A2 Expression Neutral 3 Min. Lesezeit

هل يمكن قليلاً أيضاً؟

Can I have a bit more?

Wörtlich: Possible also a little?

Use this phrase to politely request a small extra portion or a brief time extension.

In 15 Sekunden

  • A polite way to ask for more food, time, or space.
  • Uses 'shwayya' to sound humble and avoid appearing greedy.
  • Works perfectly in restaurants, at home, or in casual meetings.

Bedeutung

This is a polite and versatile way to ask for 'a little bit more' of something, whether it's food, time, or space. It is the linguistic equivalent of asking for a small favor or an extra helping without sounding greedy.

Wichtige Beispiele

3 von 6
1

At a restaurant asking for more sauce

ممكن صوص كمان شوية؟

Can I have a bit more sauce?

🤝
2

Asking a colleague for more time on a task

ممكن كمان شوية وقت للمشروع؟

Can I have a bit more time for the project?

💼
3

Texting a friend that you'll be late

أنا جاي، بس ممكن كمان شوية؟

I'm coming, but can I have a bit more (time)?

😊
🌍

Kultureller Hintergrund

Hospitality is the cornerstone of Arab culture, and asking for 'a bit more' is often seen as a compliment to the host's generosity. The word 'shwayya' (a little) is used frequently to soften requests and avoid appearing demanding. This phrase is a staple in Levantine and Egyptian dialects, reflecting a shared cultural value of modesty in asking.

💡

The Tone Matters

Always use a rising, questioning tone. If you say it flatly, it might sound like a statement rather than a polite request.

⚠️

Not for Money

Avoid using this phrase when asking for a loan or a raise. It sounds too casual and 'small' for financial matters.

In 15 Sekunden

  • A polite way to ask for more food, time, or space.
  • Uses 'shwayya' to sound humble and avoid appearing greedy.
  • Works perfectly in restaurants, at home, or in casual meetings.

What It Means

This phrase is your secret weapon for politeness in the Arab world. It literally translates to 'possible also a little,' but it functions as a gentle request for an extension or an extra portion. Think of it as the ultimate 'plus one' for your needs. Whether you are eyeing that last piece of baklava or need five more minutes of sleep, this phrase has your back. It is soft, humble, and incredibly common in daily life.

How To Use It

You simply say it as a question with a rising intonation at the end. The beauty of ممكن كمان شوية؟ is its flexibility. You do not need to attach it to a complex sentence. The context does all the heavy lifting for you. If you are holding an empty coffee cup, the waiter knows exactly what you mean. If you are looking at a deadline, your boss understands you are asking for more time. It is grammatically simple but socially powerful.

When To Use It

Use it at a dinner party when the food is so good you cannot resist a second serving. Your host will likely take it as a huge compliment. Use it at a cafe when you are not quite ready to leave your comfortable chair. It is also perfect for those 'snooze button' moments in the morning. Use it when texting a friend to say you will be a few minutes late. It buys you grace and shows you are being mindful of their time.

When NOT To Use It

Avoid using this in high-stakes professional negotiations where you need to be firm. Do not use it to ask for a significant salary increase; it sounds too 'small' for a big request. Also, avoid using it if someone is clearly in a massive hurry and you are asking for more of their time. In those cases, it might come across as slightly tone-deaf. Use it for small favors, not for life-changing demands.

Cultural Background

In Arabic-speaking cultures, hospitality is a point of deep pride. Hosts often wait for you to ask for more as a sign that you are comfortable and enjoying yourself. Asking for 'a little' (شوية) is a linguistic trick to show modesty. It suggests you are not being greedy or demanding. By framing it as a possibility (ممكن), you give the other person an easy way to say yes, which keeps the social harmony intact.

Common Variations

You might hear people flip the words to ممكن شوية كمان؟ which means the exact same thing. In Egypt, you might hear كمان حبة instead of شوية. If you want to be even more polite, you can add لو سمحت (if you please) at the end. If you are specifically asking for more food, some people might use the word زيادة (extra), but شوية remains the most humble and common choice.

Nutzungshinweise

This phrase is primarily used in spoken dialects (Levantine, Egyptian, Gulf). It is neutral in formality, making it safe for almost any everyday interaction.

💡

The Tone Matters

Always use a rising, questioning tone. If you say it flatly, it might sound like a statement rather than a polite request.

