Malayalam Shopping Phrases: Prices, Bargaining & Paying

Kerala’s markets, tea shops and roadside stalls run on a handful of phrases: how much is this, can you lower the price, do you have another one, I’ll take it, and can I have the bill. This guide puts all of them in one place, in everyday spoken Malayalam, with the script, an easy romanised spelling and the English meaning.

Address shopkeepers as chetta (brother) or chechi (sister). It’s how Malayalis talk to people at the counter, and it makes every request, and every bargain, friendlier.

How much is this?

Ethra means “how much.” Point at the item and ask ithethrayaa? (ithu + ethra + aa). In shops that sell by weight, add kilo.

Bargaining: can you lower the price?

Friendly bargaining is normal in markets and small shops (not in supermarkets or fixed-price stores). Vila means price, and -aamo? turns any verb into a polite “can you…?”

It’s too expensive

Kooduthalaa (too much) followed by kuraykkaamo? (can you lower it?) is the classic bargaining pair. Say it with a smile; it’s a conversation, not a fight.

Do you have this? Another colour or size?

Undo? means “is there?” or “do you have?” Put any item in front of it: chaaya undo? (is there tea?), vellam undo? (is there water?). English words like colour, size and stock are used as they are.

Which one?

I want this / I’ll take it

The key word is venam, “want” or “need.” Put what you want in front of it. Mathi means “enough,” handy when someone keeps adding to your plate or your bag.

I don’t want it / no thanks

The opposite of venam is venda. Add nandi (thanks) to keep a refusal warm.

Give me… / Can you give me…?

Thaa is the casual “give (me)”; tharaamo? is the polite “could you give me?” Both are fine with shopkeepers. Use tharaamo? with anyone older or with strangers.

Money, rupees and change

Asking for the bill and paying

Malayalis use the English word “bill.” Most shops and restaurants in Kerala also take UPI payments such as Google Pay; just ask.

Is the shop open?

Kada means shop. Small shops in Kerala keep their own hours and often close for lunch, so these come in handy.

Put it together: at the market

For numbers and prices, see Malayalam numbers 1 to 100. For greetings and small talk with shopkeepers, see the Malayalam greetings & introductions guide, and for travel situations, the Malayalam travel phrases.