KraigYee56 at 14:43, 28 February 2026

2026-02-28T14:43:31Z

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{{Short description|Hindi dialect spoken in Mumbai}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2018}}
{{multiple issues|
{{cleanup|reason=consistency in tables|date=July 2012}}
{{original research|date=April 2014}}
}}
{{Infobox language
|name=Mumbai Hindi
|region=[[Greater Mumbai]]
|speakers=none
|familycolor=pidgin
|fam1=[[Hindi]]-based [[pidgin]]
|iso3=none
|glotto=none
}}

'''Bombay Hindi''', also known as ''Bambaiya Hindi'' or ''Mumbaiya Hindi'',<ref name="hindilanguage"/> is a [[Variety (linguistics)|variety]] of [[Hindustani language|Hindustani]] spoken in [[Mumbai]], in the [[Konkan region]] of [[India]].<ref name="hindilanguage">{{Cite web |url=http://www.hindilanguage.org/hindi/dialects.asp |title=Dialects of Hindi |access-date=17 January 2008 |archive-date=27 June 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627003407/http://www.hindilanguage.org/hindi/dialects.asp |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Shapiro"/> Its vocabulary is largely from standard Hindi–Urdu,<ref name="hindilanguage"/><ref name="Shapiro">{{cite book|last1=Shapiro|first1=Michael C.|last2=Schiffman|first2=Harold F.|title=Language and Society in South Asia|date=1981|publisher=[[Motilal Banarsidass]]|isbn=9788120826076|page=209|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WECni12L06sC&pg=PA209|language=en}}</ref> but it also draws from a [[Stratum (linguistics)#Substratum|substratum]] of [[Marathi-Konkani]], which is the official language and is also widely spoken in the [[Konkan division]] of Maharashtra.<ref name="ref86lobix">{{Citation | title=International journal of Dravidian linguistics, Volume 3 | author=University of Kerala. Dept. of Linguistics | year=1974 | publisher=Dept. of Linguistics, Univ. of Kerala., 1974 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=iE4HAQAAIAAJ | quote=''... In the case of Bombay Hindi, the predominant [[Linguistic substrate|substratum]] structure is that of Marathi, a language which is structurally quite close of Hindi ...''}}</ref> Bombay Hindi also has elements of [[Gujarati language|Gujarati]].

==General==
While many such local dialects have evolved in cosmopolitan cities around the world, Bombay Hindi is widely known throughout India,{{Citation needed|date=January 2010}} 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 in India|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.".<ref>See 'The Language Detail' in Shoma A. Chatterji's paper, [http://filmsound.org/india/ The Culturespecific Use of Sound in India Cinema], presented in 1999.</ref> Lately, however, Bambaiya Hindi has become popular and prominent, particular with the success of the [[Munnabhai]] movies, in which the lead characters – being members of the [[Mumbai underworld|Mumbai criminal underworld]] – speak entirely in this dialect.<ref>''[[The Hindu]]'' newspaper, 11 May 2007. ''Chronicles of the City''. {{usurped|[https://web.archive.org/web/20090806015802/http://www.hinduonnet.com/thehindu/fr/2007/05/11/stories/2007051150200100.htm Read online]}}.</ref>

Despite this increase in popularity, this dialect has its critics, and is sometimes seen as being disrespectful and demeaning.<ref>DNA, ''Verbal assault of Bambaiya Hindi'', 12 December 2006. [http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1068940 Read online].</ref>

Among the more prominent [[neologism]]s which originated in Bambaiya Hindi but have spread throughout India are the words [[wikt:bindaas|bindaas]] (from [[Marathi language|Marathi]] bindhast = without fear, relaxed; this word was incorporated into the [[Oxford English Dictionary]] in 2005<ref>[[Indian Express]], 10 August 2005, '' 'Bindaas' finds its way to the Oxford Dictionary''. [http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=52505 Read online] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120224214456/http://www.expressindia.com/news/fullstory.php?newsid=52505 |date=24 February 2012 }}.</ref>) and [[Gandhigiri]] (coined in the movie ''[[Lage Raho Munna Bhai]]'', a combination of [[Mohandas Gandhi|Gandhi]] and ''-giri'', which is similar to the English 'ism' (as in [[Gandhism|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==

