Shopping Dialogue

Follow Karla’s short exchange with a storekeeper, then revisit the source’s comprehension questions.

Reading the Latin spelling

This is a simplified learning transcription adapted from the source, not a phonetic alphabet. sh = ش, kh = خ, gh = غ, 3 = ع, and 7 = ح. The numbers represent sounds. Dotted ṣ, ṭ and ḍ mark emphatic consonants; doubled letters indicate a longer consonant. Regional pronunciation and spelling can vary.

Read the dialogue

• Karla: Peace be upon you.

  السلام عليكم.

  s-salamu 3alaykum.

• Storekeeper: And upon you be peace. What would you like, ma’am?

  وعليكم السلام. شنو بغيتي آ للا؟

  wa 3alaykum s-salam. shnu bghiti a lalla?

• Karla: Do you have chocolate?

  واش عندك شكلاط؟

  wesh 3ndk shklaṭ?

• Storekeeper: Yes, it’s available, ma’am.

  إيه، موجود آ للا.

  iyeh, mujud a lalla.

• Karla: Give me two packages. How much?

  عطيني جوج بكيات. بشحال؟

  3ṭini juj bakiyat. bsh7al?

• Storekeeper: Twelve dirhams.

  طناش لدرهم.

  ṭnash l drhm.

• Karla: Here you are. Thank you.

  هاك، بارك الله فيك.

  hak, barak llah fik.

• Storekeeper: You’re welcome.

  بلا جميل.

  bla jmil.

Questions from the source

Return to the dialogue to answer these questions. The English glosses below are added learning aids; the source does not include an answer key.

• 1. Where is Karla?

  فين كاينة كارلا؟

  fin kayna Karla?

• 2. Did she buy milk?

  واش شرات الحليب؟

  wesh shrat l-7lib?

• 3. What did she buy from the shop?

  شنو شرات من الحانوت؟

  shnu shrat mn l-7anut?

• 4. How many packages?

  شحال من باكية؟

  sh7al mn bakiya?

• 5. How much?

  بشحال؟

  bsh7al?

Source and audio

Adapted for LearnLahja from Peace Corps/Morocco, Basic Introduction to Arabic, lesson 26 (PDF page 21). English learning notes, layout and simplified Latin spelling are editorial adaptations. LearnLahja is independent and is not endorsed by Peace Corps.

Audio unavailable. The source names a recording covering lessons 25–27, but no playable recording has been verified for this lesson.