The Hindi Filler Words That Sneak Into Your English (And What to Say Instead)

You’re two minutes into an English conversation, doing fine, and then it slips out: “matlab,” or “vaise,” or “chalta hai.” Nobody misunderstands you. But you notice it, and so does the person listening if they don’t speak Hindi, because the sentence suddenly has a word in it that doesn’t belong to either language cleanly. This isn’t a sign that your English is weak. It’s a sign that you’re thinking in two languages at once, and a few Hindi words are doing a job your English vocabulary hasn’t been given yet.

Why These Words Slip In Even When You’re Fluent

Every language has small connector words that don’t carry meaning on their own: “so,” “well,” “I mean,” “you know.” They exist to buy you a second to think, to soften a sentence, or to shift from one point to the next. In Hindi, words like “matlab,” “vaise,” and “chalta hai” do exactly this job. When you switch to English mid-thought, your brain often keeps using the connector it already trusts, because connectors are the last thing you consciously learn in a new language; they run on habit, not vocabulary.

That’s actually good news. It means the fix isn’t “learn more English.” It’s swapping one habit for another, the same way you’d notice and replace any filler word. If you’ve read our guide on common Hindi phrases in English, this is the same translate-the-function-not-the-word approach, applied to the small words that hold a sentence together rather than the big ones that carry its meaning.

What to Say Instead of “Matlab”

“Matlab” usually does one of two jobs: clarifying what you just said, or buying a second before you continue. Match the replacement to the job:

• To clarify: “I mean,” “What I’m saying is,” “In other words.”
• To restate more simply: “Basically,” “To put it another way.”
• To buy a second while you think: a short pause works better than any filler word at all.

So instead of “Matlab, main keh raha hoon ki this plan won’t work,” try: “What I’m saying is, this plan won’t work.” Same meaning, same pace, no half-translated word sitting in the middle of it.

What to Say Instead of “Vaise”

“Vaise” also splits into two uses. One shifts the topic slightly, the way “by the way” does. The other adds a related thought, closer to “actually” or “on that note.”

• To change the subject: “By the way,” “Speaking of which.”
• To add a related point: “Actually,” “On a related note,” “That reminds me.”

“Vaise, did you finish the report?” becomes “By the way, did you finish the report?” It reads almost identically once you see it written down, which is exactly why this is a small, easy habit to change once you notice it.

What to Say Instead of “Chalta Hai” and “Thoda Adjust Kar Lo”

These two carry a specific tone: flexible acceptance, not enthusiasm, not complaint. English has more than one way to say this depending on how positive or resigned you want to sound:

• Neutral and easy: “That works,” “That’s fine either way.”
• A little more resigned: “We’ll manage,” “It’ll do.”
• For “thoda adjust kar lo”: “Can we make this work?” or “Let’s find a middle ground.”

Notice none of these is a literal translation. “Chalta hai” doesn’t map onto one English phrase; it maps onto a tone, and English gives you several phrases to pick from depending on exactly how flexible or unbothered you want to sound in that specific moment.

What to Say Instead of “Yaar”

“Yaar” is the hardest one on this list because it isn’t really a filler, it’s a relationship marker: it signals closeness, mild complaint, or friendly emphasis all at once, and English doesn’t have a single word that does all three. Rather than translating it, pick the piece that matches your intent:

• For friendly emphasis: “come on,” “seriously.”
• For casual address among friends: “man,” “dude” (only in relaxed, informal settings).
• In professional settings: drop it entirely and let your tone of voice carry the warmth instead. “Come on, we both know that’s not fair” already sounds friendly without needing a word at the end of it.

FAQs

Is it a mistake to use Hindi filler words while speaking English?

No, it’s not a grammar mistake. It’s a habit that comes from thinking in two languages at once, and it’s extremely common. It’s worth noticing mainly when you’re speaking with someone who doesn’t understand Hindi, since that’s when a word like “matlab” or “vaise” can briefly break the flow for them.

How do I stop saying “matlab” every few sentences?

Start by just noticing it for a day or two without trying to fix it yet. Once you can hear yourself saying it, replace it with a short pause instead of another filler word. A silent half-second feels awkward at first but sounds far more natural than most people expect.

Will removing all filler words make me sound robotic?

No, and you shouldn’t try to remove filler words completely. Natural English speakers use plenty of them too, “like,” “I mean,” “you know,” “basically.” The goal isn’t zero fillers, it’s choosing English ones so a listener who doesn’t speak Hindi can follow you without a pause to guess what a word meant.

Is it okay to use Hindi filler words with someone who also speaks Hindi?

Yes, completely. Mixing “matlab” or “yaar” into English with a Hindi-speaking friend or colleague is normal, comfortable code-switching, not something to correct. This becomes worth adjusting mainly in interviews, client calls, or any conversation with someone who won’t follow the Hindi word.

Small words like these are usually the last habit to change, simply because they’re so automatic. The fastest way to catch them isn’t more grammar study, it’s speaking out loud regularly with someone who can point out the pattern in real time. If you want that kind of live practice, Parul Arya’s 4-month spoken English program includes real conversation practice where habits like this get noticed and corrected as you speak, not just marked on a worksheet afterward.