Language/Marathi/Vocabulary/Greetings

Next Lesson — Introductions ▶️

Marathi → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Greetings

Welcome to the lesson on Marathi Greetings! Greetings are the very first step in any conversation, and they play a crucial role in establishing a connection with others. In Marathi culture, greetings are not just a formality; they carry warmth, respect, and a sense of belonging. Whether you are starting a conversation with a friend, a colleague, or a stranger, knowing the right way to greet someone can make a significant difference in how your interaction unfolds.

In this lesson, we will explore various common Marathi greetings, their pronunciations, and how to use them effectively in conversation. We will also provide you with exercises to practice what you've learned, ensuring that you feel comfortable using these greetings in real-life situations.

Importance of Greetings in Marathi

Greetings are an essential part of the Marathi language and culture. They reflect the values of respect and warmth that are so deeply ingrained in the community. In Maharashtra, the way you greet someone can vary based on the time of day, the relationship you have with the person, and even the context of the meeting.

== Common Greetings Overview

In this section, we will cover:

• Basic greetings for different times of the day

• Formal and informal greetings

• Greetings for specific occasions

• How to respond to greetings

Basic Greetings

Let’s start with some basic greetings that you can use throughout the day.

Marathi	Pronunciation	English
नमस्कार	Namaskār	Hello
शुभ प्रभात	Shubh Prabhāt	Good Morning
शुभ संध्या	Shubh Sandhyā	Good Evening
शुभ रात्रि	Shubh Rātri	Good Night
कसे आहात? (to a male)	Kase āhāt?	How are you? (to a male)
कशा आहात? (to a female)	Kasha āhāt?	How are you? (to a female)
तुम्ही कसे आहात? (formal)	Tumhi kase āhāt?	How are you? (formal)
तु कसा आहेस? (informal to a male)	Tu kasa āhes?	How are you? (informal to a male)
तु कशी आहेस? (informal to a female)	Tu kashi āhes?	How are you? (informal to a female)
धन्यवाद	Dhanyavād	Thank you
कृपया	Krupayā	Please
सुस्वागतम्	Susvāgatam	Welcome
अलविदा	Alavidā	Goodbye
पुन्हा भेटूया	Punhā Bhetūyā	See you again
चांगला दिवस	Chānglā Divas	Have a nice day
चांगली रात्र	Chānglī Rātr	Have a good night
तुमचा दिवस सुखद जावो	Tumchā Divas Sukhada Jāvo	May your day be pleasant
तुम्ही किती छान दिसता! (to a male)	Tumhi Kiti Chān Distā!	You look great! (to a male)
तुम्ही किती छान दिसता! (to a female)	Tumhi Kiti Chān Distas!	You look great! (to a female)

In the table above, you can see a variety of greetings you can use at different times of the day or in different contexts.

Formal and Informal Greetings

In Marathi, the way you greet someone can depend on the formality of the situation. Here’s a quick guide to help you navigate through this:

• Formal Greetings: Used in professional or respectful contexts. Always use "तुम्ही" (Tumhi) when addressing someone formally.

• Informal Greetings: Used with friends, family, or people of the same age group. Use "तू" (Tu) when addressing someone informally.

== Examples of Formal and Informal Greetings

Context	Marathi	Pronunciation	English
Informal Greeting (to a friend)	हाय!	Hāy!	Hi!
Formal Greeting (to a boss)	नमस्कार	Namaskār	Hello
Informal how are you? (to a friend)	कसे आहेस?	Kase āhes?	How are you? (to a male friend)
Formal how are you? (to a colleague)	तुम्ही कसे आहात?	Tumhi kase āhāt?	How are you? (to a colleague)

Specific Occasions Greetings

Certain occasions call for specific greetings. Here are a few examples:

• Festivals: "दिवाळीच्या शुभेच्छा" (Diwāḷīchya Shubhēcchā) - Happy Diwali

• Weddings: "लग्नाच्या शुभेच्छा" (Lagnaachya Shubhēcchā) - Congratulations on your marriage

• Birthdays: "जन्मदिवसाच्या शुभेच्छा" (Janmadivśāchya Shubhēcchā) - Happy Birthday

Responding to Greetings

Knowing how to respond to greetings is just as important as knowing how to greet. Here are some common responses:

• To "How are you?":

• "मी ठीक आहे" (Mī Thīk āhe) - I am fine.

• To "Thank you":

• "काही नाही" (Kāhī Nāhī) - You’re welcome.

Exercises and Practice Scenarios

Now that you have learned some greetings, let’s put your knowledge to the test with some exercises!

1. Translate the following greetings into Marathi:

• Good Morning

• How are you? (to a female)

• Thank you

Answers:

• शुभ प्रभात (Shubh Prabhāt)

• कशा आहात? (Kasha āhāt?)

• धन्यवाद (Dhanyavād)

2. Match the Marathi greeting with its English equivalent:

• नमस्कार

• शुभ संध्या

• अलविदा

Answers:

• नमस्कार - Hello

• शुभ संध्या - Good Evening

• अलविदा - Goodbye

3. Fill in the blanks:

• _____ प्रभात (Shubh ______) - Good Morning

• _____ आहात? (Kase ______?) - How are you? (formal)

Answers:

• शुभ (Shubh)

• तुम्ही (Tumhi)

4. Role Play:

• Pair up with a friend and practice greeting each other in Marathi using the phrases you learned.

5. Create a dialogue:

• Write a short dialogue between two friends meeting after a long time. Use at least five greetings or expressions you learned.

6. Identify the context:

• What greeting would you use when meeting someone for the first time?

• Answer: नमस्कार (Namaskār)

7. Listening Exercise:

• Listen to a Marathi greeting video or audio and try to identify at least three greetings.

8. Translate a birthday greeting:

• How do you say "Happy Birthday" in Marathi?

• Answer: जन्मदिवसाच्या शुभेच्छा (Janmadivśāchya Shubhēcchā)

9. Write a response:

• How would you respond to someone who says "Thank you" in Marathi?

• Answer: काही नाही (Kāhī Nāhī)

10. Practice Pronunciation:

• Choose three greetings from the lesson and practice their pronunciation until you feel confident.

Once you've completed these exercises, you should have a solid grasp of Marathi greetings. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to use these greetings in your daily conversations!

Happy learning!

Table of Contents - Marathi Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Greetings and Introductions

• Greetings
• Introductions

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Object-Verb
• Negation

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Nouns
• Pronouns

  ---

Common Verbs and Adjectives

• Common Verbs
• Common Adjectives

  ---

Questions and Answers

• Question Words
• Answering Questions

  ---

Food and Dining

• Food Vocabulary
• Dining Phrases

  ---

Marathi Festivals and Traditions

• Festivals
• Traditions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Transportation Vocabulary
• Accommodation Vocabulary

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationship Phrases

  ---

Marathi Literature and Cinema

• Literature
• Cinema

Sources

• 5 Ways To Say "Hello" in Marathi
• Useful phrases in Marathi

Other Lessons

• Fruits
• Colors
• Food
• Numbers
• Days of the Week
• Business and finance
• Multilingualism
• Seasons
• Food and drinks
• Education

Next Lesson — Introductions ▶️