कति
kati
The Nepali phrase for "how much" is कति (kati).
कति is used to inquire about price, cost or quantity. It functions as a determiner that covers both "how much" for uncountable amounts and "how many" for countable items. When inquiring about the price of a specific item, you can use the phrase Yo kati ho? Generally, Kati ho? can be used to ask about either prices or quantities.
Meaning: what is the cost/price? (det)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word कति is versatile because it does not change its form based on the gender or the number of the noun it modifies.
How do you pronounce it?
kati
Did you know?
- In Nepali markets, asking कति often begins a social ritual of bargaining where the first price quoted is expected to be significantly higher than the final sale price.
- In emotional or poetic contexts, कति is often repeated as कति कति to express an overwhelming feeling of 'so much' rather than asking a question.
- The word कति traces its origins back to Sanskrit, where it was also used to ask for quantity or amount.
Examples in context
- यो सामान तपाईको कति हो?How much of this stuff is yours?This sentence shows how to use कति to ask about ownership or amount of an item.Tatoeba #11913101 by taro, translation #6438043 by CK
- तपाईलाई कति नुन चाहिन्छ?How much salt do you need?This sentence demonstrates using कति to ask about a required quantity of salt.Tatoeba #11844188 by taro, translation #7037823 by Goatstein
- तपाईले कति दुध किन्नु भयो?How much milk did you buy?This sentence shows using कति to ask about a quantity of milk purchased.Tatoeba #11890958 by taro, translation #6439759 by CK
- 4 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
A woman is asking a man about the price of a book at a market.
- प्रतिक्षा Pratikshaयो किताब कति हो?yo kitab kati ho?How much is this book?
- अविनाश Avinashयो पाँच सय रुपैयाँ हो।yo panch say rupaiya ho.It is five hundred rupees.
- प्रतिक्षा Pratikshaधेरै महँगो भयो।dherai mahango bhayo.It is too expensive.
- अविनाश Avinashहुन्छ, प्रतिक्षा जी, अलिकति कम गर्दिन्छु।hunchha, pratiksha ji, alikati kam gardinchu.Okay, Pratiksha, I will reduce it a little.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries कति, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
