New to Mumbai? Learn these 30 Survival Marathi Phrases
Are you travelling to Mumbai for a vacation or business trip? While I’m sure you will enjoy the fast-paced life, amazing food, endless opportunities and the energy the city has to offer, there will also be this feeling that you cannot understand this new language being spoken all around you. From auto drivers to shopkeepers to landlords, everyone around you speaks Marathi, and you want to learn enough Marathi to get by.
The good news is that learning Marathi is not too difficult with the right guidance! And that’s exactly what I’m here to do for you today. This article will give you the 30 most essential survival Marathi phrases every newcomer to Mumbai must know. These phrases will make your life easier and help you navigate the city right from Day 1!
Furthermore, Mumbai runs on a mix of Marathi, Bambaiyya Hindi and English, not pure Marathi, and that’s how we’ve designed these essential Marathi phrases too – not pure textbook Marathi, but natural sentences that you can actually speak with locals.
So come, Ya ya (या या), let’s get started!
30 Essential Survival Marathi Phrases
1. Bhau, Kaka, Mawshi (भाऊ, काका, मावशी) – Words to Address people
“Bhau” is the Marathi of “Bhaiyya” and is the everyday word for most men you’ll meet like auto drivers, bus conductors, etc. Replce Bhaiyya with Bhau in you everyday conversations. “Kaka” is used for older men, “Mawshi” for older women.
Example: “Bhau, 1 ticket CST station”,“Namaskar kaka, Namaskar mawshi!”
2. Kai zhala? (काय झालं?) – What’s happening?
One of the most Mumbai things you will hear in the city. This is the equivalent of What’s up or What’s happening?
Example: “Bhau, kai zhala?”
3. Kara (करा) – Do
The most powerful Marathi word for survival! Add kara to any English word to turn it into Marathi.
Example: “Discount kara”, “Wait kara”, “Bill kara”, “Email kara”, “Call kara”, “Exchange kara”, “Repair kara”, “Adjust kara”.
4. Kiti? (किती?) – How much?
Pronounced Ki-tee.
Perfect for shopping, autos, and local trains.
Example: “Kaka, bisleri water bottle kiti?”
5. Kase / Kashi aahat? (कसे/कशी आहात?) – How are you?
The standard way to say How are you in Marathi. Use “Kase” for men, and “Kashi” for women
Example: “Namaskar uncle! Baray aahet ka?”
6. Mi bara aahe (मी बरं आहे) – I am fine
Standard reply to I am fine in Marathi
Example: “Mi bara aahe, dhanyavaad.”
7. Tumcha naav kay (तुमचं नाव काय?) – What is your name
Important sentence in any language, don’t you think? Especially when you’re in a new city meeting new people.
Example: “Tumcha naav kay madam?”
8. Mazha naav Mukesh aahe (माझं नाव मुकेश आहे) – My name is Mukesh
Replace Mukesh with your own name.
Example: “Mazha naav Ritu aahe. Mi fresher aahe.”
9. Ghya (घ्या) – Take
Universal word for giving something, including giving directions.
To an auto driver: “Left ghya, right ghya, next signal.”
Or at a shop: “5 rupay change ghya, sir.”
10. Dya (द्या) – Give
Very useful while shopping or at a restaurant.
Example: “Vada pav dya”
11. Yeto (येतो) – Bye, or I will come back
“Yeto” means “I’ll come back”. In Marathi, just like in many Indian languages, it is inauspicious to say that you’re going away, so you say that you will return back instead..
Example: “Okay boss, yeto!”
12. Kay (काय) – What
Useful for clarifications.
Example: “Kay problem aahe kaka?”
13. Kuthe (कुठे) – Where
Very useful for directions.
Example: “Uncle, metro station kuthe aahe?”
14. Ya ya (या या) – Please Come in, or Welcome
Means “Please come”, but often used like “Welcome”.
Example: “Ya ya… jevan kara!” (Come, come have food!)
15. Thamba (थांबा) – Stop / Wait
To stop an auto or bus. Or if god forbid, a police kaka is stopping you. Also used to pacify someone to wait.
Example: “Bhau, thamba thamba.”
16. Ho (हो) – Yes
Standard way to say “Yes” in Marathi
Example: “Ho, Gpay zhala.” (“Yes, Gpay done”)
17. Naahi (नाही) – No
Standard way to say “No” in Marathi
Example: “Samosa pav naahi, vada pav dya.”
