In English, "the" is the definite article used to refer to specific nouns that are already known to the speaker and listener. However, Marathi, like many Indian languages, does not have a direct equivalent to the English definite article "the". Instead, Marathi expresses definiteness through: -
Context -
Demonstrative pronouns (तो/ती/ते - to/ti/te meaning "that") -
Word order -
Simply omitting any article where English would use "the"
Q: What does "the" mean in Marathi? A: Marathi does not have a direct translation for "the". Definiteness is expressed through context, demonstrative pronouns (तो/ती/ते), or by simply omitting any article. Where English says "the book", Marathi often just says "पुस्तक" (pustak - book).
Course: Marathi Language Learning Level: Beginner Topic: Definite Article "the" and Definiteness in Marathi Type: Reading Lesson for English Speakers Institution: Latinum Institute Modern Language Course
In this lesson, we will explore 15 examples showing how Marathi handles situations where English uses "the". You'll learn when to use demonstratives, when to rely on context, and when no article is needed at all. This fundamental difference between English and Marathi is crucial for beginners to understand.
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Marathi has no direct equivalent to "the" -
Definiteness is expressed through context or demonstratives -
तो/ती/ते (to/ti/te) can sometimes translate as "the" when specificity is needed -
Often, no article is used where English requires "the" -
Understanding this difference is essential for natural Marathi expression
1.1 The ते (te) sun सूर्य (soorya) rises उगवतो (ugavto) in मध्ये (madhye) the - east पूर्वेला (poorvela)
1.2 The ती (ti) book पुस्तक (pustak) is आहे (aahe) on वर (var) the - table टेबलावर (tablaavar)
1.3 Children मुले (mule) play खेळतात (kheLataat) in मध्ये (madhye) the - garden बागेत (baaget)
1.4 The तो (to) teacher शिक्षक (shikshak) teaches शिकवतो (shikavto) the - students विद्यार्थ्यांना (vidyaarthyaanna)
1.5 I मी (mee) saw पाहिले (paahile) the ते (te) mountains डोंगर (dongar) yesterday काल (kaal)
1.6 The - water पाणी (paaNi) is आहे (aahe) cold थंड (thand)
1.7 She ती (ti) reads वाचते (vaachte) the - newspaper वर्तमानपत्र (vartamaanpatra) daily रोज (roj)
1.8 The - moon चंद्र (chandra) shines चमकतो (chamakto) at - night रात्री (raatri)
1.9 We आम्ही (aamhi) went गेलो (gelo) to ला (laa) the - market बाजारात (baajaaraat)
1.10 The तो (to) doctor डॉक्टर (doctor) examined तपासले (tapaasle) the - patient रुग्णाला (rugNaalaa)
1.11 The - flowers फुले (phule) bloom उमलतात (umaltaat) in मध्ये (madhye) the - spring वसंतात (vasantaat)
1.12 He तो (to) closed बंद केले (band kele) the - door दरवाजा (darvaajaa)
1.13 The - rain पाऊस (paaus) stopped थांबला (thaambla) in - the - afternoon दुपारी (dupaari)
1.14 Mother आई (aaee) cooks स्वयंपाक करते (svayampaak karte) the - food जेवण (jevaN) for साठी (saaThi) the - family कुटुंबासाठी (kuTumbaa-saaThi)
1.15 The ती (ti) girl मुलगी (mulgee) sings गाते (gaate) the - song गाणे (gaaNe) beautifully सुंदर (sundar)
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1.1 सूर्य पूर्वेला उगवतो. The sun rises in the east.
1.2 पुस्तक टेबलावर आहे. The book is on the table.
1.3 मुले बागेत खेळतात. Children play in the garden.
1.4 शिक्षक विद्यार्थ्यांना शिकवतो. The teacher teaches the students.
1.5 मी काल डोंगर पाहिले. I saw the mountains yesterday.
1.6 पाणी थंड आहे. The water is cold.
1.7 ती रोज वर्तमानपत्र वाचते. She reads the newspaper daily.
1.8 चंद्र रात्री चमकतो. The moon shines at night.
1.9 आम्ही बाजारात गेलो. We went to the market.
