Money and Prices in Arabic: A Practical Guide
Learn how to talk about money in Arabic, from currency names to haggling at the souk. Master prices, shopping phrases, and essential Arabic currency words.
Table of Contents
Money and Prices in Arabic: A Practical Guide
Whether you're planning a trip to Cairo, Dubai, or Marrakech, knowing how to talk about money in Arabic is one of the most practical skills you can develop. From reading price tags to negotiating at a bustling souk, the ability to discuss prices and currencies in Arabic will transform your experience in any Arabic-speaking country.
In this guide, we'll cover everything from essential Arabic currency words to full shopping conversations — giving you the confidence to handle any financial interaction in Arabic.
Why Learning Money Vocabulary in Arabic Matters
Arabic is spoken across more than 20 countries, each with its own currency and pricing culture. The Arab world is also home to some of the globe's most vibrant markets — the souks of Morocco, the gold markets of Dubai, the bazaars of Amman. In many of these places, knowing the local language isn't just helpful — it's expected, and it often gets you a better deal.
Beyond travel, if you work in international business, finance, or trade with Arabic-speaking partners, understanding monetary vocabulary in Arabic is a professional asset.
Before diving into money vocabulary, make sure you're comfortable with Arabic numbers 1-100, since prices and currencies rely heavily on numerical fluency.
Arabic Currency Words: Country by Country
One of the first things to learn is the name of the currency in the country you're visiting. Here are the major Arabic currencies with their Arabic script, transliteration, and the countries that use them:
| Currency | Arabic Script | Transliteration | Countries |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dinar | دينار | Dīnār | Jordan, Kuwait, Bahrain, Iraq, Tunisia, Libya, Algeria |
| Dirham | درهم | Dirham | UAE, Morocco |
| Riyal / Rial | ريال | Riyāl | Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Yemen |
| Pound (Lira) | جنيه / ليرة | Junayh / Līra | Egypt, Syria, Lebanon, Sudan |
| Fils | فلس | Fils | Kuwait, Bahrain, UAE (sub-unit) |
| Qirsh | قرش | Qirsh | Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt (sub-unit) |
| Centime | سنتيم | Santīm | Morocco, Algeria (sub-unit) |
Pro Tip: The word فلس (fils) is actually an ancient Arabic coin name, and it's the root of the word for Palestine — فلسطين (Filasṭīn) — historically meaning "land of the Philistines" but forever tied to coinage in Arabic memory.
Key Vocabulary: Currency Names
- النقود (al-nuqūd) — money (general)
- العملة (al-ʿumla) — currency
- الورقة النقدية (al-waraqa al-naqdiyya) — banknote
- المعدن / القطعة (al-maʿdan / al-qiṭʿa) — coin
- الصرف (al-ṣarf) — exchange / change
- سعر الصرف (siʿr al-ṣarf) — exchange rate
Essential Phrases for Talking About Prices in Arabic
Once you know the currency, you need to be able to ask about and discuss prices. Here are the core phrases for talking about prices in Arabic:
Asking the Price
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| كم الثمن؟ | Kam al-thaman? | How much is the price? |
| بكم هذا؟ | Bikam hādhā? | How much is this? |
| بكم هذه؟ | Bikam hādhihi? | How much is this? (feminine) |
| كم يكلف؟ | Kam yukallif? | How much does it cost? |
| ما سعره؟ | Mā siʿruhu? | What is its price? |
| كم سعر هذا؟ | Kam siʿr hādhā? | What is the price of this? |
Stating a Price
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| الثمن عشرون درهماً | Al-thaman ʿishrūn dirhaman | The price is 20 dirhams |
| يكلف خمسة دنانير | Yukallif khamsa danānīr | It costs 5 dinars |
| هذا بمئة ريال | Hādhā bi-miʾa riyāl | This is 100 riyals |
| السعر ثلاثون جنيهاً | Al-siʿr thalāthūn junayhan | The price is 30 pounds |
Useful Price-Related Vocabulary
- غالي (ghālī) — expensive
- رخيص (rakhīṣ) — cheap / inexpensive
- مناسب (munāsib) — reasonable (in price)
- مجاني / مجاناً (majānī / majānan) — free
- الخصم (al-khaṣm) — discount
- التخفيض (al-takhfīḍ) — reduction / sale
- العرض (al-ʿarḍ) — offer / deal
- الإجمالي (al-ijmālī) — total
- الفاتورة (al-fātūra) — invoice / bill
- الإيصال (al-īṣāl) — receipt
Numbers and Money: Putting It All Together
Understanding how Arabic numbers combine with currency names is essential. In Arabic, numbers and nouns interact in specific grammatical ways. While the full rules are covered in our Arabic Grammar Basics guide, here are the practical patterns you'll hear most:
Numbers 1–10 with Currency
For numbers 3–10, Arabic uses the plural form of the noun:
- ثلاثة دنانير (thalāthat danānīr) — 3 dinars
- خمسة دراهم (khamsat darāhim) — 5 dirhams
- عشرة ريالات (ʿasharat riyālāt) — 10 riyals
For 1 and 2, the singular and dual forms are used:
- دينار واحد (dīnār wāḥid) — 1 dinar
- ديناران (dīnārān) — 2 dinars
For 11 and above, the singular form of the noun is used:
- خمسة عشر درهماً (khamsat ʿashar dirhaman) — 15 dirhams
- مئة ريال (miʾat riyāl) — 100 riyals
- ألف جنيه (alf junayh) — 1,000 pounds
Visit our Arabic numbers reference page to practice the numbers you'll need for prices.
