எவ்வளவு
evvaḷavu/ɛʋːɐɭɐʋɯ/
The English phrase "how much" is translated into Tamil as எவ்வளவு (evvaḷavu).
எவ்வளவு is used to ask for the cost or price of an item. In a marketplace or a shop, you can simply say எவ்வளவு? to ask for the price of an item.
Meaning: what is the cost/price? (det)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word எவ்வளவு is used for both uncountable quantities (how much) and countable quantities (how many).
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is evvaḷavu.
Did you know?
- The interrogative base எ- used in எவ்வளவு is a remnant of Proto-Dravidian, making the way Tamil speakers ask 'how much' a linguistic link to ancestors from thousands of years ago.
- In colloquial spoken Tamil, the final sound of எவ்வளவு is often shortened or dropped, making it sound like எவ்ளோ in fast-paced street markets.
- When used in an exclamation rather than a question, எவ்வளவு! can mean 'so much' or 'to what an extent', often used to express awe or shock at a large amount.
Examples in context
- இருபது தக்காளிக்கு எவ்வளவு?How much do twenty tomatoes cost?This sentence shows how to use எவ்வளவு to ask for the cost of twenty tomatoes.Tatoeba #10720904 by DriedGrapes31, translation #10720905 by DriedGrapes31
- இது எவ்வளவு?How much is this?This sentence uses எவ்வளவு to ask how much an object costs.
- எவ்வளவு நேரம் ஆகும்?How much time would it take?This sentence uses எவ்வளவு to ask about a duration of time.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Anita is at a fruit stall asking Santosh about the price.
- அனிதா Anitaஇந்த மாம்பழம் எவ்வளவு?indha maampazham evvalavu?How much are these mangoes?
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஒரு கிலோ நூறு ரூபாய்.oru kilo nooru roobai.One kilo is one hundred rupees.
- அனிதா Anitaரெண்டு கிலோ எவ்வளவு?rendu kilo evvalavu?How much for two kilos?
- சந்தோஷ் Santhoshஇருநூறு ரூபாய் மட்டும்.irunooru roobai mattum.Only two hundred rupees.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry எவ்வளவு, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
