“Tel leva ja!”
– Every typical gujju
Kem Cho Aunty! Majama Cho?
Aunty, kal raat toh party ma tamne dance karta joyu, and you absolutely rocked it! Kem tamne Bollywood ma item song banava na bolave? 😉 I’m sure you’re smiling right now, but I know exactly what you’ll say… TEL LEVA JA!
This one is a classic Gujarati expression, and it deserves all the love!
“Tel leva ja” roughly translates to “go take some oil” or “go mind your business,” but it’s much more than that. It’s the perfect way to tell someone to stop bugging you—without being rude, of course. It’s like saying, “I’m done with your nonsense,” but with a healthy dose of humor.
If someone’s endlessly nagging you? Tel leva ja!
Your nosy neighbour is trying to pry into your life? Tel leva ja!
That uncle who always thinks he knows better about your career choices? You guessed it: Tel leva ja!
It’s the Gujarati way of drawing the line with style.
But Aunty, the beauty of it really lies in the tone. It can be funny, sharp, or even affectionate, depending on how you say it. It’s a way of asserting yourself, but keeping it light-hearted. It’s not rude; it’s a cultural mic drop!
As for its origin, well, it’s a bit of a mystery. It likely came from traditional Gujarati culture where oil (tel) was a common household item, used for cooking, lighting lamps, or rituals. The expression might have originated as a way to tell someone to occupy themselves with a mundane or trivial task instead of interfering in others’ matters.
The phrase, though, has stuck around for decades, passed down from generation to generation, and still captures the heart of Gujarati humor—direct, to the point, and not afraid to get a little cheeky.
Do you think the phrase has evolved, Aunty? Back in the day, it probably had more of a “go away, I’m busy” vibe, right? But in today’s world of memes and Instagram reels, it’s almost endearing. It’s our way of saying, “I’m done with this nonsense, but I still care enough to laugh about it.”
So, Aunty, next time someone tests your patience, just smile and say, “Tel leva ja.” They’ll be scratching their heads, and you’ll walk away with your peace intact —and maybe even a laugh.
Majama Rehjo!