▶ Hear it spoken by a native voice.
In short: To ask a price in spoken Malayalam, say ഇതെത്രയാ? (ithethrayaa?) — "how much is this?". To bargain, say കുറച്ച് കൂടി കുറയ്ക്കാമോ? (kurachu koodi kurakkaamo?) — "can you lower it a bit?".
Variations & related phrases
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ഇതെത്രയാ? | Ithethrayaa? | How much is this? |
| എത്ര രൂപയായി? | Ethra roopayaayi? | How many rupees? |
| കുറച്ച് കൂടി കുറയ്ക്കാമോ? | Kurachu koodi kurakkaamo? | Can you lower it a bit? |
| ഇത് വേണം | Ithu venam | I'll take this |
When & how to use it
In markets and small shops, bargaining is normal and friendly. Ask ithethrayaa?, then try kurakkaamo? with a smile. When you're happy, ഇത് വേണം (ithu venam) — "I'll take this."
Example sentences
| Malayalam | Romanised | English |
|---|---|---|
| ചേച്ചീ, ഇതെത്രയാ കിലോ? | Chechee, ithethrayaa kilo? | Sis, how much is this a kilo? |
| കുറച്ച് കൂടുതലാണല്ലോ, കുറയ്ക്കാമോ? | Kurachu kooduthalaanallo, kurakkaamo? | That's a bit much — can you lower it? |
Want to hear this used in a real conversation? Listen to Episode 12 - At the Market (Bargaining) in the free Listen & Learn library — every line has a Malayalam, romanised and English transcript.
Practise speaking it for real
These pages train your ear. A live 1-to-1 lesson with Dr. Reshmi trains your mouth — real-time correction only a teacher can give.
Book a lesson →Frequently asked questions
How do you ask how much something costs in Malayalam?
Say ഇതെത്രയാ? (ithethrayaa?) or എത്ര രൂപയായി? (ethra roopayaayi?).
How do you bargain in Malayalam?
Say കുറച്ച് കൂടി കുറയ്ക്കാമോ? (kurachu koodi kurakkaamo?) — "can you lower it a bit?".
How do you say I'll take it in Malayalam?
Say ഇത് വേണം (ithu venam).
Is bargaining okay in Kerala markets?
Yes — in local markets and small shops a polite bargain is expected and friendly.