இதன் விலை என்ன?
ithan vilai enna?
The Tamil phrase for "how much does it cost?" is இதன் விலை என்ன? (ithan vilai enna?)
This phrase is a question used to ask for the price of an item.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of ithan (its), vilai (price) and enna (what).
Which one should you use?
While இதன் விலை என்ன? asks "what is its price?", you can also use இது எவ்வளவு? which literally means "this how much?" For even more precision when asking for a specific amount, you can replace enna (what) with evvalavu (how much) to say இதன் விலை எவ்வளவு?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In casual settings like a street market, you can simply say எவ்வளவு? (How much?) instead of the full sentence.
How does it change in a sentence?
Replacing enna (what) with evvalavu (how much) in the phrase இதன் விலை எவ்வளவு? is a more precise way to ask for a specific amount.
How do you pronounce it?
ithan vilai enna?
Did you know?
- The word விலை (vilai) is a cognate with the Kannada word ಬೆಲೆ (bele), the Malayalam word വില (vila), and the Telugu word వెల (vela).
- The word விலை (vilai) can also be used in a non-monetary sense to describe a 'price' one pays in terms of sacrifice or hardship.
- In very casual Tamil, the phrase எவ்வளவு? (how much?) is often spoken with a rising intonation that transforms it from a question into a prompt for the seller to name their lowest price.
Examples in context
- இதன் விலை என்ன?idhan vilai enna?How much does it cost?
Example conversation
Kavitha and Arun are at a market looking at a fruit basket.
- கவிதா Kavithaஅருண், இந்த பழங்கள் அழகாக இருக்கின்றன. இதன் விலை என்ன?Arun, intha pazhangal azhagaga irukkindrana. ithan vilai enna?Arun, these fruits look beautiful. How much does it cost?
- அருண் Arunஇதன் விலை நூறு ரூபாய் கவிதா.ithan vilai nooru rubai kavitha.It costs one hundred rupees, Kavitha.
- கவிதா Kavithaஅது கொஞ்சம் விலை அதிகம் என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.athu konjam vilai athigam endru ninaikkiren.I think that is a bit expensive.
- அருண் Arunசரி, நாம் வேறு கடைக்கு போகலாம்.sari, naam veru kadaikku pogalam.Okay, let's go to another shop.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries என்ன, விலை, CC BY-SA 4.0.
