Tamil phrase guide
Tamil phrases for shopping and bargaining, with meanings
Here are 14 everyday Tamil phrases for shopping and bargaining, taken from real conversations in Shinar's Tamil course, set in Chennai. Each phrase is written in English letters with Tamil script alongside, and its English meaning. A good one to start with: “Indha thakkaali kilo evvalavu?” (இந்த தக்காளி கிலோ எவ்வளவு?), which means “How much is a kilo of these tomatoes?”.
14 Tamil phrases for shopping and bargaining
Real lines from 5 Shinar scenes: At the vegetable market, Trying on a shirt, At the kirana store, Buying a Kanchipuram silk saree, Fixing a cracked screen.
| English | Tamil |
|---|---|
| How much is a kilo of these tomatoes? | Indha thakkaali kilo evvalavu?இந்த தக்காளி கிலோ எவ்வளவு? |
| Do you have this shirt in a bigger size? | Indha shirt perusaa size-la irukkaa?இந்த ஷர்ட் பெருசா சைஸ்ல இருக்கா? |
| Anna, give me five kilos of rice. | Anna, anju kilo arisi kudunga.அண்ணா, அஞ்சு கிலோ அரிசி குடுங்க. |
| Please show me silk sarees. | Pattu pudavai kaattunga.பட்டு புடவை காட்டுங்க. |
| My phone screen cracked. | En phone screen odanjudichu.என் போன் ஸ்கிரீன் உடைஞ்சுடுச்சு. |
| Forty rupees a kilo. | Kilo naarpadhu rooba.கிலோ நாப்பது ரூபா. |
| Yes, here's a large. Try it on. | Irukku, indhaanga large. Pottu paarunga.இருக்கு, இந்தாங்க லார்ஜ். போட்டு பாருங்க. |
| Anything else? | Vera edhaavadhu venumaa?வேற ஏதாவது வேணுமா? |
| What's your budget, madam? | Budget evvalavu, madam?பட்ஜெட் எவ்வளவு, மேடம்? |
| Show me. Which model? | Kaattunga. Endha model?காட்டுங்க. எந்த மாடல்? |
| That's too much. Give it for thirty. | Romba jaasthi. Muppadhukku kudunga.ரொம்ப ஜாஸ்தி. முப்பதுக்கு குடுங்க. |
| Where is the trial room? | Trial room enga?ட்ரையல் ரூம் எங்க? |
| One litre of oil and some salt. | Oru litre ennai, konjam uppu.ஒரு லிட்டர் எண்ணெய், கொஞ்சம் உப்பு. |
| Around ten thousand. | Kittathatta patthaayiram.கிட்டத்தட்ட பத்தாயிரம். |
Key Tamil words in these phrases
| Tamil | Meaning |
|---|---|
| indha | these |
| thakkaali | tomatoes |
| kilo | kilo |
| evvalavu | how much |
| perusaa | bigger |
| size-la | in size |
| irukkaa | is there |
| anna | brother (polite) |
| anju | five |
| arisi | rice |
| kudunga | give |
| pattu | silk |
| pudavai | saree |
| kaattunga | please show |
| en | my |
| odanjudichu | cracked |
Questions about Tamil for shopping and bargaining
How do you say “How much is a kilo of these tomatoes?” in Tamil?
“Indha thakkaali kilo evvalavu?” (இந்த தக்காளி கிலோ எவ்வளவு?). This phrase comes from the Shinar scene “At the vegetable market”.
What are common Tamil words for shopping and bargaining?
Some of the first Tamil words you will hear in these conversations: indha (these), thakkaali (tomatoes), kilo (kilo), evvalavu (how much), perusaa (bigger), size-la (in size).
Are these Tamil phrases formal or everyday?
They are everyday spoken Tamil as heard in Chennai, including the English words people naturally mix in, not textbook-formal Tamil.
How can I practise these Tamil phrases?
Each phrase comes from a full conversation in Shinar (At the vegetable market, Trying on a shirt, At the kirana store, Buying a Kanchipuram silk saree). You hear the scene in English first, then in Tamil, then learn every word. Shinar is coming soon to Google Play.