Basic Words

21 phrases · Konkani with romanization, English and audio

  1. हय

    hay

    Yes

    Usage

    Affirmative answer; हां is also used in speech

    Grammar Note

    Not Marathi हो. The dictionary (IndoWordNet) headword is हय.

  2. न्हय

    nhay

    No

    Usage

    Negative answer ("it is not so"); ना means "there is none / not"

    Grammar Note

    न्हय starts with the aspirated nasal न्ह. Do not use Marathi नाही.

  3. उपकार करून

    upakār karūn

    Please

    Usage

    Added to a request, the dictionary equivalent of "please"; a polite imperative ending in -ात is also normal

    Grammar Note

    Literally "doing a favour". Polite requests are also formed with verb stem + -ात.

  4. देव बरें करूं

    dev bareṃ karūṃ

    Thank you (lit. "may God do good")

    Usage

    The most common thank-you in Goa, understood by Hindus and Catholics alike

    Grammar Note

    देव (God) + बरें (good, neuter) + करूं (subjunctive of करप). Marathi धन्यवाद is not used.

  5. माफ करात

    māph karāt

    Excuse me / I'm sorry

    Usage

    Polite way to get attention or apologise; to a friend just say माफ कर

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). Polite requests use stem + -ात; the bare stem माफ कर is informal and appears in dictionary examples. Marathi has माफ करा.

  6. म्हजी चूक जाली

    mhajī cūk jālī

    It was my mistake / sorry

    Usage

    Admit a slip and apologise, e.g. after bumping into someone

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). चूक is feminine, so the possessive is म्हजी, and "became" is the feminine past जाली of जावप. A dictionary example reads "forgive me for this mistake".

  7. म्हाका कळना

    mhākā kaḷanā

    I don't understand

    Usage

    When you did not follow; the other person will usually rephrase

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). "Understand" takes the dative: person + -क + कळप; the negative ending is -ना (dictionary example "… कळना"). Marathi मला कळत नाही is not used.

  8. म्हाका कळ्ळें

    mhākā kaḷḷeṃ

    I understand

    Usage

    Confirms the explanation landed; clearer than just nodding

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). The past ends in neuter -ें (dictionary example "म्हाका आतांच कळ्ळें").

  9. रावात

    rāvāt

    Please wait

    Usage

    To ask someone to hold on while you find luggage or papers; रावप means "to stay/stop"

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). Polite imperative = stem + -ात. To say "wait for" explicitly, use वाट पळोवप.

  10. थोडें रावात

    thoḍeṃ rāvāt

    Just a moment

    Usage

    A shorter hold-on, at a till or before a photo

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). थोडें is "a little" (neuter form). Nothing else is needed to make it a short wait.

  11. म्हाका मदत करात

    mhākā madat karāt

    Please help me

    Usage

    For trouble; it is fine to say it loudly

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). मदत करप = to help; the dative म्हाका marks "me". The dictionary lists मदत as a synonym of आदार.

  12. परत सांगात

    parat sāṃgāt

    Please say it again

    Usage

    When you missed what was said; handy for prices and room numbers

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). परत means "again"; सांगात is the polite imperative of सांगप "to tell".

  13. हळू उलयात

    haḷū ulayāt

    Please speak slowly

    Usage

    When speed is the problem; combine with "once more"

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). हळू is the adverb "slowly"; the verb stem is उलय- (as in उलयतात "they speak").

  14. हांव थोडें कोंकणी उलयतां

    hāṃv thoḍeṃ koṃkaṇī ulayatāṃ

    I speak a little Konkani

    Usage

    Sets expectations early so the other person simplifies

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). 1st-person present = stem + -तां (subject हांव).

  15. तुमी इंग्लीश उलयतात?

    tumī iṃglīś ulayatāt?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    Your fallback when communication stalls; usually works at hotels and airports

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary-verified words by regular grammar (not found as a sentence in a source). No question particle; intonation makes the question. Use तुमी with strangers, not तूं.

  16. हांगा

    hāṃgā

    Here

    Usage

    Location word for "get out here" or "put it here"

    Grammar Note

    "Here" is हांगा and "there" is थंय — not Marathi इथे/तिथे.

  17. थंय

    thaṃy

    There

    Usage

    Refers to a place away from you

    Grammar Note

    थंय is "at that place" in the dictionary; note the nasal ंय.

  18. हांव

    hāṃv

    I / me

    Usage

    First-person pronoun; useful for saying who is involved

    Grammar Note

    Konkani हांव, not Marathi मी; the dative is म्हाका "to me".

  19. तुमी

    tumī

    You (polite)

    Usage

    Always use तुमी with strangers and elders; तूं only with close friends

    Grammar Note

    तुमी serves as plural and polite singular; Marathi has तुम्ही.

  20. वांगडा

    vāṃgaḍā

    Together / along with

    Usage

    Shows you are with someone; "with X" is X वांगडा

    Grammar Note

    Works as a postposition or adverb (dictionary example "… Sita together …"). Not Marathi सोबत.

  21. आतांच

    ātāṃc

    Right now

    Usage

    Conveys urgency; आतां is "now" and -च stresses it

    Grammar Note

    Emphatic suffix -च. Marathi आत्ता is not used; the Konkani form is आतां.

More Konkani phrases

Browse all TravelPhrases languages