Textbook Marathi will get you through an exam. Slang will get you through a local train, a cutting-chai tapri and a family WhatsApp group. If you’ve ever heard someone say “lay bhari” and nodded along without a clue, this list is for you. Here are 40 Marathi slang words, sorted by mood, with meanings and an example for each.
When Something Is Awesome
| Slang | Marathi | Meaning | Use it like this |
| Lay bhari | लय भारी | Super awesome | Picture lay bhari hota! (The movie was awesome!) |
| Jhakaas | झकास | Fantastic, top class | Tujha shirt jhakaas aahe. (Your shirt is fab.) |
| Bhari | भारी | Cool, impressive | Bhari idea aahe! (Cool idea!) |
| Kadak | कडक | Strong, superb | Ek kadak chaha de. (One strong chai, please.) |
| Khatarnak | खतरनाक | Literally “dangerous”, means amazing | Tyacha batting khatarnak hota. (His batting was killer.) |
| Ekach number | एकच नंबर | Number one, the best | Hya misal la tod nahi, ekach number! (No match for this misal.) |
| Fataka | फटाका | A firecracker: something or someone stunning | Kay fataka gaana aahe! (What a banger of a song!) |
| Dhinchak | ढिंचॅक | Flashy, over the top | Tyachi gaadi ekdum dhinchak aahe. (His car is very flashy.) |
| Majja | मज्जा | Fun | Kal party madhe khup majja aali. (The party was so much fun.) |
| Kalla | कल्ला | Loud, happy chaos | Pora-poranni kalla kela. (The kids went wild.) |
When Things Go Wrong
| Slang | Marathi | Meaning | Use it like this |
| Vaat lagli | वाट लागली | We’re done for | Exam udya aahe, vaat lagli. (Exam’s tomorrow, we’re doomed.) |
| Raada | राडा | A brawl, a big scene | Parking varun raada jhala. (A fight broke out over parking.) |
| Panga | पंगा | Trouble, picking a fight | Aai shi panga gheu nakos. (Don’t mess with Aai.) |
| Dhingana | धिंगाणा | Wild party, ruckus | Varatit nusta dhingana chalu hota. (The baraat was total mayhem.) |
| Gandla | गंडला | Got messed up, got fooled | Mi plan madhe gandlo. (My plan flopped on me.) |
| Gandavla | गंडवलं | Someone conned you | Dukandarane mala gandavla. (The shopkeeper fooled me.) |
| Jhol | झोल | Something fishy | Hya deal madhe kahitari jhol aahe. (Something’s fishy here.) |
| Dokyala shot | डोक्याला शॉट | A total headache | Traffic mhanje dokyala shot. (Traffic is a headache.) |
| Ghanta | घंटा | Absolutely nothing (cheeky) | Ghanta milnar tula! (You’ll get zilch!) |
| Tension nako | टेन्शन नको | Don’t worry | Tension nako, mi aahe na. (Relax, I’m here.) |
Types of People
| Slang | Marathi | Meaning | Use it like this |
| Bhau / Bhava | भाऊ / भावा | Brother, bro | Bhava, chal chaha gheuya. (Bro, let’s get chai.) |
| Bolbachan | बोलबच्चन | All talk, smooth talker | To nusta bolbachan aahe. (He’s all talk.) |
| Chalu | चालू | Too clever, cunning | Ti khup chalu aahe. (She’s a sly one.) |
| Shahana | शहाणा | “Smart one” (said sarcastically) | Jasta shahana houn nakos. (Don’t act too smart.) |
| Bavlat | बावळट | Silly, clueless | Kay bavlat sarkha vagtos! (Why are you acting so silly?) |
| Yeda | येडा | Crazy, mad (fondly) | Yeda aahe ka tu? (Are you nuts?) |
| Tapori | टपोरी | Street-smart loafer | Taporisarkha bolu nakos. (Don’t talk like a loafer.) |
| Chindhi | चिंधी | Cheap, petty | Itka chindhi pana karu nako. (Don’t be so petty.) |
| Kanjoos | कंजूस | Stingy | Kanjoos maanus, chaha pan pajat nahi. (Too stingy to even buy chai.) |
| Pakau | पकाऊ | A bore | Tyacha lecture pakau hota. (His talk was boring.) |
Everyday Marathi Words
| Slang | Marathi | Meaning | Use it like this |
| Bindhast | बिनधास्त | Carefree, fearless | Bindhast ja, kahi hot nahi. (Go ahead, nothing will happen.) |
