The Telugu spoken in Telangana has its own flavour: direct, warm and full of words borrowed from Urdu and Dakhni during centuries of Nizam rule. If you grew up in Hyderabad or have family from Telangana, many of these words will sound familiar. Here are popular Telangana words and expressions, with their standard Telugu equivalents and English meanings.
Popular Telangana Slang Words and Meanings
- Jara (జర) – a little / please. Standard Telugu: కొంచెం. Example: “Jara aagu, vasta.” – Wait a little, I’m coming.
- Mastu (మస్తు) – a lot / very good. Standard: చాలా / బాగా. Example: “Biryani mastundi.” – The biryani is really good.
- Endi / Etla (ఏంది / ఎట్ల) – what / how. Standard: ఏమిటి / ఎలా. Example: “Endi sangati? Etlunnav?” – What’s up? How are you?
- Gitla / Gatla (గిట్ల / గట్ల) – like this / like that. Standard: ఇలా / అలా. Example: “Gitla cheyyi, gatla kaadu.” – Do it like this, not like that.
- Buvva (బువ్వ) – cooked rice / food. Standard: అన్నం. Example: “Buvva tinnava?” – Have you eaten?
- Poradu / Pori (పోరడు / పోరి) – boy / girl. Standard: అబ్బాయి / అమ్మాయి.
- Bapu (బాపు) – father. Standard: నాన్న.
- Avva (అవ్వ) – grandmother. Standard: నానమ్మ / అమ్మమ్మ.
- Fikar (ఫికర్) – worry (from Urdu). Example: “Fikar cheyyaku.” – Don’t worry.
- Pareshan (పరేషాన్) – troubled / stressed (from Urdu). Example: “Enduku gantha pareshan avutunnav?” – Why are you so worried?
- Lolli (లొల్లి) – noise / fuss / quarrel. Example: “Lolli cheyyakunda kooso.” – Sit down without making a fuss.
- Kirikiri (కిరికిరి) – a complication or messy problem.
- Dost / Sopathi (దోస్త్ / సోపతి) – friend / friendship.
- Muchchata (ముచ్చట) – chat, gossip. Example: “Koosoni muchchatlu cheppukundam.” – Let’s sit and chat.
- Shuru (షురూ) – start (from Urdu). Example: “Badi eppudu shuru?” – When does school start?
- Barabar (బరాబర్) – exactly / correct. Example: “Nuvvu cheppindi barabar.” – What you said is right.
- Gammathi (గమ్మతి) – fun, amusing. Example: “Aa cinema mastu gammathundi.” – That movie is really fun.
- Iga (ఇగ) – now / then. Standard: ఇక. Example: “Iga podaam pa.” – Let’s go now.
Grammar Features of Telangana Telugu
- Different verb endings: వచ్చాడు (he came) becomes వచ్చిండు (vachchindu); చేశారు (they did) becomes చేసిన్రు (chesinru); వెళ్తాను (I’ll go) becomes పోత (pota).
- The “ga” sound: అంత (that much) often becomes గంత (gantha), and ఆ పని (that work) becomes గా పని (gaa pani).
- Warm forms of address: Anna (elder brother), Akka (elder sister) and Thammi (younger brother) are used even with strangers.
Why Telangana Telugu Sounds Different
Telangana was part of Hyderabad State under the Nizams for about two centuries, so Urdu was the language of administration and city life. That long contact brought many Urdu and Dakhni words into everyday Telugu. Coastal Andhra, by contrast, was under British rule in the Madras Presidency and developed its own standard, which became the basis of “textbook” Telugu. Neither variety is more correct; they are two branches of the same language.
Telangana Words in Literature and Film
Poets such as Kaloji Narayana Rao, Dasarathi Krishnamacharya, Goreti Venkanna and Andesri brought Telangana speech into literature, and recent Telugu films increasingly use authentic Telangana dialogue. Hearing these words on screen is a fun way for children to learn them.
A Family Game to Try
Play “Telangana word, standard word”: one person says a Telangana word like buvva, and the next person answers with the standard word, annam. Children learn both forms and grow up respecting every variety of Telugu.
Read the Telugu version of this article for more examples, and see our guide to the differences between Andhra Telugu and Telangana Telugu.
Related Reading
- Differences between Andhra Telugu and Telangana Telugu
- తెలంగాణ స్లాంగ్ పదాలు – ఒక విశేష పరిచయం
- Key Telugu dialects
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