Fractions and Cents
- نصف (niṣf) — half
- ربع (rubʿ) — quarter
- ثلث (thulth) — third
- نصف دينار (niṣf dīnār) — half a dinar
- خمسة وعشرون فلساً (khamsa wa-ʿishrūn falsan) — 25 fils
Shopping Arabic: Phrases for the Souk and Beyond
Now let's put it all together with real shopping Arabic — the kind of language you'll hear and use in stores, markets, and malls across the Arab world.
At the Market: A Sample Dialogue
Customer: بكم هذه التفاحة؟ (Bikam hādhihi al-tuffāḥa?) "How much is this apple?"
Vendor: بخمسة قروش. (Bikhamsat qurūsh.) "For five qirsh."
Customer: غالي جداً! هل يمكنك تخفيض السعر؟ (Ghālī jiddan! Hal yumkinuka takhfīḍ al-siʿr?) "That's very expensive! Can you lower the price?"
Vendor: حسناً، بثلاثة قروش. (Ḥasanan, bithalāthat qurūsh.) "Okay, for three qirsh."
Customer: اتفقنا! (Ittafaqnā!) "Deal!"
Essential Shopping Phrases
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| أريد هذا | Urīdu hādhā | I want this |
| هل عندك...؟ | Hal ʿindaka...? | Do you have...? |
| أعطني هذا من فضلك | Aʿṭinī hādhā min faḍlak | Give me this please |
| هل يمكنني المساومة؟ | Hal yumkinunī al-musāwama? | Can I bargain? |
| هذا كثير | Hādhā kathīr | This is too much |
| ما هو أفضل سعر؟ | Mā huwa afḍal siʿr? | What is your best price? |
| سأشتريه | Sa-ashtarīhi | I'll buy it |
| لا شكراً | Lā, shukran | No, thank you |
| فقط أتفرج | Faqaṭ atfarraj | Just browsing |
| هل لديك بالجملة؟ | Hal ladayka bil-jumla? | Do you sell wholesale? |
Paying and Getting Change
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| سأدفع نقداً | Sa-adfaʿ naqdan | I'll pay cash |
| هل تقبل بطاقة الائتمان؟ | Hal taqbal biṭāqat al-iʾtimān? | Do you accept credit cards? |
| هل تقبل الدفع الإلكتروني؟ | Hal taqbal al-dafʿ al-iliktrūnī? | Do you accept digital payment? |
| الباقي من فضلك | Al-bāqī min faḍlak | The change, please |
| هل يمكنني الحصول على فاتورة؟ | Hal yumkinunī al-ḥuṣūl ʿalā fātūra? | Can I get a receipt? |
| هذا المبلغ غير صحيح | Hādhā al-mablaghُ ghayr ṣaḥīḥ | This amount is incorrect |
Regional Variations in Money Vocabulary
Arabic dialects vary considerably across the Arab world, and money talk is no exception. While Modern Standard Arabic (MSA) provides a universal foundation, you'll hear different words and pronunciations depending on where you are. Our Arabic Dialects guide covers this in detail.
Quick Regional Notes:
Egypt:
- The Egyptian pound (جنيه مصري) is commonly called just ginēh in dialect
- Prices are often stated in عيار (ʿiyār) when discussing gold
- بكام ده؟ (Bikām da?) = "How much is this?" in Egyptian Arabic
Gulf (UAE, Saudi, Qatar):
- The riyal/dirham is dominant
- بكم هذا؟ works across the Gulf
- Numbers are often said in English in malls and modern stores
Levant (Jordan, Lebanon, Syria):
- The dinar (Jordan) and lira (Lebanon/Syria) are used
- Bargaining is less common in Lebanon compared to Syria or Jordan
- قديش هاد؟ (Addēsh hād?) = "How much is this?" in Levantine dialect
Morocco:
- The dirham is used, but prices are sometimes quoted in ريال (riyāl) colloquially (1 rial = 0.05 dirham — a historical holdover)
- French mixes heavily with Moroccan Arabic in price discussions
Bargaining Culture in the Arab World
In many Arab markets, bargaining (المساومة — al-musāwama) is not just acceptable — it's expected and even enjoyed as a social ritual. Here are some cultural tips:
- Start low — Offer about 40–60% of the asking price and work up from there.
- Be polite — Use phrases like من فضلك (min faḍlak — please) and شكراً (shukran — thank you) throughout.
