Gujarati Dialects: Kathiawadi, Surti, Charotari and Kutchi

An overview of regional varieties of Gujarati, including the Kathiawadi of Saurashtra, Surti, Charotari and the related language Kutchi, with tips for learners.

Gujarati has a standard form, used in schools, newspapers and broadcasting, and several regional varieties. Knowing about them helps you understand why speakers from different places sound different.

Standard Gujarati

Standard Gujarati is based largely on the speech of Ahmedabad and central Gujarat. It's the language of textbooks, newspapers, official documents and television. It's what dictionaries record, and what learners should start with.

Regional varieties

Kathiawadi (Saurashtra) Spoken in the Saurashtra peninsula, including Rajkot, Bhavnagar and Jamnagar. It's known for a distinctive intonation, particular vocabulary and a robust, warm style. Some words and pronunciations differ from the standard.

Surti Spoken in and around Surat in south Gujarat, with its own distinctive vocabulary and sounds.

Charotari (central Gujarat) Spoken in the Charotar region (Kheda and Anand districts), with distinctive vowel sounds and expressions.

Northern Gujarati Spoken in northern districts, with features shared with neighbouring Rajasthani.

Parsi Gujarati The variety spoken by the Parsi community, with its own borrowings and expressions.

Kutchi

કચ્છી (Kutchi or Kachchhi) is spoken in the Kutch region. It's a related language, closer to Sindhi and Gujarati, and is often described as a separate language rather than a dialect. It has been traditionally an oral language, and many Kutchi speakers also use Gujarati for writing and formal purposes.

How dialects differ

Vocabulary: words for everyday items may differ between regions.
Pronunciation: vowel sounds, stress and intonation vary.
Grammar: some verb endings and pronouns differ.
Expressions: idioms and greetings can be local.

Examples of variation

A speaker from Saurashtra may pronounce and phrase things differently from a Surti or Ahmedabad speaker, and everyday words for objects can change from place to place, while કેમ છો? is understood everywhere.

Because these varieties are mostly used in speech, the written language is uniform.

Standard versus local

Most Gujaratis can speak the standard when needed and use their local variety at home and with friends. Local speech is a source of pride, and is featured in literature, folk songs and films.

Dialect in culture

Folk songs, stories and plays often use dialect to add authenticity, and the writer Zaverchand Meghani collected the folk songs and tales of Saurashtra. Comedy and theatre also play with regional accents.

Diaspora varieties

Gujarati spoken abroad, in East Africa, the UK and the US, can preserve older words and blend with English or Swahili. Different communities may also speak varieties associated with their origin in Gujarat.

Advice for learners

Start with the standard, as in textbooks and dictionaries.
Expect variation: don't worry if a local speaker uses a word you don't know.
Ask: people enjoy explaining their local words.
Listen to media from different regions.
Use a dictionary that records standard forms.

Common beginner errors

Assuming a local word is wrong.
Expecting the same pronunciation everywhere.

Dictionary note

Dictionaries give the standard form. If a local word isn't found, ask for the standard equivalent.

Look up standard Gujarati words with English Gujarati Dictionary →