Guest blogger, Rohit Agerwal, helps simplify your pre-travel homework assignment. Clip and save his handy charts below and familiarize yourself with some local cultural suggestions to smooth your transition from wide-eyed North American tourist to seasoned well prepared traveller.

Basic Hindi Every Foreigner Should Know While Travelling In India

If you’re travelling to a new country, one of the basic problems faced by tourists is communication, if the local language is different. How would you ask directions to a place? How would you talk to someone at the hotel or call a cab? How would you go around shopping? While English is the second medium of communication in most countries around the world and you really wouldn’t face such adverse problems, however knowing the local language of the place always comes in handy! A few words, phrases so nobody can fool you or take advantage of you (worst case scenario).

 

Image Credits TheGaur4

Hindi is widely spoken throughout India. While you don’t need to learn the whole language, knowing some phrases and words can prove to be a great help! Although, a few words may seem like tongue twisters but if you practice the pronunciation a few times, you’re good to go!

Here we tell you about the basic Hindi that can be very helpful when you’re in India.

Basic Hindi Words You Ought to Know: Before we tell you about the common phrases, here are some words and their translations that you should know. When used in sentences, these words are often modified, so we hope you do not get confused:

 

English Word	Hindi translation
Hello	Namaste
Yes/Yeah	Haan
No	Nahin
You (when addressing elders)	Aap
You	Tum/Tu
Us	Hum
Thanks	Shukriya/Dhanyawaad
Excuse Me	Maaf kijiye
Today	Aaj
Tomorrow/yesterday	Kal
Tonight	Aaj raat
Day	Din
Morning	subah
Afternoon	Dopahar
Night	Raat
Who	Kaun
What	Kya
Where	Kahan
How	Kaise
How much	kitna
Sorry	Maaf kijiye
Okay	Theek Hai
Tea	Chai
Water	Paani
Food	Khaana
Clothes	Kapra
House/Home	Ghar
Friend	Dost
Father	Pita ji
Mother	Maa/Mata ji
Brother	Bhaiya
Sister	Behen
Good	Acha
Left	Baiyen
Right	Daiyen
Medicine	Davai
Time	Samay
Big	Bada (Pronounced as Barha)
Small	Chhota
This	Yeh
That	Voh
Fruit	Phal
Vegetable	Sabzi
Sugar	Cheeni
Butter	Makkhan
Milk	Doodh
Hot	Garam
Cold	Thanda
Rice	Chaaval
Ice	Barf
Money	Paise
Thing/object	Cheez/Vastu
Car	Gaari

 

English word	Hindi translation
Monday	Som-vaar
Tuesday	Mangal-vaar
Wednesday	Budh-vaar
Thursday	Guru-vaar
Friday	Shukra-vaar
Saturday	Shani-vaar
Sunday	Ravi-vaar

Days of the week:

 

 

 

 

 

Common Numerical:

Numerical	Hindi translation
0	Shuniya
1	Ek
2	Do
3	Teen
4	Chaar
5	Paanch
6	Chhey
7	Saath
8	Aath
9	Nau
10	Das
20	Bees
30	Tees
40	Chalees
50	Pachas
60	Saathh
70	Sattar
80	Assi
90	Nabbey
100	Sau
1,000	Hazaar
10,000	Dus-hazaar

 

Common Phrases:

Greetings and General Conversation: The basic form of greeting acceptable throughout India is Namaste (Hello) (Pronunciation: Na-Mas-tey). The word even has a representative gesture: hold your palms together near your chest and smile. This simple gesture goes a long way! It denotes respect and is acceptable by all. Usage: Hello Anil. Namaste Anil ji.

Other translations include:

• How are you? : Aap kaise hain?

• I am fine: Main theek hun.

• What is your name? : Aapka naam kya hai?

• My name is ___: Mera naam ___ hai.

• Where are you going? : Aap kahan ja rahe ho?

• Nice to meet you: Aapse mil kar khushi hui.

• How is your family: Aapka parivar kaisa hai?

• Do you understand English? : Kya aap angrezi samajhte hain?

• What is the time? : kitne bajey hain?

• I did not understand: mujhe samajh nahi aya

• Who are you? : Aap Kaun Hain?

• I don’t know: Mujhe nahin pata/ main nahi jaanta

• I am coming: Main aa raha hoon (male), Main aa rahi hoon (female)

 

Well, these are some common phrases and their translations. In northern India, you might often hear the phrase ‘Arre bhaiya!’ being called out. While the English translation of this phrase is ‘Oh, brother!’ it is often used to call out or refer to any stranger (male). It is also frequently used to address the street food vendors/rikshaw pullers/bus drivers etc. For instance if you want to ask for tea, you say: Bhaiya, ek cup chai ka dena (Please give me a cup of tea). Likewise, for ladies ‘Behen ji’ is usually used. In southern India however, Anna is equivalent to bhaiya and Akka or didi is equivalent to Behen ji. Dada is the eastern equivalent.

While Making Requests: While you’re here and you need something, remember politeness is the key. Why this point is important is because in hindi language, politeness or rudeness is conveyed not only by varying expressions but also by varying (modified) use of words! For instance, if you want to get something done, saying “karo” (do it) comes off as slightly rude whereas saying “kariye/kar dijiye” will get your work done within minutes and with a smile. These are some common phrases:

• I need a taxi/auto: Mujhe taxi/auto chahiye.
• Let’s go: Chalo/Chaliye.

While shopping: Ah, now this is where your knowing Hindi could be a great help! If you’re shopping at the local places where you need to bargain your way! Well, what fun is shopping if you don’t bargain? Also, you need to be aware and cautious! Here are some common phrases:

• How much does this cost? : Yeh kitne ka hai?
• This is expensive: yeh bahot mehenga hai.
• Any discount? : (Bhaiya) koi discount hai?
• Lower the price: Kuch daam kam kar dijiye
• Lesser price: kam daam.
• I don’t want this: Mujhe yeh nahi chahiye.
• Bill please: kripya iska bill de dijiye.

Well, these are some common phrases and words that might be helpful to you while you’re on a trip to India. In case you find these difficult to pronounce, you could view a variety of videos on internet. Hope you have a pleasant stay.

 

Author Bio: Rohit Agarwal is a writer by profession and a traveller at heart. He has travelled to many countries and faced similar problems of communication. He has shared many of those experiences in the form of articles and blogs at Transindiatravels.com. He has also written many travel-related blogs.