Madras bashai is learned from one's peers rather than from one's parents. It forms a strong foundation for the lingo used by college students in Chennai. It is still considered infra dig by many people in the city. For instance, most formal communication is in real Tamil or in English, with government proceedings using the purest form of Tamil (sentamizh).
Madras bashai favors the Tamil syntax with heavy use of English words to represent concepts.
The following examples illustrates the difference between the syntax of Madras bashai, English and Tamil:
Or a person may sadly shake one's head at the poor grasp of real Tamil among college students in the city, and say:
"Future generation ellam full-aa English dhaan pEsuvAnga."
The key point about the second example is that if it were translated to Tamil completely, it would sound distinctly non-colloquial.
Questions with yes/no answers are framed by saying the statement whose truth is to be verified (using the participle if necessary) and then saying "aa" at the end with a rising inflexion like a question. If the statement already ends in an "aa" or other interfering vowel sound, then the questioning "aa" can be made "vaa" in the interest of euphonics . Some speakers tend to carry the "-aa" even into full English conversations from force of habit. Eg: "Did you finish it aa?"
Many Tamil verbs are informally 'translated' to English by taking the verb root and suffixing "ify" or "ification".
Verbifying and nounification are used in a jocular sense, only with people one is familiar with, and only if they speak Tamil. Using these forms in formal situations or with strangers is considered very juvenile, analogous to using emoticons in a high school essay. Usage of these forms also carries the risk of getting the speaker tagged as a Peter or a Mary (one who pretends to talk only in English, in situations where it is not necessary), even though genuine Peters and Marys may not use them. This practice may be considered Tanglish more than Madras Bashai by observers who distinguish between the two terms.
| Word/phrase |
Meaning in context |
Origin, usage |
| Aappu |
To get stuck in a critical place. |
Tamil aappu is a wedge used to hold the halves of a partially cut tree trunk separated. The idiomatic use refers to a monkey that moves the tool and gets its tail stuck between the two halves of a tree trunk.
|
| Abase panradhu |
To steal. |
English abase and Tamil panradhu (to do).
|
| Adraa sakkae |
An exclamation? |
Tamil Adi da, literally meaning "hit man!". Used in movies by comedian Goundamani.
|
| Allo |
Hey, there... |
English hello. Used to draw attention.
|
| Alpa ayisu |
Short life |
Tamil To die abruptly usually in a young age. Might at times also mean savu graki though not usually.
|
| Alvaa |
Deception, chetaing |
Tamil movies popularized it but the etymology is unknown. |
| Ambael |
Time out in a game. Also a person who has escaped or disappeared or died. |
Etymology unknown. |
| Appala, appalika |
Later. |
Tamil apparam (later). Appalika is considered more sophisticated than appala.
|
| Appeet aagaradhu |
To escape from the scene, to take leave rather hastily. |
Used by children playing with tops to warn others of a runaway top. Used idiomatically by comedian Vivek.
|
| Ara-loosu |
Half-crazy. See "loosu". |
Tamil arai (half) + English loose (as in "got a screw loose").
|
| Asathu |
To make a big show. |
Tamil asatharadhu (to move), used figuratively in the sense of "mover and shaker".
|
| Assaulta |
To do something very easily. |
Etymology unknown. Eg.. Naan andha bussa assaulta otiduven.(I'll drive that bus very easily) |
| Attu |
Low grade. |
Etymology unknown. Eg: "Attu figaru" (unattractive woman) etc. |
| Ayuvatha |
Don't cry. |
Tamil, Azhuvatha (don't cry).
|
| Baadu |
Pimp, generic abuse.
|
Etymology unknown. Usage popularized by recent Kollywood movies.
|
| Baamaayilu |
Palm oil. PALMOLEAN oil. |
English Palm + English oil.
|
| Bagilu |
Hip and region around it. |
Hindi bagal (underarm).
|
| Bajaari |
Street woman. A loud, unruly, and fish market woman like. |
Hindi bazzar (market).
|
| Bandhaa |
Show off. Same as "pilim". |
Etymology unknown. |
| Batli |
A woman referred with disrespect. |
English From Bottle. A reference to a woman's hourglass or curvy shape.
