Many Indians, especially those of the younger generation, speak at least a little English. But as a traveler with a few chunks of Hind, you will be extremely popular. You might get a better price in the bazaar or be invited for a cup of chai. Thus, Hindi for travelers in India opens a completely new access to the country and the people!
However, most textbooks and Hindi courses focus on outdated forms and unnecessary grammar. Often a little Hindi is enough – as long as it is authentic! – to impress Indian locals. And since Hindi is only one of the many languages of India, Indians tend to forgive pronunciation mistakes.
I spent almost a year in India. These are the words and phrases I used the most.
Greeting and addressing in Hindi
| Hello (formal, Hindus) | Namaste / Namaskar |
| Hello (formal, Muslims) | Assalaamualaikum |
| Hello (formal, Sikhs) | Sat Shri Akaal |
| Good morning | Suprabhat |
| How are you? (formal) | Aap kaise/i hai? (m/w) |
| What’s up? | Kya haal hai? |
| Everything alright? | Sab thik hai? |
| What’s up bro? | Aur bhai |
| I’m fine. | Mai thik huun |
| I’m doing great, thanks. | Mai bharia huun, shukriya. |
| Goodbye. | Phiir milenge. |
| No problem. | Koi baat nahi. |
| See you tomorrow. | Kal milenge. |
| Let’s go! | Chaloo! |
Introducing yourself and Small Talk in Hindi
| What’s your name? | Apka naam kya hai? |
| My name is Jack. | Mera naam Jack hai. |
| Where are you from? | Ap kahaan se hai? |
| I’m from the United States. | Mai USA se huun. |
| That’s my friend. | Yeh mere dost hai. |
| What’s your job? | Apka kaam kya hai? |
| I’m a student. | Mai student huun. |
| Oh, you’re from Delhi? Very nice! | Achchha, aap Dilli se hai? Bahut sundar! |
| India is amazing! | India bahut bharia hai! |
| Indian food is the best! | Hindustani khaana sabse achchha hai. |
| Long live India! | Jai Hindustan! |
Bargaining and Numbers in Hindi
| How much is it? | Kitna paisa? |
| I don’t want it. | Nahi chaiiye. |
| Yes / No | Ji, Haa / Nahi |
| That’s very expensive. | Yeh bahut mahenge hai! |
| That’s not the Indian price. | Yeh Hindustani price nahi hai. |
| I don’t have any money. | Mere paas paisa nahin hai. |
| 1 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 5 | Ek / Do / Teen / Chaar / Paanch |
| 6 / 7 / 8 / 9 / 10 | Cheh / Saath / Aath / Nau / Daass |
| 20 / 30 / 40 / 50 | Bees / Tees / Chaleess / Pachaas |
| 100 / 500 / 1000 | Ek sau / Paanch sau / Ek Hazaar |
Questions, Questions, Questions!
| Where’s the toilet? | Toilet kahaan hai? |
| Where is the hospital? | Haaspital kahaan hai? |
| What time is it? | Kya samay hai? |
| What’s that? | Yeh kya hai? |
| Can I get some tea? | Chai milega? |
| Do you have bananas? | Kele apke paas? |
| Hey, you crazy?! | Are, paagal ho?! |
| What’s wrong, what happened? | Kya hua? |
Other Hindi Vocabulary for Travelers in India
| Brother / Sister | Bhai / Didi |
| Banana / Apple / Mango | Kela / Seb / Aam |
| Bread / Rice / Yogurt | Roti / Chaaval / Dahii |
| Temple / Mosque | Mandir / Masjid |
| Water / Food / Tea | Paani / Khaana / Chai |
Hindi for Travelers in India
With this Hindi vocabulary you are prepared for any trip to India (and Pakistan) – and can thus immerse yourself more deeply in the culture of the subcontinent. Because only those who know the language and speak with its people can really understand a country. This Hindi for travelers in India makes it possible! Jai Hindustan!
Hindi Language Books: Best Books to Learn Hindi with
To expand your knowledge of Hindi, you might want to get a Hindi language book. Thus, you will be able to form your own sentences, and also learn how to read and write in the Devanagari script. These are the best books to learn Hindi with:
- Hindi Flash Cards Kit: Learn 1,500 basic Hindi words and phrases quickly and easily! (Audio CD Included)
- Hindi Tutor: Grammar and Vocabulary Workbook
- Complete Hindi: Your Complete Speaking, Listening, Reading and Writing
- Get Started in Hindi – Absolute Beginner Course
Find more interesting books on India – such as Indian history books and books on Indian spirituality – in this article: The Best Books on India.
