Markets & Souvenirs

1. இது எவ்வளவு?

   Itu evvaḷavu?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic phrase to ask the price in markets

   Grammar Note

   "ithu" is subject, "evvalavu" is interrogative

2. விலையை பேசலாமா?

   Vilaiyai pēcalāmā?

   Can I bargain / negotiate the price?

   Usage

   Trying to negotiate at a market stall

   Grammar Note

   "-laamaa" = permission question

3. நான் இவ்வளவு மட்டுமே தருவேன்.

   Nāṉ ivvaḷavu maṭṭumē taruvēṉ.

   I'll offer this much only.

   Usage

   Offering a lower price during bargaining

   Grammar Note

   "mattume" is an emphatic exclusive particle

4. தள்ளுபடி கொடுக்க முடியுமா?

   Taḷḷupaṭi koṭukka muṭiyumā?

   Can I get a discount?

   Usage

   Used when buying in bulk or last item

   Grammar Note

   "mudiyumaa" = "is it possible?"

5. இது கையால் செய்யப்பட்டதா?

   Itu kaiyāl ceyyappaṭṭatā?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Verifying handmade or locally crafted items

   Grammar Note

   Passive form: "seyyapattatu" = "was made"

6. இது என்ன பொருளால் ஆனது?

   Itu eṉṉa poruḷāl āṉatu?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Checking what material something is made of

   Grammar Note

   "enna" = "what"

7. பரிசுக்காக பேக் செய்து தர முடியுமா?

   Paricukkāka pēk ceytu tara muṭiyumā?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "-kkaaga" = for the purpose of

8. இரவு சந்தை எங்கே?

   Iravu cantai eṅkē?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking directions to the night market

   Grammar Note

   Basic "where" question

9. ரசீது கொடுக்க முடியுமா?

   Racītu koṭukka muṭiyumā?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Requesting a receipt after purchase

   Grammar Note

   "mudiyumaa" = "is it possible?"

10. சந்தை எத்தனை மணிக்கு திறக்கும்?

    Cantai ettaṉai maṇikku tiṟakkum?

    What time does the market open?

    Usage

    Checking market hours

    Grammar Note

    "-kum" is the future tense suffix

11. நான் சும்மா பார்க்கிறேன், நன்றி.

    Nāṉ cummā pārkkiṟēṉ, naṉṟi.

    I'm just looking, thank you.

    Usage

    Politely declining a sales pitch

    Grammar Note

    Present tense "-kiren" (1st person singular). The adverb for "just (looking)" is சும்மா ("just / for no reason"). வெறும் ("mere") is an attributive modifier of nouns and cannot stand before a verb.

12. கார்டு எடுக்கிறீர்களா?

    Kārṭu eṭukkiṟīrkaḷā?

    Do you accept card payment?

    Usage

    Checking if card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    Polite second-person question form

13. நான் இதை நினைவுப் பரிசாக வாங்குகிறேன்.

    Nāṉ itai niṉaivup paricāka vāṅkukiṟēṉ.

    I'm buying this as a souvenir.

    Usage

    Stating you are buying a souvenir

    Grammar Note

    "-aaga" marks transformation/purpose

14. இதை வெளிநாட்டிற்கு அனுப்ப முடியுமா?

    Itai veḷināṭṭiṟku aṉuppa muṭiyumā?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking about international shipping

    Grammar Note

    "-irku" = dative "to/towards"

15. இது மிகவும் விலை அதிகம்.

    Itu mikavum vilai atikam.

    This is too expensive.

    Usage

    Expressing that the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "migavum" = intensifier "very/too much"

16. வேறு அளவு உள்ளதா?

    Vēṟu aḷavu uḷḷatā?

    Do you have a different size?

    Usage

    Looking for a different size

    Grammar Note

    Existential question form "ullataa"

17. பழம்

    paḻam

    Fruit

    Usage

    Fruit in general at a market; individual fruit names are in the fruits category

18. தயிர்

    tayir

    Yoghurt (curd)

    Usage

    The fermented milk served with almost every South Indian meal; locally it is called "curd", and asking for "yoghurt" may not register

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