Gujarati basics
Gujarati words for food and eating
More Gujarati gets spoken at the table than anywhere else in the house, and most of it is about whether you have eaten enough. You have not. These are the lines that carry a meal.
Practice in Bolo →Opens the app. If you already have a session going, you pick up there.
What you will hear
જમવા આવો
jamvaa aavo
Come and eat. You will hear this constantly.
બીજું લો
beeju~ lo
Have another. Also constant.
હા, આવું છું!
haa, aavu~ chhu~!
Yes, coming! The correct answer to jamva aavo.
Complimenting the cook
ભાવવું bhaavvu~ is a verb used for liking food. Using it instead of a general word for like sounds noticeably more native, and it charms people.
જમવાનું બહુ જ સરસ છે!
jamvaanu~ bahu ja saras chhe!
The food is really wonderful.
મને ઢોકળા બહુ ભાવે છે
mane Dhokalaa bahu bhaave chhe
I love dhokla. Swap in any dish.
આ કેવી રીતે બનાવ્યું?
aa kevee reete banaavyu~?
How did you make this? The highest compliment there is.
મને શીખવાડશો?
mane sheekhvaaDsho?
Will you teach me? Asking for the recipe is an invitation to bond.
Stopping, politely
There is no version of this that works the first time. Say it warmly, expect one more thepla, and eat it.
પેટ ભરાઈ ગયું!
pet bharaai gayu~!
I'm completely full.
થેપલા બહુ જ સરસ છે
theplaa~ bahu ja saras chhe
These theplas are delicious. Works for dhokla, khakhra, undhiyu.
A note on gender
Gujarati has three genders, not two, and food words land in all of them. If you know Hindi, do not carry the gender across: જમવાનું and ઘર are neuter in Gujarati. Learn each word with its ending attached rather than guessing from the Hindi.