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Helpful Phrases in Hindi for Travelers

Looking to learn a few phrases in Hindi to get around India on one of our tours? This list of basic phrases, numbers, foods and more will help.

WanderTours > Blog > Blog > Helpful Phrases in Hindi for Travelers

November 15, 2016 //  by Rachel Diebel

By Rachel Diebel

Hindi, the official language of India, is often ranked as one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. In addition to India, Hindi is spoken in Pakistan, Nepal, Fiji and throughout large communities of people from these countries living across the world. Despite the many different languages and dialects spoken in India, the government encourages the population to learn Hindi as a way of linking speakers and creating a common understanding.

Hindi Sign

While Hindi shares some words with English, it can be difficult to learn due to the very different style of writing. Written Hindi is called Devanagari, and is composed of elegant loops and rounded shapes. However, like English, the script is read from left to right. For easier learning, the words and phrases in this article have been written in phonetic, Anglicized script.

More about India: India FAQ | North India Tour | The Best Books about India

GREETINGS

Hello
Namaste

Goodbye (See you later)
Pier milenge

Goodbye (formal)
Pranam


USEFUL PHRASES

Thank you
Dhan ya vaad

Please
Kri paya

Excuse me
Mujhe maaf kijiye

Yes
Haa

No
Nah hi

I’m sorry
Maaf key geeye
Hindu Man


BASIC CONVERSATION


What is your name?

Ahpkaa naam kyaa hey?

My name is…
Meeraa naam ____ hey.

How are you?
Aap kayse hain? (to a male)
Aap kaisee hain? (to a female)

Where are you from?
Aap kahaan se hain?

I’m pleased to meet you.
Apsay milkar baahut k͟husi huy.

How do you say…?
… kaise kahtee hain?

I don’t understand.
Maim samaj haa nahin (for a male)
Maim samaj hii nahin (for a female)

How much is this?
Iska kitna hoga?

What time is it?
Kitne baje hain?

Malai Kofta


FOOD

I’d like to order…
Main aardar dena chaahoonga…

Common Foods
Idli: Dosa – Vada with Sambar – breakfast made with black lentils, rice, and vegetable stew
Benne dosa: a kind of South Indian crepe served with coconut chutney
Palak Paneer: spinach and cottage cheese in curry
Rogan Josh: lamb curry
Masala pav: spicy Mumbai street food
Malai Kofta: deep fried veggie balls in creamy Indian curry
Gobi 65: spicy fried cauliflower


TRANSPORTATION

Taxi
Taiksee

Car
Gadee, or kar

Autorickshaw
Auto or tempo

Bus
Bas

Train
Tren

Hindu Temple


GETTING HELP

Where is the toilet?
Taayalait kahaan hain?

Help!
Madad!

Call the police!
Pulis ko boolao!

Leave me alone.
Mujhee ahkela choḍ do.


NUMBERS

1 – ekk
2 – doe
3 – teen
4 – chaar
5 – pan age
6 – cheh
7 – saat
8 – aath
9 – now
10 – das


Resources to Learn Hindi

If you want to learn more Hindi phrases or get a start on learning the language overall, there are plenty of online resources. Try Wikitravel for a great list of phrases as well as more about the grammatical structure of the language.

YouTube can also be a great resource as you can hear native or practiced speakers pronouncing the phrases. Several YouTubers have put together a series of lessons, including this one.

*****

Photo credits:
Hindi Sign: Indi Samarajiva via Flickr
Hindu Man: Paula Rey via Flickr
Malai Kofta: Divya Kudua via Flickr
Hindu Temple: David Stanley via Flickr

Category: BlogTag: India, India tours

About Rachel Diebel

Rachel Diebel hails from rural eastern Oregon and is a senior at Pacific Lutheran University majoring in English Literature with a minor in wanderlust. Inspired by a high school tour of Europe and a semester abroad in London, she aspires to travel widely and work in publishing after graduation.

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