|
| Bejaar |
Painful, troublesome. |
Probably Hindi, roots uncertain. Alternatively, English From Bizarre.
|
| Beku |
Imbecile. |
Hindi bevkoof (stupid).
|
| Bemani |
That which makes one ashamed, that which has no shame. |
Hindi bemani (shameless).
|
| Bigjang |
Someone who wears westernized clothes and/or accessories, even sunglasses. Derogatory.
|
Probably from the Hollywood western Django popular in the 1970s in Madras.
|
| Buddi |
Someone who wears thick glasses. Derogatory. |
From soda buddi (soft drink bottle). Analogous to Coke bottom glasses . |
| Chance-é-illa |
Either "No Way/ No Chance!" or "Too much/ Too good!" |
English. A phrase used in response to something unbelievable, but may have occurred, or something that you feel cannot be done.
|
| Cycle gap |
Narrow escape. |
English. Connotes a narrow gap that can accommodate only a bicycle.
|
| Daaraanthu |
lost. |
Tamil 'thaarai vaarthu' that means given away. daaraanthu pocchu - Lost it.
|
| Daavu |
Can mean both looku vudaradhu and sight adikaradhu. |
Etymology unknown. |
| Dabba |
Junk. |
Hindi dabba (box). Used in colloqial speech such as Dabba padam ("junk movie").
|
| Dabber |
pimp. used abusively |
Unknown. |
| Dabbu |
Money. |
Telugu dabbu (money).
|
| Dada |
Kingpin, ganglord, don. |
Hindi dada (literally "paternal grandfather", used as a term of respect among underworld crime families).
|
| Dharma adi |
Merciless beating, usually by a group. |
Tamil dharma adi ("charity beating").
|
| Dho daa |
A sarcastic exclamation, in good faith, in response to what someone just said. |
Tamil idho (literally "here"). daa is common usage as in Podaa, Vaadaa. Close in meaning to the exclamation "Look at this!".
|
| Dhool |
A superlative, as in "well done!" or "kick ass!". |
Likely from Hindi dhool (dust), referring to the dust cloud after a good ass-kicking. 'Dhool' is also used as 'Dhool kalappitai' where kalappitai refers to the action of starting or kicking up (dust).
|
| Dil |
Chutzpah, guts, as in "Do you have the guts to step outside and fight like a man?!". |
Hindi dil (heart), metaphorically indicates "courage".
|
| Docchu |
Unattractive woman. |
Etymology unknown. Synonymous with "attu figaru". |
| Domer |
Dumb. |
Etymology unknown. |
| Dubbakur |
Same as Loosu. |
Tamil literally "he who doesn't have thorough knowledge".
|
| Dubukku |
Same as loosu. |
Tamil literally "he who doesn't have thorough knowledge".
|
| Duddu |
Money. |
Kannada duddu (money).
|
| Dum |
Cigarette, beedi . Also "to smoke".
|
Hindi dum (strength), implying only "real men " smoke.
|
| Feelingu |
sadness. |
English "Feeling", as in "Feeling sorry" but the word got twisted.
|
| Figaru |
Attractive woman. |
English "figure", as in "She's got a good figure".
|
| Gabbu |
Stink, foul odor. Often used figuratively to describe situations, personalities etc. |
Telugu(gabbu) stink,foul odour. Sometimes anglicized to gabs.
|
| Gaaji |
1. Turn to play, eg in cricket. 2. Pornography.
|
Etymology unknown. See also "Matter". |
| Gaali |
Finished, as in "He's finished!". |
Hindi khali meaning "empty" or "finished". Originally from Arabic.
|
| Gaana paattu |
A subgenre of Tamil film music. |
Hindi gaana (song) + Tamil paattu (song).
|
| Gaandu |
Angry. |
Tamil kobam (angry).
|
| Galata |
1. Fracas, brouhaha 2. Chaos 3. Celebration. |
Etymology not known for certain. Possibly from Turkey (Galata was a suburb of Istanbul known for its nightlife) or from English gala.
|
| Galiju |
Dirty. |
Hindi, Kannada meaning dirty.
