If you have ever typed “is meaning in marathi” into a search bar, you are not alone. This tiny English verb causes more confusion for Marathi learners than almost any other word, because Marathi simply does not use “is” the way English does. This guide will clear up that confusion completely. You will learn the exact Marathi translations for “is” in different contexts, how to use them correctly, and why a direct word-for-word translation often fails.
Quick Answer: The most common Marathi translations for “is” are आहे (āhe) for singular and आहेत (āhet) for plural or respectful forms. However, Marathi often omits “is” entirely in simple present tense sentences, so the correct translation depends heavily on context.
Why “Is” Does Not Translate Directly Into Marathi
English uses “is” as a linking verb in almost every present tense sentence. “He is tall.” “She is a doctor.” “The book is on the table.” Marathi works differently.
Marathi belongs to the Indo-Aryan language family and follows a subject-object-verb (SOV) word order. The verb “to be” exists in Marathi, but its usage rules differ significantly from English. In many cases, Marathi speakers simply drop the verb when the meaning is clear from context.
Consider this English sentence: “Ram is a teacher.” A word-for-word translation would give you “राम आहे शिक्षक” (Ram āhe shikshak). But a native Marathi speaker would more naturally say “राम शिक्षक आहे” (Ram shikshak āhe), placing the verb at the end. And in casual speech, they might just say “राम शिक्षक” (Ram shikshak) with no verb at all.
This fundamental difference explains why searching for “is meaning in marathi” produces varied and sometimes confusing results. The word “is” does not have one single equivalent.
Pro Tip: When translating English sentences containing “is” into Marathi, first identify whether “is” functions as a linking verb (connecting subject to description), a helping verb (forming continuous tense), or an existential verb (indicating existence). Each function has a different Marathi translation.
The Main Translations of “Is” in Marathi
The Marathi verb “असणे” (asaṇe) means “to be.” Its present tense forms are the most common translations for “is.”
आहे (Āhe) , Singular Form
आहे (āhe) is used when the subject is singular and in the third person. It also serves as the first person singular form.
Examples:
- तो माझा भाऊ आहे (To mājhā bhāu āhe) , He is my brother
- हे पुस्तक आहे (He pustak āhe) , This is a book
- मी आनंदी आहे (Mī ānandī āhe) , I am happy
आहेत (Āhet) , Plural and Respectful Form
आहेत (āhet) is used for plural subjects and for singular subjects who deserve respect, such as elders or authority figures.
Examples:
- ते माझे मित्र आहेत (Te mājhe mitra āhet) , They are my friends
- गुरुजी शाळेत आहेत (Gurujī shāḷet āhet) , The teacher is in school (respectful form)
- ही फुले सुंदर आहेत (Hī phule sundar āhet) , These flowers are beautiful
आहेस (Āhes) , Second Person Singular
While not a direct translation of “is,” आहेस (āhes) completes the present tense paradigm and is worth knowing for context.
- तू कुठे आहेस? (Tū kuṭhe āhes?) , Where are you?
आहोत (Āhot) , First Person Plural
- आम्ही तयार आहोत (Āmhī tayār āhot) , We are ready
The table below summarizes the full present tense of “असणे” (asaṇe):
| Person | Marathi Form | English Equivalent | Example Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|
| First person singular (I) | आहे (āhe) | am | मी विद्यार्थी आहे |
| Second person singular (you, informal) | आहेस (āhes) | are | तू विद्यार्थी आहेस |
| Third person singular (he/she/it) | आहे (āhe) | is | तो विद्यार्थी आहे |
| First person plural (we) | आहोत (āhot) | are | आम्ही विद्यार्थी आहोत |
| Second person plural (you all) | आहात (āhāt) | are | तुम्ही विद्यार्थी आहात |
| Third person plural (they) | आहेत (āhet) | are | ते विद्यार्थी आहेत |
| Respectful singular (he/she, formal) | आहेत (āhet) | is | गुरुजी विद्यार्थी आहेत |
This table shows why “is meaning in marathi” cannot be answered with a single word. The correct form depends on who or what the subject is.
When Marathi Omits “Is” Entirely
Perhaps the most surprising discovery for English speakers is that Marathi frequently drops “is” altogether. This is called zero copula, and it is completely natural in Marathi.
In simple present tense sentences where the predicate is an adjective or noun, Marathi speakers often omit the verb “to be.” The sentence structure becomes subject + predicate with no linking verb.
Examples of natural Marathi sentences without “is”:
- हा माझा मित्र (Hā mājhā mitra) , This my friend (meaning: This is my friend)
- ती खूप हुशार (Tī khūp huśhār) , She very smart (meaning: She is very smart)
- हे घर मोठे (He ghar moṭhe) , This house big (meaning: This house is big)
These sentences are grammatically complete in Marathi. Adding आहे or आहेत would not be wrong, but it would sound overly formal or emphatic in casual conversation.
