Will these rural Kathiyawadi words disappear in the next generation?

5 min readOct 10, 2023

Created by Anjani (components from pngfind)

It is normal to miss home as Navratri approaches. Navratri! It is the festival of divine feminine energy, and in my beautiful native state of Gujarat, we celebrate by dancing for nine nights in honour of the nine goddess forms. Navratri brings back countless memories of celebration and dancing that I hold dear. The person I miss the most thinking of Navratri is my grandma. I used to sing hymns for the goddesses along with her. She was an incredible soul, full of love and sweetness. Growing up with her was a blessing, and her village upbringing added a touch of rustic charm to our city life. While my native language is Gujarati, Kathiyawadi is a Gujarati dialect that is massively different, especially in the way it is spoken and also in vocabulary. Though my grandma is no more with us, her adorable Kathiyawadi “tadapadi / તળપદી” words still sprinkle a bit of country magic into our daily conversations.

The image shows the Navratri festival of Gujarat region in India that involves dancing for nine nights for nine forms of goddesses. (Source)

Below, I list my favourite words in Kathiyawadi along with their equivalent in Gujarati and add a picture reminiscent of the word wherever possible. Let’s ensure our dialects survive and reach the next generation.

DISCLAIMER: All the images in this post are used for educational purposes, and their rights remain with the original creators. Each image has its source mentioned.

Kamaad (કમાડ) or Door

That’s a **kamaad** right there. (Source)

The word kamaad means door. Discovered it while I was hurrying to go out and play pakda pakdi with friends, and my grandma shouted, “કમાડ ઠાલું રાખજે”/ “kamaad thaalu rakhje”. I did not get what she wanted, but apparently, she meant not to close the door completely. Guess the word thaalu is from Kathiyawadi. In Gujarati, “kamaad” means “Darwajo”. The word “Darwajo” is taken from the Farsi word “Darwazey”.

Thaam (ઠામ) or Vessels

Pile of thaam in chokdi be looking like (Source)

In Gujarati, it is called vasaan (વાસણ). I used to think this word sounded hilarious and whenever my grandma asked me to “ઠામના જગ્યા એ મૂકી દે.”, it cracked me up.

Taap (તાપ) or heat

In Gujarati, it is called garmi (ગર્મી). Take a note that the word Garmi in Gujarati is coming from the Farsi word “Garm” or hot.

Lugdaa (લુગડા) or Cloths

In Gujarati, it is called kapda (કપડા).

Vihamo khavo (વિહામો ખાવો) or to rest

In Gujarati, it is called aaraam karvo (આરામ કરવો). Take a note that the Gujarati word “aaraam” is taken from the Farsi word “Aaram” or to rest. Another word for Vihamo is Nihaho (નિહાહો) and it means the same.

Theki ne (ઠેકી ને) or Jumping

In Gujarati, it is called kudi ne (કૂદી ને).

Unu (ઉણુ) or Hot

Uni uni chai for a rainy evening, anyone?

In Gujarati, it is called garam (ગરમ).

Hatanu (હટાણું) or shopping

In Gujarati, it is called khareedee (ખરીદી). Take a note that the word Khareedee is coming from the Farsi word “Kharid”

Karashiyo (કરાશિયો) or Mug

In Gujarati, it is called loto (લોટો).

Asal (અસલ) or Beautiful/fine

The mataji looking asal with all her creases and rural grace (Source)

In Gujarati, it is called saras (સરસ).

Malkai chhe (મલકાઈ છે) or Blush

In Gujarati, it is called sharmai chhe (શરમાઇ છે). Take note that the Gujarati word “sharmai” comes from the Farsi word “Sharam”.

Nishaal (નિહાળ — નિશાળ)

In Gujarati, it is called as vidhya mandir (વિદ્યા મંદિર).

Vaat (વાટ)

In Gujarati, it is called raah(રાહ). Take note that the Gujarati word “raah” comes from the Farsi word “raah”.

Thekane (ઠેકાણે)

In Gujarati, it is called Jagya e (જગ્યા ઍ). Take note that the Gujarati word “Jagya” comes from the Farsi word “Jagah”.

Atane (અટાણે)

In Gujarati, it is called atyar-e (અત્યારે).

Katane (કટાણે)

In Gujarati, it is called khota samay-e (ખોટા સમય એ).

Amtho/Amthi (અમથો)

In Gujarati, it is called khote-khoto (ખોટે -ખોટો).

Aabhlu (આભલું) or sky

In Gujarati, it is called aakash (આકાશ).

Aaste (આસ્તે) or slow

In Gujarati, it is called dheere (ધીરે).

Oru/Oro/Ori (ઑરો) or near

In Gujarati, it is called Najik (નજીક). Notice that this word comes the Farsi word “Nazdik”.

Shiraman (શિરામણ) or breakfast

In Gujarati, it is called naashto (નાસ્તો). Notice that the Gujarati word “naashto” word comes the Farsi word “Nashta”.

Kunu (કુણું) or soft

In Gujarati, it is called Najuk (નાજુક). Notice that this word comes the Farsi word “Naazuk”.

Ghoide (ઘોડ્ય) or like

In Gujarati, it is called jem (જેમ).

Chenk (છેક) or far

Jo beta, peli dukan chenk nya chhe (Source)

In Gujarati, it is called door/durr (દૂર). Notice that this word comes the Farsi word “door/durr”. There is another for word “Chenk” and it is “Chhetu” (છેટું) and both mean the same.

Jhanli (ઝાલી) or to hold

In Gujarati, it is called pakdi ne(પકડી ને).

Bakalu (બકાલું) or vegetables

Give me this variety for bakalu (Source)

In Gujarati, it is called Shaak, bhaaji (શાક, ભાજી).

Jhajhu (ઝાઝા) or more

In Gujarati, it is called vadhare, pushkal (વધારે/વધારે).

Jatra (જાતર) or Pilgrimage

In Gujarati, it is called yatra (યાત્રા).

Vadhe (વઢે) or to got angry

In Gujarati, it is called khijaay (ખીજાય).

I hope this post took you on a nostalgia trip. I know, I know, the list ain’t comprehensive, but that is why we have the comments section. Please write any Kathiayawadi word that you love but did not find in this list. (^_^)

#NavratriMemories #MissingHome #GujaratFestival #DivineFeminine #Nostalgia #Language #Dialect