Gujarati for family
Gujarati for family: the phrases that actually get used
A lot of "learn Gujarati" apps are Hindi with a Gujarati coat of paint. Gujarati is its own language with its own grammar (three genders, not two) and its own frequent words. Here are the ones you'll say most, taught the Gujarati way.
Greetings that fit any Gujarati home
કેમ છો?
kem chho?
How are you? (informal, warm)
મજામાં
majaa-maa
Doing well.
તમને મળીને આનંદ થયો
tamne mali-ne aanand thayo
Nice to meet you.
At the table
જમવાનું બહુ સરસ છે
jamvaanu bahu saras chhe
The food is really nice.
થોડું વધારે લઉં?
thodu vadhaare la-oo?
Should I take a little more?
ના, બસ થયું
naa, bas thayu
No, that's enough (I'm full).
The one thing that trips up Hindi speakers
In Hindi, ने marks the subject in past-tense sentences. In Gujarati, that same-looking suffix ને actually marks the object (dative). Gujarati's ergative marker is એ. If you're switching from Hindi, this one swap causes the most confusion. Our lessons flag it every time it appears.
Neuter is real
Gujarati has three genders. ઘર (ghar, house), નામ (naam, name), and પાણી (paani, water) are all neuter, so adjectives end in -ũ (nānũ ghar, small house). Hindi-trained apps get this wrong. We don't.