Formal vs Informal Verb Endings
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Marathi uses three levels of verb endings (Tu, Tumhi, Aap) to signal social distance and respect.
- Use 'Tu' (informal) for close friends and children: 'Tu kashas?'
- Use 'Tumhi' (neutral/plural) for acquaintances or groups: 'Tumhi kase ahat?'
- Use 'Aap' (formal/honorific) for elders or superiors: 'Aap kase ahat?'
Verb Conjugation by Register
| Pronoun | Register | Verb (to go - jat) | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tu
|
Informal
|
Jatoy/Jates
|
Tu jatoy
|
|
Tumhi
|
Neutral
|
Jatay
|
Tumhi jatay
|
|
Aap
|
Formal
|
Jatay (with Aap)
|
Aap jatay
|
Meanings
The system of adjusting verb endings based on the social hierarchy and intimacy between speakers.
Intimate (Tu)
Used for family, close friends, and children.
“Tu kha.”
“Tu jatoy ka?”
Neutral/Plural (Tumhi)
Used for acquaintances, colleagues, or addressing multiple people.
“Tumhi khata.”
“Tumhi jatay ka?”
Honorific (Aap)
Used for elders, teachers, or high-status individuals.
“Aap khata.”
“Aap jatay ka?”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Sub + Verb
|
Tu jatoy
|
|
Negative
|
Sub + Verb + Nahi
|
Tu jat nahi
|
|
Question
|
Sub + Verb + Ka?
|
Tu jatoy ka?
|
|
Formal Affirm
|
Aap + Verb
|
Aap jata
|
|
Formal Neg
|
Aap + Verb + Nahi
|
Aap jat nahi
|
|
Formal Ques
|
Aap + Verb + Ka?
|
Aap jata ka?
|
Spectre de formalité
Aap kase ahat? (Greeting)
Tumhi kase ahat? (Greeting)
Tu kasa ahes? (Greeting)
Kay challay? (Greeting)
The Marathi Honorific Hierarchy
Intimate
- Tu You (inf)
Neutral
- Tumhi You (pol)
Formal
- Aap You (hon)
Exemples par niveau
Tu kaisa ahes?
How are you? (inf)
Tumhi kase ahat?
How are you? (pol)
Tu ye.
You come. (inf)
Tumhi ya.
You come. (pol)
Tu abhyas kartos ka?
Are you studying? (inf)
Tumhi abhyas karta ka?
Are you studying? (pol)
Tu jatoy ka?
Are you going? (inf)
Tumhi jatay ka?
Are you going? (pol)
Aap kase ahat?
How are you? (formal)
Tu mala sang.
Tell me. (inf)
Tumhi mala sanga.
Tell me. (pol)
Aap he kam karal ka?
Will you do this work? (formal)
Aaplyala he mahit ahe ka?
Are you aware of this? (formal)
Tu kadhi yenar ahes?
When are you coming? (inf)
Tumhi kadhi yenar ahat?
When are you coming? (pol)
Aap krupaya ikde ya.
Please come here. (formal)
Aaplya margadarshanachi garaj ahe.
We need your guidance. (formal)
Tu fakt majja kar.
Just have fun. (inf)
Tumhi he vichar karun bagha.
Please consider this. (pol)
Aap yenyachi takad karal ka?
Would you be able to come? (formal)
Aap shubh agaman kele.
You have arrived auspiciously. (formal)
Tu aaj khupach khush distoys.
You look very happy today. (inf)
Tumhi amchyasathi kay karu shakta?
What can you do for us? (pol)
Aaplya matache swagat ahe.
Your opinion is welcome. (formal)
Facile à confondre
Learners often use Tu for everyone.
Both are polite.
Hindi 'Tum' is neutral.
Erreurs courantes
Aap kaisa hai?
Aap kase ahat?
Tu kase ahat?
Tu kasa ahes?
Tumhi jatoy.
Tumhi jata.
Aap ye.
Aap ya.
Tu jata.
Tu jatoy.
Tumhi kela ka?
Tumhi kele ka?
Aap bol.
Aap bola.
Tu krupaya ya.
Tu ye.
Aap jatoy.
Aap jatay.
Tumhi kela.
Tumhi kele.
Aaplyala ye.
Aaplyala ya.
Structures de phrases
Tu ___ ahes?
Tumhi ___ ahat?
Aap ___ ahat?
Aaplyala ___ ahe ka?
Real World Usage
Tu kiti vajta yenar?
Aap krupaya sanga.
Tumhi he parcel dya.
Aap kuthe janyasathi...
Tu khup chan distoys!
Aaplyala vinanti...
Default to Tumhi
Avoid Tu with elders
Listen to others
Respect is key
Smart Tips
Always start with Tumhi.
Use Aap.
Use Tu.
Use formal verb endings.
Prononciation
Aap
The 'aa' is long and stressed.
Question
Tu jatoy ka? ↑
Rising pitch at the end.
Mémorise-le
Moyen mnémotechnique
Tu is for Two (friends), Tumhi is for Team (group), Aap is for Authority (boss).
Association visuelle
Imagine a ladder. Tu is on the bottom rung (close to you), Tumhi is in the middle (eye level), and Aap is at the top (looking up with respect).
Rhyme
Tu for you, Tumhi for few, Aap for the boss, that's the clue.
Story
I met a friend, I said 'Tu'. I met a group, I said 'Tumhi'. I met the Mayor, I said 'Aap'.
Word Web
Défi
Write three sentences describing your day, one for each register.
Notes culturelles
Very strict about honorifics.
More relaxed, 'Tumhi' is common.
Tu is used more freely.
Derived from Sanskrit honorifics.
Amorces de conversation
Aap kase ahat?
Tu aaj kay kartoys?
Tumhi he kam kase kela?
Aaplya matapramane he yogya ahe ka?
Sujets d'écriture
Erreurs courantes
Test Yourself
Tu ___ ahes?
Aap ___ ahat?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tu kase ahat?
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
How are you? (Formal)
Answer starts with: Aap...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Tu ___.
A: Aap kase ahat? B: ___.
Score: /8
Exercices pratiques
8 exercisesTu ___ ahes?
Aap ___ ahat?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tu kase ahat?
ahat / Aap / kase / ?
How are you? (Formal)
Tu = ?
Tu ___.
A: Aap kase ahat? B: ___.
Score: /8
FAQ (8)
No, it's very unprofessional.
It's used for plural and polite singular.
To match the pronoun's honorific level.
People will understand, but try to learn.
Yes, often.
They are taught to use it for elders.
Start with Tumhi.
Yes, Marathi has more specific endings.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Tú/Usted
Marathi has an extra middle tier (Tumhi).
Tu/Vous
Marathi verb endings change more drastically.
Du/Sie
Marathi uses Tumhi as a bridge.
Keigo
Marathi is less complex than Japanese Keigo.
Anta/Antum
Marathi is more gender-sensitive.
Ni/Nin
Chinese has no verb conjugation.
