Bombay Hindi, also known as Bambaiya Hindi, Mumbai Hindi or Mumbaiya Hindi, is a variety of Hindustani spoken in Mumbai, in the Konkan region of India. Its vocabulary is largely from standard Hindi–Urdu, but it also draws from a substratum of Marathi, which is the official language and is also widely spoken in the Konkan division of Maharashtra. Bombay Hindi also has elements of Gujarati.
General While many such local dialects have evolved in cosmopolitan cities around the world, Bombay Hindi is widely known throughout India, as a result of its frequent use in Bollywood movies. Initially, this dialect was used to represent crooks and uncouth characters as, to quote film critic Shoma A. Chatterji, "Indian films have the unique quality of different characters speaking different varieties of Hindi according to their social status, their caste, communal identity, education, profession, financial status, etc. [...] The villain's goons speak in a special vulgarised, Bambaiya Hindi concocted specifically to typify such screen characters in Hindi cinema.".See 'The Language Detail' in Shoma A. Chatterji's paper, The Culturespecific Use of Sound in India Cinema, presented in 1999. Lately, however, Bambaiya Hindi has become popular and prominent, particularly with the success of the Munnabhai movies, in which the lead characters – being members of the Mumbai criminal underworld – speak entirely in this dialect.The Hindu newspaper, 11 May 2007. Chronicles of the City. .
Despite this increase in popularity, this dialect has its critics and is sometimes seen as being disrespectful and demeaning.DNA, Verbal assault of Bambaiya Hindi, 12 December 2006. Read online.
Among the more prominent neologisms which originated in Bambaiya Hindi but have spread throughout India are the words bindaas (from Marathi bindhast = without fear, relaxed; this word was incorporated into the Oxford English Dictionary in 2005Indian Express, 10 August 2005, 'Bindaas' finds its way to the Oxford Dictionary. Read online .) and Gandhigiri (coined in the movie Lage Raho Munna Bhai, a combination of Gandhi and -giri, which is similar to the English 'ism' (as in Gandhi-ism, though slightly more informal).
Bollywood has also incorporated many Marathi words in Hindi like weni, thaska, wakda, porgi, navri, navrai, kombdi, mulga/mulgi. Many Hindi songs have some Marathi words added.
Words and expressions of Mumbai Hindi
Mumbai Hindi Transliteration English Standard Hindi Noteswe/us () From Marathi () meaning an inclusive "we" or "us".तेरेकोterekoyou (oblique case)तुझे (tujhe) Influenced by Deccani Urdu (, "you (oblique case)").मेरेकोmerekome (oblique case)मुझे (mujhe) Influenced by Deccani Urdu (, "me (oblique case)").धो डालनाdho ḍālnāto beat upपीट देना (pīṭ denā)Used in the context of a physical fight between two people or teams. Lit. to wash up, as in the loser of the fight.येडे/येडा/येडीyeḍe/ā/īcrazyपागल (pāgal)From Marathi वेडा (wedaa) meaning crazy.इधरिचidharīcright hereइधर ही (idhar hī)इधर ही+च, "च" added from Marathi for extra emphasisउधरीचudharīcright thereउधर ही (udhar hī)उधर ही+च, "च" added from Marathi for extra emphasisकोपचाkopcācorner कोना (konā)From Marathi कोपरा (kopra) meaning corner.कायको, कायकूkāyko, kāykūwhyक्यों (kyõ) From Deccani Urdu (, "why").लोचा or लोचा लबाचाlocā or locā labācāproblem समस्या (samasyā)From the Marathi/Hindi लोचा (locā) meaning "problem".