Namaste! If the land of the Saints is on your bucket list, you’ll need to know a few phrases to get you by although it’s likely that you won’t need to use much if any Hindi (other than to impress new friends) if you’re visiting major cities.
| Literal Translation | Word/Phrase | Pronounciation | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | How much? | Kitna (Hua) | Kit Na (Who Aa) |
| 2. | It’s okay! | Theek Hai | Teak Hair (r silent) |
| 3. | No | Nahi | Nuh He |
| 4. | Yes | Haan | Hah! |
| 5. | Good/Okay/Oh, really?/Listen up/Oh, well/Well! | Acha | Accha |
| 6. | Thank you | Dhanyawaad | Thun-ya-vaad |
| 7. | It’s nice to meet you. | Aap se mil kar khushi hui | Aap say mill kur khoo-shee hoo-ee |
| 8. | How are you? | Aap Kaise Hain (respectful)
Kya Haal Hai |
Aap kay-say hai
Kia Hull Hay |
| 9. | Where’s the phone? | Phone kahaan hai? | Phone kuh-haa hay |
| 10. | I want to make a phone call | Mujhe phone karna hai | Moo-jay phone kur-na hay |
| 11. | How much does this cost? | Yeh kitne ka hai | Yay kit-nay ka hai |
| 12. | Where’s the ____? | ____ kidhar hai | ___ key-thur hay |
| 13. | How far is (this) ___? | (Ye) ___ kitna dur hai? | Yay ___ kith-na thoor hay |
| 14. | I want (drinking) water. | Mujhe (peene ka) paani Chahiye | Moo-jay (pee-nay kaa) pa-knee chaah-he-yay |
| 15. | Help! | Bachao! | Ba-chow |
| 16. | I do not wish to go to that place. | Main udhar jana nahi chahta (/chahti – for females) | May oo-thur jaana nuh-hee chaah-ta |
| 17. | I want a ticket. | Mujhe ticket chahiye | Moo-jay ticket cha-hee-yay |
| 18. | Are you open tomorrow? | (Store/shop/office) kal khula hai? | (English word) cull khoo-la hay |
| 19. | This is too expensive. | Ye bahut mehenga hai / Bahut zyaada dam hai | Ye buh-hoot may-hen-ga hay / Buh-hoot zee-ya-da daam hay |
| 20. | Make your price less. | Bhaav (dam) kam karo | Bhaa-o (daam) kum kuh-roe |
| 21. | This costs 9 rupees. | Iska dam 9 rupia hai | Es-ka daam 9 roo-pee-ya hay |
| 22. | I do not know… | Mujhe nahi malum | Moo-jay nahi maa-loom |
Ms. Sonia Sandhu 