Learning Marathi: a practical guide
This is a written companion to the free Marathi course on LanguagePath: what the language is like, how it sounds, the phrases you will use first, how the course is structured, and what to watch out for. Everything here comes from the same lessons you can practise interactively above.
What Marathi is like
Marathi word order is Subject–Object–Verb: मला पाणी हवं आहे = 'to-me water I-want is'. In the present tense the verb ending changes with the subject's gender — the -तो (-to) / -ते (-te) / -ते (-te) pattern. Ask a yes/no question simply by putting का ('kā') at the end.
Words you may already know
Pronunciation notes
Marathi is written in Devanagari and is mostly phonetic — once you know the letters you can say most words. Watch for ळ (ḷ), a curled-back 'l' that Hindi speakers often drop.
- ळ — an "l" said with the tongue tip curled back and up — Marathi's most distinctive sound, as in पोळी = po-LEE · मराठी = ma-ra-THEE.
- ठ — a hard "t" made with a curled-back tongue plus a puff of breath, as in ठीक = THEEK (okay).
- ख — a "k" with a strong puff of breath, as in खूप = KHOOP (very).
- घ — a "g" with a strong puff of breath, as in घर = GHAR (house).
- ं — the anusvāra — a soft nasal "ng" hum after a vowel, as in रंग = RUNG (colour).
- श — a soft "sh" like in "shoe", as in शाळा = SHA-la (school).
- ष — a harder, more curled-back "sh" than श, as in राष्ट्र = RAHSH-tra (nation).
- ऋ — a vowelled "r" said from the back of the mouth, like a rolled "ri", as in ऋषी = RI-shee (sage).
First phrases
The pocket phrases below are the ones learners reach for most often. Say each one out loud a few times before moving on.
| Marathi | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नमस्कार | na-mas-KAAR | Hello |
| सुप्रभात | soo-pra-BHAAT | Good morning |
| तू कसा आहेस? | too ka-SAA AA-hes | How are you? (to a man) |
| मी ठीक आहे | mee THEEK AA-he | I'm fine |
| पुन्हा भेटू | poon-HAA bhe-TOO | See you again |
| माझं नाव Alex आहे | MAA-zha naav Alex AA-he | My name is Alex |
| कृपया | kri-pa-yaa | Please |
| धन्यवाद | DHAN-ya-vaad | Thank you |
| माफ करा | MAAF ka-RAA | Sorry / excuse me |
| होय | HOY | Yes |
| नाही | NAA-hee | No |
| एक | ek | 1 |
| दोन | don | 2 |
| तीन | teen | 3 |
| चार | chaar | 4 |
| पाच | paach | 5 |
| दहा | da-HAA | 10 |
| पाणी | PAA-nee | water |
| चहा | CHA-haa | tea |
| भात | bhaat | rice |
| पोळी | po-LEE | flatbread |
| मला पाणी हवं आहे | ma-LAA PAA-nee ha-VAA AA-he | I want water |
| कुठे आहे? | KOO-the AA-he | Where is it? |
| उजवीकडे | uj-VEE-ka-de | to the right |
| डावीकडे | daa-VEE-ka-de | to the left |
| रेल्वे स्टेशन | REL-ve STESH-an | the railway station |
| किती आहे? | KI-tee AA-he | How much is it? |
| हे खूप महाग आहे | he khoop ma-HAAG AA-he | This is too expensive |
| मला हे हवं आहे | ma-LAA he ha-VAA AA-he | I want this |
| मदत! | MA-dat | Help! |
How the Marathi course is structured
The course has 12 short lessons that build on each other. Each one introduces a few new pieces and then asks you to construct sentences you have never seen, before revealing the answer:
- Greetings — नमस्कार — namaskār · suprabhāt · dhanyavād
- Polite phrases — कृपया · धन्यवाद · माफ करा
- Numbers 1–10 — एक · दोन · तीन · दहा
- I want" — मला … हवं आहे — मला … हवं आहे
- Food & drink — पाणी · चहा · भात · पोळी
- Getting around — कुठे · उजवीकडे · डावीकडे · सरळ
- Questions & "do you have?" — काय · कोण · तुमच्याकडे … आहे का?
- Family & people — कुटुंब · आई · बाबा · मित्र
- Time, days & weather — आज · उद्या · काल · पाऊस
- Small talk & your name — माझं नाव … आहे · तुझं नाव काय आहे?
