Every language is unique, but there is something they all have in common – some really hilarious phrases. So here are some funny Telugu phrases to light up your mood. And while these might be funny, most of them are certainly thought-provoking as well.
After all, Telugu is known for its poetic construction, and if Telugu people specifically spent time polishing their language for poetry, don’t you think a couple of funny phrases came up here and there? So today, let’s learn 14 of them.
Table Of Contents
Funny Telugu Phrases
There are thousands of funny phrases in Telugu, and more come up all the time due to various Telugu slang words that pop up. It would take a lifetime to list them all, but here are some that I found funny:
1. Hitting A Helpless Old Woman After Practicing A Stick Fight For Three Months
Telugu: Moodu Nelalu Saamu Nerchi Moolanunna Musalidanni Kotinattu (మూడు నెలలు సాము నేర్చి మూలనున్న ముసలదాన్ని కొట్టినట్లు)
What’s your first thought after reading this? Isn’t this phrase for someone who goes overboard while prepping, only for it to end in an anti-climactic way? It’s like a young man practicing stick fighting for three months, and then all he could manage was to hit an old, helpless woman who was not even standing up.
2. Man Gets Angry Only Twice A Year, And Each Time It Lasts For Six Months
Telugu: Ayyaku Kopam Samvatsaraniki Rende Sarlu Vastundi, Vacchindi Aaresi Nelalu Untundi (అయ్యకు కోపం సంవత్సరానికి రెండు సార్లే వస్తుంది, వచ్చింది ఆరేసి నెలలు ఉంటుంది)
Do you know someone who’s grumpy all the time? This phrase explains their nature! It’s for that rare kind of person who’s disappointed, angry, or cranky all the time for every minor thing, as if they got angry twice a year, and each time it drags on for six months.
3. While The House Is Burning And The Housewife Is Crying, The Coal Merchant Comes To Bargain
Telugu: Illu Kaali Illalu Edustunte, Boggula Vyapari Beraniki Vacchadata (ఇల్లు కాలి ఇల్లాలు ఏడుస్తుంటే, బొగ్గుల వ్యాపారి బేరానికి వచ్చాడట)
You might have heard this: One man’s trash is another man’s treasure. Well, this Telugu phrase takes this a little too far. Instead of highlighting how there’s a silver lining to everything, this phrase tells us how there’s always someone who only cares about what they want, irrespective of the other person’s situation.
4. Hero Until Reaching The Shore, Zero After Reaching The Shore
Telugu: Oddu Cheredaka Oda Mallayya, Oddu Cheraka Bodi Mallayya (ఒడ్డు చేరేదాకా ఓడ మల్లయ్య – ఒడ్డు చేరాక బోడి మల్లయ్య)
This phrase describes someone who overestimates their skills and sells themselves as capable, and then utterly fails to perform when the time comes. Someone who’s all talk, no bite.
5. Dad Cannot Afford Underwear, But The Son Wants A Suit
Telugu: Gochiki Leka Babu Edustunte Koduku Vacchi Safari Suite Kavalannadata (గోచికి లేక బాబు ఏడుస్తుంటే కొడుకు వచ్చి సఫారి సూట్ కావాలన్నడట)
We all know someone who’s detached from reality, doesn’t consider present circumstances, and demands things be their way with disregard for others. Don’t we? This phrase explains such behavior with a touch of humor.
6. Someone Bought A Horse Just Because He Found A Horseshoe
Telugu: Gurram Nada Dorikindani Gurram Konamannadata (గుర్రం నాడ దొరికిందని గుర్రం కొనమన్నాడట)
What does this remind you of? Ever seen someone wasting their money and effort on something that’s totally not worth it? I mean, somewhere out there, there is someone who’d actually buy a horse just if they found a horseshoe!
7. Splitting A Mountain To Catch A Mouse
Telugu: Kondanu Tavvi Elukanu Pattinatlu (కొండను తవివి ఎలుకను పట్టినట్లు)
You don’t have to split a mountain to catch a mouse; just use a mouse trap! But some would rather toil blindly instead of thinking for a minute.
8. One Must Kill One Or Two To Become A Doctor
Telugu: Okariddarini Champithe Kani Vaidyudu Kaadu (ఒకరిద్దరిని చంపితే కానీ వైద్యుడు గాడు)
Here’s a funny Telugu phrase that’s not funny for many. It’s a bit of dark humor. In a literal sense, this is wrong and not reflective of the work culture of Telugu people; which is why this phrase is not actually about doctors. It’s just a way to say failure is a part of one’s journey to become successful, and mistakes are inevitable.