मचमच, बड़बड़machmach, badbadSomeone who annoys you by talking their problems, crib-crib, rambling खिटपिट (khiṭpiṭ) From Marathi/Gujarati मचमच/बडबड macmac/baḑbaḍझकास, फट्टे, धासू, कड़क, ढिंचक, रापचिक, फट्टांग, एक नम्बरjhakās, faṭṭe, dhāsū, kaṛak, ḍhincak, rāpcik, faṭṭāng, sallang, rawas, ek numberExcellent बढ़िया (baṛhiyā) From Marathi, various words meaning ExcellentमांडवलीmānḍavlīParley, negotiateसमझौता (samjhautā)टोपी, झोलर ṭopī, jholarFraud धोखा (dhokhā)From टोपी पहनाना, meaning to fool or con someone, and झोल+erनल्लाnallāUselessप्रतिलिपि (pratilipi), छक्का (chakkā), हिजड़ा (hijṛā) शाणाśāṇā Smart fellow, clever, wiseassहोशियार (hośiyār), सयाना (sayānā), चालाक (cālāk) From Marathi शहाणा (śahāṇā) clever.साला, सालीsālā, sālīBastard (term of abuse)हरामज़ादा (harāmzādā), हरामज़ादी (harāmzādī)Literally meaning "brother/sister-in-law," implying that the speaker is in a sexual relationship with the person's sibling. Due to its commonality in everyday speech, it is considered less offensive than other terms. Also seen outside of Mumbai Hindi.शाणापंती, शानपट्टीśāṇāpantī, śānpaṭṭī Acting smart होशियारी (hośiyārī), सयानापन (sayānāpan)Based on Marathi शहाणपण (śahāṇpaṇ) meaning acting smart.चिड़ियाciṛiyāpager पेजर (pejar)literally means Sparrow कौवाkauvāmobile phone मोबाइल (mobāil) or दूरभाष (dūrbhāṣ)literally means crow घोड़ाghoṛāGun बंदूक (bandūk) (specially for the trigger of the gun)literally means horse सटक ले, कट लेsaṭak le, kaṭ leget out, beat it खिसक ले (khisak le) or निकल ले (nikal le) घंटा, बाबा जी का ठुल्लूghaṇṭā, baba ji ka thullunothing कुछ नहींliterally means bellटपोरीṭaporīDude, guy, hoodlum आवारा, लफ़ंगाSee dedicated page Tapori (word)मामा/मामूmāmā/māmūSir (Police)/gullible person (a fool)साहब (sahāb), सरजी (sarjī) / भोला (bholā)Local slang, literally means Maternal Uncle सुल्टानाsulṭānāTo resolve an issue सुलझाना (suljhānā) फट्टूphaṭṭūcoward डरपोक (ḍarpok), कायर (kāyar) From Marathi slang फटरू (phaṭarū) with the same meaningमामा/पांडुmāmā, pāṇḍuCop पुलिसवाला (pulisavālā)Local slang, literally means maternal uncle; originating from the Marathi film Pandu Hawaldar लफड़ाlaphṛāFight, problem, love affairलड़ाई (laṛāī), प्रेम-संबन्ध (prēm-sambandh)From Hindi word lafdaछावी, माल, आइटम, लैला, अग्ली chāvī, māl, laila, agliGirlfriend प्रेमिका (premikā) चिकना, चिकनीciknā, ciknīFair complexioned person, well dressed person, gay person, homosexualगोरा (gorā), गोरी (gorī)Local slang, literally means smooth or slick/oily ठासना or tharraṭhāsnāAlcohol शराब (śarāb) or मदिरा (madirā)From Marathi ठासणे, meaning to stuff (one's body with alcohol)हड़कनाhaṛaknāTo eat खाना (khānā) बाबल्याbābalyābus driver/conductor or ticket collector Marathi for baby (kid)सुट्टाsuṭṭācigarette सिगरेट (sigreṭ)This slang term has achieved near-universal usage in India and Pakistan सुट्टा मारना/लगानाsuṭṭā mārnā/lagānāTo smoke a cigaretteसिगरेट पीना (sigreṭ pīnā)Literally means "to hit a cigarette" or "to apply a cigarette"वाट लगनाvāṭ lagnāto have a major problem, to be screwed मुसीबत में आना (musībat mẽ ānā) From Marathi word वाट लागणे (vāṭ lāgṇē)वट ले, फूट, वंटास की गोली लेvaṭ lē, phūṭ, vaṇṭās kī gōlī lēGet out, Run from The problem, save your soulभागना (bhāgnā), भगाना (bhagānā) डब्बाḍabbāPolice vehicle पुलिस गाड़ी (pulis gāṛī)From Marathi डबा, meaning a boxसामानsāmānweapon हथियार (hathiyār)literally means luggage or the stuff कच्चा लिम्बूkaccā limbūrookie/ Noob नौसिखिया (nausikhiyā)Literally means "raw lemon." Usually used during gully cricket for a noob or to downright embarrass someone. To play "kaccā limbū" means to play with modified rules to make it easier for a noob. लफड़ा नहीं करने काlaphṛā nahī̃ karnē kāDo not fight लड़ना मत (laṛnā mat) or लड़ाई नहीं करना (laṛāī nahī̃ karnā)लड़ना (laṛnā) functions a verb, लफड़ा (laphṛā) as a noun पतली गली से सटक लेpatlī galī se saṭak le go away from here quietlyकोई रास्ता देख के भाग ले (koi rāsta dekh ke bhāg le)It is used when you want to warn a person by telling him to go away from the sceneहवा आने देhavā āne deGo away, let me breathe some airIt is used when you want to warn a person by telling him to go away from the sceneअबे सालेabey sālehello friend, listen Casual way of calling when another friend is not ready for something.