Slang

1. यार

   yaar

   Mate / Dude

   Usage

   A filler address tacked on to a sentence. Friends your own age only — never to elders, shop staff or officials. Used by men and women alike

2. भाई

   bhai

   Bro

   Usage

   Literally "brother". A friendly address to a man your age or a little older — safe with rickshaw drivers and stallholders too. Not used for women

3. दीदी

   didi

   Big sister

   Usage

   The female counterpart of "bhai" — a warm, respectful way to address a woman who looks older than you. Not for someone younger

4. अरे

   are

   Hey / Oh!

   Usage

   An interjection for surprise, calling out, or mild protest. Free with friends, but on its own at an elder it sounds brusque

5. अच्छा?

   achchha?

   Oh really?

   Usage

   The all-purpose acknowledgement. Rising tone means "really?", falling tone means "I see". Safe with anyone

6. क्या बात है!

   kya baat hai!

   Nice one!

   Usage

   Literally "what a thing", used as a set phrase of praise. Safe with anyone for food, music or a view — keep the tone bright so it does not read as sarcasm

7. चलो

   chalo

   Come on, let's go

   Usage

   Both "let's go" and a way of closing a topic with "well, fine". This form is for peers — say "chaliye" to someone senior

8. बस

   bas

   That's enough

   Usage

   The one word for "no more, thanks" when food is being ladled out. Raise a palm as you say it and it stays polite. It sounds identical to the vehicle "bus", so context does the work

9. जुगाड़

   jugaad

   A clever workaround

   Usage

   The art of making do with whatever is at hand, spoken of with pride as an Indian trait. Safe with anyone, though applied to someone's work it can read as "slapdash"

10. टेंशन मत लो

    tension mat lo

    Don't stress

    Usage

    Built on the fully naturalised loan "tension". This imperative is for friends your age — say "chinta mat kijiye" to someone senior

11. वाह

    wah

    Wow

    Usage

    An exclamation of admiration. Calling it out during a musical performance is the traditional way to praise. Safe with anyone

12. शाबाश

    shabash

    Well done

    Usage

    Praise aimed downward — at a child, a junior, or a student. Said to someone senior it sounds condescending, so avoid it there

13. पक्का

    pakka

    For sure

    Usage

    Used to nail down a promise or a fact. Ask "pakka?" back to mean "are you certain?". Safe with anyone

14. सही है

    sahi hai

    That works / Cool

    Usage

    Literally "it is correct", but young people use it for "nice". Peer-level talk — in a formal setting "theek hai" is safer

15. बिंदास

    bindaas

    Carefree

    Usage

    Mumbai slang praising someone who does not sweat the small stuff. For friends your age — applied to an elder it sounds flippant

16. टाइमपास

    timepass

    Killing time

    Usage

    A settled Indian-English borrowing, a light way to say "nothing much". Harmless with anyone — but calling someone's work "timepass" is an insult

17. झकास

    jhakaas

    Fantastic

    Usage

    Mumbai slang for "brilliant", spread nationwide by the movies. Use it with friends your age about food or a view. It sounds theatrical, so keep it out of formal settings

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