How do you say "it's too expensive" in Moroccan Darija?

Bargaining is part of the fun in a Moroccan souk, and "ghali bezzaf" (GHA-lee be-ZZAF) is your opening move. It means "(it is) too expensive" — "ghali" is expensive, "bezzaf" is "a lot / too much." Said with a warm, slightly theatrical sigh, it signals you know the game and are ready to play. The vendor expects it; in fact, paying the first price without a flicker of negotiation can almost disappoint them.

The full dance usually opens with "shHal hada?" (sh-HAL HA-da), "how much is this?". You hear the price, you respond "ghali bezzaf!", and then you make your move: "naqqes shwiya" (NAK-kes shwee-ya), "lower it a bit," or you name a counter-price — "ana n3tik..." (A-na n-TEEK), "I'll give you...". A useful phrase to push gently is "akhir taman?" (A-kheer ta-MAN), "(what's your) final price?".

My honest coaching for guests: keep it light and good-humoured, never aggressive. The single most powerful tactic in a Moroccan negotiation is the willingness to walk away — start to leave with a friendly "shukran, ma bghit-sh" ("thanks, I don't want it"), and very often the real price appears as you reach the door. It is not a trick so much as the natural rhythm of the souk; both sides know the steps.

Two cultural truths that make this comfortable: first, a fair final price is usually somewhere around half to two-thirds of the opening ask in tourist markets, though it varies enormously by item and your charm. Second, once you agree a price, honour it — backing out after a handshake is poor form. Done with a smile, "ghali bezzaf" turns shopping into one of the warmest, most memorable interactions of a Morocco trip, not a stressful one.