- Health & emergency — मदत · डॉक्टर · रुग्णालय · समजत नाही
- Tying it together — namaskār · हवं आहे · कुठे · किती
Inside the lessons
Here is how a few of the lessons explain the language, with worked examples and the word-by-word breakdown the course uses.
Greetings — नमस्कार
Key pieces: namaskār · suprabhāt · dhanyavād
Marathi's first word is its warmest: नमस्कार (namaskār) — hello. Say it with the palms together if you like. It works all day long.
- नमस्कार (na-mas-KAAR) — hello Memory hook: ≈ Hindi/Sanskrit namaskār.
- सुप्रभात (soo-pra-BHAAT) — good morning Memory hook: ≈ Hindi suprabhāt.
- धन्यवाद (DHAN-ya-vaad) — thank you
- कृपया (kri-pa-yaa) — please
- माफ करा (MAAF ka-RAA) — sorry / excuse me
To say “Hello, thank you” in Marathi: नमस्कार, धन्यवाद (na-mas-KAAR, DHAN-ya-vaad). Built from नमस्कार = hello; धन्यवाद = thank you.
To ask how someone is (to a man): तू कसा आहेस? (to a woman: तू कशी आहेस? ). The reply is मी ठीक आहे — I'm fine.
- तू कसा आहेस? (too ka-SAA AA-hes) — How are you? (to a man)
- तू कशी आहेस? (too ka-SHEE AA-hes) — How are you? (to a woman)
- मी ठीक आहे (mee THEEK AA-he) — I'm fine
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Marathi: नमस्कार, तू कसा आहेस? (na-mas-KAAR, too ka-SAA AA-hes). Built from नमस्कार = hello; तू कसा आहेस? = how are you?.
Polite phrases
Key pieces: कृपया · धन्यवाद · माफ करा
Two words oil every conversation: कृपया (please) and धन्यवाद (thank you). Say them and doors open.
- कृपया (kri-pa-yaa) — please
- धन्यवाद (DHAN-ya-vaad) — thank you Memory hook: ≈ Hindi dhanyavād.
- खूप धन्यवाद (khoop DHAN-ya-vaad) — thank you very much
- माफ करा (MAAF ka-RAA) — sorry / excuse me
- होय (HOY) — yes
- नाही (NAA-hee) — no
To say “Yes, please” in Marathi: होय, कृपया (HOY, kri-pa-yaa). Built from होय = yes; कृपया = please.
To squeeze past or get attention, say माफ करा — excuse me / sorry. Friendly and versatile.
To say “Thank you very much” in Marathi: खूप धन्यवाद (khoop DHAN-ya-vaad). Built from खूप = very; धन्यवाद = thank you.
To say “No, thank you” in Marathi: नाही, धन्यवाद (NAA-hee, DHAN-ya-vaad). Built from नाही = no; धन्यवाद = thank you.
Numbers 1–10
Key pieces: एक · दोन · तीन · दहा
Numbers are the fastest win. Listen and repeat: एक, दोन, तीन .
- एक (ek) — 1
- दोन (don) — 2
- तीन (teen) — 3
- चार (chaar) — 4
- पाच (paach) — 5
- सहा (sa-HAA) — 6
- सात (saat) — 7
- आठ (aath) — 8
- नऊ (na-U) — 9
- दहा (da-HAA) — 10
To say “Two teas, please” in Marathi: दोन चहा, कृपया (DON CHA-haa, kri-pa-yaa). Built from दोन = two; चहा = tea; कृपया = please.
किती आहे? = how much is it? The key phrase for any price.
To say “How much is it?” in Marathi: किती आहे? (KI-tee AA-he). Built from किती = how much; आहे = is.
To say “Ten rupees” in Marathi: दहा रुपये (da-HAA ROOP-ye). Built from दहा = ten; रुपये = rupees. ≈ English rupee.
I want" — मला … हवं आहे
Key pieces: मला … हवं आहे
The magic phrase to ask for anything: मला … हवं आहे — I want … (literally 'to me … is wanted').
- मला ... हवं आहे (ma-LAA ... ha-VAA AA-he) — I want ...
- पाणी (PAA-nee) — water
- चहा (CHA-haa) — tea
- भात (bhaat) — rice
To say “I want water” in Marathi: मला पाणी हवं आहे (ma-LAA PAA-nee ha-VAA AA-he). Built from मला = to me; पाणी = water; हवं आहे = I want.
Make it polite by adding कृपया at the end. Word order stays: to-me + object + want.
