ਕਿੰਨਾ
kinna
The Punjabi phrase for "how much" is ਕਿੰਨਾ (kinna).
ਕਿੰਨਾ is a determiner used to ask about price. When you want to ask "How much is it?" specifically regarding price, you can add ਹੈ (hai) at the end to say ਕਿੰਨਾ ਹੈ?
Meaning: what is the cost/price? (det)
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes based on the noun it quantifies. Use ਕਿੰਨੀ (kinni) when the noun being quantified is feminine, and use ਕਿੰਨੇ (kinne) when referring to plural countable items.
How do you pronounce it?
kinna
Did you know?
- In traditional Punjabi bazaars, asking ਕਿੰਨਾ might be seen as too direct. It is more culturally common to first compliment the item or negotiate the value before asking for the final price.
- The word ਕਿੰਨਾ belongs to a patterned set of four words where the first letter determines the function: ਕਿੰਨਾ (how much), ਜਿੰਨਾ (as much as), ਇੰਨਾ (this much), and ਓਨਾ (that much).
- In some dialects of Punjabi, the phrase ਕਿੰਨਾ can be used figuratively to express shock or disbelief. Saying it with a specific rising intonation can mean 'To what extent!' or 'How much!' rather than asking for a numerical cost.
Examples in context
- ਤੁਹਾਡਾ ਕਿੰਨਾ ਬਕਾਇਆ ਹੈ?tuhāḍā kinnā bakāiyā hai?How much is your balance?
- ਇਸ ਵਿੱਚ ਕਿੰਨਾ ਪੈਸਾ ਲੱਗੇਗਾ?is vich kinnā paisā lagēgā?How much money will this cost?
Example conversation
Kiran is at a market buying apples from Gurpreet.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਇਹ ਸੇਬ ਕਿੰਨਾ ਹੈ?ih sēb kinnā hai?How much are these apples?
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਇੱਕ ਕਿਲੋ ਸੌ ਰੁਪਏ ਹੈ।ik kilō sau rupay hai.They are one hundred rupees per kilo.
- ਕਿਰਨ Kiranਠੀਕ ਹੈ, ਮੈਨੂੰ ਦੋ ਕਿਲੋ ਦੇ ਦਿਓ।ṭhīk hai, mainu dō kilō dē diō.Okay, give me two kilos.
- ਗੁਰਪ੍ਰੀਤ Gurpreetਜੀ, ਇਹ ਲਓ ਤੁਹਾਡੇ ਸੇਬ।jī, ih lō tuhāḍē sēb.Sure, here are your apples.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ਕਿੰਨਾ, CC BY-SA 4.0.