1.10 डॉक्टरने रुग्णाला तपासले. The doctor examined the patient.
1.11 वसंतात फुले उमलतात. The flowers bloom in spring.
1.12 त्याने दरवाजा बंद केला. He closed the door.
1.13 दुपारी पाऊस थांबला. The rain stopped in the afternoon.
1.14 आई कुटुंबासाठी जेवण बनवते. Mother cooks food for the family.
1.15 मुलगी गाणे सुंदर गाते. The girl sings the song beautifully.
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1.1 सूर्य पूर्वेला उगवतो.
1.2 पुस्तक टेबलावर आहे.
1.3 मुले बागेत खेळतात.
1.4 शिक्षक विद्यार्थ्यांना शिकवतो.
1.5 मी काल डोंगर पाहिले.
1.6 पाणी थंड आहे.
1.7 ती रोज वर्तमानपत्र वाचते.
1.8 चंद्र रात्री चमकतो.
1.9 आम्ही बाजारात गेलो.
1.10 डॉक्टरने रुग्णाला तपासले.
1.11 वसंतात फुले उमलतात.
1.12 त्याने दरवाजा बंद केला.
1.13 दुपारी पाऊस थांबला.
1.14 आई कुटुंबासाठी जेवण बनवते.
1.15 मुलगी गाणे सुंदर गाते.
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Marathi does not have a definite article equivalent to English "the". This is one of the most significant differences between the two languages. Here's how Marathi handles definiteness:
In most cases where English uses "the", Marathi uses no article at all: -
English: "The sun rises" -
Marathi: "सूर्य उगवतो" (soorya ugavto) - literally "sun rises"
When specificity is crucial, Marathi uses demonstrative pronouns: -
तो (to) - that/the (masculine singular) -
ती (ti) - that/the (feminine singular) -
ते (te) - that/the (neuter singular/plural) -
त्या (tyaa) - those/the (plural)
These change according to gender and number of the noun.
Often, the context makes it clear whether something is definite or indefinite: -
"पुस्तक टेबलावर आहे" can mean both "A book is on the table" or "The book is on the table" depending on context.
Marathi uses case endings (vibhakti) which can indicate definiteness: -
Direct case: मुलगा (mulgaa) - boy/the boy -
Oblique case: मुलाला (mulaalaa) - to the boy
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Overusing demonstratives: English speakers often overuse तो/ती/ते thinking they always translate "the". This makes speech sound unnatural. -
Word-for-word translation: Trying to translate every "the" from English leads to awkward Marathi. -
Ignoring context: Not recognizing when context alone provides definiteness. -
Gender confusion: Using wrong demonstrative pronouns due to incorrect gender assignment.
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First, determine if you really need to express definiteness explicitly -
If context is clear, omit any article -
If you need to be specific, check the noun's gender -
Choose appropriate demonstrative if needed: तो/ती/ते -
Remember that case endings often imply definiteness
English: Always requires "the" for definite reference Marathi: Relies on context, word order, and optional demonstratives
English: One form "the" for all genders and numbers Marathi: Different forms based on gender and number when using demonstratives
No direct equivalent to "the" exists in Marathi. Definiteness is expressed through: -
Zero article (most common) -
Demonstrative pronouns (तो/ती/ते/त्या) -
Context -
Case endings -
Word order
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The absence of a definite article in Marathi reflects broader cultural and linguistic patterns in Indian languages. This linguistic feature has several cultural implications:
Marathi speakers rely heavily on shared context and understanding. This reflects the collective nature of Indian society where much is understood without being explicitly stated. The listener is expected to understand from context whether something is definite or indefinite.
The lack of mandatory articles gives Marathi a certain flexibility and economy of expression. Poetry and literature often exploit this feature for rhythmic and aesthetic purposes.
Marathi, like many Indian languages, derives much of its structure from Sanskrit, which also lacks articles. This classical influence shapes how Marathi speakers conceptualize and express definiteness.
Different regions of Maharashtra may have slight variations in how they express definiteness. Urban speakers influenced by English might use demonstratives more frequently than rural speakers.
