Language in the Souk — Bargaining in Darija
Bargaining in the souk has its own vocabulary—a mix of Darija and French, spiced with theatrics and humor:
The Negotiation
- Bshhal hada? — How much does this cost?
- Ghali bezzaf! — Too expensive! (always the first comment)
- Naqs shwiya! — A bit cheaper!
- Akhir taman? — Final price?
- Lla, bezzaf — No, too much
- Ana ghadi nemshi — I'm leaving (the secret weapon)
- Wakha, nsalkou — Okay, deal (handshake)
Typical Merchant Phrases (and what they mean)
- “Mon ami!” — “My friend!” (You are a customer, not a friend)
- “Looking is free!” — “Looking is free!” (True, but drinking tea creates social pressure)
- “I give you berber price!” — “Berber price!” (There is no Berber price)
- “You're killing me!” — “You're killing me!” (Theatrics—the merchant is still making a profit)
- “Last price, I swear by God!” — “Last price, I swear by God!” (It isn't. There's more room to negotiate)
💡 Tipp
Learn “Ghali bezzaf!” (too expensive) and “La, shukran” (no, thank you)—with these two phrases, you can survive any souk. And remember: haggling should be fun. Smile, joke, enjoy the game.
