ड्यूटी फ्री

You use it as an adjective to describe shops or items. You can say ड्यूटी फ्री शॉप (Duty free shop) or ड्यूटी फ्री सामान (Duty free goods). It fits naturally into Hindi sentences without any translation. Just drop it in where you would normally say it in English. It functions as a noun phrase or a descriptor. Most people use it when discussing travel plans or gift requests.

Use it when you are at an international airport terminal. It is perfect for telling friends what you bought during a layover. Use it when asking a relative coming from abroad to bring something. "Can you get me a watch from ड्यूटी फ्री?" is a classic Indian request. It is also common in business travel conversations. It adds a touch of 'world traveler' vibe to your talk.

Do not use it for local street markets or malls. If you use it at a local grocery store, people will be very confused. It is strictly for international transit zones. Don't use it for essential items like vegetables or milk. It is reserved for 'luxury' or 'imported' items. Using it for a local tax-free sale is technically incorrect. Stick to airports to avoid looking like a confused tourist.

In India, ड्यूटी फ्री shopping is a major part of the travel ritual. Bringing back ड्यूटी फ्री chocolates is practically a legal requirement for relatives. It represents status and the joy of international exposure. For decades, it was the only way to get certain foreign brands easily. Now, even with global malls, the charm of the airport shop remains. It’s the 'last minute gift' savior for every forgetful traveler.

People often just say एयरपोर्ट वाली दुकान (The airport shop) to mean the same thing. Sometimes you’ll hear टैक्स फ्री (Tax free) used interchangeably, though ड्यूटी फ्री is more common. In formal Hindi, you might see सीमा शुल्क मुक्त (Seema Shulk Mukt). However, almost nobody says that in real life. Stick to the English version to sound natural. It’s the gold standard for travelers across the country.