With increasing English influence, educated urban speakers sometimes overuse demonstratives where traditional Marathi would omit them. This represents ongoing language change.
The absence of articles in Marathi creates unique challenges for translators working between English and Marathi. Legal and technical documents require special attention to ensure definiteness is properly conveyed.
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From "Shyamchi Aai" (Shyam's Mother) by Sane Guruji (Pandurang Sadashiv Sane), Chapter 1:
आई (aaee) mother रोज (roj) daily सकाळी (sakaaLi) morning लवकर (lavkar) early उठते (uThte) gets-up. ती (ti) she आंघोळ (aanghoL) bath करून (karoon) having-done स्वयंपाकघरात (svayampaak-gharaat) in-kitchen जाते (jaate) goes. तिथे (tithe) there ती (ti) she सगळ्यांसाठी (sagaLyaan-saaThi) for-everyone चहा (chahaa) tea बनवते (banavte) makes. मग (mag) then सूर्य (soorya) sun उगवतो (ugavto) rises आणि (aaNi) and दिवस (divas) day सुरू (suroo) start होतो (hoto) becomes.
आई रोज सकाळी लवकर उठते. ती आंघोळ करून स्वयंपाकघरात जाते. तिथे ती सगळ्यांसाठी चहा बनवते. मग सूर्य उगवतो आणि दिवस सुरू होतो.
Mother gets up early every morning. She takes a bath and goes to the kitchen. There she makes tea for everyone. Then the sun rises and the day begins.
आई रोज सकाळी लवकर उठते. ती आंघोळ करून स्वयंपाकघरात जाते. तिथे ती सगळ्यांसाठी चहा बनवते. मग सूर्य उगवतो आणि दिवस सुरू होतो.
This passage beautifully illustrates the absence of "the" in Marathi: -
"आई" (mother) appears without any article where English would say "The mother" -
"सूर्य" (sun) stands alone where English requires "the sun" -
"दिवस" (day) needs no article where English says "the day"
Note the use of "ती" (she) which is a pronoun, not an article. The passage flows naturally without any definite articles, relying on context to convey definiteness. This is typical of Marathi narrative style.
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1.16 Early लवकर (lavkar) in - the - morning सकाळी (sakaaLi), Sunita सुनिता (Sunita) walks चालत (chaalat) to कडे (kaDe) the - vegetable भाजी (bhaaji) market बाजाराकडे (baajaaraakaDe) with सोबत (sobat) her तिची (tichi) basket टोपली (TopLi)
1.17 The - vendors विक्रेते (vikrete) arrange मांडतात (maaNDataat) their त्यांची (tyaanchi) fresh ताजी (taaji) vegetables भाज्या (bhaajyaa) on वर (var) the - ground जमिनीवर (jaminivar)
1.18 The तो (to) fruit फळ (phaL) seller विक्रेता (vikretaa) calls हाक मारतो (haak maarto) out - the - prices किंमती (kimati) of च्या (chyaa) mangoes आंब्यांच्या (aambyaanchyaa)
1.19 Women स्त्रिया (striyaa) bargain सौदा करतात (saudaa karataat) for साठी (saaThi) the - best उत्तम (uttam) price किंमत (kimat) on वर (var) tomatoes टोमॅटोवर (tomato-var)
1.20 The - flower फूल (phool) vendor विक्रेता (vikretaa) sits बसलेली आहे (basaleli aahe) near जवळ (javaL) the - temple मंदिराजवळ (mandiraa-javaL) entrance प्रवेशद्वार (pravesh-dvaar)
1.21 Children मुले (mule) help मदत करतात (madat karataat) their त्यांच्या (tyaanchyaa) mothers आयांना (aayaannaa) carry वाहून नेण्यास (vaahun neNyaas) the - heavy जड (jaD) bags पिशव्या (pishavyaa)
