Learn Marathi for Beginners (Free Guide)

New to Marathi? This friendly beginner guide helps English speakers learn the essentialsā€”without paid courses. Youā€™ll get a quick start on sounds and script, a simple 21ā€‘day plan, useful phrases, numbers, and days of the week. Weā€™ll also show you where to find a free PDF or beginner book to download legally and study through short, daily sessions. Keep it light, keep it fun, and build confidence step by step.

Master the sounds and simple script

Marathi uses Devanagari, the same script as Hindi. As a beginner, you can learn through English first, then add the script. Start with the most common sounds: a (as in about), ā (long a), i/Ä«, u/Å«, e, o. Marathi consonants are mostly predictable; k, g, t, d, p, b sound close to English, while retroflex sounds (į¹­, įø, į¹‡) are produced with the tongue curled slightly back.

Donā€™t stress about writing perfectly on day one. Learn a few letters that unlock many words (ą¤•, ą¤®, ą¤°, ą¤¤, ą¤Ø). Practice reading your name and short words like namaskār (hello), ho (yes), nāhÄ« (no), krupayā (please). Even 5 minutes a day with the script builds recognition fast and helps pronunciation.

  • Say words aloud slowly: na-ma-s-kār.
  • Record yourself and compare to native audio.
  • Learn 5ā€“7 letters per session, not all at once.
  • Pair romanization with Devanagari to avoid guesswork.

Your 21-day beginner plan

Consistency beats intensity. Aim for 15ā€“20 minutes daily. Set micro-goals you can track: 10 new words, 1 mini-dialog, or 1 script row. Use a small notebook or a free flashcard app to make progress visible. If you miss a day, continueā€”progress flows through routine, not perfection.

Keep a oneā€‘page cheat sheet (print or PDF) with greetings, pronouns, numbers, and days. Add a short listening clip daily and shadow it (speak along). Recycle old items before adding new ones; this is the beginner secret to remembering more with less time.

  • Days 1ā€“7: Sounds, greetings, you/I, yes/no, numbers 1ā€“10.
  • Days 8ā€“14: Daily verbs (go, want, like), food, places.
  • Days 15ā€“21: Time, days of week, simple questions and replies.
  • Daily loop: review 5 old items, add 5 new, speak 2 minutes.

Survival phrases, numbers, and days

Core phrases youā€™ll use everywhere: Namaskār (Hello). Krupayā (Please). Dhanyavād (Thank you). Ho/NāhÄ« (Yes/No). Maaf karā (Sorry). TumhÄ« kasā/kasÄ« āhāt? (How are you? m/f). MÄ« marāį¹­hÄ« śikatoy/śikate āhe (I am learning Marathi, m/f). Samajlā/SamajlÄ«? (Did you understand? m/f). Mala thōįøÄ« marāį¹­hÄ« yetē (I know a little Marathi).

Numbers and time basics help in markets and transport. 1ā€“10: ek, dōn, tÄ«į¹‡, chār, pāch, sā, sāt, āį¹­h, nō, dahā. Days of the week: Somvār (Mon), Mangalvār (Tue), Budhavār (Wed), Guruvār (Thu), Shukravār (Fri), Shanivār (Sat), Ravivār (Sun). Practice saying plans through short lines: ā€œShukravār lā mi punhā yēnārā€ (Iā€™ll come again on Friday).

  • Ask price: KÄ«mta kāy? (Whatā€™s the price?)
  • Where isā€¦?: ā€¦kuthe āhe? (e.g., station kuthe āhe?)
  • I wantā€¦: Mala ā€¦ pahije (Mala pānÄ« pahije).
  • I likeā€¦: Mala ā€¦ āvadte (Mala chā āvadto/āvadte).
  • Goodbye/See you: Nantar bhētÅ«yā / Pudhe bhētÅ«yā.

Free resources, PDFs, and safe downloads

You can learn a lot with free materials. Look for public, university, or government resources that offer a legal free PDF download. Search for ā€œMarathi beginner book PDFā€ or ā€œLearn Marathi through English PDFā€ from trusted institutions. Wikibooks often hosts openā€‘content primers, and many universities share grammar notes and phrase lists as PDFs.

Round out your toolkit with audio and spaced repetition. Use a free deck for numbers, days, and verbs; add your own examples. A bilingual dictionary app plus a Marathi keyboard will speed up lookups and messages. When in doubt, choose resources with audio so you learn through listening and speaking, not just reading.

  • Wikibooks: open Marathi primers (free to read/download).
  • University grammar handouts: beginner PDFs with exercises.
  • Government primers: public domain alphabet and reading PDFs.
  • YouTube playlists: slow dialogues for A1ā€“A2 learners.
  • Anki/Memrise decks: verbs, days, core phrases (sync across devices).

FAQ

Can I learn Marathi free without a teacher?
Yes. Combine a beginner PDF or book, daily listening, and spaced repetition. Focus on phrases youā€™ll use, and practice out loud for 10ā€“20 minutes each day.
Should beginners learn the Devanagari script first?
Either path works. Many start through romanization for speed, then add Devanagari within 1ā€“2 weeks. Reading the script improves pronunciation and recall.
Where can I download a free Marathi PDF legally?
Check Wikibooks, university course pages, or government education portals. Avoid unofficial scans of commercial books; choose open or clearly licensed PDFs.
How long to reach A1ā€“A2 in Marathi?
With 20ā€“30 minutes daily for 6ā€“10 weeks, most beginners can handle greetings, basic questions, numbers, and days through simple, practiced dialogs.
Is ā€œLearn Marathi in 30 Daysā€ a good beginner book?
It depends on the edition. Use it for phrase structure, but pair it with audio and updated vocabulary. Borrow from a library or sample before buying.

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