A1 Expression Neutre

Bei gani?

What is the price?

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The essential Swahili phrase to ask 'How much is it?' at any market or shop.

  • Means: How much does this cost?
  • Used in: Markets, shops, and street stalls.
  • Don't confuse: 'Bei gani' (price) with 'Wapi' (where).
Pointing finger + Item + 'Bei gani?' = Successful price inquiry

Explanation at your level:

This is a very simple way to ask for the price of something. You use it when you are shopping.
This phrase is a standard interrogative expression in Swahili. It combines the noun 'bei' with the interrogative 'gani' to inquire about the cost of goods in a market setting.
Used primarily in commercial contexts, 'Bei gani?' functions as a direct inquiry. It is highly versatile and can be used in almost any retail environment across East Africa, from informal street stalls to established shops.
The phrase demonstrates the functional simplicity of Swahili syntax. By omitting the verb 'to be', it achieves a concise, pragmatic form that is characteristic of the language's efficiency in daily social and economic interactions.
From a sociolinguistic perspective, 'Bei gani?' serves as a gateway into the cultural practice of negotiation. It is a phatic expression that initiates a transactional sequence, often serving as the catalyst for the social negotiation of value.
The phrase 'Bei gani?' exemplifies the intersection of Bantu morphosyntax and Arabic lexical borrowing. It functions as a deictic anchor in market discourse, allowing the speaker to establish a transactional frame while maintaining a neutral register suitable for diverse socioeconomic interactions.

Signification

Asking for the cost of an item.

🌍

Contexte culturel

Bargaining is common in markets. Always start with a smile. In Nairobi, 'Bei gani' is used everywhere from supermarkets to street vendors. The influence of Arabic trade makes this phrase essential in the Stone Town markets. Swahili is widely understood in markets, and this phrase is perfectly acceptable.

💡

Smile!

Always smile when asking. It makes the vendor more likely to give you a good price.

💬

Bargaining

Don't accept the first price. It's part of the culture to negotiate.

Signification

Asking for the cost of an item.

💡

Smile!

Always smile when asking. It makes the vendor more likely to give you a good price.

💬

Bargaining

Don't accept the first price. It's part of the culture to negotiate.

Teste-toi

Fill in the blank to ask for the price.

______ gani kofia hii?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Bei

'Bei gani' is the phrase for 'how much'.

Which phrase is correct for asking the price?

Choose the correct option.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Bei gani?

'Bei gani' is the standard word order.

Match the Swahili phrase to its English meaning.

Match: Bei gani? | Nani? | Wapi?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : How much? | Who? | Where?

Bei gani is how much, Nani is who, Wapi is where.

Complete the dialogue.

Vendor: Karibu! You: ______?

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : Bei gani?

You are at a market, so you ask for the price.

🎉 Score : /4

Aides visuelles

Questions fréquentes

3 questions

No, it is the standard way to ask for a price.

Yes, but prices are usually fixed there.

No, 'Bei gani' stays the same.

Expressions liées

🔗

Bei ya mwisho

builds on

Final price

🔄

Pesa ngapi?

synonym

How much money?

🔗

Ghali sana!

contrast

Too expensive!

🔗

Punguza bei

builds on

Lower the price

Où l'utiliser

🍎

Fruit Market

You: Bei gani machungwa haya?

Vendor: Ni shilingi elfu mbili.

neutral
👕

Clothing Shop

You: Bei gani shati hili?

Shopkeeper: Ni shilingi elfu kumi.

neutral
🍢

Street Food

You: Bei gani mishikaki?

Vendor: Mia tano moja.

informal
🚕

Taxi

You: Bei gani mpaka mjini?

Driver: Ni elfu tano.

neutral
🎨

Artisan Craft

You: Bei gani sanamu hii?

Artist: Ni elfu ishirini.

neutral
📚

Bookstore

You: Bei gani kitabu hiki?

Clerk: Ni elfu kumi na tano.

formal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Buy' (Bei) and 'Gani' (Gone). 'Buy gone' - how much did I pay?

Visual Association

Imagine a bright market stall with a big price tag. You point at it and say 'Bei gani?'

Rhyme

In the market, don't be shy, ask 'Bei gani' before you buy!

Story

You walk into a busy market in Zanzibar. You see a beautiful wooden carving. You walk up to the vendor, smile, and ask 'Bei gani?'. He tells you the price, and you start to negotiate.

Word Web

BeiGaniNunuaSokoPesaDukaGhaliRahisi

Défi

Go to a local store and ask the price of 3 different items using this phrase.

In Other Languages

Spanish high

¿Cuánto cuesta?

Spanish uses a verb (costar), while Swahili uses a noun-interrogative structure.

French high

C'est combien ?

French includes a verb (être), Swahili does not.

German high

Was kostet das?

German uses a specific verb for cost, Swahili uses a noun.

Japanese high

いくらですか？ (Ikura desu ka?)

Japanese requires a polite copula (desu ka), Swahili is more direct.

Arabic high

بكم هذا؟ (Bikam hadha?)

Arabic uses a preposition (bi) for the price, Swahili uses the noun directly.

Chinese high

多少钱？ (Duōshǎo qián?)

Chinese explicitly mentions 'money' (qián), Swahili implies it.

Korean high

얼마예요? (Eolmayeyo?)

Korean uses a polite ending, Swahili is neutral.

Portuguese high

Quanto custa?

Uses the verb 'custar', similar to Spanish.

Easily Confused

Bei gani? vs Bei gani vs. Pesa ngapi

Both mean how much, but 'Bei gani' is more common for items.

Use 'Bei gani' for specific items, 'Pesa ngapi' for general amounts.

FAQ (3)

No, it is the standard way to ask for a price.

Yes, but prices are usually fixed there.

No, 'Bei gani' stays the same.

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