Learn some more useful phrases and tips for shopping
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| Jessi: Hello, and welcome to Hebrew Survival Phrases, brought to you by HebrewPod101.com. This course is designed to equip you with the language skills and knowledge to enable you to get the most out of your visit to Israel. You'll be surprised at how far a little Hebrew will go. Now, before we jump in, remember to stop by HebrewPod101.com and there you'll find the accompanying PDF and additional info in the post. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment! |
| Survival Phrases Lesson 19 - Lower the Price |
| In Israel, haggling at the markets is very common. These little markets are temporary street markets where you can find everything from food and clothes to antiquities. In these places, you will be able to use the Survival Phrases you will learn in this lesson. Don't be afraid to use your Hebrew when speaking to the merchants because they are very funny and they can be very friendly and kind to potential customers. Are you ready to have fun at the שׁוּק, Shuk ("market")? |
| Upon entering a שׁוּק, Shuk, you will be struck by the variety of colorful stalls and something that interests you will immediately attract you. Normally, if you are interested in buying something you say, "Excuse me, how much is this?" ?סְלִיחָה, כַּמָה זֶה עוֹלֶה, Slicha, kama ze ole? As soon as they tell you the price, you can start the bargaining to lower the price. Please note that this is very common at Israeli markets so don't be shy. Try to say, ?אֶפְשַׁר קְצָת הֲנָחָה, Efshar ktsat hanakha? "Can you cut the price?" This literally translates as "Can you make a little discount?" Let's repeat the whole phrase once more, ?אֶפְשַׁר קְצָת הֲנָחָה, Efshar ktsat hanakha? At this point, the merchant will start haggling and the final result is in your hands! |
| Another way to express the feeling that something is too expensive and you want to start haggling is with זֶה מְאוֹד יָקָר, Ze Meod yakar, which literally means, "It is very expensive." זֶה, Ze means, "It is," מְאוֹד, Meod is "a lot, much," and finally we have יָקָר Yakar, which is the adjective meaning "expensive." Let's break down these words and hear them one more time, זֶה מְאוֹד יָקָר, Ze Meod yakar. זֶה מְאוֹד יָקָר, Ze Meod yakar is actually enough to get your point across when haggling, but to make sure the seller knows you mean business it's best to add אֶפְשַׁר קְצָת הֲנָחָה, Efshar ktsat hanakha. In other words, try saying ?זֶה מְאוֹד יָקָר, אֶפְשַׁר קְצָת הֲנָחָה, Ze Meod yakar, Efshar ktsat hanakha? |
| Let's imagine that you are at a שׁוּק, Shuk, you want to buy a bag, and you want to suggest your price to the merchant straightforward. In other words, you want to establish your own price as the one you will bargain for. The merchant has just told you that the bag costs fifteen Shekels. You desperately want that bag but it's too expensive and you want to try to suggest eight Shekels. After זֶה מְאוֹד יָקָר, Ze Meod yakar, you should say, !שְׁמוֹנָה שְׁקָלִים, Shmona shekalim! "Eight Shekels!" When haggling, this is all you need to say to get your point across. If the merchant still refuses you, slowly walk away and in most cases they will give in. !שְׁמוֹנָה שְׁקָלִים, Shmona shekalim! |
| Ok, to close out today's lesson, we would like you to practice what you have just learned. I'll provide you with the English equivalent of the phrase and you're responsible for shouting it out loud. You'll have a few seconds before I give you the answer, so !בְּהַצְלָחָה, Behatzlacha! which means "Good luck!" in Hebrew. |
| "Excuse me, how much is this?" - ?סְלִיחָה, כַּמָה זֶה עוֹלֶה, Slicha, kama ze ole? |
| "It's too expensive, can you give me a discount?" - ?זֶה מְאוֹד יָקָר! אֶפְשַׁר קְצָת הֲנָחָה, Ze Meod yakar, Efshar ktsat hanakha? |
| "It costs too much!" - !זֶה מְאוֹד יָקָר, Ze Meod yakar! |
| "I'll give you eight Shekels!" - !אֶתֵּן לְךָ שְׁמוֹנָה שְׁקָלִים, Eten lekha shmona shekalim! |
| Jessi: Alright! That's going to do it for today. Remember to stop by HebrewPod101.com and pick up the accompanying PDF. If you stop by, be sure to leave us a comment! |
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