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Mumbai Hindi
! Transliteration
! English
! Standard Hindi
! Notes
|-
|{{lang|crp-IN|अपुन}}
|{{Transliteration|crp|apun}}
|we/us
|{{lang|hi|हम}} ({{Transliteration|hi|ham}})
| From Marathi {{lang|mr|आपण}} ({{Transliteration|mr|aapaṇ}}) meaning an inclusive "we" or "us".
|-
|तेरेको
|tereko
|you (oblique case)
|तुझे (tujhe)
| Influenced by [[Deccani Urdu]] {{lang|ur|{{nq|تیریکو}}}} ({{Transliteration|ur|terekū}}, "you (oblique case)").
|-
|मेरेको
|mereko
|me (oblique case)
|मुझे (mujhe)
| Influenced by Deccani Urdu {{lang|ur|{{nq|میریکو}}}} ({{Transliteration|ur|merekū}}, "me (oblique case)").
|-
|धो डालना
|dho ḍālnā
|to beat up
|पीट 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/येडी
|yeḍe/ā/ī
|crazy
|पागल (pāgal)
|From Marathi वेडा (wedaa) meaning crazy.
|-
|इधरिच
|idharīc
|right here
|इधर ही (idhar hī)
|इधर ही+च, "च" added from Marathi for extra emphasis
|-
|उधरीच
|udharīc
|right there
|उधर ही (udhar hī)
|उधर ही+च, "च" added from Marathi for extra emphasis
|-
|कोपचा
|kopcā
|corner
|कोना (konā)
|From Marathi कोपरा (kopra) meaning corner.
|-
|कायको, कायकू
|kāyko, kāykū
|why
|क्यों (kyõ)
| From Deccani Urdu {{lang|ur|{{nq|کئیکو}}}} ({{Transliteration|ur|ka'īkū}}, "why").
|-
|लोचा ''or'' लोचा लबाचा
|locā ''or'' locā labācā
|problem
|समस्या (samasyā)
|From the Marathi/Hindi लोचा (locā) meaning "problem".
|-
|मचमच, बड़बड़
|machmach, badbad
|Someone who annoys you by talking their problems, crib-crib, rambling
|खिटपिट (khiṭpiṭ)
| From Marathi/Gujarati मचमच/बडबड macmac/baḑbaḍ
|-
|झकास, फट्टे, धासू, कड़क, ढिंचक, रापचिक, फट्टांग, एक नम्बर
|jhakās, faṭṭe, dhāsū, kaṛak, ḍhincak, rāpcik, faṭṭāng, sallang, rawas, ek number
|Excellent
|बढ़िया (baṛhiyā)
| From Marathi various words meaning Excellent
|-
|मांडवली
|mānḍavlī
|Parley, negotiate
|समझौता (samjhautā)
|
|-
|टोपी, झोलर
|ṭopī, jholar
|Fraud
|धोखा (dhokhā)
|From टोपी पहनाना, meaning to fool or con someone, and झोल+er
|-
|नल्ला
|nallā
|Useless
|प्रतिलिपि (pratilipi), छक्का (chakkā), हिजड़ा (hijṛā)
|
|-
|शाणा
|śāṇā
|Smart fellow, clever, wiseass
|होशियार (hośiyār), सयाना (sayānā), चालाक (cālāk)
| From Marathi शहाणा (śahāṇā) clever.
|-
|साला, साली
|sālā, sālī
|Bastard (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 sees use outside of Mumbai Hindi.
|-
|शाणापंती, शानपट्टी
|śāṇāpantī, śānpaṭṭī
|Acting smart
|होशियारी (hośiyārī), सयानापन (sayānāpan)
|Based on Marathi शहाणपण (śahāṇpaṇ) meaning acting smart.
|-
|चिड़िया
|ciṛiyā
|pager
|पेजर (pejar)
|literally means ''Sparrow''
|-
|कौवा
|kauvā
|mobile phone
|मोबाइल (mobāil) or दूरभाष (dūrbhāṣ)
|literally means ''crow''
|-
|घोड़ा
|ghoṛā
|Gun
|बंदूक (bandūk) (specially for trigger of the gun)
|literally means ''horse''
|-
|सटक ले, कट ले
|saṭak le, kaṭ le
|get out, beat it
|खिसक ले (khisak le) or निकल ले (nikal le)
|
|-
|घंटा, बाबा जी का ठुल्लू
|ghaṇṭā, baba ji ka thullu
|nothing
|कुछ नहीं
|literally means ''bell''
|-
|टपोरी
|ṭaporī
|Dude, guy, hoodlum
|आवारा, लफ़ंगा
|See dedicated page [[Tapori (word)]]
|-
|मामा/मामू
|māmā/māmū
|Sir (Police)/gullible person (a fool)
|साहब (sahāb), सरजी (sarjī) / भोला (bholā)
|Local slang, literally means ''Maternal Uncle''
|-
|सुल्टाना
|sulṭānā
|To resolve an issue
|सुलझाना (suljhānā)
|
|-
|फट्टू
|phaṭṭū
|coward
|डरपोक (ḍarpok), कायर (kāyar)
| From Marathi slang फटरू (phaṭarū) with the same meaning
|-
|मामा/पांडु
|māmā, pāṇḍu
|Cop
|पुलिसवाला (pulisavālā)
