Daily life
Chalo
CHAH-lo
Let's go, or come on. The single most useful Hindi word in daily Mumbai life, used constantly and in every register.
Bombay
bom-BAY
Renamed Mumbai in 1995, but still used affectionately by many residents. Both are correct in conversation; official contexts use Mumbai.
Society
so-SY-uh-tee
The co-operative housing society that owns and governs your building. It approves tenants, sets rules and can be more consequential to your daily life than the landlord.
Shopping
Kitna hai?
KIT-na hai
How much is it? The essential negotiating opener, for autos, markets and everything else.
Transport
Local
LOH-kul
The suburban train network, which carries around seven million people a day. 'Taking the local' is the defining Mumbai commute.
Culture
Dabbawala
DAB-ba-wah-la
The lunchbox carriers who move around 200,000 home-cooked meals across the city daily with famously near-zero error rates.
Jugaad
joo-GAAD
An improvised, resourceful fix. Both a national trait and a compliment, and you will rely on it constantly.
Food
Vada pav
VAH-da pav
A spiced potato fritter in a bread roll — Mumbai's street food, eaten by everyone at every income level, and costing a few rupees.
Cutting chai
KUT-ting chai
Half a glass of strong milky tea, the standard office and street order. You will drink several a day.
Social
Bhai
bhaa-ee
Brother. Used to address almost any man of similar age, from a colleague to a rickshaw driver. 'Didi' is the equivalent for women.
Emergency
Monsoon
mon-SOON
June to September, and the organising fact of the Mumbai year. Trains stop, streets flood, and the city has a genuinely different rhythm for four months.
112 / 100
—
112 is the national emergency number now. 100 for police and 101 for fire still work and are more widely known.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.