As a Marathi language trainer at Speak Marathi, I’ve worked with learners from all over the world—children of NRIs, spouses of Maharashtrians, heritage learners, and complete beginners. And guess what? Nearly all of them get stuck at the same points.
So if you’re learning Marathi and feel like it’s just you who finds certain concepts tricky—you’re definitely not alone.
1. Postpositions Instead of Prepositions
In English, we say “on the table” or “in the bag.” But Marathi works the other way around.
- English: on the chair
- Marathi: khoorchee – var (literally “chair-on”)
This reversal can take time to get used to, but once you start thinking in Marathi, it becomes natural.
2. Verb Endings That Depend on the Subject—or the Object
Marathi verbs often change based on the gender and number of the subject. For example:
- Mi gelo (I went – male)
- Mi geley (I went – female)
However, in some cases—especially with past tense transitive verbs like to see, to eat, or to find—the verb agrees with the object, not the subject.
- Wagh baghitlaa (Saw the tiger – masculine, regardless of the speaker’s gender)
- Phool-uh baghitlee (Saw the flowers – feminine plural)
- Apple khall-uh (Ate the apple – neuter)
This is a major pain point for learners, but once understood, it improves both comprehension and fluency.
3. The Infamous ‘Laa’ and ‘Ney’
Learners often struggle with when to use ‘la’ (like in Tyalaa sangitl-uh – Told him) or ‘ney’ (as in Tyaney kel-uh – He did).
- ‘Laa’ indicates a recipient.
- ‘Ney’ indicates the doer in past tense transitive sentences.
This takes some explanation and lots of examples, but once you get it, it unlocks a huge chunk of sentence formation.
4. Compound Verbs
Marathi often uses two verbs together to express nuances:
- Bolun takl-uh – Spoke and finished speaking (with finality)
- Jeyvoon geylaa – Ate and left
These combinations add flavor but can confuse beginners who are still grappling with single-verb sentences.
5. Differentiating Formal and Informal ‘You’
Marathi has different words for “you” based on respect:
- Too – Informal (friends, younger people)
- Toomhee – Formal/respectful
Many learners worry they might sound disrespectful. In our classes, we give you practical situations to master this confidently.
6. Aamhi vs Aapan
This is a unique concept in Marathi. While both aamhee and aapan mean “we,” their usage depends on inclusion:
- Aamhee – We (excluding the listener)
- Aapan – We (including the listener)
This subtle distinction isn’t present in English and takes time to master, but it’s essential for natural communication.
7. Adjective Agreement with Gender and Number
While some adjectives like chhan (nice) stay the same across masculine, feminine, and plural, many adjectives in Marathi change their form:
- Motthaa moolgaa – Big boy
- Motthee moolgee – Big girl
- Motthya moolee – Big girls
- Moth-uh ghar – Big house (neuter)
Learners often memorize the noun but forget the adjective must match it. With practice, this becomes second nature.
8. Every Noun Has a Gender—Sometimes Three!
Unlike English, Marathi nouns are categorized as masculine, feminine, or neuter. There’s no fixed rule to guess the gender, so learners must remember each noun’s gender to use correct adjectives and verbs.
This is tricky, but flashcards and repetition help a lot. We teach this gradually and in context to make it stick. A tip from our side? All electronic items are masculine. (Computer, Charger, Phone, etc.)
You’re Not Alone—and You Don’t Have to Learn Alone
These grammar hurdles are very common. The key is not to panic or get discouraged. At Speak Marathi, our trainers break down these concepts slowly and practically. We focus on conversation-first learning, so you speak from Day 1—even if it’s not perfect.
Remember: the goal is not to speak perfect Marathi, but to speak it confidently.