One of the top reasons to learn to speak Hindi is you will be able to bargain or “haggle” for prices of goods in India. In this article, you will learn some tips to good haggling for great deals.

First, it’s important to learn where and when it’s worthwhile to bargain for prices. Generally, in restaurants you don’t need to haggle since people will generally NOT try to rip you off. Instead, order your meal in Hindi while speaking as fast and as confidently as possible. The waiter or host will assume that since you seem to know the language, then you probably know the correct price. Also, the further you head off of well-established paths, the less likely you are to be cheated. In most cases, you will rarely be overcharged for food in Indian restaurants.

Next, let’s assume that you go souvenir shopping and find an item you like. A general tip is that no matter how much you want something, you should play off like you’re disinterested in it. Rampant enthusiasm for something only makes the vendor more likely to rip you off. So, using a disinterested tone of voice, ask how much the item costs (speak in Hindi of course); then, when the price is quoted to you, offer about half that amount while turning to walk out of the shop. If the vendor calls you back at the last moment, you have judged the real price correctly and can buy it. At this point, you will probably be able to tell whether you are being abused, too! This will give you the opportunity to say “kyaa bola”, which means “what did you say?”

If you are not called back after stating your price, then you have judged the price too low and must start again. The difficulty will often be that you simply will have no idea what the ‘right’ price is! Here’s a tip: Try hanging around the shop and listening to how much Indians are being charged for goods.

There are certain situations in which it is vital to establish a correct price beforehand. An example would be if you are going to hire a rickshaw for transport. As you learn to speak Hindi for shopping in the India marketplace, here are some useful bargaining phrases to know. They should always be said in a lighthearted way. Mostly you will be bargaining with men, so simply add bhaaii (buy-ee) to any phrase to make it sound friendlier.

kyaa? — What? (say it in a tone like you don’t believe the price).

arey bhaaii! — Oi mate! (alternative to the above)

baaprebaap! — Oh, why is it so much?

yeh to bahut mahanga hay — That’s really expensive.

sehii kiimat kyaa hay? — What’s the real price?

kiimat thoRa kam karnaa — Make the price a little less.

There is one more strategy that can be used all over India, and it works surprisingly well. Best of all you don’t have to speak Hindi!  It’s very similar to an old sales trick in most any country.  When quoted a price or told there are no reservations available, simply stand there smiling and don’t say anything.  The vendor will almost always jump in to fill the silence and make a deal!