|Local slang, literally means ''maternal uncle;'' originating from the Marathi film Pandu Hawaldar
|-
|लफड़ा
|laphṛā
|Fight, problem, love affair
|लड़ाई (laṛāī), प्रेम-संबन्ध (prēm-sambandh)
|From Hindi word lafda
|-
|छावी, माल, आइटम, लैला, अग्ली
|chāvī, māl, laila, agli
|Girlfriend
|प्रेमिक (premika)
|
|-
|चिकना, चिकनी
|ciknā, ciknī
|Fair complexioned person, well dressed person, gay person, homosexual
|गोरा (gorā), गोरी (gorī)
|Local slang, literally means ''smooth'' or ''slick/oily''
|-
|ठासना ''or'' tharra
|ṭhāsnā
|Alcohol
|शराब (śarāb) or मदिरा (madirā)
|From Marathi ठासणे, meaning to stuff (one's body with alcohol)
|-
|हड़कना
|haṛaknā
|To eat
|खाना (khānā)
|
|-
|बाबल्या
|bābalyā
|bus driver/conductor or ticket collector
|
| Marathi for baby (kid)
|-
|सुट्टा
|suṭṭā
|cigarette
|सिगरेट (sigreṭ)
|This slang term has achieved near-universal usage in India and Pakistan
|-
|सुट्टा मारना/लगाना
|suṭṭā mārnā/lagānā
|To smoke a cigarette
|सिगरेट पीना (sigreṭ pīnā)
|Literally means "to hit a cigarette" or "to apply a cigarette"
|-
|वाट लगना
|vāṭ lagnā
|to 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 ले
|vaṭ lē, phūṭ, vaṇṭās kī gōlī lē
|Get out, Run from The problem, save your soul
|भागना (bhāgnā), भगाना (bhagānā)
|
|-
|डब्बा
|ḍabbā
|Police vehicle
|पुलिस गाड़ी (pulis gāṛī)
|From Marathi डबा, meaning a box
|-
|सामान
|sāmān
|weapon
|हथियार (hathiyār)
|literally means ''luggage'' or ''the stuff''
|-
|-
|कच्चा लिम्बू
|kaccā limbū
|rookie/ 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 का
|laphṛā nahī̃ karnē kā
|Do 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 ले
|patlī galī se saṭak le
|go away from here quietly
|कोई 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 scene
|-
|हवा आने दे
|havā āne de
|Go away, let me breathe some air
|
|It is used when you want to warn a person by telling him to go away from the scene
|-
|अबे साले
|abey sāle
|hello friend, listen
|
|Casual way of calling when other friend is not ready for something.
|-
|थकेला
|thakelā
|a weak person
|कमज़ोर (kamzor)
|used for a person who is not energetic or seems dull most of the time
|-
|हरी पत्ती
|harī pattī
|money
|पैसा (paisā)
|हरी पत्ती means green note, directly referring to the now demonetized 500 rupee note, which was green in colour
|-
|चूरन
|cūran
|Lie
|झूठ (jhūṭh)
|
|-
|टालिया / टकल्या
|ṭāliyā / taklyā
|Bald
|गंजा (gan̄jā)
|From Marathi/Hindi टकला (bald)
|-
|पेटी
|peṭī
|One Lakh Rupees
|एक लाख रुपये (ek lākh rupaye)
|One hundred thousand rupees
|-
|खोका
|khokā
|One Crore Rupees
|एक करोड़ रुपये (ek karoṛ rupaye)
|Ten million rupees
|-
|तिजोरी
|tijorī
|50 Crore or equivalent to 500 million INR.
|पचास करोड़ रुपये (pachaas karoṛ rupaye)
|500 million rupees
|-
|भिडू
|bhiḍu
|Friend
|दोस्त (dost), यार (yār)
| From marathi भिडू, meaning a player in sports
|-
|बकरी
|bakrī
|Smartphone (with a touchscreen)
|स्मार्टफोन (smārṭphōn)
|literally means ''goat''
|-
|भैंस
|bhaĩs
|[[Laptop computer]]
| लैपटॉप (laipṭŏp), सुवाह्य संगणक (suvāhya saṅgaṇak)
|literally means ''buffalo''
|-
|हाथी
|hāthī
|[[Desktop computer]]
|संगणक (saṅgaṇak)
|literally means ''elephant''
|-
|सुमड़ी में
|sumaṛī mẽ
|Incognito or secret
|चुपके से (cupkē sē)
|Local slang, means to something without making any noise
|-
|बोल बच्चन
|bol baccan
|Talk
|बातचीत (bātcīt)
|Generally means a disparaging address to 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.
|-
