كم سعر هذا؟

When to use

This is a fundamental question to ask the price of any item you are interested in buying in a shop, market, or stall. It is widely understood in both Modern Standard Arabic and most spoken dialects.

How it works

The phrase breaks down into simple components: * `kam` (كم): An interrogative word meaning 'how much' or 'how many'. * `si'r` (سعر): Means 'price'. This word comes from the root س-ع-ر (s-'-r) related to cost. * `hadha` (هذا): A demonstrative pronoun meaning 'this' (masculine singular).

• `kam`: 'how much'
• `si'r`: 'price'
• `hadha`: 'this'

Pronunciation Nuances

Pay attention to the `ayn` (ع) in `si'r` (سعر). It is a throaty sound made by constricting the throat, distinct from the glottal stop `hamza` (أ) or a simple vowel sound.

Grammar Notes

This is a simple nominal sentence structure. `kam` functions as the predicate (خبر مقدم), and `si'r hadha` (the price of this) functions as the subject (مبتدأ مؤخر). The question mark at the end is implied by `kam`.

Notes

Essential market and shop question. Neutral polite wording.