|
| Gandhi kannakku |
Fraudulent accounting. |
Before 1947, when India was fighting against British occupation, companies and individuals often included "Contribution to Freedom movement" as an item in accounting statements. Most often accounting statements would not tally because management funneled money out. "Contribution to Gandhi's freedom movement" provided an excellent means to account for the "missing" money. Hence the term "Gandhi Kanakku". |
| Gapsaa |
Disinformation, lies. |
Etymology unknown. Connotes deliberate disinformation, as opposed to genuine misinformation. Usually refers to fundamental falsehoods, as opposed to lame excuses. Compare "reel", "peela". |
| Gelichan |
He won. |
Telugu gelupu (victory).
|
| Gera |
Giddy. |
Etymology unknown. |
| Gilma |
Same as duddu |
Etymology unknown. Part of the Chinni Jayanth school of talk. |
| Gilpans |
Prostitutes, whores.
|
Etymology unknown. By extension it may also be used to refer to female companions of Peters. |
| Golti |
Telugu speaker. Can be derogatory.
|
By reversing the consonants in "te-lu-gu" to give "gulti" or "golti"
|
| Goodhal |
Trickery, fraud |
Tamil goodhal (error, mistake). Usually derogatory, as in "He resorted to trickery to win that business deal".
|
| GumbalOda gOvinda |
the whole gang got caught, also-joining the chorus with no contribution |
Tamil gumbal (crowd), gOvinda (what pilgrims to Tirupathi chant. |
| Gummu |
A beautiful and attractive girl. |
Meaning good smell of a flower |
| Gujjaals |
Petting, making out. |
Tamil konjal (petting, excess affection).
|
| Gujjily |
A woman. Also, Batli |
Perhaps the root word for 'Gujjaals'. |
| Gul |
Code word for breast. |
Derived from Urdu Gul. |
| Isscool |
School. |
English school.
|
| Jagaa vaangaradhu |
To escape from the scene. |
Hindi jagah (space, room) and Tamil vaangaradhu (to buy, to get). Literally means "to get room [to escape]".
|
| Jalpu |
To catch cold. |
Tamil jaladosham (N,common cold)
|
| Jalsa |
Petting, making out. See "Gujjals". |
From a phrase from Tamil movie Jalaja oda jalsa panraan (He is making out with Jalaja).
|
| Jatkaa |
Hindi-speaker, North Indian person. Derogatory.
|
Hindi jhatkaa (cart, also sudden shock).
|
| Joadreppai |
Cobbler. |
Possibly from Hindi joota (shoe) and English repair or from Tamil jodi (pair[of slippers]) and English repair.
|
| Jollu |
To ogle attractive women. |
Tamil jollu (saliva, salivation). Implies a longer duration than mere lookku vittufication.
|
| Joot |
To get started. Also to escape. |
Etymology unknown. Pronounced exactly like the English "jute". |
| Jujubi, jujubs |
Small, simple-minded. easy. Derogatory. |
Etymology unknown. Possibly from the Rajnikant movie Viduthalai . |
| KD |
1. Petty crook. 2. An unusually intelligent criminal. |
English. Old Chennai police abbreviation for either "known delinquent", "known depredator" or "known defaulter".
|
| Kaala vaararadhu |
To fail someone. |
Tamil kaala vaararadhu (to trip up).
|
| Kaai |
Code word for breast.. |
| Kabodhi |
A common insult directed at careless drivers. |
Tamil kabodhi (blind person), used here in the metaphorical sense. Often used in conjunction with kuruttu, as in kuruttu kabodhi!. Origin unknown. Possibly from Sanskrit roots.
|
| Kaboor, kabur |
North Indian. Derogatory. |
Tamilized from the Punjabi surname Kapoor. Analog of North Indian term Madrasi (generic South Indian).
|
| Kacheri |
Drinking party. |
Tamil kutcheri. A traditional tamil music concert.
|
| Kadalai |
Verbal flirting. |
Tamil kadalai, verkadalai (nut, groundnut). Possibly from the consumption of groundnuts on Chennai suburban trains, known as "timepass". Connotes flirting without serious intentions.
|
| Kaidae |
Donkey. |
Tamil kazhudai (donkey).
|
| Kaiyendhi Bhavan |
Roadside food vendor, equivalent to a hotdog stand in the US. |
Tamil for "hand-to-mouth restaurant". Not necessarily pejorative. Compare "Muniyandi Vilas".
