Shopping

1. இது எவ்வளவு?

   Itu evvaḷavu?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Essential phrase for shopping at markets and bazaars

   Grammar Note

   The simplest way to ask about price. "Vilai enna?" (what is the price?) is an alternative. "Evvalavu" asks about quantity and amounts.

2. கொஞ்சம் கம்மியாக கொடுங்கள்

   Koñcam kammiyāka koṭuṅkaḷ

   Please give it for a little less

   Usage

   Classic bargaining phrase at markets and street stalls

   Grammar Note

   "Kammi" (less) → adverbial "kammiyaaka." Tamil adjectives become adverbs with the "-aaka" suffix, a consistent pattern throughout the language.

3. இது வேண்டாம்

   Itu vēṇṭām

   I do not want this

   Usage

   Used to decline a product or refuse pushy vendors

   Grammar Note

   "Vendaam" is the negation of "vendum" (I need/want). It is the standard expression for not wanting something.

4. இந்த நிறத்தில் வேறு ஏதாவது இருக்கிறதா?

   Inta niṟattil vēṟu ētāvatu irukkiṟatā?

   Is there anything else in this colour?

   Usage

   Checking for variations in colour when shopping for fabrics, saris, spices, or other items

   Grammar Note

   "Niram" (colour) + locative suffix "-thil" = "in this colour." Tamil case suffixes encode spatial and relational meanings comprehensively.

5. இது சரியான அளவு இல்லை

   Itu cariyāṉa aḷavu illai

   This is not the right size

   Usage

   When trying on clothes or shoes that do not fit

   Grammar Note

   "Sari" (correct/okay) → attributive adjective "sariyaana." Tamil adjectives take the "-aana" suffix when modifying nouns.

6. ரசீது தேவை

   Racītu tēvai

   I need a receipt

   Usage

   Requesting a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Raseetu" is a loanword from Persian "rasid," which came in via Hindustani. Tamil commercial vocabulary has many Arabic and Persian borrowings. "Tevai" (needed) functions as a predicate noun.

7. கார்டு மூலம் பணம் செலுத்தலாமா?

   Kārṭu mūlam paṇam celuttalāmā?

   Can I pay by card?

   Usage

   Checking whether credit/debit card payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "Mulam" is a postposition meaning "through/via/by means of." "Seluttha" (pay) + "-laam" (can/may) + "-aa" (question suffix) = can I pay?

8. இதை பொட்டலம் கட்டி கொடுங்கள்

   Itai poṭṭalam kaṭṭi koṭuṅkaḷ

   Please wrap this

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping. Tamil culture places great importance on the presentation of gifts

   Grammar Note

   "Katti kodu" is a compound verb: "katu" (to tie/wrap) + "kodu" (to give) = "wrap and give." Tamil compound verbs combine two verb roots to express complex actions.

9. இது தரமான பொருளா?

   Itu taramāṉa poruḷā?

   Is this a quality product?

   Usage

   Used when checking the quality of handicrafts, spices, or other goods

   Grammar Note

   "Taram" (quality/grade) → adjective "tharamaana." "Porul" is polysemous: product, matter, meaning, wealth — it appears extensively in classical Tamil poetry.

10. இதை திரும்ப கொடுக்கலாமா?

    Itai tirumpa koṭukkalāmā?

    Can I return this?

    Usage

    Checking with a shopkeeper whether a purchased item can be returned

    Grammar Note

    "Thirumba" (to return/back) is used adverbially to modify "kodukkala" (give). "-laam" denotes permission/possibility; "-aa" forms the question.

11. தள்ளுபடி உண்டா?

    Taḷḷupaṭi uṇṭā?

    Is there a discount?

    Usage

    Asking whether a sale or reduction is available

    Grammar Note

    "Thallu" (push) + "padi" (as) = discount (literally "pushed down"). "Undu" is an existential word (exists/there is) used in both written and spoken Tamil, close in meaning to "ulladu".

12. எனக்கு ரசீது வேண்டாம்

    Eṉakku racītu vēṇṭām

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declining a receipt when it is offered at the till

    Grammar Note

    "Vēṇṭām" is the negative of "vēṇṭum" (to need); the needer takes the dative "eṉakku". It is the opposite of "racītu tēvai" (I need a receipt).

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