Getting around
लोकल
अगला स्टेशन।
Next station.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
How the language is used
Marathi is the state language of Maharashtra. Hindi is widely used in the city, but it is not the only language.
In this city
- Language
- Hindi
- Also heard
- Mostly Hindi
- A local word
- वडा पाव — One vada pav.
- Writing
- Devanagari
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
Food
स्टॉल
एक वडा पाव।
One vada pav.
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The counter
दुकान
कितने का है?
How much is it?
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
The street
सड़क
नमस्ते।
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Marathi is the state language. Hindi is wide in the city, and signs often mix Marathi, Hindi, and English.
Around Marine Drive, Dadar, Bandra, this is the ordinary sound of the day.
A first day in Mumbai can run on four lines: “अगला स्टेशन।”, “एक वडा पाव।”, “कितने का है?”, and “नमस्ते।”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in Devanagari.
- आप is the polite you in a shop. तुम is closer, with people you know.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Mumbai, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: वडा पाव. It means One vada pav..
Places you can see
- Gateway of India — A basalt arch on the harbour, raised for the royal landing of 1911.
- Marine Drive — A curved seafront. After dark, people call the lights the Queen's Necklace.
- Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus — A Victorian Gothic railway station that is still in daily use.
Food
Vada pav is the local street snack, and the docks still bring seafood into the city.
Getting around
Suburban trains run the length of the city. On some corridors, you can also use the metro.
Daily life
Film work, the port, and finance share the same crowded streets. Signs often mix Marathi, Hindi, and English.
A few everyday phrases
Hindi
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नमस्ते | Namaste | Hello |
| धन्यवाद | Dhanyavaad | Thank you |
| सुप्रभात | Suprabhaat | Good morning |
| मेरा नाम… है | Mera naam… hai | My name is… |