The omission happens most often in:
- Descriptive statements about people, places, or things
- Identity statements where the subject is obvious from context
- Casual conversation rather than formal writing
Pro Tip: If you are unsure whether to include आहे or आहेत, err on the side of including them. Using the verb is never incorrect, just sometimes unnecessary. Omitting it incorrectly can change the meaning or sound unnatural.
Contextual Meanings of “Is” in Different Sentence Types
The translation of “is” shifts depending on the sentence type. Understanding these contexts will help you choose the right Marathi word.
Continuous Tense: “Is” as a Helping Verb
When “is” appears before an “-ing” verb in English, it forms the present continuous tense. In Marathi, this uses a completely different construction.
English: She is reading.
Marathi: ती वाचत आहे (Tī vāchat āhe)
English: The dog is barking.
Marathi: कुत्रा भुंकत आहे (Kutrā bhunkat āhe)
Here, आहे functions as an auxiliary verb attached to the main verb stem with a “त” (t) suffix. The structure is: subject + verb stem + त/त आहे.
Existential “Is”: Indicating Presence or Location
When “is” indicates that something exists or is located somewhere, Marathi uses आहे or आहेत, or sometimes the verb “असणे” (asaṇe) in other forms.
English: The book is on the table.
Marathi: पुस्तक टेबलावर आहे (Pustak ṭebalāvar āhe)
English: There is a temple near my house.
Marathi: माझ्या घराजवळ एक मंदिर आहे (Mājhyā gharājavaḷ ek mandir āhe)
Negative Sentences: “Is Not”
When negating “is,” Marathi adds “नाही” (nāhī) after the subject and predicate. Interestingly, the affirmative आहे often disappears in negative constructions.
English: He is not here.
Marathi: तो इथे नाही (To ithe nāhī)
English: This is not correct.
Marathi: हे बरोबर नाही (He barobar nāhī)
Notice that आहे is absent in these negative sentences. The negative particle नाही replaces it entirely.
Common Mistakes Learners Make With “Is” in Marathi
Learning from others’ errors saves time. Here are the most frequent mistakes English speakers make when translating “is” into Marathi.
Mistake 1: Always Translating “Is” as आहे
Many learners assume every “is” becomes आहे. This produces awkward sentences like “तो आहे शिक्षक” (To āhe shikshak) instead of the natural “तो शिक्षक आहे” (To shikshak āhe). The verb comes at the end in Marathi, not in the middle.
Mistake 2: Using Singular Form for Plural Subjects
Saying “ते आहे” (Te āhe) instead of “ते आहेत” (Te āhet) is a common error. Plural subjects always require आहेत, regardless of how the English sentence is structured.
Mistake 3: Forgetting the Respectful Form
In Marathi, elders, teachers, and respected figures take the plural verb form आहेत even when referring to a single person. Using आहे for your teacher would be considered disrespectful.
Mistake 4: Adding “Is” Where Marathi Does Not Need It
English speakers often force आहे into sentences where native speakers would naturally omit it. The result is grammatically correct but unnatural Marathi.
Mistake 5: Confusing आहे with आहेस
The forms आहे (āhe) and आहेस (āhes) sound similar but serve different grammatical persons. Saying “तू आहे” (Tū āhe) instead of “तू आहेस” (Tū āhes) is a beginner error.
Pro Tip: Practice with a native speaker or language exchange partner. Marathi speakers will quickly correct your verb placement and form, and hearing natural speech patterns will help you internalize when to drop “is” entirely.
Practical Examples: “Is” in Everyday Marathi Conversations
The best way to internalize these rules is through realistic examples. Here are common English sentences containing “is” with their natural Marathi translations.
Introducing Yourself and Others
- My name is Rahul. , माझं नाव राहुल आहे (Mājha nāv Rāhul āhe)
- This is my sister. , ही माझी बहीण आहे (Hī mājhī bahīṇ āhe)
- He is from Pune. , तो पुण्याचा आहे (To Puṇyāchā āhe)
Describing Things
- The weather is nice today. , आज हवामान छान आहे (Āj havāmān chhān āhe)
- This food is delicious. , हे जेवण खूप चविष्ट आहे (He jevaṇ khūp chaviṣhṭa āhe)
- Your house is beautiful. , तुमचं घर सुंदर आहे (Tumcha ghar sundar āhe)
Asking Questions
- Where is the station? , स्टेशन कुठे आहे? (Sṭeśhan kuṭhe āhe?)
- What is this? , हे काय आहे? (He kāy āhe?)
- Who is that man? , तो माणूस कोण आहे? (To māṇūs koṇ āhe?)
Talking About Time and Dates
- Today is Monday. , आज सोमवार आहे (Āj somvār āhe)
- What time is it? , किती वाजले आहेत? (Kitī vājle āhet?)
- The meeting is at 5 PM. , मीटिंग संध्याकाळी ५ वाजता आहे (Mīṭing sandhyākāḷī 5 vājatā āhe)
Notice how आहे consistently appears at the end of these sentences. This pattern is essential for natural-sounding Marathi.
