Indian English, with its delightful blend of local expressions, regional influences, and unique idioms, has become a fascinating linguistic phenomenon. It's more than just a dialect—it’s a cultural reflection of how over a billion people express themselves in a language inherited from colonization and reshaped with vibrant desi flavor. A recent tweet from a Dutch man named Sacha Arbonel, married to an Indian woman, showcased this wonderfully and quickly struck a chord with social media users.
Sacha shared a list of expressions he’s picked up from his wife, each rooted in everyday Indian conversations. Phrases like "it's normal only" and "I'm not mad okay" reflect the tone-softening and indirect style often seen in Indian English. He also learned how subtle critiques are phrased, as with "salt is less," and commands disguised as suggestions, like "do one thing." Sacha was amused by the clarification often added when introducing siblings, such as “he is my real brother.” But the one that seemed to be the “most favourite” was a line many Indians abroad will relate to—“I can get this in India for 100 rupees,” a classic reminder of the constant mental currency conversion and deep-rooted love for homegrown value.
The tweet sparked a wave of reactions online, with many users chiming in with their own favorite Indian English quirks. Some pointed out the use of “expiry” as a euphemism for death, commonly used in phrases like "his dad expired" or jokingly referring to someone as being "past their expiry date." Others highlighted how teachers often ask students if they “have any doubt,” a phrase unique to Indian classrooms.
Some felt that not all phrases mentioned were distinctly Indian, suggesting alternatives like the exasperated “mad or what?” which is more regionally rooted. One user offered a linguistic perspective, explaining that many Indians think in their mother tongue and translate their thoughts into English on the fly, leading to expressions that may seem incomplete or grammatically unusual to native speakers but make perfect sense in Indian English.
Another commenter playfully noted that Sacha may have absorbed more of the local language than he realized, pointing to his use of the term “most favourite”—a common redundancy in Indian English. The online discussion turned into a lively celebration of how language evolves and adapts, especially when cultures blend through relationships, travel, and day-to-day interaction.
Sacha shared a list of expressions he’s picked up from his wife, each rooted in everyday Indian conversations. Phrases like "it's normal only" and "I'm not mad okay" reflect the tone-softening and indirect style often seen in Indian English. He also learned how subtle critiques are phrased, as with "salt is less," and commands disguised as suggestions, like "do one thing." Sacha was amused by the clarification often added when introducing siblings, such as “he is my real brother.” But the one that seemed to be the “most favourite” was a line many Indians abroad will relate to—“I can get this in India for 100 rupees,” a classic reminder of the constant mental currency conversion and deep-rooted love for homegrown value.
Internet reactsNew English phrases I learned from my Indian wife:
— Sacha Arbonel (@sachaarbonel) April 20, 2025
"It's normal only"
"I'm not mad okay"
"Salt is less"
"Do one thing"
"He is my REAL brother"
And my most favorite
"I can get this in India for 100 rupees" https://t.co/cpb5kIREgc
The tweet sparked a wave of reactions online, with many users chiming in with their own favorite Indian English quirks. Some pointed out the use of “expiry” as a euphemism for death, commonly used in phrases like "his dad expired" or jokingly referring to someone as being "past their expiry date." Others highlighted how teachers often ask students if they “have any doubt,” a phrase unique to Indian classrooms.
Some felt that not all phrases mentioned were distinctly Indian, suggesting alternatives like the exasperated “mad or what?” which is more regionally rooted. One user offered a linguistic perspective, explaining that many Indians think in their mother tongue and translate their thoughts into English on the fly, leading to expressions that may seem incomplete or grammatically unusual to native speakers but make perfect sense in Indian English.
Another commenter playfully noted that Sacha may have absorbed more of the local language than he realized, pointing to his use of the term “most favourite”—a common redundancy in Indian English. The online discussion turned into a lively celebration of how language evolves and adapts, especially when cultures blend through relationships, travel, and day-to-day interaction.
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