Language/Gujarati/Vocabulary/Idiomatic-Expressions

Gujarati Vocabulary - Idiomatic expressions

Hi Gujarati learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about Gujarati idioms and expressions that will help you understand the language and the culture better.

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Animals & Education.

What are idiomatic expressions?

Idiomatic expressions are phrases or sentences that have a figurative meaning. They cannot be understood literally. Idioms are an essential part of any language, including Gujarati. Idioms often have cultural references or historical significance. They are used to communicate ideas in a more powerful and compact way.

Idioms may be hard to understand or translate for non-native speakers. But learning idioms is important if you want to understand native speakers and the context in which they are speaking.

Why learn Gujarati idioms and expressions?

Learning Gujarati idioms and expressions can help you to:

- Understand the context of a conversation

- Speak more fluently

- Sound more natural when speaking Gujarati

- Gain insight into Gujarati culture

List of Gujarati idioms and expressions

Here, we have compiled a list of common Gujarati idioms and expressions with their meanings and examples:

Gujarati	Pronunciation	English
અંગારે ઉપર સવારે હોય	Angaare Upar Savaare Hoy	To ride on embers (to be in a hurry)
આ ખિડકી પરથી જ → ન ફટિકડો ઘડે	Aa Khidekee Parthee Ja -> Na Fateekado Ghade	Not letting a cracker burst while passing through a glass window (to be very careful)
આંખ ની અંદરની આંખ	Aankh Ni Andarnee Aankh	The eye within the eye (the ability to see through someone)
ઊંડી ને ઉપરની સાકળ	Oonddee Ne Uparnee Saakal	The hat on top of the head (additional effort or expense)
કાંટા ને માંઝળી વાળું	Kaanta Ne Manjalee Valun	Putting salt on a thorn (to make a bad situation worse)
પડા ને પસારી નાખીનાં થાં	Pada Ne Pasaaree Naakheena Thaan	A place where you don't want to spread a mat (an undesirable place)
પગલા ને મોરળા વાળું	Pagla Ne Moraalaa Valun	To make peacock feathers with a madman (to waste one's time)
ફાંટી ને ફાંટીડું	Phaantee Ne Phaanteedun	Tie a knot to a knot (to complicate things)
મળી ને તેલ બીજાની નહિ	Mallee Ne Tel Bejani Nahi	Oil of another (to be someone else's responsibility)
હિંડી ને બાંધી દો	Hindee Ne Baandhee Do	To tie Hindi (to speak in a language that is difficult to understand)
ખાવું ન દેવાય અને વાવી ન દેવાય	Khavun Na Devaay Ane Vaavi Na Devaay	Neither allowing to eat nor drink (to be overly controlling)
ગોખળા ને ઘેંટાવાળું	Gokhla Ne Ghentavaalun	To mix Gokhla (to create confusion or disorder)
ચાલાવું નાખીનું	Chaalavun Naakheenu	To leave without operating (to abandon something)
પાણી ના પરથી પાણી પ્રાપ્ત થવું	Paani Na Parthi Paani Praapt Thavun	To get water from the other side of water (to achieve something seemingly impossible)
દંડાની પર તલવાર ચલાવી	Dandaani Par Talvaar Chalaavi	To swing a sword on a stick (to react disproportionately)
રમત નહિ રમાડવાનો	Ramat Nahi Ramaadavano	Not a game to play (something serious or important)
બોલવા નાખી દો અને જાન જોઇને આવશે	Bolava Naakhi Do Ane Jaan Joine Aavashe	Call and watch them come (to have people at your beck and call)
ચંદનની લાટ પર બંધાયું છે	Chandanani Laat Par Bandhaayu Chhe	Tied on a sandalwood tree (to be in a favorable situation)
ગોઠડી ના ફૂલ નહિ ખોટા	Gothadi Na Phool Nahi Khota	No fake flowers in a bouquet (to be authentic and genuine)
વાંસ વાળું ન અક્રમણ કરું	Vaans Vaalun Na Akraman Karun	Not to attack with bamboo (to avoid using weak arguments)
દૂધની નદીમાં ડુબી ન ગમે	Dudhni Nadima Dubi Na Game	Can't drown in a river of milk (to be ungrateful or not content with what one has)
નદી પાર થઇને તડવા જવું	Nadi Paar Thaine Tadava Javun	To go to the other side of the river to fetch water (to unnecessarily complicate things)
ગોલ પર ગોલા રમવું	Gol Par Gola Ramavun	To play marbles on a round surface (to undertake a difficult task)
મિઠું થવાનો કારણ ન હોવું	Mithun Thavano Kaaran Na Hovun	To not have a reason to be sweet (to not have a hidden agenda)
ખડતલ બે પાંચ ફરવા વાળું	Khadtal Be Paanch Farava Vaalun	To make five from two and a half (to exaggerate or overstate)
ખડક પર બાંધવું ન થાય	Khadak Par Baandhavun Na Thay	Can't tie a knot on a rock (to attempt the impossible)
સાચાનો સાચવાય	Saachano Saachavaay	To save the truthful (to stand up for what is right)
ધોળું ન ધોવાય અને દાંત ન દેવાય	Dholun Na Dhovaay Ane Daant Na Devaay	Not allowing to wash clothes or brush teeth (to be overly restrictive)
અંગુર નાખી દો અને દાદ દેવાય	Angur Naakhi Do Ane Daad Devaay	To give grapes and get a scolding (to receive criticism despite doing something good)