|झोल
|jhol
|Scam
| घपला (ghaplā), घोटाला (ghoṭālā)
|Generally means scam. Sometimes can be used for arrangement (as in "झोल करना")
|-
|कीड़ा
|kīṛā
|Pest
|कीड़ा (keeda)
|A trouble or nuisance maker.
|-
|Fund / Pant
|
|To steal, scam
|चोरी (corī)
|Generally refers to a small robbery.
|-
|रे, बंटाई
|re, baṇṭāī
|Hey!
| हे (he)
|Attention grabber in conversation with another.
|-
|कटिंग
|kaṭiṅg
|Half cup of Tea
|आधी ग्लास चाय (ādhī glāsa cāya)
|
|-
|डब्बा डालना
|ḍabbā ḍālanā
|to use the bathroom for pooping
| टॉयलेट हो के आता हूँ (toilet hoke aata hun)
|'I'm going to the toilet'.
|-
|मूत मारना, धार मारना
|mūt mārnā, dhār mārnā
|to go pee
|मूत्र विसर्जन करना (mūtra visarjan karnā)
पेशाब करना (peshāb karnā)
|Literally give out urine.
|-
|घुंघरू सलमान
|ghuṅgharū salamāna
|Curly haired
|घुंगराले बालवाला (ghuṅgarālē bālvālā)
|घुंघरू (ghuṅgharū) refers to a curly haired guy.<ref>[[Mid-Day]] newspaper, 5 May 2005. ''Diary''. [http://www.mid-day.com/diary/2005/may/109514.htm Read online].</ref>
|-
|ऑफ हो जाना, टपक जाना
|ŏph ho jānā, ṭapaka jānā
|To Die/ Died
| मर गया (Mar gaya)
|E.g.: Mera dost off ho gaya = My friend died.
|-
|खर्चा-पानी
|kharcā-pānī
|Bribe/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.
|-
|रापचिक
|rāpcik
|Looking Hot
|सुन्दर (sundar)
|E.g.: Aaj bahut Rapchik lag rahi hai tu
|-
|चाप्टर
|chaaptar
|Cunning / Shrewd
|चालाक
|E.g. बहुत चैप्टर है वो, उसे कम मत समझो. He is quite cunning. Do not underestimate him.
|-
|हटेला
|haṭēlā
|Highly Stubborn
|हठी, 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.
|-
|पानचाट
|pāncāṭ
|useless, unworthy
|फालतु, बकवास
|From Marathi पाणचट (pāṇcaṭ) meaning "watered down"
मेरा नया फोन एकदम पानचाट है.
|-
|हफ्ता
|haphtā
|protection money, bribe
|रिश्वत (riśvat), घूस (ghūs), रंगदारी(raṅgdārī)
|Literally means a ''week'', denoting protection money to be paid every week. Can also mean one time bribe.
|-
|बिंदास
|bindaas
|Relaxed, laid-back
|निर्भय, निडर
|बंदा बिंदास है भिडू. (That dude is chill man.)
|-
|भन्कस
|bhankas
|useless talk/activity
|बेकार
|From Marathi भंकस
|-
|पेहली फुर्सत में निकल
|pehli fursat mein nikal
|get out at first sight
|तुरंत जाने को कहना
|-
|कंटाल
|Kantal
|Bored
|उबाऊ
|from Marathi word कंटळा(kanṭal̤ā) meaning boredom
|}

==See also==
* [[Tapori (word)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.hindilanguage.org/hindi/dialects.asp Dialects of Hindi] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130627003407/http://www.hindilanguage.org/hindi/dialects.asp |date=27 June 2013 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070909042926/http://mumbai.metblogs.com/archives/2005/12/mumbai_dictionary.phtml Metroblogging Mumbai Dictionary]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20080710034755/http://www.cylive.com/content/10333/Dictionary_of_Mumbaiyya_Hindi_Slang_Words Exhaustive List of Bambaiyya Hindi Words]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20101120003353/http://www.cylive.com/viewContent.do?id=11272 List of Bambaiyya Idioms, Phrases and Expressions]

{{Mumbai topics}}
{{Central Indo-Aryan languages}}
{{Hindi topics}}
{{authority control}}

[[Category:Central Indo-Aryan languages]]
[[Category:Languages of India]]
[[Category:Culture of Mumbai]]
[[Category:Indian slang]]
[[Category:City colloquials]]
[[Category:Hindustani-based pidgins and creoles]]

Bombay Hindi - Revision history

KraigYee56 at 14:43, 28 February 2026