Andhra Muslims - Language

Language

South Dakhni is the language spoken by Andhra Muslims. The term South Dakhni is not cognizant to Andhra Muslims as they simply refer to it as Urdu, though different from standard Urdu. South Dakhni is closely related to the more widespread and famous Hyderabadi Urdu and are mutually intelligible. South Dakhni has some loan words from Telugu but its contribution to the later is quite significant. Though they might not be pronounced the same way as in Urdu or South Dakhni that is spoken locally, such words in Telugu were borrowed from Urdu.

South Dakhni like Hyderabadi Urdu and other Dakhni dialects is different from traditional Urdu in many ways. The plural of a word is formed by sufixing 'an' to the word (a behaviour having its origins in Awadh region of Uttar Pradesh), the letter 'n' is silent. Eg. pottian (girls), choran (thieves), machcharan (mosquitoes), naaman (names), kitaban (books) etc. And, the letter "Qaaf" is pronounced as "Khaa"; 'qabar' (grave) is pronounced as 'khabar' (news) and 'qadam' (foot) is pronounced as 'khadam'.

Some Telugu words in South Dakhni...

• Tippalaan meaning Hardhship; originally tippalu
• Chambu meaning mug, also often used to express Exhaustion

Some Urdu words in Telugu...

• Maaji - originally Maazi, meaning former
• Tareekhu - originally Tareekh, meaning date (Arabic origin)
• Moju - originally Mouj, meaning to have fun
• Raaji Naama - originally Raazi Naama, meaning resignation (Persian origin)
• Jamindaar - originally Zamindaar, meaning land lord
• Kalamu - originally Qalam, meaning pen (Arabic)
• Khaidi - originally Qaidi, meanining inmate (Arabic)
• Jawabu - originally Jawab, meaning answer (Arabic)
• Sawalu - originally Sawal, meaning question (Arabic)
• Tarafu - originally Taraf, meaning direction or on behalf (Arabic)
• Meku - originally Mekh, meaning nail (Persian)
• Kaazhi (Kaali) - originally Khaali, meaning empty (Arabic)
• Munasabu - originally Munsif, meaning judge (Arabic)
• Roju - originally Roz, meaning day (Persian)

Some salient features of South Dakhni...

• Kaiku - why instead of Kyon in traditional Urdu Eg. Kaiku gaya un? (Why did he go? )
• Mujhe - me instead of Mereku in Hyderabadi Urdu Eg. Mujhe malum nai. (I don't know. )
• Tujhe - you instead of Tereku in Hyderabadi Urdu Eg. Tujhe malum kya? (Do you know? )
• Un/In - he/she instead of Woh/Yeh in traditional Urdu Eg. Un kidhar gaya? (Where did he go? )
• Ku - for instead of Ko in traditional Urdu Eg. Iqbal ku khana hona kate. (Iqbal wants food. )
• Ko - Ke in traditional Urdu Eg. Iqbal ku deko aavo. (Iqbal ko deke aavo in traditional Urdu meaning Give it to Iqbal and come back here. )
• Po - on instead of Pe or Per in traditional Urdu Eg. Kitab table po hai. ( The book is on the table. )
• Si - from instead of Se in traditional Urdu Eg. Sab si alag hai un. ( He's different from everyone. )
• Nakko - an alternate (and informal) negative generally indicating "no thanks" or "do not". Can be (and is often) used in place of mat.
• Naheen, naa and mat (from traditional Urdu) are still used where nakko is inappropriate for the context or in polite situations. Eg. Khana nakko mujhe. ( I don't want food. )
• Hau or Ho - for yes, instead of "Haan".
• Potti - (slang; rather offensive) - Girl
• Potta - (slang; rather offensive) - Boy
• Khan - Man Eg. Chalao khan. ( Let's go, man.)
• Halka - Slow Eg. Zara halka chalo bawa. ( Will you walk a bit slow? )
• Kate - its hard to describe the actual meaning as its used in various sentences under various circumstances. Eg. Kaiku kate? ( Why? ); Iqbal ku khana hona kate. (Iqbal wants food.)