Essential Konkani phrases

'May God do you good' — the standard Konkani thank you, and the phrase that most reliably marks you as someone who lives here rather than visits.

How are you? Konkani is the official language; Marathi, Hindi and English are all in daily use and English will carry you everywhere.

From the Portuguese sossegado — a contented, unhurried way of being. Goans use it about themselves with affection and about deadlines with finality.

A centuries-old village land association that collectively owns much of Goa's agricultural land. Comunidade land generally cannot be sold at all — only leased in perpetuity. This is the single most important word in Goan property.

The conversion order changing land from agricultural to settlement use. Without one, building on a plot is unlawful regardless of what the seller says.

Coastal Regulation Zone. Development within a defined distance of the high tide line is restricted or banned outright, and demolitions of non-compliant beachside buildings do happen.

November to February. Rents, taxi fares and restaurant prices roughly double, and half the businesses that close in June reopen. Everything in Goa is priced in or out of season.

Goa's cashew or coconut spirit, with a protected geographical indication. Distilled locally from March to May, and much stronger than it tastes.

Two Goan classics. Vindalho comes from the Portuguese vinha d'alhos — wine and garlic — and bears little resemblance to the British curry-house version.

The state-backed taxi app. Uber and Ola have effectively never operated here because of organised opposition from the taxi trade — this is a genuine and permanent practical constraint.

112 is the national emergency number and 108 the free ambulance line. Goa Medical College at Bambolim is the state's main tertiary hospital.