Egyptian Arabic Numbers, Prices, and Paying for Things

Numbers become useful when they are attached to a job. You need to hear a price, confirm a quantity, give a phone number, or understand a time.

Start by recognizing one through ten, then practice them inside a price exchange.

Numbers one through ten

Franco vowels vary. A source may write wahed, itneen, or another readable version of the same spoken form.

Arabic number agreement becomes more complex when numbers modify nouns. Do not assume that this list can be placed before any noun unchanged. The first goal is recognition and simple practical use.

Ask the price

da be kam?
How much is this?

For something treated as feminine, you may hear:

di be kam?
How much is this?

The demonstrative changes with the item being discussed.

A basic price interaction

In a real market, the price may be faster and longer than the number list you practiced. Ask for repetition rather than guessing:

momken te2ool tani?
Can you say that again? addressed to a man.

Confirm what you heard

Repeat the number as a question:

khamsa?
Five?

This is a small but important conversation skill. It checks your listening and gives the other person a chance to correct the number.

Practice with random prices

Have someone choose a number from one to ten without showing you. Ask da be kam? and listen to the answer.

Then reverse roles. Saying the number and understanding it are different skills.

Once these are reliable, add tens and larger prices in the currency and situations relevant to your trip.

Train the answer, not only the list

Glyph connects new language to a prompt you have to answer. Try the Day 1 demo, then use the same structure with da be kam? and three prices you are likely to hear.

Useful reference

• University of Oregon, Egyptian Arabic number lessons

Continue with Egyptian Arabic for travel and the conversation-repair guide.