To say “I want tea, please” in Marathi: मला चहा हवं आहे, कृपया (ma-LAA CHA-haa ha-VAA AA-he, kri-pa-yaa). Built from मला = to me; चहा = tea; हवं आहे = I want; कृपया = please.
To ask someone if they want something: तुला … हवं आहे का?
To say “Do you want water?” in Marathi: तुला पाणी हवं आहे का? (too-LAA PAA-nee ha-VAA AA-he kaa). Built from तुला = to you (informal); पाणी = water; का = question word.
Food & drink
Key pieces: पाणी · चहा · भात · पोळी
At a meal, these carry you: पाणी (water), चहा (tea), भात (rice), पोळी (flatbread).
- पाणी (PAA-nee) — water
- दूध (doodh) — milk
- चहा (CHA-haa) — tea
- कॉफी (KOF-fee) — coffee Memory hook: ≈ English coffee.
- भात (bhaat) — rice Memory hook: ≈ Hindi bhaat.
- पोळी (po-LEE) — flatbread
- मिठ (mi-TH) — salt
To say “Water and rice, please” in Marathi: पाणी आणि भात, कृपया (PAA-nee AA-nee bhaat, kri-pa-yaa). Built from पाणी = water; आणि = and; भात = rice; कृपया = please.
मला … हवं आहे goes with food too — मला मेनू हवा आहे = I'd like the menu.
To say “I'd like the menu” in Marathi: मला मेनू हवा आहे (ma-LAA MAY-noo ha-VAA AA-he). Built from मला = to me; मेनू = menu; हवा आहे = I want. ≈ English menu.
Compliment the food: खूप छान! — very tasty!
To say “Delicious!” in Marathi: खूप छान! (khoop CHHAAN). Built from खूप = very; छान = tasty / nice.
Getting around
Key pieces: कुठे · उजवीकडे · डावीकडे · सरळ
The most useful question in any city: कुठे आहे? — where is it?
- कुठे? (KOO-the) — where?
- उजवीकडे (uj-VEE-ka-de) — to the right
- डावीकडे (daa-VEE-ka-de) — to the left
- सरळ (SA-ral) — straight ahead
- रेल्वे स्टेशन (REL-ve STESH-an) — the railway station Memory hook: ≈ English railway station.
- स्नानगृह (SHNA-an-grih) — the bathroom
To say “Where is the station?” in Marathi: रेल्वे स्टेशन कुठे आहे? (REL-ve STESH-an KOO-the AA-he). Built from रेल्वे स्टेशन = the station; कुठे = where; आहे = is.
To say “Where is the bathroom?” in Marathi: स्नानगृह कुठे आहे? (SHNA-an-grih KOO-the AA-he). Built from स्नानगृह = the bathroom; कुठे = where; आहे = is.
उजवीकडे and डावीकडे tell you the turn. 'Go straight' is सरळ जा .
To say “Go straight” in Marathi: सरळ जा (SA-ral JAA). Built from सरळ = straight; जा = go.
Questions & "do you have?"
Key pieces: काय · कोण · तुमच्याकडे … आहे का?
Question words come first: काय (what), कोण (who), कुठे (where), किती (how much).
- काय? (KAAY) — what?
- कोण? (KON) — who?
- कुठे? (KOO-the) — where?
- किती? (KI-tee) — how much?
- ... आहे का? (... AA-he kaa) — ... is it? (question ending)
A yes/no question ends in का . To ask 'do you have…?' use तुमच्याकडे … आहे का? .
To say “Do you have water?” in Marathi: तुमच्याकडे पाणी आहे का? (too-my-CHA-ka-de PAA-nee AA-he kaa). Built from तुमच्याकडे = do you have; पाणी = water; आहे का = is it?.
To say “Do you have tea?” in Marathi: तुमच्याकडे चहा आहे का? (too-my-CHA-ka-de CHA-haa AA-he kaa). Built from तुमच्याकडे = do you have; चहा = tea; आहे का = is it?.
Family & people
Key pieces: कुटुंब · आई · बाबा · मित्र
Family words: कुटुंब (family), आई (mother), बाबा (father), मित्र (friend).
- कुटुंब (koo-TOOMB) — family
- आई (AA-ee) — mother
- बाबा (BAA-baa) — father
- भाऊ (bhaa-U) — brother
- बहीण (BA-heen) — sister
- मित्र (MIT-r) — friend Memory hook: ≈ Hindi/Sanskrit mitra.