| Hawa | हवा | Swagger, buzz | Tyachi area madhe hawa aahe. (He’s a big deal around here.) |
| Kalti marne | कल्टी मारणे | To slip away quietly | Meeting madhun kalti maarli. (Slipped out of the meeting.) |
| Faltu | फालतू | Useless | Faltu gappa nako. (Enough useless chatter.) |
| Bhangaar | भंगार | Junk | Ha phone ekdum bhangaar aahe. (This phone is junk.) |
| Fukat | फुकट | Free, for nothing | Fukat milala tar ghe! (If it’s free, take it!) |
| Thapa marne | थापा मारणे | To tell tall tales | Thapa maru nako. (Stop making things up.) |
| Bhaav khaane | भाव खाणे | To play hard to get | Ti khup bhaav khaate. (She plays hard to get.) |
| Patla | पटलं | Got convinced | Mala tujha point patla. (I’m convinced.) |
| Gapp bas | गप्प बस | Sit quietly (i.e. hush) | Gapp bas, picture chalu aahe. (Shh, the movie’s on.) |
A Quick Word of Caution
Slang is like mirchi: a little makes the dish, too much makes you cry. Words like yeda and bavlat are fine with friends but can sound rude to elders. Save ghanta for your gang, never your boss. And if your Aaji uses any of these words, take cover, because something has really gone wrong.
Some of these words, like panga and bindhast, are shared with Hindi and Bambaiya. If you want to know which everyday words trip up Hindi speakers, read our guide on Marathi vs Hindi. For words so Marathi they refuse to be translated, see our list of Marathi words with no English translation.
I hope this list made your Marathi a little more lay bhari! Which slang word does your gang use the most? Tell me in the comments below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does “lay bhari” mean?
It means “really awesome”. Lay is a casual form of lai (very), and bhari means great.
Is “vaat lagli” rude?
No. It is casual but not offensive, and means you are in a mess.
Is Marathi slang the same in Mumbai and Pune?
Mostly, but Mumbai slang borrows more from Hindi and Bambaiya, while Pune sticks closer to standard Marathi. We settle that fight properly in our Mumbai vs Pune debate.
मराठी
नमस्कार, मी गायत्री.
मुंबईत वाढले. आजीच्या गोष्टी ऐकत, आईने शिकवलेल्या म्हणी बोलत, घरच्या सणांच्या गडबडीत. तेव्हा कधी वाटलंच नाही की हे सगळं खास आहे.
माझी मुलगी झाली, आणि एक दिवस मनात आलं: हे सगळं तिच्यापर्यंत कसं पोहोचणार?
त्याच प्रश्नातून आपला मराठी माणूस सुरू झालं. मराठी संस्कृती फक्त आपल्यापुरती राहू नये, ती सर्वांची व्हावी. म्हणून मी मराठीत, रोमन लिपीत आणि इंग्रजीत लिहिते, जेणेकरून कोणीही मागे राहू नये.
इथे जे लिहिते, ते मी जगलेलं, ऐकलेलं आणि मोठ्यांकडून शिकलेलं आहे.
Romanized
Namaskar, mi Gayatri.
Mumbait vaadhle. Aajichya goshti aikat, aaine shikavlelya mhani bolat, gharchya sananchya gadbadit. Tevha kadhi vatlach nahi ki he sagla khaas aahe.
Majhi mulgi zali, ani ek divas manaat aala: he sagla tichyaparyant kasa pohochnar?
Tyach prashnatun Aapla Marathi Manoos suru zala. Marathi sanskruti fakta aaplyapurti rahu naye, ti sarvanchi vhavi. Mhanun mi Marathit, Roman lipit ani Engrajit lihite, jenekarun konihi maage rahu naye.
Ithe je lihite, te mi jagalela, aikalela ani mothyankadun shiklela aahe.
English
Namaskar, I’m Gayatri.
I grew up in Mumbai listening to my grandmother’s stories, repeating the proverbs my mother taught me, and getting lost in the bustle of festivals at home. Back then, I never realised how special it all was.
Then my daughter was born, and one day a thought stayed with me: how will all of this reach her?
Aapla Marathi Manoos began with that question. I don’t want Marathi culture to stay only with us; I want it to belong to everyone. So I write in Marathi, in Romanized Marathi, and in English, so that no one is left out.
Everything here is something I’ve lived, heard, or learned from my elders.