Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| क्रय | kray | /kɾɛː/ (Hindi, Standard) /kɾəj/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| ख़रीदना | xarīdnā | /xə.ɾiːd̪.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) /kʰə.ɾiːd̪.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| कीनना | kīnnā | /kiːn.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
All these terms describe the act of obtaining something with money. While ख़रीदना is the standard way to express the action in daily life, क्रय is used for formal or administrative purposes.
Which one should you use?
ख़रीदना is a verb used in standard conversation. In contrast, क्रय functions as a more formal term that can serve as a verb meaning 'to purchase' or as a noun meaning 'purchase' in official contexts. In casual settings, you might also hear people use the verb लेना to mean 'to buy'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
क्रय is a formal, Sanskrit-derived term suitable for legal, business or official documents. ख़रीदना is the common form for everyday spoken Hindi. In very informal or casual situations, speakers may use लेना or the phrase खरीद लो to mean 'buy it'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ख़रीदना is the infinitive form of the verb, characterized by the suffix '-ना' (-nā), which is a standard way for Hindi verbs to end.
How do you pronounce it?
क्रय is pronounced /kɾɛː/.
Did you know?
- The Hindi word कीनना is an unexpected relative of the Irish word 'crean' meaning 'to buy'.
- Hindi has a linguistic distinction between ख़रीदना and ख़रीदवाना, where the latter implies causing someone else to buy something on your behalf.
- In traditional Indian markets, the act of 'buying' is often a social negotiation where the final price is reached through a rhythmic back-and-forth exchange of offers.
Examples in context
- उसने नई कार खरीदी ।He purchased a new car.
- कल मैंने यहाँ से नए जूते लिए ।Yesterday, I bought new shoes from here.
Example conversation
Rahul and Priya are at a shopping mall.
- राहुल Rahulप्रिया, क्या तुम यह घड़ी क्रय करोगी?Priya, kya tum yeh ghadi kray karogi?Priya, will you buy this watch?
- प्रिया Priyaनहीं, यह बहुत महंगी है।Nahi, yeh bahut mahangi hai.No, it is too expensive.
- राहुल Rahulफिर हम क्या क्रय करें?Phir hum kya kray karein?Then what should we buy?
- प्रिया Priyaचलो कुछ और देखते हैं।Chalo kuch aur dekhte hain.Let's look for something else.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “buy” translations and entries क्रय, ख़रीदना, कीनना, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries कीनना, क्रय, ख़रीदना, CC BY-SA 4.0.