Key Takeaways
- आहे (āhe) is the primary translation for “is” with singular subjects, while आहेत (āhet) is used for plural subjects and respectful singular references.
- Marathi frequently omits “is” entirely in simple descriptive sentences, a feature called zero copula that English does not share.
- The verb “to be” in Marathi always comes at the end of the sentence, following the subject-object-verb word order.
- Negative sentences replace आहे with नाही (nāhī) rather than adding a separate word for “not.”
- Continuous tense uses आहे as an auxiliary verb attached to a modified main verb stem, not as a standalone word.
- Respectful forms matter in Marathi culture. Using आहे instead of आहेत for elders or teachers signals disrespect.
- Understanding “is meaning in marathi” requires understanding context, not memorizing a single translation.
Frequently Asked Questions About “Is” in Marathi
Q: What is the exact meaning of “is” in Marathi?
A: The exact meaning of “is” in Marathi is आहे (āhe) for singular subjects and आहेत (āhet) for plural or respectful subjects. Both come from the verb असणे (asaṇe), meaning “to be.” However, Marathi often omits this verb in simple present tense sentences where English would require it.
Q: How do you say “he is” in Marathi?
A: “He is” translates to तो आहे (to āhe) in Marathi. For example, “He is a doctor” becomes “तो डॉक्टर आहे” (to ḍŏkṭar āhe). When referring to a respected male figure like a teacher or elder, use ते आहेत (te āhet) instead.
Q: How do you say “she is” in Marathi?
A: “She is” translates to ती आहे (tī āhe) in Marathi. For example, “She is my friend” becomes “ती माझी मैत्रीण आहे” (tī mājhī maitrīṇ āhe). For a respected female figure, use त्या आहेत (tyā āhet).
Q: What is the Marathi word for “is” in the past tense?
A: The past tense forms of “is” in Marathi are होता (hotā) for masculine singular, होती (hotī) for feminine singular, होते (hote) for masculine plural, and होत्या (hotyā) for feminine plural. These translate roughly to “was” and “were” in English.
Q: How do you ask “what is this” in Marathi?
A: “What is this?” translates to हे काय आहे? (he kāy āhe?) in Marathi. The word आहे appears at the end of the question, following Marathi’s subject-object-verb sentence structure.
Q: Why do some Marathi sentences not have a word for “is”?
A: Marathi uses zero copula in simple present tense sentences where the predicate is an adjective or noun. For example, “ती सुंदर आहे” (tī sundar āhe, she is beautiful) can be shortened to “ती सुंदर” (tī sundar) in casual speech without losing meaning. This grammatical feature is common in Indo-Aryan languages.
Q: Is “is meaning in marathi” the same as “are meaning in marathi”?
A: No. “Is” translates to आहे (āhe) for singular subjects, while “are” translates to आहेत (āhet) for plural subjects or आहोत (āhot) for first person plural. The distinction between singular and plural forms matters in Marathi grammar and cannot be ignored.
Q: How do you say “there is” in Marathi?
A: “There is” translates to एक आहे (ek āhe) when indicating existence of a single item. For example, “There is a temple here” becomes “इथे एक मंदिर आहे” (ithe ek mandir āhe). For multiple items, use आहेत (āhet) instead.
Q: What is the difference between आहे and आहेस in Marathi?
A: आहे (āhe) is used for first person singular (I am) and third person singular (he/she/it is). आहेस (āhes) is used only for second person singular informal (you are). Using आहेस with a third person subject is grammatically incorrect.
Q: How do you say “my name is” in Marathi?
A: “My name is” translates to माझं नाव आहे (mājha nāv āhe) in Marathi. For example, “My name is Priya” becomes “माझं नाव प्रिया आहे” (mājha nāv Priyā āhe). The आहे comes at the end of the sentence.
References & Further Reading
- Marathi Language , Encyclopaedia Britannica , Overview of Marathi grammar, history, and linguistic features including the copula system.
- Learn Marathi Grammar , University of Chicago Digital South Asia Library , Berntsen and Nimbkar’s Marathi reference grammar with detailed explanations of verb forms and sentence structures.
- Marathi Verb Conjugation , Omniglot , Practical guide to Marathi verb forms including the present tense of असणे (to be).
- Marathi Language Resources , Central Institute of Indian Languages , Official Indian government institute offering Marathi learning materials and linguistic documentation.
- A Comparative Study of Copula in Indo-Aryan Languages , Journal of South Asian Linguistics , Academic research on zero copula constructions in Marathi and related languages.
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About This Article
This guide was written based on standard Marathi grammar references and consultation with native Marathi speakers. The explanations reflect common usage in the Pune and Mumbai dialects, which serve as the basis for standard Marathi taught in textbooks. The examples provided represent natural, conversational Marathi rather than formal literary style. If you are learning Marathi for a specific region, note that verb forms and vocabulary may vary slightly in Vidarbha, Marathwada, and Konkan regions.