18. Pahije (पाहिजे) – Want
Useful when talking to the waiter
Example: “Extra pav pahije”
19. Nako (नको) – Don’t want
Example: “1 chai, sugar nako.”
20. Pudhe chala(पुढे चला) – Go ahead
Keep this word in mind when traveling in local trains. You’ll hear it all the time whe new travelers enter the compartment.
Example: “Pudhe chala, pudhe chala!”
21. Mahit nahi (माहित नाही) – I don’t know
Example: “New to Mumbai. Marathi mahit nahi.”
22. Mi Marathi shikat aahe (मी मराठी शिकत आहे) – I am learning Marathi
Example: “Mi Marathi shikat aahe.”
People love hearing this!
23. Mi Delhi-cha aahe/ Mi Delhi-chi aahe (मी दिल्लीचा आहे) – I am from Delhi
Replace Delhi with your hometown. Use “cha” if you’re a boy, and “chi” if you’re a girl.
Example: “Mi Kolkatacha aahe.”
24. Kaam (काम) – Work
Useful word that means “work” as the noun or verb.
Example: “Mi Google madhe kaam karto” (“I work at Google”)
25. Ghai (घाई) – Haste
You’ll hear this everywhere.
Example: “Arre, ghai karu nako”.
26. Gardi (गर्दी) – Crowd
Quintessential part of local train conversations.
Example: “Aaj khup gardi aahe.”
27. Paani (पाणी) – Water
Always good to know the word for water in any new place you visit.
Example: “1 glass paani dya”
28. Ikde (इकडे) – Here ; Tikde (तिकडे) – There
Important for directions. “ikde” and “tikde” are siblings, just like here and there.
Example: “Bhau, ikde right, tikde left.”
29. Zauya (जाऊया) – Let’s go
You’ll hear this often around lunch break or at the end of office hours
Example: “Chala, canteen zauya!” (Come let’s go to the canteen)
30. Dhanyavaad (धन्यवाद) – Thank you
This word is simple and widely used. “Dhanyavaad” means “Thank you” in Marathi and works perfectly in all situations.
Quick Recap: Marathi Survival Phrase List
| Sl no | English Phrase | Marathi Phrase |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Brother / Uncle / Aunt (addressing people) | Bhau, Kaka, Mawshi (भाऊ, काका, मावशी) |
| 2 | What’s happening? | Kai zhala? (काय झालं?) |
| 3 | Do | Kara (करा) |
| 4 | How much? | Kiti? (किती?) |
| 5 | How are you? | Kase / Kashi aahat? (कसे / कशी आहात?) |
| 6 | I am fine | Mi bara aahe (मी बरं आहे) |
| 7 | What is your name? | Tumcha naav kay? (तुमचं नाव काय?) |
| 8 | My name is Mukesh | Mazha naav Mukesh aahe (माझं नाव मुकेश आहे) |
| 9 | Take | Ghya (घ्या) |
| 10 | Give | Dya (द्या) |
| 11 | I’ll come back / Bye | Yeto (येतो) |
| 12 | What | Kay (काय) |
| 13 | Where | Kuthe (कुठे) |
| 14 | Please come / Welcome | Ya ya (या या) |
| 15 | Stop / Wait | Thamba (थांबा) |
| 16 | Yes | Ho (हो) |
| 17 | No | Naahi (नाही) |
| 18 | Want | Pahije (पाहिजे) |
| 19 | Don’t want | Nako (नको) |
| 20 | Go ahead | Pudhe chala (पुढे चला) |
| 21 | I don’t know | Mahit nahi (माहित नाही) |
| 22 | I am learning Marathi | Mi Marathi shikat aahe (मी मराठी शिकत आहे) |
| 23 | I am from Delhi | Mi Delhi-cha / Delhi-chi aahe (मी दिल्लीचा / दिल्लीची आहे) |
| 24 | Work | Kaam (काम) |
| 25 | Haste | Ghai (घाई) |
| 26 | Crowd | Gardi (गर्दी) |
| 27 | Water | Paani (पाणी) |
| 28 | Here / There | Ikde / Tikde (इकडे / तिकडे) |
| 29 | Let’s go | Zauya (जाऊया) |
| 30 | Thank you | Dhanyavaad (धन्यवाद) |
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Dhanyavaad, and good luck in your Marathi learning!