Addressing Strangers and Elders
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Use 'Tumhi' for elders and strangers to show respect, reserving 'Tu' only for close friends and children.
- Use 'Tumhi' (plural/formal) for anyone older or in a position of authority: 'Tumhi kase ahat?'
- Use 'Tu' (singular/informal) only for intimate friends, siblings, or children: 'Tu kasa ahes?'
- Verb endings must match the pronoun: 'Tumhi' requires plural verb forms, 'Tu' requires singular.
Meanings
The system of using specific pronouns and verb conjugations to indicate social distance, respect, and hierarchy.
Formal/Respectful
Addressing elders, strangers, or superiors.
“Tumhi jevla ka?”
“Tumhi kiti varshanche ahat?”
Informal/Intimate
Addressing friends, peers, or children.
“Tu kiti vaje paryant yeil?”
“Tu aaj ka nahi aala?”
Pronoun-Verb Agreement
| Pronoun | Register | Verb (to be) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tu | Informal | ahes | Tu kasa ahes? |
| Tumhi | Formal | ahat | Tumhi kase ahat? |
| Aapan | Very Formal | ahat | Aapan kase ahat? |
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Affirmative | Sub + Verb | Tumhi jata. |
| Negative | Sub + Verb + nahi | Tumhi jat nahi. |
| Question | Sub + Verb + ka? | Tumhi jata ka? |
| Formal | Tumhi + Plural Verb | Tumhi ahat. |
| Informal | Tu + Singular Verb | Tu ahes. |
Espectro de formalidade
Tumhi kase ahat? (Greeting)
Tumhi kase ahat? (Greeting)
Tu kasa ahes? (Greeting)
Kay chalay? (Greeting)
Social Distance Map
Intimate
- Tu You (informal)
Respectful
- Tumhi You (formal)
Honorific
- Aapan You (very formal)
Exemplos por nível
Tu kasa ahes?
How are you? (informal)
Tumhi kase ahat?
How are you? (formal)
Tu ye.
You come. (informal)
Tumhi ya.
You come. (formal)
Tumhi jevla ka?
Did you eat? (formal)
Tu abhyas kela ka?
Did you study? (informal)
Tumhi kuthe rahta?
Where do you live? (formal)
Tu majha mitra ahes.
You are my friend.
Tumhi mala madat karu shakta ka?
Can you help me? (formal)
Tu aaj ka nahi aala?
Why didn't you come today? (informal)
Tumhi office madhe kiti vaje paryant asta?
Until what time are you in the office?
Tu he pustak vach.
You read this book.
Aapan kase ahat?
How are you? (very formal)
Tumhi mhanal te barobar ahe.
What you said is correct.
Tu jara ikde ye.
Come here for a second.
Tumhi kal ka nahi aala?
Why didn't you come yesterday?
Tumhi krupaya he kam purna karal ka?
Could you please complete this work?
Aapan kadhi yet ahat?
When are you coming? (very formal)
Tu jara shant bas.
Sit quietly.
Tumhi dileli mahiti upyogi ahe.
The information you provided is useful.
Aapan mhanal tya arthane mi vichar kela hota.
I thought about it in the sense you mentioned.
Tumhi amchyasathi je kele, te amhi kadhihi visarnaar nahi.
We will never forget what you did for us.
Tu majhya sobat ye.
Come with me.
Tumhi ya vishayavar kay mat mandal?
What is your opinion on this subject?
Fácil de confundir
Learners mix up the middle-ground 'Tum' with 'Tumhi'.
Both are formal, but Aapan is more so.
Learners think plural verb is only for groups.
Erros comuns
Tu kase ahat?
Tumhi kase ahat?
Tumhi kasa ahes?
Tumhi kase ahat?
Tu ahat.
Tu ahes.
Tumhi ahes.
Tumhi ahat.
Tu kuthun ahat?
Tu kuthun ahes?
Tumhi kuthun ahes?
Tumhi kuthun ahat?
Tu jevla ka?
Tu jevlas ka?
Aapan kuthun ahes?
Aapan kuthun ahat?
Tumhi jast bolu nako.
Tumhi jast bolu naka.
Tu aapan kela ka?
Tu he kela ka?
Tumhi mhanala ki...
Tumhi mhanalat ki...
Aapan ahes...
Aapan ahat...
Tumhi jast shana nako.
Tumhi jast shane naka.
Tu aapan...
Tu...
Padrões de frases
Tumhi ___ ahat?
Tu ___ ahes?
Tumhi ___ karu shakta ka?
Aapan ___ ahat?
Real World Usage
Tumhi kiti varshanche anubhav ahat?
Tumhi kiti vaje paryant yeil?
Tumhi mala he dya.
Tumhi kuthe jat ahat?
Tumhi he pahila ka?
Tumhi jevla ka?
When in doubt, use Tumhi
Avoid Tu with strangers
Listen to natives
Respect is key
Smart Tips
Use Tumhi immediately.
Always use plural verb forms.
Use Aapan for extreme respect.
Err on the side of formality.
Pronúncia
Tumhi
The 'm' and 'h' should be clearly articulated.
Ahes
The 's' is soft.
Question
Tumhi kase ahat? ↑
Rising intonation for questions.
Memorize
Mnemônico
T-U is for Two (you and me, close friends). T-U-M-H-I is for Many (the respect you give to many).
Associação visual
Imagine a small circle for 'Tu' (just you and a friend) and a large, golden circle for 'Tumhi' (a wide space for respect).
Rhyme
Tu is for you, a friend so true. Tumhi for the elder, respect is due.
Story
Rohan met a stranger. He almost said 'Tu', but stopped. He chose 'Tumhi' instead. The stranger smiled, and they became friends.
Word Web
Desafio
Write 5 sentences using 'Tumhi' to describe your daily routine to a boss.
Notas culturais
Very strict adherence to honorifics.
More relaxed but still respectful.
Distinctive dialectal variations.
Rooted in Sanskrit honorific systems.
Iniciadores de conversa
Tumhi kuthun ahat?
Tumhi aaj kay jevla?
Tumhi ya vishayavar kay vichar karta?
Aapan ya badal kay sangal?
Temas para diário
Test Yourself
___ kase ahat?
Tumhi kuthun ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tu kase ahat?
Tu kasa ahes?
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Which pronoun is most formal?
Aapan ___ ahat?
Find and fix the mistake:
Aapan kuthun ahes?
Score: /8
Exercicios praticos
8 exercises___ kase ahat?
Tumhi kuthun ___?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tu kase ahat?
Tu kasa ahes?
Tu - ?, Tumhi - ?
Which pronoun is most formal?
Aapan ___ ahat?
Find and fix the mistake:
Aapan kuthun ahes?
Score: /8
Perguntas frequentes (8)
It is a sign of respect in Marathi.
No, it is very rude.
Apologize and switch to Tumhi.
Only in very formal settings.
Yes, adjectives do.
Yes, but used for singular respect.
Always use Tumhi.
Yes, but Tumhi is standard.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Tu/Usted
Marathi uses verb conjugation more extensively.
Tu/Vous
Marathi honorifics are more deeply embedded.
Du/Sie
Marathi verb agreement is more complex.
Desu/Masu
Japanese uses particles, Marathi uses verb endings.
Anta/Antum
Marathi is more context-dependent.
Ni/Nin
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