1.22 The - spice मसाला (masaalaa) merchant व्यापारी (vyaapaari) weighs तोलतो (tolto) the - turmeric हळद (haLad) on वर (var) his त्याच्या (tyaachyaa) old जुन्या (junyaa) scale तराजूवर (taraajuvar)
1.23 An एक (ek) old म्हातारी (mhaataari) woman बाई (baai) sells विकते (vikte) the - fresh ताजे (taaje) coriander कोथिंबीर (kothimbir) from पासून (paasun) her तिच्या (tichyaa) garden बागेतून (baage-tun)
1.24 The - fish मासे (maase) market बाजार (baajaar) opens उघडतो (ughaDato) before आधी (aadhi) the - sun सूर्य (soorya) rises उगवण्याआधी (ugavaNyaa-aadhi)
1.25 People लोक (lok) buy खरेदी करतात (kharedi karataat) the - groceries किराणा (kiraaNaa) for साठी (saaThi) the - whole संपूर्ण (sampoorNa) week आठवड्यासाठी (aaThavaDyaa-saaThi)
1.26 The तो (to) tea चहा (chahaa) stall टपरी (Tapari) owner मालक (maalak) serves देतो (deto) hot गरम (garam) tea चहा (chahaa) to - the - tired थकलेल्या (thakalelya) shoppers खरेदीदारांना (kharedi-daaraannaa)
1.27 The - grain धान्य (dhaanya) merchant व्यापारी (vyaapaari) displays दाखवतो (daakhavto) different विविध (vividh) varieties प्रकार (prakaar) of चे (che) rice तांदळाचे (taanduLaache)
1.28 Cats मांजरे (maanjare) wander फिरतात (phirataat) between मधून (madhun) the - stalls गाड्यांमधून (gaaDyaan-madhun) looking शोधत (shodhat) for - scraps उरलेले (uralele)
1.29 The - market बाजार (baajaar) closes बंद होतो (band hoto) when जेव्हा (jevhaa) the - afternoon दुपारची (dupaarchi) heat उन्हाळा (unhaala) becomes होतो (hoto) unbearable असह्य (asahya)
1.30 Everyone सर्वजण (sarvajan) returns परततात (partataat) home घरी (ghari) with सोबत (sobat) their त्यांच्या (tyaanchyaa) purchases खरेदीसोबत (kharedi-sobat) satisfied समाधानी (samadhaani)
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1.16 सकाळी लवकर सुनिता तिची टोपली घेऊन भाजी बाजाराकडे चालत जाते. Early in the morning, Sunita walks to the vegetable market with her basket.
1.17 विक्रेते त्यांच्या ताज्या भाज्या जमिनीवर मांडतात. The vendors arrange their fresh vegetables on the ground.
1.18 फळ विक्रेता आंब्यांच्या किंमती हाक मारतो. The fruit seller calls out the prices of mangoes.
1.19 स्त्रिया टोमॅटोवर उत्तम किंमतीसाठी सौदा करतात. Women bargain for the best price on tomatoes.
1.20 फूल विक्रेता मंदिराच्या प्रवेशद्वाराजवळ बसलेली आहे. The flower vendor sits near the temple entrance.
1.21 मुले त्यांच्या आयांना जड पिशव्या वाहून नेण्यास मदत करतात. Children help their mothers carry the heavy bags.
1.22 मसाला व्यापारी त्याच्या जुन्या तराजूवर हळद तोलतो. The spice merchant weighs turmeric on his old scale.
1.23 एक म्हातारी बाई तिच्या बागेतून आणलेले ताजे कोथिंबीर विकते. An old woman sells fresh coriander from her garden.
1.24 मासे बाजार सूर्य उगवण्याआधी उघडतो. The fish market opens before the sun rises.
1.25 लोक संपूर्ण आठवड्यासाठी किराणा खरेदी करतात. People buy groceries for the whole week.
1.26 चहाच्या टपरीचा मालक थकलेल्या खरेदीदारांना गरम चहा देतो. The tea stall owner serves hot tea to tired shoppers.
1.27 धान्य व्यापारी तांदळाचे विविध प्रकार दाखवतो. The grain merchant displays different varieties of rice.
1.28 मांजरे गाड्यांमधून फिरत उरलेले शोधतात. Cats wander between the stalls looking for scraps.
1.29 दुपारची उन्हाळा असह्य होतो तेव्हा बाजार बंद होतो. The market closes when the afternoon heat becomes unbearable.