9. Fell In A Sweet Basket When Kicked
Telugu: Tanthe Boorela Gampalo Patinatlu (తంతే బూరెల గంపలో పడినట్లు)
Sometimes, bad stuff happens that can be a blessing in disguise. This funny phrase implies that someone got kicked in the face and fell into a basket full of sweets, and ultimately, it became a good experience.
10. Like A Rolling Pin Complaining To A Pestle
Telugu: Rolu Poyi Maddelato Mora Pettukunnattu (రోలు పోయి మద్దెలతో మొర పెట్టుకున్నట్లు)
Everyone struggles. The job of a rolling pin is hard: it has to roll on a hard surface all day. But imagine complaining to a pestle, who’s hit to grind stuff? The hardship of a rolling pin doesn’t even compare to the pestle’s struggle!
11. A Pea-Sized Luck Is Better Than A Pumpkin-Sized Intelligence
Telugu: Gummadikayantha Telivi Kante, Guruvinjantha Adrushtam Melu (గుమ్మడికాయంత తెలివి కంటే, గురువింద గింజంత అదృష్టం మేలు)
It’s a well-known saying: a hard-working dumb guy beats a lazy smart guy. But do you know who beats both of them? A lucky guy. Because no matter what anyone believes, a lot in our lives depends on chances and being at the right place at the right time.
12. The Bridegroom Forgot To Tie The Nuptial Thread Due To The Wedding Rush
Telugu: Pendli Sandatlo Pusthekattadam Marichadata (పెండ్లి సందట్లో పుస్తేకట్టడం మరీచాడట)
The Nuptial Thread signifies a marriage bond in Indian weddings. In Western weddings, the couple exchanges rings, while in Indian weddings, the bridegroom ties the knot. By saying the bridegroom forgot to tie the nuptial thread due to the wedding rush, this phrase implies that people forget to do what’s necessary during the rush or overexcitement.
13. A Braying Donkey Spoils The Day For A Grazing Donkey
Telugu: Koose Gadida Vacchi Mese Gadidani Cheda Gottindata (కూసే గాడిద వచ్చి మేసే గాడిదని చెడ గొట్టిందట)
We all know someone who’s got too much time on their hands and nothing to work on. And most of the time, those people are notorious for disturbing those that are doing something proactive. This phrase captures the emotion of spoiling another person’s work just because you have nothing to do.
14. Gradually, The King’s Horse Became A Donkey
Telugu: Ranu Ranu Raju Gari Gurram Gadidha Ayundata (రాను రాను రాజు గారి గుర్రం గాడిద అయిందట)
A king’s horse cannot be more opposite to a donkey, right? This phrase implies that someone or something that had great value slowly lost its charm or they are no longer what they were.
So there you have it. We’ve seen a lot of Telugu funny phrases, some with a great message in them. Do comment on which one you liked the most.
How Do You Say “Funny Phrases” In Telugu?
In Telugu, “funny phrases” can be said as Vinoda Vakyalu (వినోద వాక్యాలు). Try asking your friends to share some vinoda vakyalu and see what they come up with!
Vocabulary List: Telugu Humor
I know we’ve covered a lot, but here’s a table with some humor-related vocabulary for you to practice. And if you want to learn more Telugu and level up your language skills, then do try the Ling app.
| English | Telugu | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Phrase | వాక్యం | Vakyam |
| Funny | వినోదం | Vinodam |
| Laugh | నవ్వు | Navvu |
| Insight | అంతరార్థం | Antarartham |
| Moral | నీతి | Neethi |
| Meaning | అర్థం | Artham |
| Value | విలువ | Viluva |
Frequently Asked Questions About Funny Telugu Phrases
1. Why Do Telugu Phrases Often Sound So Colorful?
Telugu relies on metaphors and imagery to craft phrases, making them vibrant and memorable. These phrases often reflect real-life scenarios in a relatable and exaggerated way, which adds to their humor.
2. Can These Phrases Be Used In Formal Settings?
Some yes, but most of them, no. Most of these Telugu phrases are meant for informal settings since the main idea is to make a sarcastic or snide remark. They also use Telugu slang so, I would rather suggest you not use any because we never know how others would take it.
3. Are There Equivalents For These Phrases In Other Languages?
Of course, many Telugu phrases have parallels in other languages. Here’s a link to a Pinterest board where they’ve gathered some Telugu phrases and equivalent English ones.
Embracing The Humor In Telugu
We’ve read several funny Telugu phrases in this post. Maybe you can use some of them next time you’re having a conversation in Telugu with your friends. But be careful, phrases like “Someone bought a horse just because he found a horseshoe” and “Man gets angry only twice a year, and each time it lasts for six months, ” funny as they might be, might not be taken well by everyone!
If you think this helped you understand and appreciate the Telugu language, check out our blog on Telugu idioms for more. They are very closely related to these funny phrases, so I thought they could interest you!
