaining

• Shopping for Clothes
• At the Market
• Bargaining and Haggling

  ---

Historical Sites and Landmarks

• The Medina
• Kasbahs

  ---

Relative Clauses

• Direct and Indirect Object Clauses
• Relative Pronouns

  ---

Health and Emergencies

• At the Hospital
• Emergencies and First Aid

  ---

Passive Voice

• Formation of Passive Constructions
• Uses of the Passive

  ---

Leisure and Entertainment

• Music and Dance
• Sports and Activities

  ---

Holidays and Festivals

• Eid Al-Fitr and Eid Al-Adha
• Ramadan

  ---

Conditional Mood

• Formation of the Conditional
• Uses of the Conditional

  ---

Regional Dialects

• Darija and Other Dialects
• Language Use and Social Context

  ---

Indirect Speech

• Reported Speech
• Indirect Questions

  ---

Weather and Climate

• Describing the Weather
• Seasons and Climate

Other Lessons

• Beverages
• At the Market
• Describing Food
• Seasons
• Greetings
• At the Hanoot
• Sports and Activities
• Mammal
• Fruits

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