To say “This is my family” in Marathi: हे माझं कुटुंब आहे (he MAA-zha koo-TOOMB AA-he). Built from हे = this; माझं = my; कुटुंब = family; आहे = is.
माझा shows 'my' for masculine nouns, माझं for neuter. To say you have something, Marathi says 'my … is' — no verb 'have'.
To say “I have a friend” in Marathi: माझा मित्र आहे (MAA-zhaa MIT-r AA-he). Built from माझा = my (masc); मित्र = friend; आहे = is / exists.
To say “I have a brother” in Marathi: माझा भाऊ आहे (MAA-zhaa bhaa-U AA-he). Built from माझा = my (masc); भाऊ = brother; आहे = is / exists.
Time, days & weather
Key pieces: आज · उद्या · काल · पाऊस
Today is आज , tomorrow is उद्या , yesterday is काल .
- आज (Aaj) — today
- उद्या (UD-yaa) — tomorrow
- काल (KAAL) — yesterday
- आता (AA-ta) — now
- किती वाजले? (KI-tee VAAJ-le) — what time is it?
- पाऊस (PAA-us) — rain
To say “See you tomorrow” in Marathi: उद्या भेटू (UD-yaa bhe-TOO). Built from उद्या = tomorrow; भेटू = we'll meet.
Ask about the weather: हवामान कसं आहे? Then पाऊस पडत आहे — it's raining.
To say “It's raining” in Marathi: पाऊस पडत आहे (PAA-us PA-dat AA-he). Built from पाऊस = rain; पडत आहे = is falling.
To say “It's very hot” in Marathi: खूप गरम आहे (khoop GA-ram AA-he). Built from खूप = very; गरम = hot; आहे = is.
Small talk & your name
Key pieces: माझं नाव … आहे · तुझं नाव काय आहे?
Introduce yourself: माझं नाव … आहे = my name is …, and तुम्हाला भेटून आनंद झाला = pleased to meet you.
To say “My name is Alex” in Marathi: माझं नाव Alex आहे (MAA-zha naav Alex AA-he). Built from माझं नाव = my name; Alex = your name; आहे = is.
To ask someone's name — informal: तुझं नाव काय आहे? Formal: तुमचं नाव काय आहे? .
To say “What's your name?” in Marathi: तुझं नाव काय आहे? (too-jha naav KAAY AA-he). Built from तुझं = your (informal); नाव = name; काय = what; आहे = is.
To say “Pleased to meet you” in Marathi: तुम्हाला भेटून आनंद झाला (too-MHAA-la bhe-TOON AA-nand JHA-la). Built from तुम्हाला = to you; भेटून = meeting; आनंद = joy.
Health & emergency
Key pieces: मदत · डॉक्टर · रुग्णालय · समजत नाही
The words that matter if you need help: मदत (help), डॉक्टर (doctor), रुग्णालय (hospital).
- मदत! (MA-dat) — help!
- डॉक्टर (DOK-tar) — the doctor Memory hook: ≈ English doctor.
- रुग्णालय (roog-NAA-lay) — the hospital
- औषध (AU-shadh) — medicine
- मला समजत नाही (ma-LAA SAM-jat NAA-hee) — I don't understand
To say “Help!” in Marathi: मदत! (MA-dat). Built from मदत = help.
To say “I need help” in Marathi: मला मदत हवी आहे (ma-LAA ma-DAT ha-VEE AA-he). Built from मला = to me; मदत = help; हवी आहे = I need (fem).
मला तब्येत बरी नाही = I'm not feeling well. डॉक्टरला घेऊन जा ... better to start with 'मला तब्येत बरी नाही'.
To say “I'm not feeling well” in Marathi: मला तब्येत बरी नाही (ma-LAA tab-YET ba-REE NAA-hee). Built from मला = to me; तब्येत = health; बरी = fine (fem); नाही = not.
Tying it together
Key pieces: namaskār · हवं आहे · कुठे · किती
Great — you've built a real toolbox. This capstone uses only words you've met. Build each line yourself before revealing.
To say “Hello, how are you?” in Marathi: नमस्कार, तू कसा आहेस? (na-mas-KAAR, too ka-SAA AA-hes). Built from नमस्कार = hello; तू कसा आहेस? = how are you?.
To say “I want water, please” in Marathi: मला पाणी हवं आहे, कृपया (ma-LAA PAA-nee ha-VAA AA-he, kri-pa-yaa). Built from मला = to me; पाणी = water; हवं आहे = I want; कृपया = please.
