Marathi, the official language of the Indian state of Maharashtra, is spoken by millions of people and is rich with cultural and linguistic heritage. If you’re learning Marathi, one of the essential areas you might want to master is shopping vocabulary. Whether you’re visiting a local market, a mall, or a grocery store, knowing the right words can make your experience smoother and more enjoyable. This article will guide you through some essential shopping vocabulary in Marathi, helping you to navigate your shopping trips more effectively.
Basic Shopping Phrases
Before diving into specific vocabulary, it’s helpful to know some basic phrases that can be used in various shopping contexts.
1. **How much does this cost?** – हे कितीला आहे? (He kitila ahe?)
2. **I want to buy this.** – मला हे घ्यायचे आहे. (Mala he ghyaayache ahe.)
3. **Can you show me…?** – तुम्ही मला दाखवू शकता का…? (Tumhi mala dakhavu shakata ka…?)
4. **Do you have…?** – तुमच्याकडे आहे का…? (Tumchyakade ahe ka…?)
5. **I am just looking.** – मी फक्त बघत आहे. (Mi fakta baghat ahe.)
Types of Shops
Different types of shops have specific names in Marathi, and knowing these can help you find what you’re looking for more easily.
1. **Grocery Store** – किराणा दुकान (Kiraana dukaan)
2. **Clothing Store** – कपड्यांचे दुकान (Kapadyanche dukaan)
3. **Jewelry Store** – दागिन्यांचे दुकान (Daginyaanche dukaan)
4. **Pharmacy** – औषधालय (Aushadhalay)
5. **Bookstore** – पुस्तक दुकान (Pustak dukaan)
Common Items
Knowing the names of common items you’ll likely encounter can make your shopping experience more efficient.
1. **Vegetables** – भाजी (Bhaji)
2. **Fruits** – फळे (Phale)
3. **Rice** – तांदूळ (Tandul)
4. **Milk** – दूध (Dudh)
5. **Bread** – पाव (Pav)
6. **Clothes** – कपडे (Kapade)
7. **Shoes** – बूट (Boot)
8. **Jewelry** – दागिने (Dagine)
Units of Measurement
Understanding units of measurement is crucial when purchasing items by weight or volume.
1. **Kilogram** – किलो (Kilo)
2. **Gram** – ग्रॅम (Gram)
3. **Liter** – लिटर (Litre)
4. **Meter** – मीटर (Meter)
5. **Dozen** – डझन (Dazan)
Describing Quality
When shopping, you often need to describe or ask about the quality of items. Here are some useful adjectives:
1. **Good** – चांगला (Changla)
2. **Bad** – वाईट (Vait)
3. **Fresh** – ताजा (Taja)
4. **New** – नवीन (Naveen)
5. **Old** – जुना (Juna)
Money and Payment
Discussing money and payment is an inevitable part of shopping. Here are some useful terms:
1. **Price** – किंमत (Kimat)
2. **Cheap** – स्वस्त (Swast)
3. **Expensive** – महाग (Mahaag)
4. **Discount** – सवलत (Savalat)
5. **Change (money)** – चिल्लर (Chillar)
6. **Cash** – रोख (Rokh)
7. **Card** – कार्ड (Card)
8. **Receipt** – पावती (Pavati)
Conversational Phrases
Here are some phrases you can use in different shopping situations:
**Asking for Help:**
– **Can you help me?** – तुम्ही मला मदत करू शकता का? (Tumhi mala madat karu shakata ka?)
– **Where can I find…?** – मला … कुठे मिळेल? (Mala … kuthe milel?)
**Inquiring About Products:**
– **What is this?** – हे काय आहे? (He kay ahe?)
– **Is this fresh?** – हे ताजे आहे का? (He taje ahe ka?)
– **Do you have this in another size/color?** – तुमच्याकडे ह्याचा दुसरा आकार/रंग आहे का? (Tumchyakade hyacha dusra aakar/rang ahe ka?)
**Negotiating Prices:**
– **Can you give me a discount?** – तुम्ही मला सवलत देऊ शकता का? (Tumhi mala savalat deu shakata ka?)
– **This is too expensive.** – हे खूप महाग आहे. (He khup mahag ahe.)
**Making a Purchase:**
– **I will take this.** – मी हे घेईन. (Mi he gheein.)
– **Here is the money.** – हे पैसे घ्या. (He paise ghya.)
– **Can I get a receipt?** – मला पावती मिळेल का? (Mala pavati milel ka?)
Specific Shopping Scenarios
Let’s go through some specific shopping scenarios to give you a better context of how to use this vocabulary.
**At a Grocery Store:**
You’re at a grocery store and want to buy some vegetables and fruits.
– **You:** **Do you have fresh tomatoes?** – तुमच्याकडे ताजे टोमॅटो आहेत का? (Tumchyakade taje tomato ahet ka?)
– **Shopkeeper:** **Yes, here they are.** – होय, हे घ्या. (Hoy, he ghya.)
– **You:** **How much does 1 kilogram cost?** – १ किलो कितीला आहे? (1 kilo kitila ahe?)
– **Shopkeeper:** **It costs 30 rupees.** – ३० रुपये आहेत. (30 rupeye ahet.)
**At a Clothing Store:**
You’re looking to buy a new shirt.
– **You:** **Can you show me some shirts?** – तुम्ही मला काही शर्ट दाखवू शकता का? (Tumhi mala kahi shirt dakhavu shakata ka?)
– **Shopkeeper:** **Sure, what size do you need?** – नक्की, तुम्हाला कोणता आकार पाहिजे? (Nakki, tumhala konta aakar pahije?)
– **You:** **Medium size.** – मध्यम आकार. (Madhyam aakar.)
– **Shopkeeper:** **Here are some options.** – हे काही पर्याय आहेत. (He kahi paryay ahet.)
**At a Jewelry Store:**
You wish to buy a gold necklace.
– **You:** **I am looking for a gold necklace.** – मी एक सोन्याची चेन शोधत आहे. (Mi ek sonyachi chain shodhat ahe.)
– **Shopkeeper:** **We have a variety of designs.** – आमच्याकडे विविध प्रकारचे डिझाईन आहेत. (Amachyakade vividh prakarchi design ahet.)
– **You:** **What is the price of this one?** – ह्याची किंमत काय आहे? (Hyachi kimat kay ahe?)
– **Shopkeeper:** **It is 20,000 rupees.** – २०,००० रुपये आहे. (20,000 rupeye ahe.)
Practicing Your Marathi
Practice makes perfect, and the best way to get comfortable with shopping vocabulary in Marathi is to use it in real-life situations. Here are a few tips to practice:
1. **Visit Local Markets:** If you’re in Maharashtra or an area where Marathi is spoken, visit local markets and try to use the vocabulary and phrases you’ve learned.
2. **Role-Playing:** Practice with a friend or a language partner by role-playing different shopping scenarios.
3. **Flashcards:** Create flashcards with the Marathi words on one side and the English translations on the other. This can help reinforce your memory.
4. **Language Apps:** Use language learning apps that offer Marathi. These apps often have sections dedicated to specific scenarios like shopping.
5. **Watch Videos:** Look for videos or vlogs of people shopping in Marathi-speaking regions. Pay attention to the vocabulary they use.
Conclusion
Mastering shopping vocabulary in Marathi can greatly enhance your shopping experience and help you connect more deeply with the local culture. From basic phrases to specific scenarios, this guide provides a comprehensive overview to get you started. Remember, the key to learning a new language is practice and patience. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes and keep practicing as much as you can. Happy shopping!
