Learning in Practice

In this section, you will use shopping phrases in simple real-life situations. You will practise asking prices, describing cost, and making polite requests in a market or shop.

Try it in real life

Choose three objects near you, such as a book, pen, bag, phone, or notebook. Pretend you are buying them in a shop. Ask the price of each item.

Example:

यो कति हो?
yo kati ho?
How much is this?

यो किताब कति हो?
yo kitāb kati ho?
How much is this book?

यो झोला कति हो?
yo jholā kati ho?
How much is this bag?

यो धेरै महँगो भयो।
yo dherai mahaṅgo bhayo.
This is too expensive.

अलि कम गरिदिनुस् न।
ali kam garidinus na.
Please reduce it a little.

Practice task

Practise this short exchange with a partner:

A: नमस्ते। यो कति हो?
namaste. yo kati ho?

B: यो पाँच सय रुपैयाँ हो।
yo pā̃c saya rupaiyā̃ ho.

A: धेरै महँगो भयो। अलि कम गरिदिनुस् न।
dherai mahaṅgo bhayo. ali kam garidinus na.

B: हुन्छ। चार सय पचास रुपैयाँ दिनुहोस्।
huncha. cār saya pacās rupaiyā̃ dinuhos.

A: ठीक छ। धन्यवाद।
ṭhīk cha. dhanyavād.

B: धन्यवाद।
dhanyavād.

Mini culture note

Shopping language is useful in markets, small shops, street stalls, and everyday community interactions. In some Nepali market settings, polite bargaining may be acceptable, especially when prices are not fixed.

However, bargaining is not appropriate everywhere. In supermarkets, restaurants, ticket counters, and formal stores, prices are usually fixed. When you are not sure, be polite and gentle.

Common mistake

Do not bargain too directly or aggressively. A softer phrase sounds more respectful.

Better:

अलि कम गरिदिनुस् न।
ali kam garidinus na.
Please reduce it a little.

अलि सस्तो हुन्छ?
ali sasto huncha?
Can it be a little cheaper?

Avoid sounding too blunt:

धेरै महँगो छ।
dherai mahaṅgo cha.
It is very expensive.

This sentence is grammatically fine, but in a real shopping situation, धेरै महँगो भयो (dherai mahaṅgo bhayo) often sounds more natural and conversational.

Say it aloud

Practise these slowly. Then say them more naturally.

After you practise, use the audio recorder below to record yourself. Listen to your recording and try again if you want to improve your pronunciation.

कति?
kati?
How much?

यो कति हो?
yo kati ho?
How much is this?

रुपैयाँ।
rupaiyā̃.
Rupees.

महँगो।
mahaṅgo.
Expensive.

सस्तो।
sasto.
Cheap / inexpensive.

अलि।
ali.
A little.

धेरै महँगो भयो।
dherai mahaṅgo bhayo.
That is too expensive.

अलि कम गरिदिनुस् न।
ali kam garidinus na.
Please reduce it a little.

Rhythm practice

Read this short exchange aloud:

यो कति हो?
yo kati ho?

यो पाँच सय रुपैयाँ हो।
yo pā̃c saya rupaiyā̃ ho.

धेरै महँगो भयो।
dherai mahaṅgo bhayo.

अलि कम गरिदिनुस् न।
ali kam garidinus na.

ठीक छ।
ṭhīk cha.

धन्यवाद।
dhanyavād.

Can-do checklist

By the end of this chapter, I can:

• ask how much something costs
• use कति (kati) to ask “how much?”
• name basic shopping items
• understand simple prices
• say something is expensive or cheap
• use अलि (ali) to soften a request
• ask politely for a lower price
• use धन्यवाद (dhanyavād) in a shopping exchange
• participate in a simple market conversation in Nepali