Marathi

Etymology

From Marathi मराठी (marāṭhī). Doublet of Maharashtri.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /məˈɹɑːti/

• Audio (US):

  (file)

Proper noun

Marathi

1. An Indo-Aryan language that is the predominant language spoken in the state of Maharashtra, India.
   • 2020, Avni Doshi, Burnt Sugar, Hamish Hamilton, page 110:

     I made a pact with her that she would teach me more Marathi and I could teach her the English alphabet.

Noun

Marathi (plural Marathi or Marathis)

1. A person of a Marathi-speaking people from the state of Maharashtra; a person of or from Maharashtra.

   Synonym: Maratha

   • 1882, R. V. Modak, History of the Native Churches Associated with the American Marathi Mission..., in Memorial Papers of the American Marathi Mission, 1813-1881, American Marathi Mission, page 11,

     In March 1831, Moroba, a Marathi, was received to the church.

   • 2023, Santanu Bhattacharya, One Small Voice, Fig Tree, page 278:

     'These people want places reserved for Marathis in railways jobs, so they’re attacking candidates across the city … Bhai, this'll turn ugly before you know it.'

Adjective

Marathi (not comparable)

1. Pertaining to the state of Maharashtra, to the Marathi-speaking people from the state, or to the Marathi language.
   • 2022, Hrishikesh Sudhakar Ingle, Marathi Cinema, Cultural Space, and Liminality, Oxford University Press, unnumbered page,

     In formulating the idea of a vernacular performative, the intention has been to situate Marathi filmmaking of the 1950s within a post-studio scenario.

   • 2023, Santanu Bhattacharya, One Small Voice, Fig Tree, page 264:

     For years now, local parties in Mumbai had campaigned for Marathi people to get preferential treatment – land, housing, jobs.

See also

• Wiktionary’s coverage of Marathi terms

Further reading

• Marathi language on Wikipedia.Wikipedia
• ISO 639-1 code mr, ISO 639-3 code mar (SIL)
• Ethnologue entry for Marathi, mar ⁠

Anagrams

• Mahrati

Pronunciation

• Audio:

  (file)

Proper noun

Marathi n (proper noun, strong, genitive Marathi or Marathis)

1. Marathi (one of the languages of India)