What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to "This of how much is?", where kitne means "how much" and kaa is a possessive particle meaning "of".
Which one should you use?
While यह कितने का है? is the standard form, you can use Yeh kitna hai? for an informal approach or Yeh kitne mein milta hai? to politely ask "At what price is this available?"
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase यह कितने का है? is the default. For a more formal way to ask "What is its price?", you can use इसका दाम क्या है? The phrase Yeh kitne mein milta hai? is also considered a polite way to inquire about a price.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes depending on the gender and number of the object. If the object being priced is grammatically feminine, change kitne to kitni to say यह कितनी का है? To ask "How much are these?" for plural objects, use ये instead of यह and के हैं instead of का है to say ये कितने के हैं?
How do you pronounce it?
yah kitne kaa hai?
Did you know?
- In many Hindi-speaking markets, asking यह कितने का है? is often just the opening move in a social ritual of bargaining rather than a simple inquiry.
- The Hindi word for 'is', है, is derived from a Sanskrit root meaning 'to dwell' or 'to stay'.
Examples in context
- यह कितने का है?yah kitne ka hai?How much is this?
Example conversation
Pooja and Aditya are shopping at a local market.
- पूजा Poojaआदित्य, यह कितने का है?Aditya, yah kitne ka hai?Aditya, how much is this?
- आदित्य Adityaयह सौ रुपये का है।yah sau rupaye ka hai.It is a hundred rupees.
- पूजा Poojaक्या यह बहुत महँगा है?kya yah bahut mahanga hai?Is this very expensive?
- आदित्य Adityaनहीं, यह काफी सस्ता है।nahin, yah kaafi sasta hai.No, it is quite cheap.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries का, यह, है, CC BY-SA 4.0.
