The Way Our Desi Parents Speak: The Pagals Guide

Posted on 27. Sep, 2011 by in Missy, Missy D TV (VLOG), My World

desi parents,indian parents,language,funny indian language,missyd,missy d,missy dee, club asia radiioI am a second generation British Asian. My parents came to this country in the late 60′s. Although many of our parents have done so well with integrating into Western society here in the UK, USA, Canada etc, they still have their own way of speaking!! They have had us kids in stitches, and it’s even funnier when an Aunt or Uncle comes over and they speak even funnier than your parents.

Like I say in the video, this is in no way trying to dis-respect anybody or be humiliating. I think most our Desi parents identify with what I’m about to share with you. And most do laugh about it at themselves. Let’s face it we all love our parents to bits, but their way of speaking is sometimes way too funny and sometimes very cute! At times I have been crying with laughter and I have to admit when I was younger it at times was embarrassing. But all good!!

For those who watch this and identify with what I’m saying, I am sure there are plenty of things that I have missed out. I would very much appreciate it if you could let me know which ones, so that I can do a Part 2. Plus I shall be looking to do a Hinglish, Punglish, and a proper Desi In India one. I’m also planning to do ‘Mind Your Language’ in which I shall be teaching you how to speak various languages.

Anyway enjoy….

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31 Responses to “The Way Our Desi Parents Speak: The Pagals Guide”

  1. Binay

    27. Sep, 2011

    Dude

    Bang on the money with this one!

    My mum is from India and dad is from Kenya, so we have a combination of lingo’s at home from; English, Punjabi, Swahili.

    So we toggle between three languages but mostly refer to things in Swahili.

    Reply to this comment

    • Missy Dee

      27. Sep, 2011

      Lol Binay tell me some words…I know theres probably 1000′s and if I get enough I could publish them?!

      Reply to this comment

  2. Jagjit Galsin

    27. Sep, 2011

    He is sitting in the Kanjervatry ( Conservatory )

    Reply to this comment

    • Missy Dee

      27. Sep, 2011

      lol Jagjit – I cant even pronounce that one!! Gonna have to find an auntie to do it the real way…lol

      Reply to this comment

  3. Binay

    27. Sep, 2011

    Ok so here goes…

    Many Indian families from Kenya will use the following daily;

    Kitchen = jikoni
    Roti = Makaati
    Iron = Paasi
    Toilet = Chooroni
    Brother = Dugu
    Hello = Habari or hujambo
    Women = Wanawake
    How are you = Habari gani
    Meat = Nyama
    Friend = Rafiki

    Reply to this comment

  4. Parminder

    27. Sep, 2011

    Lol! omg u make me laugh.. I can pretty much relate to everything that u have said. The double barrel Words u were mentioning, there are two others i can think of ‘Bread shred’ and also chai chu! lol

    Reply to this comment

    • Missy Dee

      27. Sep, 2011

      Thank you Parminder…I do try. I know there are soooo many more. i think I may just make that hand-book – it’lll be a good read on a long flight I reckoon!!! Love them…theres chappal choopal. Shopping Shooping. I forgot the classic Jee TB. But can you think of totally made up one like the iron = press….measuring tape = inchi tape??

      Reply to this comment

  5. Binay

    27. Sep, 2011

    Missy

    We speak to dad as he’s the expert.

    Here’s my 2p worth Pinglish

    Foto
    Meat sheat
    Chai-pani

    Ever tried translating Punjabi songs to English? I guarantee you will laugh your head off, see below one I recently did.

    Apna Sangeet – Soho

    Punjabi

    “Soho road utte labda phiran ne maan kaane vich mundaar paar ke”

    English

    “I was looking for you on Soho road with my ear rings on”

    Reply to this comment

    • Missy Dee

      27. Sep, 2011

      Lol Binay. Love that translation!!!! Jas the Man used to do Lost in Translation on Club Asia. Maybe we should start it up again. And some ‘Daal Mei Kuch Kala’ game that Shak did!

      Reply to this comment

  6. Binay

    27. Sep, 2011

    Top one by Heera!

    Saas Kutney = I’m gonna beat my mother inlaw up

    Reply to this comment

  7. Preeto

    27. Sep, 2011

    I remember jas the man! Used to love listening to him! Loving the video by the way lol berry good!

    Reply to this comment

  8. sunita chadha

    27. Sep, 2011

    I WOLD HAVE LIKED IT EVEN MORE IF VIDEO WAS NOT CUT THROUGH N THE MIDDLE.
    PLEASE SORT IT OUT CUS I LIKE TO SEE IF FULLY

    Reply to this comment

  9. Hitesh

    27. Sep, 2011

    omg! this is so true, so many phrases/words … hearing all my gujji uncles/aunties chat:
    > “koi phone-bon kairi? – did anyone phone?
    > “belieeeeve me nawwt, but that was too good”
    > diya-bets = diabetes
    > soo-gar = sugar
    > sometimes they like to repeat words to emphasise something: “vee dont like too many different different colors” or “vah!vah!that car is too too good, na!?” accompanied by a shaking hand gesture
    > “oh ju too busy doing your lesson” = busy doing homework
    > juniwersity = university
    > parama-shist = pharmacist
    > kabab = kebab
    > Kaneida = Canada
    > Hans-low = Houslow
    > Soo-thaal = Southall
    > Vemblee = Wembley
    > Wee-Bee = VB (the indian store)
    > Tee-Wee = TV
    > Rani nu Ghar = Buckingham Palace :P
    > Brad-pod = Bradford
    > Chi-na loko = Chinese people
    > Nu-yak = New York
    > Santa Dada = Santa Claus
    > Kiss-maas = Christmas
    > Bird-dey = Birthday
    > “Bulli bhai ni ghar gayo” = forgotten something (Bulligayo = forgotten)
    and since im in the medical field, I always find it funny hearing doctors say:
    > Wank-mycin = Vancomycin (an antibiotic)
    > Pota-shium = Potassium

    also for good laughs:
    > Javed Jaffrey http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LiCTpFXn_Ns
    > Pleeenty of funnies in GGM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdo79znnHl8 “Ja-mes” and remember that “Morrison dancing”

    that’s enough for now :)

    Reply to this comment

  10. Binay

    28. Sep, 2011

    Kuch Kuch Hoya hai

    Reply to this comment

  11. Binay

    28. Sep, 2011

    Excuse the auto spell check

    Reply to this comment

  12. Parminder

    28. Sep, 2011

    Lol, yeah a book is defo needed… and yeah measuring tape = inchi tape?? thats a classic. My mum always uses that and my Nani who has come from india. .. they dont know what iron is its always press lol

    Reply to this comment

  13. Parminder

    28. Sep, 2011

    oh and video is VCR LOL ( meaning Video cassette recorder)

    Reply to this comment

  14. Binay

    28. Sep, 2011

    Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi – Tujh Me Rab Dikhta Hain.

    Reply to this comment

  15. Apinder

    28. Sep, 2011

    I walked into Marks & Sparks once and asked a lady where they kept “bed shoes”. She looked at me in a strange way and my wife quickly corrected by saying, slippers…..

    That was the indian in me.

    On another one, tried to explain to my mum that I was travelling to Baker Street, she didn’t know, I then went on to pronounce it as baaker street (indian accent) to which she instantly understood it was in London.

    What would we do without those accents…..

    Reply to this comment

  16. asha

    28. Sep, 2011

    How about the word “the” being said before everything when its not needed-lol

    e.g. when referring to a pc package, instead of saying “microsoft word” saying “the microsft word”

    Reply to this comment

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