You are on holiday. Today you are in a big, busy market. There are lamps, spices, and lots of people. On one stall, you see a beautiful carpet. The colours are lovely. You stop and look.
In this market, the first price is not the real price. You can talk, and the price can go down. This is called "haggling" — you ask for a lower price, in a friendly way. It is normal here. It is like a small, happy game.
The seller sees your face. He smiles. He knows you like the carpet! Your job is easy: say you like it, ask the price, ask for less — and be ready to say "no, thank you" and walk away. That is your best trick.
Warm up — talk for one minute
Do you like markets? What do you like to buy — food, clothes, or small gifts?
In your country, can you ask for a lower price? Or is the price always fixed?
Who's who
You
The Buyer 🧳
You like the carpet, but you do not want to pay a lot. You are friendly. You smile. And you are ready to walk away if the price stays high.
The other person
The Seller 🧵
He is friendly and he loves to talk. He always starts with a high price. But he wants to sell — so the price can go down.
Next: learn the phrases you need in the next tab. Then see them in a real conversation. Look at the friendly words — beautiful, thank you, a special price. It is OK to speak slowly. It is OK to say "no, thank you" and walk away.
Useful Phrases 🧰
Here are the phrases for this conversation. Read each one and say it out loud once. Choose the ones you like. Keep this page open when you practise.
The shape of this conversation
1 · Say you like it2 · Ask the price3 · A lower price4 · Walk away
It's a map, not a script. Real talk can skip steps or go back.
Cover it later, when you want to test yourself.
When you're the buyer
😍 Say you like it
"This is beautiful."
"Where is it from?"
💰 Ask the price
"How much is this?"
"That's too much for me."
🤝 A lower price
"Can you make it cheaper?"
"Can I give you fifty?"
🚶 Walk away
"I think I'll leave it. Thank you."
"OK, it's a deal! Thank you very much."
When you're the seller
"It is handmade."
"This one is sixty pounds."
"Last price: fifty-five."
"OK, you can have it."
When something changes
"Do you want a bag?"
"Do you take cards?"
"I make it myself."
When you need help
"Sorry, can you say that again, please?"
"Can you speak more slowly, please?"
"Do you mean…?"
"How do you say … in English?"
Speed round 🎯
Draw a card. Say what you would say, out loud. Then look at one answer.
Press the button to start.
Try a few more rounds with the toolkit covered. When it feels easy, you are ready.
The Conversation 💬
Read it out loud, one person each, then change. Find the phrases from your toolkit. Listen for the friendly words, and watch the price go down.
SellerHello, hello! Come, look. This carpet is very beautiful. Do you like it?
YouYes, it's beautiful. Where is it from?
SellerMy family makes them, in the mountains. This one took three months! Touch it — it is very soft.
YouIt's lovely. How much is this one?
SellerFor you, my friend, a special price. One hundred.
YouOh! That's too much for me. It is beautiful, but one hundred is a lot of money.
SellerOK, OK. You like it, I can see. Tell me — how much do you want to pay?
YouCan you make it cheaper? Can I give you fifty?
SellerFifty? Oh, no, no! My family works so hard. Eighty. Eighty is a good price.
YouHmm. Eighty is still a lot. I think I'll leave it. Thank you.
SellerWait, wait! Don't go. OK — for you, seventy. Seventy is my best price.
YouSeventy… OK. It's a deal! Thank you very much.
SellerThank you, my friend! You will love it. Have a good day!
From memory — don't look up!
1. Before the price, the buyer asks one question about the carpet. What does the buyer ask?
2. The seller starts at one hundred. What is the last price — the price the buyer pays?
3. The buyer says "I think I'll leave it." Then the price goes down again. Why is "I'll leave it" a good thing to say?
1. The buyer asks where the carpet is from ("Where is it from?"). 2. Seventy. (The price goes 100 → 80 → 70.) 3. When you look ready to leave, the seller is afraid you will go with no carpet — so he gives you a better, lower price to make you stay. Being ready to walk away is your strongest move.
Your Turn 🎭
No script this time. You have a real talk with a real person. You have a goal.
1 · Warm up your voice 🎤
Say each sentence out loud. Use your own words in the gaps.
Say you like it. This is ___.
Ask the price. How much is ___?
A lower price. Can you make it ___?
Walk away. I think I'll ___.
2 · The scene 🎬
Pick a situation. Your partner plays the other person.
Your card
Where
The situation
You have
You want
Your ruleSmile. Say your price. Be ready to walk away.
Who you're talking to
🏆 Get it at a fair price, or walk away happy.
⏱ 3:00
Twist deck
🎲 Something changes
Start the scene. After a minute, draw a card. What it says just happened.
Nothing has changed yet.
3 · Swap seats 🔁
Now you are the other person. Your partner takes your old part.
Your card
WhereThe market stall
Your goalSell at a fair price and keep the buyer happy
Your partnerPlays the buyer now
Draw another twist if you like.
4 · Afterwards ✅
Tick what you did, in either seat.
Phrases I want to use next time
Go again
⚡ Same situation, one more time
Do it again. Draw a twist before you start. Try to do it faster this time.
The Echo 🕰️
A long, long time ago, there was a very long road. It was called the Silk Road. It went from China all the way to Europe. On this road, people carried silk, spices, gold, and lots of other beautiful things.
People from many countries met on this road. They did not speak the same language. But they could still buy and sell — with a smile, a price, and their hands. They haggled, just like you did today.
So when you haggle for a carpet, you do a very old thing. People have done it for two thousand years. You are part of a very long story!