|
| Kalakaradhu |
To impress with one's performance. |
Tamil, (to mix, to stir).
|
| Kalaikaradhu |
To tease someone. |
Tamil kalaikaradhu (to disrupt).
|
| Kalasaradhu |
To nag someone. |
Tamil, literally "to nag".
|
| Kamaal |
Side show. Also pilmu, padams. |
Etymology unknown. |
| Kamnaati |
Illegitimate offspring. |
Tamil kaimpentati --> kamanaati (widow).
|
| Kasmaalam |
Synonymous with "idiot". |
Possibly from Sanskrit kash malam (black hair) or kash mailam (black dirt). Comparing someone with hair is considered rude in Tamil culture.
|
| Kenai |
Fool. |
Malayalam kenai (mad).
|
| Kepmari |
Fickle minded fellow. |
Tamil Ketpar sol mari (to change). Connotes "One who changes his opinions/actions for selfish reasons".
|
| Kotiguniya? |
Impolite way of asking "Have you eaten?". |
Tamil kottaradhu (to spill), connotes "Have you spilt anything inside your stomach?".
|
| Kottitey! |
Rude way of telling someone, "You've uttered nonsense.". |
Tamil kottaradhu (to spill), connotes "To drop a load of crap".
|
| Koyantha |
Baby or Child |
Tamil, kuzhanthai (baby or child).
|
| Kozha adi sandai |
Major catfight. |
Tamil kozha adi sandai (water pump fight). Connotes fighting over who gets how much water and in what order.
|
| Kozhi |
Cowardly. |
Tamil kozhan (coward). Not to be confused with kozhi (hen).
|
| Krisnayilu |
Kerosene oil. |
English Kerosene.
|
| Kultaradhu |
To eat shamelessly, especially if the food is free (OC food). |
Etymology unknown. Usually conjugated like a verb in English, as in kulting, kulted etc. |
| Kundhu |
"Sit down!" |
Kannada kuthkoldri (sit down).
|
| Kuruttu |
Blind. See "kabodhi" for usage. |
Tamil kurudu (blind)
|
| Kuthu paattu |
Subgenre of Tamil rap.
|
Tamil kuthu paattu (song used in dappaankuthu).
|
| Kuththaradu |
To study hard, to cram. |
Tamil literally "to punch".
|
| Kutti |
Synonymous with "figaru". |
Possibly from Malayalam kutti (young girl).
|
| Koodhi |
Vagina or female sexual organ. |
| Leevu |
Holiday. |
From English "leave", as in "leave of absence".
|
| Lollu |
Anything unpleasant. |
Tamil for the sound made by a dog (analogous to "bow wow" in English). Probably a neologism from the Tamil movie Perusu, starring Sathyaraj and Bhagyaraj .
|
| Lollu party |
Unpleasant person, especially one's boss at work. |
|
| Lookku vudaradhu |
To check someone out, especially if it's an attractive person. |
English "look" and Tamil vudaradhu (to let off, to flash). Implies a much shorter duration than jollu vittufication or sight adichification.
|
| Loosu |
Crazy. |
English "loose". Also see "arai-loosu".
|
| Lowlaayi |
A woman with a low or immoral character. |
| Maams |
Same as "machi". |
Tamil mama (uncle, father-in-law, male cousin).
|
| Machi |
Synonymous with "dude", used in a positive sense. |
Tamil machinan, colloquial machan (wife's brother). Implies familiarity, cannot be used with strangers. See also maams.
|
| Mairu |
Hair. Offensive.
|
Tamil, mairu (hair). Connotes "pubic hair". Mairu pudingi refers to a person plucking pubic hair, meaning an idle person, derogatory.
|
| Mama |
Cop or pimp.
|
Tamil, mama (uncle). Usually mama alone means "cop", while mama velai refers to pimping. Not to be confused with maams.
|
| Mamoo |
Same as "machi". |
Tamil mama (uncle, father-in-law, male cousin).
|
| Mandaya poduradhu |
To die. |
Tamil mandaya poduradhu (to drop one's head).
|
| Maplae |
Son-in-law. |
Tamil, mappillai (Son-in-law).
|
| Mary |
Female version of Peter. |
|
| Matter |
Pornography(n), or sex(v). |
English "matter".
