You could be an avid traveler whose next stop is Maharashtra or someone who’s learning the Marathi language just as a hobby, either way the first thing you want to learn is how to say hello in Marathi.
Marathi is no exception to this. Marathi is the official language of Maharashtra and is predominantly spoken by nearly 83 million people. Every part of Maharashtra has a different dialect but they have one thing in common: a humble namaskar, hello in Marathi.
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How To Say Hello In Marathi?
Hello in Marathi is namaskar (नमस्कार)and is accepted both as a formal and informal greeting. This is similar to namaste used in Hindi, and both are accepted as a formal form of greeting. So, namaskar everyone! Let’s get started and see how to use this greeting in everyday conversations.
The next step after learning to pronounce Namaskar is the etiquette that follows with it. A namaskar is always followed by bringing both your hands together to join the palms, the same pose as the praying emoji. 🙏🏻 That’s the standard way or the culturally accepted way of saying hello in Marathi.
An alternative to this is just a nod followed by saying namaskar. We do this with a smile on our face.
So, smile > join hands or nod > say namaskar.
When And Where To Use Namaskar?
Namaskar is often used as a conversation starter in any situation. Say you’re meeting someone for the first time or you need help in finding directions, this is the greeting you use to start the conversation.
For example, you’re looking for Cafe Mondegar (a famous cafe in South Mumbai) and you stop a person walking by, you say:
Namaskar dada/tai, ithe kase jayche? (नमस्कार दादा/ताई, इथे कसे जायचे?)
Hello, sir/ma’am (literally: brother/sister). How do you reach here?
This greeting is also used when you’re first introduced to someone, especially to someone older than you. For example, if I introduce you to my parents, you join both your hands and say namaskar to them.
How To Respond To Namaskar?
What do you do when someone approaches you and says namaskar?
When a person approaches you and says namaskar, you simply say the same in return and could also add Tumhala bhetun anand jhala (तुम्हाला भेटून आनंद झाला), which literally translates to nice to meet you.
Or if you want to address a large group of people or an audience, you say, Namaskar mandali (मंडळी) which literally means hello people.
Other Marathi Phrases To Greet People
Let’s learn some informal ways to say hello in Marathi. What we just learned was a more formal way of saying hello, used in a rather formal setting. Let’s also look at some casual phrases that can be used informally or used as slang.
You can use these on your next trip to any remote village of Maharashtra, and impress the locals!
| English | Marathi | Transliteration |
|---|---|---|
| Hello, people! | राम राम (मंडळी) | Ram Ram (Mandali) |
| What’s up, bro? | कसं काय दादा/ताई? | Kasa kay Dada/Tai? |
| What’s up, mister? | काय म्हणता, राव? | Kay Mhanta, Rao? |
These are the village type Marathi ways to say hello in Marathi rural areas of Maharashtra. You can definitely use these phrases in Marathi and surprise people. People often notice these intricate details and instantly connect with you.
Marathi is a beautiful language and Maharashtrians are even sweeter when you speak to them in their language. They take pride in their culture and its history. After all, it has been recognized as one of the Classical Languages in the Constitution of India in 2024.
Tips To Remember When You Travel In Maharashtra
- Namaskar as Goodbye: Even though namaskar is used as a formal/informal greeting when you first meet someone, but it also has another context, which is used when you have to leave or end a conversation.
For example, you are sitting among a group of people and you have to take their leave, you simply get up, and say, Chala, mi yeto/yete. Namaskar. (चला, मी येतो/येते. नमस्कार), “I’ll take your leave, bye.” - It is okay to mispronounce: People understand you’re learning, and they feel happy about your efforts. Just don’t give up!
How Do You Say Hello In Marathi?
The most common Marathi word to say hello is Namaskar (नमस्कार), which is a respectful and traditional greeting. You can also use Namaste (नमस्ते) in a similar way.
Frequently Asked Questions About Hello In Marathi
1. How Do You Say Hello In Mumbai?
People in Mumbai commonly say Namaskar (नमस्कार) in formal settings, but casually, they use Hay (हाय) or Helo (हॅलो) just like in English.
2. How Do Maharashtrians Greet?
Maharashtrians usually greet with Namaskar (नमस्कार) for respect or Hay (हाय) for casual situations.
3. Can Namaskar Be Used Everywhere?
Yes, you can certainly use Namaskar everywhere to say hello in Marathi. Be it a village or the streets of the city of Mumbai. Namaskar works everywhere!
4. How Do You Respond To “Kasa Kay” In Marathi?
If someone asks Kasa Kay? (कसा काय?), you can respond in different ways depending on how you feel. If you’re doing well, you can say Mi thik ahe (मी ठीक आहे), which means I am fine. If things are just going okay, you can say Chaltamy (चालतंय), which means it’s going okay.
To Sum Up Hello In Marathi
Marathi is a beautiful language, and Maharashtrians are even sweeter once the conversation begins. In this article, we learned how to say hello in Marathi which is namaskar. and other slang phrases to surprise local people when you first greet them.
We also learned how to greet a group of people by saying ram ram mandali, or even using the Marathi version of “how are you” – kasa kay – as a greeting.
The people of Maharashtra are all about preserving and spreading the rich linguistic culture through art, literature, and mainly communication. They believe language is a great medium to communicate and preserve the culture.
Learn Marathi Easily As A Traveler
Trying to learn Marathi, at least basic phrases and greetings while you are traveling to Mumbai and other Marathi-speaking regions will help you endear yourself to locals and make your travel an unforgettable experience. But where do you get started because there is No Marathi on Duolingo?
While there are many apps to learn popular languages, there’s one gamified all-encompassing app that teaches Marathi and other less popular and rare languages: Ling! This gamified and super easy-to-use app acts as your language guide on your travel adventures by helping you grasp the basics of your target language easily.
To learn more about the Marathi language, download the Ling app and start learning Marathi today!
