OoruLearn Marathi: everyday phrases for Mumbai and Pune
Marathi is the language of Maharashtra, spoken across Mumbai and as the everyday language of Pune. These are the phrases newcomers use most: greetings, talking to auto drivers, getting around, ordering food, shopping and getting help, plus words you will hear in both cities. Each one is written the way it sounds, so there is no script to learn.
One-line survival kit
If you learn only five lines, make it these:
- Mala Marathi yet naahi: I don't know Marathi
- Tumhi English bolta ka?: Do you speak English?
- He kitila aahe?: How much is this?
- Ithe thamba: Stop here
- Krupaya madat kara: Please help me
Basic Politeness
| English | Marathi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Namaskar |
| Thank you | Dhanyavaad |
| Yes | Ho |
| No | Naahi |
| Don't want / no thanks | Nako |
| Okay | Theek aahe / Barobar |
| Sorry | Maaf kara |
| Please say that again | Parat sanga |
| I don't understand | Mala samajla naahi |
| I am learning Marathi | Mi Marathi shikat aahe |
Asking Directions
| English | Marathi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Where is this? | He kuthe aahe? |
| Where is [place]? | [place] kuthe aahe? |
| How far? | Kiti laamb aahe? |
| Go straight | Saral jaa |
| Take a left / Take a right | Left ghya / Right ghya |
| Here / There | Ikde / Tikde |
| Which bus goes to [place]? | [place]-la konti bus jaate? |
Auto / Local Train / Bus
| English | Marathi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Will you go to [place]? | [place]-la yenaar ka? |
| How much has it come to? | Kiti jhaale? |
| Too much | Khoop jaast aahe |
| Reduce it a little | Thoda kami kara |
| Please go by the meter | Meter-ne chala |
| Stop here | Ithe thamba |
| I have to go to [place] | Mala [place]-la jaaycha aahe |
| Which platform? | Konta platform? |
| Is this the fast train? | Hi fast local aahe ka? |
| Move ahead (in queues and trains) | Pudhe chala |
Ordering Food
| English | Marathi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| I want this | Mala he pahije |
| What is this? | He kaay aahe? |
| Less spicy | Kami tikhat |
| No sugar | Sakhar nako |
| Water | Paani |
| One more | Ajun ek |
| That's enough | Bas |
| The bill, please | Bill dya |
| Very tasty | Khoop chhaan aahe |
| Half a glass of tea | Ek cutting |
Shopping
| English | Marathi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | He kitila aahe? |
| Give me one | Ek dya |
| Give me two | Don dya |
| Please pack it | Pack kara |
| Do you have change? | Sutte paise aahet ka? |
Emergency / Help
| English | Marathi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Help! (Save me!) | Vachva! |
| Please help | Madat kara |
| Call the police | Police-la bolva |
| Where is the hospital? | Hospital kuthe aahe? |
| I am lost | Mi harvlo aahe (harvle, for women) |
| I need a doctor | Mala doctor pahije |
Small Talk
| English | Marathi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| How are you? (to a man / a woman) | Kasa aahes? / Kashi aahes? |
| I'm fine | Mi bara aahe |
| What's your name? | Tumcha naav kaay? |
| My name is… | Maajha naav… aahe |
| What's up? | Kaay jhaala? |
| Bye (lit. I'll come back) | Yeto (yete, for women) |
| Let's go | Chala |
Mumbai & Pune Words
| English | Marathi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Brother: how to address men | Bhau |
| Uncle / aunt: for older men and women | Kaka / Mavshi |
| Fantastic | Jhakaas |
| Carefree, bold | Bindaas |
| For no reason | Khaali-peeli |
| Pune's famously blunt shop signs | Puneri patya |
Cultural tip
Mumbai switches between Marathi, Hindi and English mid-sentence, while Pune is more Marathi-first and proud of it. In both cities "bhau", "kaka" and "mavshi" are friendlier than "excuse me", and adding "kara" to an English verb (wait kara, adjust kara) is a perfectly acceptable start.
Marathi questions people ask
How do you say thank you in Marathi?
"Dhanyavaad" is thank you in Marathi, and "aabhaari aahe" is a more formal way to say I am grateful. In Mumbai many people simply say "thank you".
How do you say hello in Marathi?
"Namaskar" is the respectful greeting. "Kasa aahes?" asks a man how he is and "Kashi aahes?" asks a woman, and "Mi bara aahe" means I'm fine.
Do I need Marathi in Mumbai and Pune?
Mumbai runs on a mix of Marathi, Hindi and English, so you can manage without Marathi. Pune is more Marathi-first, and in markets and government offices in both cities a little Marathi helps a lot.
What does "bhau" mean?
"Bhau" means brother and is the everyday way to address men such as auto drivers and shopkeepers, much like "bhaiya" elsewhere. Older men are "kaka" (uncle) and older women "mavshi" (aunt).
How do you ask "how much" in Marathi?
"Kiti?" means how much, and "He kitila aahe?" asks the price of something. In an auto, "[place]-la yenaar ka?" asks whether the driver will go there.
What is a cutting chai?
Cutting is half a glass of tea, the standard order at a Mumbai tea stall. Ask for "ek cutting" and it comes in a small glass, strong and sweet.
More in our guides: our Mumbai city guide, Khau Galli, our Mumbai food guide, our Pune city guide and Jevan, our Pune food guide.