To say “Where is the station?” in Marathi: रेल्वे स्टेशन कुठे आहे? (REL-ve STESH-an KOO-the AA-he). Built from रेल्वे स्टेशन = the station; कुठे = where; आहे = is.
To say “How much is it?” in Marathi: किती आहे? (KI-tee AA-he). Built from किती = how much; आहे = is.
Common mistakes and things to watch out for
- तू कसा आहेस? (too ka-SAA AA-hes): to a man.
- तू कशी आहेस? (too ka-SHEE AA-hes): to a woman.
- ... आहे का? (... AA-he kaa): question ending.
Culture and etiquette
Namaskar: one word, every situation
Fold your hands and say नमस्कार for hello, goodbye, thank-you and sorry. It is respectful, universal and works any time of day — a handshake is fine too, but namaskar is the warm default.
Chai is the heart of hospitality
Marathi homes and cafés revolve around गरम चहा — hot, milky, spiced tea. If someone offers you chai, accepting is polite; saying "एक चहा" (one tea) is a great first phrase to use.
Eating with your hands
In Maharashtra it is normal to eat भात-पोळी with your right hand, using your fingers to mix and scoop. It is considered the most natural way to eat — and there's no shame in asking for a fork.
The auto-rickshaw
Auto-rickshaws (रिक्षा) are the classic way to get around. The meter is official, but many drivers negotiate a fixed fare first — agree on the price before you get in, and ask 'किती आहे?' (how much).
Hindi & English everywhere
Signs are often in Marathi and English, and most city folk speak Hindi or English too. But Marathi is a matter of local pride — a नमस्कार and 'धन्यवाद' go a long way in Maharashtra.
A little Marathi opens doors
Marathi speakers light up when visitors try their language. Effort beats perfection. Even one correct word shows real respect, and people will slow down and help you.
Example dialogues
At a café
You: नमस्कार! एक चहा, कृपया. (na-mas-KAAR, EK CHA-haa, kri-pa-yaa) — Hello! One tea, please.
Server: लगेच. इथे की घेऊन जायचं? (LA-ged, EE-the kee ghe-OON JAA-y-chan) — Right away. For here or to go?
You: घेऊन जायचं, धन्यवाद. (ghe-OON JAA-y-chan, DHAN-ya-vaad) — To go, thanks.
Server: हे घ्या. आणखी काही? (he GH-YAA, AA-ne-kee KAA-hee) — Here you go. Anything else?
You: नाही, धन्यवाद! (NAA-hee, DHAN-ya-vaad) — No, thanks!
At the train station
You: माफ करा, रेल्वे स्टेशन कुठे आहे? (MAAF ka-RAA, REL-ve STESH-an KOO-the AA-he) — Excuse me, where is the railway station?
Local: तिथे, उजवीकडे. (TI-the, uj-VEE-ka-de) — It's there, on the right.
You: धन्यवाद. मुंबईचा एक तिकीट, कृपया. (DHAN-ya-vaad, MOOM-bai-cha EK TI-keet, kri-pa-yaa) — Thanks. A ticket to Mumbai, please.
Ticket: पंचाहत्तर रुपये. गाडी नऊ वाजता आहे. (pan-CHA-hat-tar ROOP-ye, GAA-dee nau VAAJ-ta AA-he) — Seventy-five rupees. The train leaves at nine.
At a restaurant
Waiter: नमस्कार! तुमचं आरक्षण आहे का? (na-mas-KAAR, too-mcha AA-rkshan AA-he kaa) — Hello! Do you have a reservation?
You: होय, दोन जणांसाठी. (HOY, DON ja-naa-SA-thee) — Yes, for two people.
You: मेनू, कृपया. (MAY-noo, kri-pa-yaa) — The menu, please.
You: मला भात आणि एक चहा हवं आहे. (ma-LAA bhaat AA-nee EK CHA-haa ha-VAA AA-he) — I'd like rice and a tea.
Waiter: छान निवड! भोजनाचा आस्वाद घ्या. (CHHAAN ni-VAD, bho-JA-na-cha aas-VAAD GH-YAA) — Excellent choice! Enjoy your meal.
Written by the LanguagePath editorial team from our own course material. Pronunciation guides are approximate English respellings; tap any phrase in the app above to hear it. Native-speaker review of every course is ongoing — tell us if you spot an error.