|
| Merusal |
Feared. |
Etymology unknown. |
| Military hotel |
Restaurant that serves non-vegetarian food. |
The armed forces are thought to have fewer vegetarians than the general population.
|
| Mineema |
Female equivalent of "Muniyandi". |
From "Muniyama". |
| Mundam |
Synonymous with "idiot". |
Tamil mundam (headless body).
|
| Muniyandi |
Economically backward male, implying a degree of unsophistication. |
From the word "Muniyandi"- a god in southern Tamil Nadu |
| Muniyandi Vilas |
Low-cost restaurant, usually one that serves non-vegetarian food. |
From "Muniyandi" and Vilas (generic name for a restaurant). Somewhat pejorative. Compare "Kaiyendhi Bhavan". |
| Naina |
A negative version of "dude", used to imply criticism. |
Probably a corrupted version of Telugu nana (father). Can be used with strangers, especially when driving.
|
| Nakkal |
To ridicule someone with sarcasm. |
Hindi nakkal (cheat, deceive).
|
| Nambitten |
"I don't believe you". |
Tamil nambitten (I have believed). Always said in a sarcastic tone.
|
| Neet-aa po |
"Head straight on down". |
Tamil neet (length) and po (go). "Go down the length [of this road]".
|
| OB adikaradhu |
To waste time. |
OB is pronounced as the individual letters O and B. Etymology not known for certain. Possibly from "Off Beat", old British military term meaning "off duty". Also possibly from "Out of Business" or from "O'l Bhajanai" (local slang for "doing nothing").
|
| OC |
Free, at no cost. |
From OCS, Indian Railways abbreviation meaning "On Company Service". Parcels marked OCS travel free.
|
| Outte |
Same as "Gaali". |
English "out", used in the context of cricket or other sports.
|
| Paal mararadhu |
To switch camps, to betray a confidence. |
Tamil, paal (milk) and mararadhu (to change). Implies a cow unexpectedly changing to a bull as one is milking it, with unwanted consequences.
|
| Padams |
To show off. |
English films. What they do in movies. Show off.
|
| Paruppu |
Important person, big shot. |
Tamil paruppu (lentils). Usually spoken with sarcasm to indicate that the speaker doesn't think highly of the paruppu person in question. Compare pistha.
|
| Pazham |
Easy task, gullible person. |
Tamil pazham (fruit), connoting "that which is easily eaten".
|
| Peela |
Misinformation, lies. |
Etymology unknown. Connotes habitual misinformation, as opposed to disinformation. Compare "gapsaa", "reel". |
| Perusu |
Elderly person, Derogatory. |
Tamil.
|
| Peter |
Male of Tamil origin who speaks English in preference to the Tamil language even with other Tamil speakers, especially if his intention is to impress.
|
Also Peter party. Also used to label those who consider Tamil infra dig, or those who speak it with a fake Western accent.
|
| Phosphata |
Same as "sulphata". |
Pronounced "phosphate aa"; uncertain origins. |
| Piriyala |
Can't Understand. |
Tamil Puriyavillai (can't understand).
|
| Pisaaththu |
worthless; lowly. |
Tamil Etymolgy unknown. Deragotory word to insult someone.
|
| Pistha |
Big shot; a lower version of "Dada". |
Tamil pistha (pistachio nuts). Used metaphorically, and not necessarily with sarcasm. Compare paruppu.
|
| Pisthu |
Person talented in a certain field. |
Tamil pisthu (expert). Can be used both in admiration and in sarcasm.
|
| Pilimu kaatradhu |
To show off. |
English film and Tamil kaatradhu (to show).
|
| Poramboku |
Orphaned, abandoned. |
Tamil. Often used as a verbal abuse against bad drivers.
|
| Pudungi |
A person who acts too smart but is really a bull-shitter. Similar to Paruppu. |
Tamil. Pudungi is to pull, maybe from mayira pudungi.
|
| Puluthi |
A person who gives a blow job |
| Quarter |
One fourth of 750 milli liter. |
Tamil. Used to denote amount of liquor be in quarter/half/full.