- Walk away — If the price is too high, politely say لا شكراً and start to leave. Often the vendor will call you back with a better offer.
- Bundle items — Buying multiple items? Say لو اشتريت أكثر، هل تعطيني خصماً؟ (If I buy more, will you give me a discount?)
- Fixed-price stores — In supermarkets and modern malls, prices are fixed. Look for the sign السعر ثابت (al-siʿr thābit — fixed price).
Cultural Note: Refusing to bargain in a traditional souk can actually be seen as dismissive. Engaging with the vendor, even playfully, is a sign of respect and interest.
Banking and Financial Vocabulary in Arabic
For those doing business or living in Arab countries, here's a core set of banking and financial terms:
| Arabic | Transliteration | English |
|---|---|---|
| البنك | al-bank | bank |
| الحساب | al-ḥisāb | account |
| الرصيد | al-raṣīd | balance |
| السحب | al-saḥb | withdrawal |
| الإيداع | al-īdāʿ | deposit |
| التحويل | al-taḥwīl | transfer |
| القرض | al-qarḍ | loan |
| الفائدة | al-fāʾida | interest |
| الصراف الآلي | al-ṣarrāf al-ālī | ATM |
| تحويل العملات | taḥwīl al-ʿumlāt | currency exchange |
| بطاقة الخصم | biṭāqat al-khaṣm | debit card |
| المحفظة الإلكترونية | al-miḥfaẓa al-iliktrūniyya | digital wallet |
Quick Reference: Numbers for Shopping
Here's a fast-reference table for the numbers you'll use most in shopping contexts. For the full list, explore our complete Arabic numbers guide or the numbers reference page.
| Number | Arabic | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | واحد | wāḥid |
| 5 | خمسة | khamsa |
| 10 | عشرة | ʿashara |
| 20 | عشرون | ʿishrūn |
| 25 | خمسة وعشرون | khamsa wa-ʿishrūn |
| 50 | خمسون | khamsūn |
| 100 | مئة | miʾa |
| 500 | خمسمئة | khamsmiʾa |
| 1,000 | ألف | alf |
| 1,000,000 | مليون | milyūn |
Putting It All Together: Practice Scenarios
Here are three mini practice scenarios to help you drill your money in Arabic skills:
Scenario 1: Buying Fruit at a Market
- Ask the price: بكم الكيلو؟ (Bikam al-kīlū?) — How much per kilo?
- Hear the answer: عشرة دراهم (ʿasharat darāhim) — 10 dirhams
- Bargain: سأعطيك ثمانية (Saʿaṭīka thamāniya) — I'll give you 8
- Agree: اتفقنا (Ittafaqnā) — Deal!
Scenario 2: At a Restaurant
- Ask for the bill: الحساب من فضلك (Al-ḥisāb min faḍlak) — The bill, please
- Ask the total: كم الإجمالي؟ (Kam al-ijmālī?) — What's the total?
- Ask about card payment: هل تقبل بطاقة الائتمان؟ (Hal taqbal biṭāqat al-iʾtimān?)
Scenario 3: Currency Exchange
- Find an exchange: أين أقرب مكتب صرف؟ (Ayna aqrab maktab ṣarf?) — Where is the nearest exchange office?
- Ask the rate: ما سعر الصرف اليوم؟ (Mā siʿr al-ṣarf al-yawm?) — What is today's exchange rate?
- Request exchange: أريد تحويل مئة دولار إلى دراهم (Urīdu taḥwīl miʾat dūlār ilā darāhim) — I want to convert 100 dollars to dirhams
Tips for Learning Money Vocabulary Fast
- Flashcards with real notes — Print or use images of actual Arab currency and label them in Arabic.
- Role-play scenarios — Practice the dialogues above with a partner or out loud.
- Watch Arabic shopping vlogs — YouTube has countless Arabic market videos where you can hear real price negotiations.
- Use Arabic apps — Set your calculator or banking apps to Arabic to see numbers in context.
- Learn roots — Understanding the Arabic root system helps: the root ص-ر-ف (ṣ-r-f) appears in صرف (exchange), مصروف (expenses), and صراف (cashier).
For more vocabulary building strategies, check out our 100 Most Common Arabic Words and our full Arabic vocabulary categories.
Conclusion
Mastering money in Arabic opens doors — literally and figuratively. From navigating the gold souks of Dubai to paying a taxi in Amman, the phrases and vocabulary in this guide will serve you in real, everyday situations across the Arab world.
The key is practice: start with the currency of the country you're most interested in, memorize the core price-asking phrases, and drill numbers until they feel natural. Arabic speakers will genuinely appreciate your effort, and you'll find that even basic money vocabulary creates warmer, more authentic interactions.
Ready to build on this foundation? Explore our Essential Arabic Phrases for Travelers for even more practical language, and browse our Arabic words by category to keep expanding your vocabulary.
بالتوفيق! (Bil-tawfīq!) — Good luck!