Yeh Delhi Lingo Hai Mere Yaar!

As Delhi completes 104 years of being India’s capital, we think there could be no way better to celebrate its unity in diversity than its local bhaasha. Or what the South Dilliwallahs call “lingo” (with a slight accent, if you may please). After having talked amply about its secrets, food and hotels, we decided to dig even deeper to bring out the city’s flavour just for you ji!

Go through these words, understand them and feel free to use them (if you aren’t doing so already!). Just don’t judge us.

Jugaad

It means a quick ‘fix’ to any problem or solution. We have a jugaad in passport office, railways, pubs and essentially anywhere there is a queue. In a more degenerative connotation, jugaad also means one’s ahem, relationship of necessity. Just tell us your problem and we’ll find a jugaad. By the way, have you spotted this not-so-elusive jugaad carrier vehicle seen only on the streets of Delhi?

Chaudd

Yes, every third guy in Delhi is a gunda or almost-a-gunda with his back. And when they walk on the streets, they like to pretend their armpits have warts. And such a walk or behaviour is called chaudd (literally width) or tor or toraa. A beefed-up boy driving an SUV with tinted glasses and loud Punjabi music is the stereotypical but true specimen of someone with chaudd.

Bhassad

Stuck in a jam? Bhassad. Problem with parents? Bhassad. Love issues? Bhassad. Any chaos, mess or unpleasant situation is unanimously called bhassad. Next time we call you to tell, “Bhassad ho gayi yaar”, you better take us seriously. Some old timers also use kalesh instead of bhassad.​

Bakar

Besides food, we love to gossip. We will never accept it, but we do. And when we sit for hours and talk unproductively about all useless topics under the universe, we are doing bakar. Among other topics, a typical bakar session includes passionate discussions on girls, cars, food joints, Honey Singh numbers and of course, ‘meri chaudd’ . You’re welcome to join us, but please feign interest else we’ll start ripping on you.

Sir

We never told you this secret. Every man in Delhi has secretly been knighted by Queen Elizabeth. Our telecallers, card-sellers, drivers, waiters, and even white collars know it. Sir is used liberally when you need to show fake respect, sell something, or seek a favour. Before Earl Grey Tea or Bentley, we imported ‘sir’ from United Kingdom. And we are not lying sirjee.

Tu Jaanta Ni Mera Baap Kaun Hai

We are well aware of our ancestry. But this rhetoric is how we tell you to not mess with us because papa ki pahuch upar tak hai! One day we should organise a ‘King of the Ring’ for Delhi’s daddies so that only one offspring in the city can say, “Tu jaanta hai na mera baap kaun hai!”

$%!*^#

Do we even need to tell you this one? Swearing is our constitutional right and we are suckers for it. Funny, serious, happy, sad, high, or low, the lucid articulation of Hindi cuss words defines our mood. If every swearing could grow a grain, Delhi alone will solve the food problem of the world!

This is our list of Delhi lingo. Which one did you like the most Sirjee?  Pleaj feel free to add.