Common Phrases used while Shopping - Part 1

Normally while travelling to new places we would like to buy many exquisite items in those places as part of the remembrance of the tour. We might have to engage conversations with those vendors where the mode of communication is either Tamil or Telugu only then it would be difficult for us to engage conversations for the same and we would have to converse in English. There might be few shopkeepers who might exploit this weakness that we are from outside and might charge heftily.

Image Courtesy: Internet

To avoid these embarrassing situations, let's talk confidently to those people in their local language confidently and enjoy the shopping experience. Welcome to the situational series... where today we will learn about the common phrases that we use during shopping - Part 1.

English: Where is the market?

Tamil: Market enga iruku?

Telugu: Market ekkada undhi?

English: I am going there, follow me.

Tamil: Naa anga thaan poren, pinnadiye vaanga.

Telugu: Nenu akkadike veluthunaanu, venakaalane raandi.

English: I want to purchase some famous clothes.

Tamil: Naanu inga famous aah irukura thuni (clothes) vaanga vandhiruken.

Telugu: Nenu ikkada famous ga unna gudalu (clothes) kona vanchenu.

English: Which is the cheapest and the best shop?

Tamil: Inga edhu cheap (kammi velaila) aparum best (sirandha) kadai?

Telugu: Ikkada edhi cheap (vela thakuva) alage best (uthama) angadi?

English: How much money you have?

Tamil: Ungakitta evolo Panama (money) iruku?

Telugu: Mee dhegara entha dabbulu (money) unnayi?

English: Don't spend more than you can afford.

Tamil: Alavuku meeri selavu pannadhe.

Telugu: Adhiku minchi karchu cheyyadhu.

English: Is the price fixed?

Tamil: Ore velaya?

Telugu: Okke dharana?

English: State your minimum price.

Tamil: Ungaloda kammiyaana velaya sollunga.

Telugu: Mee thakuvaina dhara cheppandi.

English: Will you give it for seventy rupees.

Tamil; Seventy (eluvadhu) rubai ku tharingala.

Telugu: Seventy (dabbai) rupayala ki isthaara.

English: Count the money.

Tamil: Panatha ennunga.

Telugu: Dabbuluni yenchandi.

English: Give me the balance.

Tamil: Balance ah (chillaraya) kudunga.

Telugu: Balance ni ivvandi.

English: Do you sell socks?

Tamil: Neenga socks ah vikuringala?

Telugu: Meeru socks ni ammuthaara?

English: Buy this one.

Tamil: Idha vaangunga.

Telugu: Dheeni theeskondi.

English: Show me another variety.

Tamil: Innoro variety kaatunga.

Telugu: Inkoka variety chupichandi.

English: I don't want this.

Tamil: Enaku idhu vendam.

Telugu: Naaku idhi vodhu.

Note: In certain example phrases that I have used, I have mentioned both in English and the respective Tamil or Telugu word because nowadays people do understand those basic English words as it has been quite common in our day to day use, yet I have mentioned the translated words for your learning and it would be better if you use the same.

That's it for part one... Stay tuned to this blog for part 2 on this topic...