⚠️

Not for Money

Avoid using this phrase when asking for a loan or a raise. It sounds too casual and 'small' for financial matters.

💬

The Humility of 'Shwayya'

Arabs often use 'shwayya' even when they want a lot. It's a way to be humble. If you ask for 'shwayya' and they give you a lot, just say thank you!

Beispiele

6
#1 At a restaurant asking for more sauce
🤝

ممكن صوص كمان شوية؟

Can I have a bit more sauce?

The speaker is asking for a small extra portion of a condiment.

#2 Asking a colleague for more time on a task
💼

ممكن كمان شوية وقت للمشروع؟

Can I have a bit more time for the project?

Adding 'waqt' (time) makes the request specific in a professional setting.

#3 Texting a friend that you'll be late
😊

أنا جاي، بس ممكن كمان شوية؟

I'm coming, but can I have a bit more (time)?

A common way to tell someone you need a few more minutes.

#4 A child asking to stay up later
😄

ماما، ممكن ألعب كمان شوية؟

Mom, can I play a bit more?

A classic request from children wanting to extend playtime.

#5 Wanting to spend more time with a loved one
💭

خليك معايا كمان شوية.

Stay with me a bit more.

Using the phrase in an imperative but soft way for emotional connection.

#6 Asking a waiter for more water
👔

ممكن مية كمان شوية لو سمحت؟

Can I have a bit more water, please?

Adding 'law samaht' increases the formality slightly.

Teste dich selbst

You are at a cafe and want a bit more coffee. Fill in the blank.

ممكن قهوة ___ شوية؟

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: كمان

`كمان` (kaman) is the word for 'more' or 'also' in this context.

Complete the phrase to ask for a little more time.

ممكن كمان ___؟

✓ Richtig! ✗ Nicht ganz. Richtige Antwort: شوية

`شوية` (shwayya) means 'a little' and completes the polite request.

🎉 Ergebnis: /2

Visuelle Lernhilfen

Formality Spectrum of 'Mumkin Kaman Shwayya?'

Very Informal

Used with siblings or close friends when asking for a bite of food.

كمان شوية؟

Neutral

Standard use with waiters, shopkeepers, or acquaintances.

ممكن كمان شوية؟

Formal

Used with a boss or elder by adding 'please'.

ممكن كمان شوية لو سمحت؟

Where to use 'Mumkin Kaman Shwayya?'

Can I have a bit more?
🍚

At the Dinner Table

Asking for more rice

😴

In Bed

Asking for more sleep

At the Office

Asking for a deadline extension

🌙

With Friends

Asking to stay out longer

Häufig gestellte Fragen

12 Fragen

كمان (kaman) means 'more,' 'also,' or 'as well.' In this phrase, it specifically adds the meaning of 'extra' or 'additional.'

Yes, شوية (shwayya) is understood across almost all Arabic dialects, though some regions might have their own local preferences like حبة (habba) in Egypt.

Absolutely! It is one of the most common ways to ask for a few more minutes. You can just say ممكن كمان شوية؟ while pointing at your watch.

Add لو سمحت (law samaht) which means 'if you please' at the end. For example: ممكن كمان شوية لو سمحت؟.

Not at all! In fact, in many Arab households, asking for كمان شوية of a dish is considered a compliment to the cook.

كمان (kaman) is more like 'more of the same,' while زيادة (ziyada) literally means 'extra' or 'an increase.' Both work, but كمان feels more conversational.

Yes, if you are buying something by weight (like olives or nuts), you can say كمان شوية to ask the shopkeeper to add a bit more to the bag.

You can say أكيد (akeed) meaning 'certainly' or تفضل (tfaddal) meaning 'here you go' while giving them more.

ممكن (mumkin) literally means 'possible.' In a question, it functions exactly like 'Can I?' or 'Is it possible to?'

It's rarely used in anger. It's a soft phrase. If you're angry, you'd likely use more direct language.

No, this specific combination is very dialect-heavy. In MSA, you would say something like هل يمكنني الحصول على المزيد؟.

Even if you want a lot, it's culturally smoother to start with كمان شوية. You can always ask for another شوية later!

Verwandte Redewendungen

كمان واحد

شوية شوية

مش ممكن

ممكن مساعدة؟

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