आजोबा
ājobā/a.d͡zo.ba/masculine
The Marathi word for grandpa is आजोबा (ājobā).
आजोबा is a masculine noun used to refer to a grandfather. While it functions as a standard noun, it is also frequently used as a respectful title when addressing him.
Meaning: grandfather (informal) (noun)
How does it change in a sentence?
The word changes depending on its role in a sentence. Use आजोबांना when the grandfather is the indirect object, such as when you are telling or giving something to him. Use आजोबांचे to indicate the possessive form, meaning something belongs to the grandfather.
How do you pronounce it?
The word has three syllables: ā-jo-bā. The sound /o/ is like the 'o' in st[o]ry, and the sound /b/ is like the 'b' in a[b]ash.
Did you know?
- In Marathi culture, addressing an elder as आजोबा is not only a way to identify a relation but is a required mark of social etiquette when speaking to any elderly man, even a stranger.
- Addressing a grandfather as आजोबा is often accompanied by a gesture of touching the elder's feet, a custom known as 'charan sparsh'.
- The suffix -बा in आजोबा is a general honorific used for elders and respected men, which is why it appears in many titles and names across Maharashtra.
Examples in context
- तुझे आजोबा कुठे राहतात?Where does your grandpa live?This sentence is useful for asking where the form आजोबा lives.Tatoeba #2848906 by sabretou, translation #394891 by Dorenda
- सामी हे त्याच्या आजोबांना सांगतोय.Sami is telling this to his grandpa.This sentence is useful for showing how to use the form आजोबा when telling something to him.Tatoeba #7764589 by sabretou, translation #7739053 by OsoHombre
- माझे आजोबा खूप दयाळू आहेत.mājhe ājōbā khūp dayāḷū āhēt.My grandpa is very kind.
Example conversation
Amit and Aditi are looking at old family photographs.
- अमित Amitहे बघ, हे माझे आजोबा आहेत.hē bagh, hē mājhē ājobā āhēt.Look, this is my grandpa.
- अदिति Aditiते खूप दयाळू दिसतात.tē khūp dayāḷū distāt.He looks very kind.
- अमित Amitहो, आजोबा नेहमी सगळ्यांना मदत करतात.hō, ājobā nēhmī saglānnā madat kartāt.Yes, grandpa always helps everyone.
- अदिति Aditiखूप छान!khūp chān!That's very nice!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “grandpa” translations and entries आजोबा, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries आजोबा, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