1.30 सर्वजण त्यांच्या खरेदीसोबत समाधानी होऊन घरी परततात. Everyone returns home satisfied with their purchases.
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1.16 सकाळी लवकर सुनिता तिची टोपली घेऊन भाजी बाजाराकडे चालत जाते.
1.17 विक्रेते त्यांच्या ताज्या भाज्या जमिनीवर मांडतात.
1.18 फळ विक्रेता आंब्यांच्या किंमती हाक मारतो.
1.19 स्त्रिया टोमॅटोवर उत्तम किंमतीसाठी सौदा करतात.
1.20 फूल विक्रेता मंदिराच्या प्रवेशद्वाराजवळ बसलेली आहे.
1.21 मुले त्यांच्या आयांना जड पिशव्या वाहून नेण्यास मदत करतात.
1.22 मसाला व्यापारी त्याच्या जुन्या तराजूवर हळद तोलतो.
1.23 एक म्हातारी बाई तिच्या बागेतून आणलेले ताजे कोथिंबीर विकते.
1.24 मासे बाजार सूर्य उगवण्याआधी उघडतो.
1.25 लोक संपूर्ण आठवड्यासाठी किराणा खरेदी करतात.
1.26 चहाच्या टपरीचा मालक थकलेल्या खरेदीदारांना गरम चहा देतो.
1.27 धान्य व्यापारी तांदळाचे विविध प्रकार दाखवतो.
1.28 मांजरे गाड्यांमधून फिरत उरलेले शोधतात.
1.29 दुपारची उन्हाळा असह्य होतो तेव्हा बाजार बंद होतो.
1.30 सर्वजण त्यांच्या खरेदीसोबत समाधानी होऊन घरी परततात.
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This market scene narrative demonstrates several important patterns in how Marathi handles definiteness without "the":
When referring to markets, vendors, or products in general, Marathi uses no article: -
"बाजार" (market) not "the market" -
"विक्रेते" (vendors) not "the vendors"
Marathi frequently uses possessive pronouns where English might use "the": -
"तिची टोपली" (her basket) instead of "the basket" -
"त्याच्या तराजूवर" (on his scale) instead of "on the scale"
The locative case endings (-त, -वर, -जवळ) often imply definiteness: -
"बाजारात" (in the market) -
"जमिनीवर" (on the ground) -
"मंदिराजवळ" (near the temple)
Time expressions in Marathi typically omit articles: -
"सकाळी" (in the morning) not "in the morning" -
"दुपारची उन्हाळा" (afternoon heat) not "the afternoon heat"
Marathi often creates compound words where English would use "the" + noun: -
"भाजी बाजार" (vegetable market) -
"मासे बाजार" (fish market)
In connected narrative, once a topic is introduced, subsequent references rely on context rather than articles for definiteness. This creates a more fluid, context-dependent style than English.
The narrative uses demonstratives sparingly, mainly for emphasis or when introducing a new specific element: -
"तो फळ विक्रेता" (that fruit seller) - used for specificity -
Most other references omit demonstratives
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The Latinum Institute has been creating online language learning materials since 2006, pioneering innovative approaches to self-directed language study. These lessons follow the construed text method, breaking down target language texts into granular, comprehensible units that allow autodidacts to build understanding systematically.
This Marathi course applies the same proven methodology used in the Institute's classical language courses, adapted for modern language learning. Each lesson provides: -
Detailed interlinear glossing with transliteration -
Complete example sentences showing natural usage -
Comprehensive grammar explanations designed for English speakers -
Cultural context to deepen understanding -
Authentic literary excerpts with thorough analysis
The method emphasizes reading comprehension as the foundation for language acquisition, allowing learners to progress at their own pace without formal instruction. By working through carefully structured examples and explanations, students develop both linguistic competence and cultural literacy.
For more information about the Latinum Institute's approach and courses, visit: -
Method explanation: latinum.substack.com/method -
Main website: latinum.org.uk -
Reviews: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
The Institute's long experience in online language education ensures these materials meet the highest standards for self-directed learning.
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