|
| Reel |
Lame excuses, pitiable lies. |
English reel of film from the era of 16 mm projectors. Sometimes an improperly mounted film reel would fall off the projector and run away, causing a garbled or distorted picture to be projected on screen while the operator chased the reel across the room and mounted it back. "Reel" therefore refers to an obviously implausible story. Compare "gapsaa", "peela".
|
| Rowdy |
Ruffian. |
Means the same in English, but used much more commonly in India.
|
| Rowdy-sheet |
The rap sheet of a rowdy known to the police.
|
|
| Rowdy-sheeter |
A rowdy who has a rowdy-sheet. |
|
| Rupture |
Trouble. |
English]]. |
| Saavugraaki |
Verbal abuse against bad drivers. |
Possibly from Tamil saavu (death) and graaki (buyer) giving "customer of Death".
|
| Sappi Sundaram |
Good-for-nothing person. |
Tamil sappi (waste) and "sundaram" (alliterative suffix).
|
| Sevattai |
Verbal abuse against a dumb irritating person. |
Tamil semmai (emphasis) and mattai (dry coconut shell).
|
| Sight adikaradhu |
Same as "Jollu". |
English sight and Tamil adikaradhu (to beat).
|
| Sillara |
Small change. Derogatory when used to describe persons. |
Tamil chillarai (small change).
|
| Soekkakira |
Looking good/beautiful. |
Probably Hindi, roots uncertain.
|
| Sugura |
fine, or thin |
Pronounced "soogoor aa". Derived from the english word - 'sure'. Used by craftsmen to say that something is very thin or very streamlined. |
| Sulphata |
Cheap, strong liquor that may contain methanol, formaldehyde or formic acid. Similar potions include 'chappi' and 'kalakkal.'
|
Pronounced "sulphate aa". Uncertain origins. Asking someone if they've had sulphata implies that you think that they are severely uncoordinated. |
| Sundi sORu |
Cooked rice mixed with water and allowed to ferment under the earth. A cheap version of rice beer that is often sold near the sea shore. |
| Tation |
Railway station or police station |
|
| Thaali Arukarudu |
Irritating |
Used when some one is really boring you. As in 'Machi andae aalu thaali arukuran da' |
| Teepu |
Tube(as in a tyre). |
[English] |
| Thaleevaru |
The Leader or Head. |
Tamil thalaivar (leader). Usually refers to the Leader of a Political Party or The Cine Actor.
|
| Thala |
Way of calling the Leader or Head with mischeaf |
Tamil thalaivar (leader). Used to call the friend or known person as leader with mischeaf or with "some" sort of affection. Came to existence only after fans of cine actor "Ajith" started calling "Ajith" as thala. Since he proclaimed himself as leader of tamil nadu, the meaning of the word is used for mischeafing friends.
|
| Thanni |
Liquor. |
Tamil thanni (water).
|
| Thunradhu |
To eat. |
Telugu thinnatam (to eat). Usually asked as a question "thunniya?" (Did you eat?) or "thunntiya?" (Have you eaten?).
|
| Udaans |
To lie. |
Anglicized from Tamil vudaradhu (to leave [off a falsehood etc]).
|
| Udhaaru |
Same as "udaans". |
Tamil vudaradhu (to leave [off a falsehood etc]).
|
| Usshaar |
1. Well-informed, street-smart. 2. To gather supporters, to accumulate. |
Kannada usshaar(careful, street smart).
|
| Uyundhu |
To fell. |
Tamil, vizhundhu (to fell).
|
| Vaaya Kolapiduvane |
Beat the Hell out of you. |
Tamil Vaaya (mouth) Kolapiduvane (to stir). Connotes "To beat like as if your mouth bleeds".
|
| Vennai |
Gullible, loser, weakling. |
Tamil vennai (butter). Connotes "easily consumed".
|
| Vonaam |
Don't. |
Tamil, vaendaam (don't).
|
| Vootle solltiya? |
Used against extremely unsafe drivers. |
Tamil literally "Have you told [people] at home?". Connotes "Did you take leave of your loved ones when you left home?", and implies that the other person may not make it home alive.
|
| Yetchai |
Saliva. |
Tamil yetchal (saliva). Offensive name-calling. Also refers to a stingy person
|
These words and phrases may of course be strung together. For instance:
A large part of Madras bashai is now devoted to cursing other drivers on the road.
