أكم

South Levantine Arabic

Alternative forms

• كم (kam)
• أكمّن (ʔakammin, alternative spelling of أكم من (ʔakam min))

Etymology

From Arabic كَمْ (kam).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʔa.kamm/, [ˈʔa.kam]

Determiner

أكم • (ʔakam, ʔakamm)

1. how many [with من (min) ‘of’]

   أكم من بيضة بدك أعمللك؟

   ʔakam min bēḍa biddak ʔaʕmel-lak?

   How many eggs do you want me to cook for you?

2. a few, some, several [with من (min) ‘of’]

   Synonym: بعض (baʕḍ)

   قلتلّه أكم من مرّة، بس هو ما بوخد كلامي صحّ.

   ʔoltillo ʔakam min marra, bas huwwe ma bōḵed kalāmi ṣaḥḥ.

   I told him a few times, but he doesn't take me seriously at my word.

Usage notes

• أكم (ʔakam) is always followed by a singular noun.

Related terms

• قديش (ʔaddēš, “how much”)