Beginner · English for daily life · topic 19 of 59 · 16 min
Shopping and bargaining
Explanation
Shopping happens in two kinds of places. In malls and big stores, prices are fixed (fixed price). In local markets, you can often bargain (मोलभाव करना). The phrases are the same in both places, but the tone changes a little.
Asking for things
Do you have this in a bigger size?
Say it: doo yoo HAV this in a BIG-er SYZ?
क्या यह बड़े साइज़ में है?
Can I try this on?
Say it: kan ai TRY this ON?
क्या मैं इसे पहनकर देख सकता हूँ?
"Try on" is for clothes and shoes. Ask "Where is the trial room?" In the UK and US: "fitting room" or "changing room".
I need one kilo of tomatoes and half a kilo of onions.
Say it: ai NEED WUN KEE-loh ov to-MAA-tohz and HAAF a KEE-loh ov UN-yunz
मुझे एक किलो टमाटर और आधा किलो प्याज़ चाहिए।
Are these fresh?
Say it: aar THEEZ FRESH?
क्या ये ताज़े हैं?
Bargaining politely
That's a bit too expensive.
Say it: thats a BIT too ek-SPEN-siv
यह थोड़ा ज़्यादा महँगा है।
Can you give me a discount?
Say it: kan yoo GIV mee a DIS-kownt?
क्या आप कुछ छूट दे सकते हैं?
Also natural: "Can you do a better price?" or "What is your best price?"
How about four hundred? That's my final offer.
Say it: how a-BOWT FOR HUN-dred? thats my FY-nal OF-er
चार सौ कैसा रहेगा? यही मेरा आख़िरी दाम है।
Okay, I'll take it.
Say it: oh-KAY, ail TAYK it
ठीक है, मैं इसे ले लूँगा।
No thanks, I'm just looking.
Say it: NO thanks, aim JUST LUK-ing
नहीं, धन्यवाद, मैं बस देख रहा हूँ।
Use this when a salesperson asks "Can I help you?" and you are not ready to buy.
Can I exchange this if it doesn't fit?
Say it: kan ai eks-CHAYNJ this if it DUZ-unt FIT?
अगर यह फ़िट न हो तो क्या मैं इसे बदल सकता हूँ?
Watch the lesson
Shopping and bargaining · 1/7
Hello! Today we go shopping in English. You will learn to ask, compare and bargain politely.
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In real life: Buying vegetables at a weekly market
Seller: Yes, madam, what do you need? Anita: How much are the tomatoes? Seller: Forty rupees a kilo. Anita: Forty? That's a bit expensive. Yesterday they were thirty. Seller: These are very fresh, madam. Okay, thirty-five. Anita: Fine. Two kilos of tomatoes and one kilo of onions, please. Can you add some coriander? Seller: Sure, coriander is free for you. Anita: Thank you! Can I pay by UPI?
Practice (0/4 done)
Bargain politely. Say this aloud.
That's a bit too expensive. Can you give me a discount?
यह थोड़ा ज़्यादा महँगा है। क्या आप कुछ छूट दे सकते हैं?
Listen and type the sentence.
Write a six-line shopping dialogue where you buy something and bargain once. Then read it aloud, playing both parts.
A salesperson asks "Can I help you?" but you only want to look. You say:
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