When entering a shop, it’s polite to greet the shopkeeper. You can say வணக்கம் (Vanakkam), which means “Hello.” It’s a simple yet effective way to show respect and often receive friendlier service.

If you want to ask if they have something in the shop, you might say:
இங்கே ______ இருக்கா? (Ingē ______ irukkā?)
Fill in the blank with the item you’re looking for. For instance, if you’re looking for milk, you would say:
இங்கே பால் இருக்கா? (Ingē pāl irukkā?)

Asking for Prices

One of the most important aspects of shopping is knowing how to ask for the price of items. The question to ask is:
இது எவ்வளவு? (Idhu evvaḷavu?)
Which means, “How much is this?”

If you think the price is too high and you want to bargain, you can use:
கம்மி செய்ய முடியுமா? (Kammi seyya mudiyumā?)
This translates to, “Can you reduce the price?”

Understanding Quantities and Measurements

When buying fruits, vegetables, or other bulk items, you might need to specify the amount you want. For example:
ஒரு கிலோ ஆப்பிள் கொடுங்கள். (Oru kilō āppiḷ koṭuṅkaḷ)
This means, “Please give me one kilo of apples.”

If you need a smaller quantity, you might say:
அரை கிலோ வேண்டும். (Arai kilō vēṇḍum)
Which translates as, “I need half a kilo.”

Types of Payments

In today’s digital age, many places accept various forms of payment. If you prefer paying with cash, you can ask:
பணம் மூலம் செலுத்தலாமா? (Paṇam mūlam celuttalāmā?)
Meaning, “Can I pay by cash?”

For card payments, you might inquire:
கிரெடிட் கார்டு ஏற்பீர்களா? (Kireṭiṭ kārṭu ēṟpīrkaḷā?)
Asking, “Do you accept credit cards?”

Checking Item Quality

Sometimes you might want to check the quality or expiry date of a product, especially in grocery shopping. You can ask:
இது புதியதா? (Idhu putiyathā?)
This questions, “Is this fresh?”

Or for packaged goods, you might need to know when it expires:
காலாவதி தேதி என்ன? (Kālāvadhi tēdi enna?)
Which means, “What is the expiry date?”

Asking for a Bag

If you need a bag to carry your purchases, you might say:
ஒரு பை தர முடியுமா? (Oru pai thara mudiyumā?)
This means, “Can you give me a bag?”

Handling Returns or Exchanges

In case you need to return or exchange an item, it’s useful to know the appropriate phrases. You can say:
இதை மாற்ற முடியுமா? (Idhai māṟṟa mudiyumā?)
Asking, “Can I exchange this?”

Or if you need a refund:
பணத்தை திருப்பி தர முடியுமா? (Paṇattai tiruppi thara mudiyumā?)
This questions, “Can you refund the money?”

Conclusion

Learning these basic Tamil phrases and vocabulary for shopping can transform your shopping experience from a challenging task into an enjoyable and culturally enriching activity. Not only does it facilitate smoother transactions, but it also helps you connect with local sellers and enhances your understanding of the Tamil culture. Whether you’re a tourist or a new resident, these phrases will certainly come in handy.