India, before India · say it like you mean it
The 100 Hindi phrases that open every door.
English will get you through India. Ten words of Hindi will get you into it. These are the 100 we actually use — with the script, an honest pronunciation, and what each one really means.
READ IT ALOUD AS WRITTEN — THE TRANSLITERATION IS BUILT FOR ENGLISH SPEAKERS
Greetings & politeness
Hindi has a built-in politeness level: aap is the respectful “you,” and every phrase here uses it. You cannot be too polite in India.
- नमस्तेNamasteHello / goodbye — works everywhere, always
- आप कैसे हैं?Aap kaise hain?How are you?
- मैं ठीक हूँMain theek hoonI'm fine
- धन्यवादDhanyavaadThank you
- शुक्रियाShukriyaThanks (warmer, everyday)
- कृपयाKripyaPlease (formal)
- माफ़ कीजिएMaaf kijiyeExcuse me / I'm sorry
- कोई बात नहींKoi baat nahinNo problem / don't mention it
- फिर मिलेंगेPhir milengeSee you again
- आपका नाम क्या है?Aapka naam kya hai?What's your name?
- मेरा नाम … हैMera naam … haiMy name is …
- आपसे मिलकर खुशी हुईAapse milkar khushi huiPleased to meet you
The essentials
Achha and theek hai between them can carry half a conversation — tone does the rest.
- हाँHaanYes
- नहींNahinNo
- ठीक हैTheek haiOkay / alright — the most useful phrase in India
- अच्छाAchhaGood / I see / really? (tone changes the meaning)
- चलोChaloLet's go
- बसBasEnough / that's all
- क्या?Kya?What?
- क्यों?Kyon?Why?
- कहाँ?Kahan?Where?
- कब?Kab?When?
Getting around
Meter se chaliye is worth the whole list: it tells a driver you know how this works.
- … कहाँ है?… kahan hai?Where is …?
- स्टेशन कहाँ है?Station kahan hai?Where is the station?
- कितनी दूर है?Kitni door hai?How far is it?
- सीधे जाइएSeedhe jaiyeGo straight
- बाएँ / दाएँBaayen / daayenLeft / right
- यहाँ रोकिएYahan rokiyeStop here
- धीरे चलिएDheere chaliyeGo slowly
- मीटर से चलिएMeter se chaliyeUse the meter, please
- मुझे … जाना हैMujhe … jaana haiI need to go to …
- कितना समय लगेगा?Kitna samay lagega?How long will it take?
- यह बस … जाती है?Yeh bus … jaati hai?Does this bus go to …?
- मैं रास्ता भूल गया / गईMain raasta bhool gaya / gayiI'm lost (m/f)
Shopping & bargaining
Bargaining is a conversation, not a fight — smile, counter at half, meet in the middle, and walk away happy either way.
- यह कितने का है?Yeh kitne ka hai?How much is this?
- बहुत महंगा हैBahut mehenga haiThat's too expensive
- कम कीजिएKam kijiyeLower the price, please
- आखिरी दाम क्या है?Aakhri daam kya hai?What's your final price?
- मुझे यह चाहिएMujhe yeh chahiyeI'd like this one
- मुझे नहीं चाहिएMujhe nahin chahiyeI don't want it
- सिर्फ़ देख रहा / रही हूँSirf dekh raha / rahi hoonJust looking (m/f)
- क्या आप कार्ड लेते हैं?Kya aap card lete hain?Do you take cards?
- छुट्टा है?Chhutta hai?Do you have change?
- बाद में आऊँगा / आऊँगीBaad mein aaoonga / aaoongiI'll come back later (m/f)
- यह क्या है?Yeh kya hai?What is this?
- एक और दीजिएEk aur dijiyeOne more, please
Food & drink
Kam mirch (less chili) is a request; teekha nahin (not spicy) is a plea. Use both.
- पानीPaaniWater
- बिना बर्फ़ केBina barf keWithout ice
- चायChaiTea
- मेन्यू दीजिएMenu dijiyeThe menu, please
- मैं शाकाहारी हूँMain shakahari hoonI'm vegetarian
- कम मिर्चKam mirchLess chili, please
- तीखा नहींTeekha nahinNot spicy
- मुझे भूख लगी हैMujhe bhookh lagi haiI'm hungry
- खाना बहुत अच्छा हैKhaana bahut achha haiThe food is very good
- बहुत स्वादिष्ट!Bahut swadisht!Delicious!
- और चाहिएAur chahiyeI'd like more
- पेट भर गयाPet bhar gayaI'm full
- यह मीठा है?Yeh meetha hai?Is this sweet?
- बिल दीजिएBill dijiyeThe bill, please
Numbers & money
Learn ek to paanch, das, sau and hazaar — everything else you can point at, and prices above a hundred are usually said in English anyway.
- एकEkOne
- दोDoTwo
- तीनTeenThree
- चारChaarFour
- पाँचPaanchFive
- दसDasTen
- बीसBeesTwenty
- पचासPachaasFifty
- सौSauOne hundred
- हज़ारHazaarOne thousand
- कितना?Kitna?How much?
- पैसेPaiseMoney
At the hotel
- कमरा है?Kamra hai?Do you have a room?
- एक रात के लिएEk raat ke liyeFor one night
- गरम पानी है?Garam paani hai?Is there hot water?
- वाई-फाई का पासवर्ड क्या है?Wi-Fi ka password kya hai?What's the Wi-Fi password?
- चाबी दीजिएChaabi dijiyeThe key, please
- कल सुबहKal subahTomorrow morning
- सामानSaamaanLuggage
- मुझे मदद चाहिएMujhe madad chahiyeI need help
Emergencies & understanding
- मदद!Madad!Help!
- डॉक्टर को बुलाइएDoctor ko bulaiyeCall a doctor
- मेरी तबीयत ठीक नहीं हैMeri tabiyat theek nahin haiI'm not feeling well
- दवाई की दुकान कहाँ है?Dawai ki dukaan kahan hai?Where's a pharmacy?
- पुलिसPolicePolice
- मुझे समझ नहीं आयाMujhe samajh nahin aayaI didn't understand
- धीरे बोलिएDheere boliyeSpeak slowly, please
- क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं?Kya aap angrezi bolte hain?Do you speak English?
Connection & small talk
These twelve earn the most smiles per syllable. A traveler who tries a little Hindi is treated like a guest, not a customer.
- आप कहाँ से हैं?Aap kahan se hain?Where are you from?
- मैं अमेरिका से हूँMain America se hoonI'm from America
- भारत बहुत सुंदर हैBharat bahut sundar haiIndia is very beautiful
- फोटो ले सकता / सकती हूँ?Photo le sakta / sakti hoon?May I take a photo? (m/f)
- ज़रूरZaroorOf course
- शायदShaayadMaybe
- मुझे हिंदी थोड़ी आती हैMujhe Hindi thodi aati haiI speak a little Hindi
- यह मेरी पहली बार हैYeh meri pehli baar haiIt's my first time here
- बहुत बढ़िया!Bahut badhiya!Excellent!
- मज़ा आ गयाMaza aa gayaThat was wonderful — I loved it
- आपका शहर बहुत अच्छा हैAapka sheher bahut achha haiYour city is lovely
- अलविदाAlvidaGoodbye (final; phir milenge is warmer)
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