India is a hotspot of rich cultural heritage.
The country has 22 regional languages spoken in different states of the country and has about 447 languages spoken overall, which is the fourth-highest number of spoken languages in the world.
The good news is that you need not learn all of these 22 languages. ‘Hindi’ is the most widely spoken language here and you can easily get your way if you are good with a few common phrases. Please note you need not know the Hindi translation of every word, you may easily replace the subject in a sentence with its English counterpart and still be understood.
Here we list out 60 such common phrases which will come in handy when you visit India:
Greetings:
Hello: Namaste (with folded hands)
My name is ‘John Doe’: Mera naam ‘John Doe’ hai OR Main ‘John Doe’ hu.
I am from ‘Mexico’: Main ‘Mexico’ se hu
Please: Kripiya
Thank You: Dhanyabaad
How are you?: Aap kaise hai?
I am good: Main thik hu
Nice to meet you: Aap se milke accha laga
What is your name?: Aap ka naam kya hai?
No worries: Koi baat nahi
General conversations:
Yes: Haan
No: Naa OR Nahi
Okay: Thik hai
Sorry: Maaf kijiye
Sorry, I made a mistake: Maaf kijiye, ek galti ho gayi.
I don’t understand: Mujhe samajh nahi aaya
I dont know: Mujhe pata nahi
No problem: Koi baat nahi
This is right: Yeh thik hai
This is wrong: Yeh galat hai
This is good: Yeh accha hai
This is not good: Yeh accha nahi hai
This is bad: Yeh bura hai.
This is beautiful: Yeh sundar hai
You are beautiful: Aap sundar hai
You are good: Aap aache hai
You are very good: Aap bahut acche hai
Addressing people:
A general way to call male: Sir OR Bhaiya (meaning brother) OR Uncle
A general way to call any female: Mam OR Didi (meaning sister) OR Aunty
Asking for help:
Do you speak English?: Kya aap Angrezi bolte hai?
Can you help me?: Kya aap meri madad kar sakte hai?
I lost my ‘phone’: Mera ‘phone’ kho gaya hai
Do you have a ‘pen’: Kya aap ke paas ‘pen’ hai?
I am thirsty. Can I get some water?: Mujhe pyaas laga hai, thoda paani mil sakta hai?
I am hungry. Can I get some food?: Mujhe bhook laga hai, thoda khaana mil sakta hai?
Transport & asking for directions
Which way is ‘Red Fort’?: Kaunsa raasta ‘Red Fort’ jaata hai?
Does this car/bus/train go to ‘Red Fort’?: Kya yeh car/bus/train ‘Red Fort’ jaati hai?
Please let me know when the next stop comes: Kripiya agla stop aaye toh mujhe bata dena
Please let me know when ‘Chandni Chowk’ stop comes: Kripiya ‘Chandni Chowk’ stop aaye toh mujhe bata dena
Please stop the car: Kripiya car ko rokiye.
What time will the bus reach ‘Chandni Chowk’?: Yeh bus kitne baje ‘Chandni Chowk’ pohochegi?
What time will the bus start?: Yeh bus kitne baje shuru hogi?
Please stop here: Kripiya yahan rok dijiye
Please go a little ahead: Kripiya thoda aage chaliye.
Please dont push: Kripiya dhhhakka naa de.
Stop: Rukiye (with respect)/ Ruko
Dont stop: Rukiye mat (with respect)/ Ruko mat
Is there a restaurant/ food joint nearby?: Yahan paas mein koi khaane ki jagah hai?
Shopping:
What is the price of this? Iska daam kitna hai?
Please reduce the price: Daam thoda kam kijiye
This is good: Yeh accha hai
This is not good: Yeh accha nahi hai
Do you accept cash or card? Aap kya accept karte hai? Cash ya card?
Can you show me some more options? Kuch aur options dikhaaye.
At a hotel:
Is there a hotel room nearby? Yahan paas mein koi rehne ki jagah hai (koi hotel hai)?
Do you have a room available for two people? Kya aapke hotel mein do logo ka kamra available hai?
Do you have any other rooms? Aapke paas koi aur room available hai?
Is there a room with a balcony? Koi balcony wala room available hai kya?
I need hot water in the shower. Bathroom mein garam paani chahiye. Geyser available hai naa?
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