Navigating a supermarket or grocery store in a foreign country can be a daunting task, especially if you’re not familiar with the local language. In this article, we’ll explore essential supermarket and grocery shopping terms in Marathi, a language spoken by millions in the Indian state of Maharashtra. By the end of this guide, you’ll have a solid understanding of key Marathi terms that will make your grocery shopping experience smoother and more enjoyable.
Basic Grocery Store Vocabulary
Before we dive into the specifics, let’s start with some basic vocabulary that you’ll encounter in any supermarket or grocery store.
– **Supermarket**: सुपरमार्केट (Suparamaarket)
– **Grocery Store**: किराणा दुकान (Kiraanaa Dukaan)
– **Market**: बाजार (Baazaar)
– **Cashier**: रोखपाल (Rokhpaal)
– **Customer**: ग्राहक (Grahak)
– **Shopping Cart**: खरेदीची ट्रॉली (Kharedichi Trolley)
– **Basket**: टोपली (Topali)
– **Receipt**: पावती (Paavati)
Categories of Items
Understanding the different categories of items can help you locate what you need more efficiently. Here are some common categories and their Marathi translations:
Fruits and Vegetables
– **Fruits**: फळे (Phale)
– **Vegetables**: भाजीपाला (Bhaajipaala)
– **Apple**: सफरचंद (Safarchand)
– **Banana**: केळं (Kela)
– **Tomato**: टोमॅटो (Tomato)
– **Potato**: बटाटा (Batata)
– **Onion**: कांदा (Kanda)
– **Garlic**: लसूण (Lasoon)
– **Ginger**: आलं (Ala)
Dairy Products
– **Milk**: दूध (Doodh)
– **Butter**: लोणी (Loni)
– **Cheese**: चीज (Cheez)
– **Yogurt**: दही (Dahi)
– **Cream**: क्रीम (Kreem)
– **Paneer (Indian Cottage Cheese)**: पनीर (Paneer)
Bakery Items
– **Bread**: ब्रेड (Bread)
– **Cake**: केक (Cake)
– **Biscuit**: बिस्किट (Biskit)
– **Pastry**: पेस्ट्री (Pastry)
– **Rolls**: रोल्स (Rolls)
Meat and Seafood
– **Meat**: मांस (Mans)
– **Chicken**: चिकन (Chicken)
– **Fish**: मासे (Mase)
– **Prawns**: कोळंबी (Kolambi)
– **Mutton**: मटण (Matan)
– **Egg**: अंडे (Ande)
Grains and Pulses
– **Rice**: तांदूळ (Tandul)
– **Wheat**: गहू (Gahu)
– **Lentils**: डाळ (Dal)
– **Chickpeas**: हरभरा (Harbhara)
– **Beans**: शेंगदाणे (Shengdane)
Spices and Condiments
– **Salt**: मीठ (Mith)
– **Sugar**: साखर (Sakhar)
– **Turmeric**: हळद (Halad)
– **Cumin**: जीरे (Jeere)
– **Coriander**: धने (Dhaney)
– **Mustard Seeds**: मोहरी (Mohari)
– **Red Chili Powder**: तिखट (Tikhat)
Beverages
– **Water**: पाणी (Pani)
– **Juice**: रस (Ras)
– **Tea**: चहा (Chaha)
– **Coffee**: कॉफी (Coffee)
– **Soft Drinks**: शीतपेय (Sheetpeya)
Shopping Interactions
Interactions in a grocery store often go beyond just knowing the names of items. Here are some useful phrases and questions you might need:
Asking for Help
– **Where can I find…?**: … कुठे मिळेल? (… Kuthe Milel?)
– **Do you have…?**: … आहे का? (… Ahe Ka?)
– **How much does this cost?**: याची किंमत किती आहे? (Yachi Kimat Kiti Ahe?)
– **Can you help me?**: तुम्ही मला मदत करू शकता का? (Tumhi Mala Madat Karu Shakata Ka?)
At the Cashier
– **I would like to pay by card**: मी कार्डने पैसे देऊ इच्छितो/इच्छिते (Mi Kardane Paise Deu Ichhito/Ichhite)
– **Do you accept credit cards?**: तुम्ही क्रेडिट कार्ड स्वीकारता का? (Tumhi Credit Card Swikarata Ka?)
– **Can I have a receipt, please?**: मला कृपया पावती मिळेल का? (Mala Krupaya Pavati Milel Ka?)
– **Do you have change?**: तुमच्याकडे सुट्टे आहेत का? (Tumchyakade Sutte Ahet Ka?)
Common Expressions
– **I am looking for…**: मी … शोधत आहे (Mi … Shodhat Ahe)
– **Can you give me a discount?**: तुम्ही मला सवलत देऊ शकता का? (Tumhi Mala Sawalat Deu Shakata Ka?)
– **This is too expensive**: हे खूप महाग आहे (He Khup Mahag Ahe)
– **I don’t need a bag**: मला पिशवी नको आहे (Mala Pishvi Nako Ahe)
Useful Tips
Local Market Lingo
While supermarket chains are common, many people still shop at local markets. Here, the vocabulary can differ slightly:
– **Vendor**: विक्रेता (Vikreta)
– **Bargain**: घासाघीस (Ghasaghis)
– **Fresh**: ताजं (Taja)
– **Organic**: सेंद्रिय (Sendriya)
Understanding Weights and Measures
India commonly uses the metric system for weights and measures. Here are some key terms:
– **Kilogram**: किलोग्राम (Kilogram)
– **Gram**: ग्राम (Gram)
– **Liter**: लिटर (Liter)
– **Milliliter**: मिलीलीटर (Milliliter)
Local Currency
The local currency in Maharashtra is the Indian Rupee (INR), often referred to as रुपया (Rupaya). Here are some terms related to money:
– **Money**: पैसे (Paise)
– **Rupee**: रुपया (Rupaya)
– **Coin**: नाणं (Naan)
– **Note**: नोट (Note)
Practice Makes Perfect
One of the best ways to become comfortable with Marathi grocery terms is through practice. Try making a shopping list in Marathi or label items around your kitchen with their Marathi names. Here are some examples to get you started:
– **Shopping List**: खरेदीची यादी (Kharedichi Yadi)
– Apples: सफरचंद (Safarchand)
– Milk: दूध (Doodh)
– Bread: ब्रेड (Bread)
– Rice: तांदूळ (Tandul)
– Eggs: अंडे (Ande)
– Tomatoes: टोमॅटो (Tomato)
– Chicken: चिकन (Chicken)
Conclusion
Learning supermarket and grocery shopping terms in Marathi can significantly enhance your shopping experience in Maharashtra. Whether you’re asking for help, reading labels, or chatting with the cashier, these terms will make your interactions smoother and more enjoyable.
Remember, the key to language learning is consistent practice and exposure. Don’t hesitate to use these terms in real-life situations. The more you practice, the more confident you’ll become. Happy shopping!