How to use Gujarati idioms and expressions

To use Gujarati idioms and expressions in your everyday conversation, here's an example dialogue:

• Person 1: તું પરખું કરતો નજર આવે છો (Tu Parakhu Karato Najar Aave Cho) (You seem skeptical.)
• Person 2: હા હા હા, હું અંગારે ઉપર સવારે હોવા જોય છું! (Ha ha ha, Hu Angaare Upar Savaare Hova Jau Chu) (Yes, I am riding on embers!)
• Person 1: પર તું આ ખિડકી પરથી જ → ન ફટિકડો ઘડે (Par Tu Aa Khidekee Parthee Ja -> Na Fateekado Ghade) (But you seem to be very careful as if not letting a cracker burst while passing through a glass window.)
• Person 2: બંને પાસેના રહેવું જરૂરી છે. (Banne Paasena Rahevun Jaroori Che) (It's necessary to be on both sides.)
• Person 1: બધું બરાબર છે, પણ તમે પગલા ને મોરળા વાળું ન કરો. (Badhu Barabar Che, Pan Tame Pagla Ne Moraalaa Valun Na Karo) (Everything is fine, but don't waste your time making peacock feathers with a madman.)
• Person 2: તેમ નથી કરું, પરંતુ મારી દૃષ્ટિ એ પ્રમાણમાં રહેવાની છે. (Tem Nathi Karun, Parantu Mari Drishti E Pramanma Rahevanee Che) (I won't, but my focus is on maintaining a balance.)
• Person 1: તેમ છતાં, બોલવા નાખી દો અને જાન જોઇને આવશે. (Tem Chata, Bolava Naakhi Do Ane Jaan Joine Aavashe) (Even so, call and watch them come.)
• Person 2: હું એવું જ કરીશ. આભાર! (Hu Evun J Karis. Aabhar!) (I will do just that. Thank you!)
• Person 1: તેમ ધોળું ન ધોવાય અને દાંત ન દેવાય વાળો ન બનો. (Tem Dholun Na Dhovaay Ane Daant Na Devaay Valo Na Bano) (Just don't become someone who neither allows washing clothes nor brushing teeth.)
• Person 2: ના, હું એવો નથી બનવાનો. (Na, Hu Evo Nathi Banavano) (No, I won't become like that.)
• Person 1: અંગુર નાખી દો અને દાદ દેવાય વાળું ન થવું. (Angur Naakhi Do Ane Daad Devaay Valun Na Thavun) (Don't give grapes and get a scolding.)
• Person 2: હું તેમ જ રાખું છું, પ્રમાણ સંતુલિત રાખવાની કોશિશ કરું છું. (Hu Tem J Rakhu Chu, Praman Santulit Rakhevani Koshish Karu Chu) (I will keep that in mind and try to maintain a balance.)

Conclusion

Learning Gujarati idioms and expressions is a great way to improve your understanding of the language and culture. It can also make you sound more natural and fluent when speaking Gujarati.

But remember, idioms are meant to be used in the right context, so make sure you understand both the literal and figurative meanings of an idiom before using it.

➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎

Other Lessons

• Days of the Week
• Education
• Animals
• Food
• Clothes
• Days (diveso દિવસો)
• How to say Good Bye?
• Drinks
• Numbers (nembero નંબરો)
• Feelings and Emotions

Sources

• Gujarati Vocabulary - Idiomatic expressions
• English To Gujarati Botany Dictionary Full PDF - srv.pincanna.com
• Gujarati Language and tips to translate Gujarati to English |PoliLingua

Upon wrapping up this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Geography & Numbers (nembero નંબરો).