थकेलाthakelā a weak personकमज़ोर (kamzor)used for a person who is not energetic or seems dull most of the timeहरी पत्तीharī pattīmoneyपैसा (paisā)हरी पत्ती means green note, directly referring to the now demonetised 500 rupee note, which was green in colourचूरनcūranLieझूठ (jhūṭh)टालिया / टकल्याṭāliyā / taklyāBaldगंजा (gan̄jā)From Marathi/Hindi टकला (bald)पेटीpeṭīOne Lakh Rupeesएक लाख रुपये (ek lākh rupaye)One hundred thousand rupeesखोकाkhokāOne Crore Rupeesएक करोड़ रुपये (ek karoṛ rupaye)Ten million rupeesतिजोरीtijorī50 Crore or equivalent to 500 million INR.पचास करोड़ रुपये (pachaas karoṛ rupaye)500 million rupeesभिडूbhiḍuFriend दोस्त (dost), यार (yār) From Marathi भिडू, meaning a player in sportsबकरीbakrīSmartphone (with a touchscreen) स्मार्टफोन (smārṭphōn) literally means goatभैंसbhaĩsLaptop computer लैपटॉप (laipṭŏp), सुवाह्य संगणक (suvāhya saṅgaṇak)literally means buffalo हाथीhāthīDesktop computerसंगणक (saṅgaṇak)literally means elephantसुमड़ी मेंsumaṛī mẽIncognito or secretचुपके से (cupkē sē)Local slang, means to do something without making any noiseबोल बच्चनbol baccanTalkबातचीत (bātcīt)Generally means a disparaging address to a talkative person, indicating that the content of his talk is previously known and so is uninteresting (Boring out of predictability, repetitive or tedious) and perhaps empty talk.झोलjholScam घपला (ghaplā), घोटाला (ghoṭālā)Generally means scam. Sometimes can be used for arrangement (as in "झोल करना")कीड़ाkīṛāPestकीड़ा (keeda)A trouble or nuisance maker. Fund / PantTo steal, scamचोरी (corī)Generally refers to a small robbery.रे, बंटाईre, baṇṭāīHey! हे (he)Attention grabber in conversation with another.कटिंगkaṭiṅgHalf cup of Teaआधी ग्लास चाय (ādhī glāsa cāya)डब्बा डालनाḍabbā ḍālanāto use the bathroom for pooping टॉयलेट हो के आता हूँ (toilet hoke aata hun)'I'm going to the toilet'.मूत मारना, धार मारनाmūt mārnā, dhār mārnāto go pee मूत्र विसर्जन करना (mūtra visarjan karnā) पेशाब करना (peshāb karnā)Literally give out urine.घुंघरू सलमानghuṅgharū salamānaCurly hairedघुंगराले बालवाला (ghuṅgarālē bālvālā)घुंघरू (ghuṅgharū) refers to a curly haired guy.Mid-Day newspaper, 5 May 2005. Diary. Read online.ऑफ हो जाना, टपक जानाŏph ho jānā, ṭapaka jānāTo Die/ Died मर गया (Mar gaya)E.g.: Mera dost off ho gaya = My friend died.खर्चा-पानीkharcā-pānīBribe/Pocket Money and To beat रिश्वत (riśvat) and मारना (mārnā)E.g.: कोपचे में दूँ क्या खर्चा-पानी = Do you want me to beat you in a corner. रापचिकrāpcikLooking Hotसुन्दर (sundar)E.g.: Aaj bahut Rapchik lag rahi hai tuचाप्टरchaaptarCunning / ShrewdचालाकE.g. बहुत चैप्टर हैं वो, उसे कम मत समझो. He is quite cunning. Do not underestimate him. हटेलाhaṭēlāHighly Stubbornहठी, अड़ियल (अगर जिद पर आ गया तो कुछ भी कर डालेगा) उससे पंगा मत लो, हटेला है वो. Don't take issues with him; he is quite stubborn and can lose his balance. पानचाटpāncāṭuseless, unworthyफालतु, बकवासFrom Marathi पाणचट (pāṇcaṭ) meaning "watered down" मेरा नया फोन एकदम पानचाट है.हफ्ताhaphtāprotection money, bribeरिश्वत (riśvat), घूस (ghūs), रंगदारी(raṅgdārī) Literally means a week, denoting protection money to be paid every week. Can also mean a one-time bribe.बिंदासbindaasRelaxed, laid-backनिर्भय, निडर बंदा बिंदास है भिडू. (That dude is chill man.)भन्कस bhankasuseless talk/activityबेकारFrom Marathi भंकसपेहली फुर्सत में निकलpehli fursat mein nikalget out at first sightतुरंत जाने को कहनाकंटालKantalBoredउबाऊfrom Marathi word कंटळा(kanṭal̤ā) meaning boredom
See also Tapori (word)
References
External links Dialects of Hindi Metroblogging Mumbai Dictionary Exhaustive List of Bambaiyya Hindi Words List of Bambaiyya Idioms, Phrases and Expressions