Page Type: languageMarathi | Ethnologue

MAR ISO 639-3

Marathi

मराठी‎ (Marāṭhī) Autonym

A language of India

ISO 639
mar
Alternate Names
Maharashtra, Maharathi, Malhatee, Marthi, Muruthu
Autonym
मराठी‎ (Marāṭhī)
Population
99,000,000 in India, all users. L1 users: 83,000,000 in India (2011 census). L2 users: 16,000,000 (2011 census). Total users in all countries: 99,132,310 (as L1: 83,132,310; as L2: 16,000,000).
Location:
Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh states; Maharashtra state: Belgaum, Bidar, and Karnataka districts.
Language Status
2 (Provincial). Statutory provincial language in Maharashtra State (1950, Constitution, Schedule VIII).
Classification
Indo-European, Indo-Iranian, Indo-Aryan, Outer Languages, Southern
Dialects
Gawdi of Goa, Kasargod, Kosti, Kudali, Nagpuri Marathi. Complex dialect situation with many dialects. Dialects bordering other major language areas share many features with those languages. Dialects or closely related languages: Konkani [knn], Goan Konkani [gom], Deccan [dcc], Varhadi-Nagpuri [vah], and Gowlan [goj]. There is a dialect in Thanjavur District and elsewhere in Tamil Nadu influenced lexically by Tamil [tam] and Kannada [kan], with at least 100,000 speakers.
Typology
SOV; postpositions; noun head final; gender (masculine/feminine/neuter); no articles; case-marking (7 cases); verb affixes mark person, number; passives; tense and aspect; 37 consonants, 8 vowels, 2 diphthongs; non-tonal.
Language Use
The Bene Israel are a Marathi-speaking Jewish group in Mumbai. Used as L2 by Ahirani [ahr], Andh [anr], Bhalay [bhx], Far Western Muria [fmu], Gowli [gok], Indo-Portuguese [idb], Katkari [kfu], Khandesi [khn], Korku [kfq], Korlai Portuguese Creole [vkp], Lambadi [lmn], Mawchi [mke], Nihali [nll], Noiri [noi], Northern Gondi [gno], Northwestern Kolami [kfb], Palya Bareli [bpx], Pardhan [pch], Pauri Bareli [bfb], Powari [pwr], Rathwi Bareli [bgd], Saraiki [skr], Tulu [tcy], Vaagri Booli [vaa], Varli [vav], Vasavi [vas], Waddar [wbq].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 77% (2001 census). Literacy rate in L2: 77% (2001 census). Fully developed. Bible: 1821–2002.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Marathi
Writing
Braille script [Brai]. Devanagari script [Deva], primary usage. Modi script [Modi].
Other Comments
The Habshi are Muslim, descended from East African slaves brought to western India. Are is a synonym for a Marathi caste name. Are also refers to Marathi-speaking communities in south India. Hindu, Jewish, Muslim.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Marathi
User Population
13,100 in Australia (2016 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Australia
Language Name
Marathi
User Population
8,300 in Canada (2016 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Canada
Language Name
Marathi
User Population
6,410 in United Kingdom (2011 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of United Kingdom
Language Name
Marathi
User Population
11,000 in Israel (Leclerc 2018a).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Israel
Language Name
Marathi
User Population
17,000 in Mauritius (Leclerc 2018c).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of Mauritius
Language Name
Marathi
User Population
2,900 in New Zealand (2013 census).
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of New Zealand
Language Name
Marathi
User Population
73,600 in United States (2015 census).
Location
Scattered.
Language Status
Unestablished
Other Comments
Non-indigenous.
View other languages of United States

Map

Location: Andhra Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Karnataka, and Madhya Pradesh states; Maharashtra state: Belgaum, Bidar, and Karnataka districts.