Hindi phrasebook
Hindi हिन्दी is an Indo-European language spoken in India, and by minorities in Nepal, Fiji, United Arab Emirates, Trinidad, Suriname, South Africa, UK, USA and Australia. Of the 22 official languages and over 1,000 dialects of India, Hindi along with English is promoted by the government and viewed by over half the population as a "link-language."
Hindi is descended from Sanskrit, sometimes called "the mother of all Indo-European languages," or "Latin of the East." Hindi developed from the proto-Hindi खड़ी बोली Khaṛī Bolī (lit. "Pure language"). A mixture of Hindi and Urdu, called Hindustani (though this name is also applied to the Caribbean dialect of Hindi), is the form heard in most Bollywood films, that try to appeal to the widest audience possible. Hindustani is different than what is taught at the literary level and what is used by news programs and the government in India.
A striking fact is that, depending on the source, Hindi is listed as the 5th most widely spoken language in the world.
Writing[edit]
Hindi is written in the Devanāgarī (देवनागरी) script, shared with Nepali, Marathi and a number of other Indian languages. Learning Devanagari is not quite as difficult as you might think at first glance, but mastering it takes a while and is beyond the scope of most travellers. See Learning Devanagari for a primer.
Pronunciation[edit]
Most English speakers find Hindi pronunciation rather challenging, as there are 11 separate vowels and 35 separate consonants, employing a large number of distinctions not found in English. Don't let this intimidate you: Many speakers do not speak standard Hindi at home, and are quite used to regional accents and mangling in various degrees.
The key distinction is the difference between short and long vowels. In this phrase book, long vowels are noted with a macron (ā), whereas short vowels are listed without one. You will often come across non-standard romanizations, noted in parentheses below when applicable.
Devanagari
|
Transliteration
|
Equivalent/Comments
|
अ |
a |
as in about
|
आ |
ā |
as in father
|
इ |
i |
as in sit
|
ई |
ī (ee) |
as in elite
|
उ |
u |
as in put
|
ऊ |
ū (oo) |
as in flute
|
ऋ |
ṛ |
as in Scottish heard, trip. Rarely used in modern Hindi.
|
ए |
ē |
long e. It is not a diphthong; the tone does not fall.
|
ऐ |
ai |
as in Mail, sometimes a longer ए. As in bright (IPA ıj).
|
ओ |
o |
not a diphthong; tone does not fall.
|
औ |
au |
as in town.
|
Consonants[edit]
Many Hindi consonants come in three different forms: aspirated, unaspirated and retroflex.
Aspiration means "with a puff of air", and is the difference between the sound of the letter "p" in English pin (aspirated) and spit (unaspirated). In this phrasebook, aspirated sounds are spelled with an h (so English "pin" would be phin) and unaspirated sounds without it (so "spit" is still spit). Hindi aspiration is quite forceful and it's OK to emphasize the puff: bharti.
Hindi retroflex consonants, on the other hand, are not really found in English. They should be pronounced with the tongue tip curled back. Practice with a native speaker, or just pronounce as usual — you'll usually still get the message across.
Devanagari
|
Transliteration
|
Equivalent/Comments
|
क |
k |
as in skip.
|
ख |
kh |
as in sinkhole.
|
ग |
g |
as in go.
|
घ |
gh |
as in doghouse.
|
ङ |
ṅ |
as in sing. Used only in Sanskrit loan words, does not occur independently.
|
च |
c |
as in church.
|
छ |
ch |
as in pinchhit.
|
ज |
j |
as in jump.
|
झ |
jh |
as in dodge her.
|
ञ |
ñ |
as in canyon. Used only in Sanskrit loan words, does not occur independently.
|
ट |
ṭ |
as in tick. Retroflex, but still a "hard" t sound similar to English.
|
ठ |
ṭh |
as in lighthouse. Retroflex
|
ड |
ḍ |
as in doom. Retroflex
|
ढ |
ḍh |
as in mudhut. Retroflex
|
ण |
ṇ |
retroflex n. Used only in Sanskrit loan words.
|
त |
t |
does not exist in English. more dental t, with a bit of a th sound. Softer than an English t.
|
थ |
th |
aspirated version of the previous letter, not as in thanks or the.
|
द |
d |
dental d, as in the.
|
ध |
dh |
aspirated version of the above.
|
न |
n |
alveolar n.
|
प |
p |
as in spin.
|
फ |
ph |
as in u'ph'ill.
|
ब |
b |
as in be.
|
भ |
bh |
as in abhor.
|
म |
m |
as in mere.
|
य |
y |
as in yet.
|
र |
r |
as in Spanish pero, a tongue trip. Don't roll as in Spanish rr, German or Scottish English.
|
ल |
l |
as in lean.
|
व |
v |
as in Spanish vaca, between English v and w, but without the lip rounding of an English w. (IPA: ʋ).
|
श |
ś |
as in shoot.
|
ष |
ṣ |
almost indistinguishable retroflex of the above. slightly more aspirated. Used only in Sanskrit loan words.
|
स |
s |
as in see.
|
ह |
h |
as in him.
|
For emphasizing words don't stress them by voice (which would be regarded as a sign of aggressiveness) but add a to after them.
- yeh kyā hai? ("what's this?") → yeh to kyā hai? - ("what is this?")
Voice should always be very low and with few changes in pitch, loudness and stress, so please: relax!.
One of the only stresses found in Hindi is the last long syllable prior to the last syllable (e.g. in "dhānyavād" stress "dhā"). But it is a mild stress which occurs naturally, so don't force it. Don't even think about it!
शुभकामनाएँ! / śubhkāmnāen! / Good luck
Hindi Phrases[edit]
Cultural Notes[edit]
Greetings: There are no time elemental greetings in Hindi such as good morning, good afternoon, etc. And each religion has its own greetings. It is considered very gracious to address a person by their respective greetings, but not necessary. Namastē is the most ubiquitous greeting, and though of Hindu origin is now mostly secular. It is said with hands folded and a small gesture of bowing – but don't go overboard Japanese style! Namastē literally means "I bow to you." The original religious significance was of bowing to the soul (ātmā) within another. It is custom to touch the feet of someone older than you when saying Namastē. Namaskār has the same meaning, but is used less often in Hindi, though it is common in other Indian languages such as Gujarati and Bengali. Namaskār is thought of as more formal, and as such is used more often when addressing a group or a person of importance.
Civilities: Sometimes, English words themselves are used; due to the British colonial influence, especially in urban areas and among the upper class. In this case, use them as you would in English. Just remember that like Germans and the French, they sometimes have trouble with English th sounds and therefore pronounce th as थ. When someone is in your way, instead of saying excuse me, or zara suniye, just let out an aspirated ts sound with your tongue behind your teeth to attract their attention. This might seem rude, but is no more rude than children saying "pssst" to get a friend's attention during class! In conclusion, though Hindi has corresponding words to ours, this does not mean that the context in which they are used also correspond likewise. Don't let all of this lead you to believe Indians are cold though – nothing could be further from the truth! These sentiments are merely communicated through body language rather than verbally. To show your thanks, a simple smile will do the trick. Other common gestures include the infamous "head bobble"; and a hand gesture made by swiftly swinging the wrist so your palm is facing the sky and your forefingers slightly elongated. Before travelling to India, rent some Bollywood films so that if a spontaneous Bhangra breaks out in the streets, you'll be ready to join in! All kidding aside, they can demonstrate body language and customs far better than any book is able to, all while acclimatizing you to the language as well.
Prefixes & Suffixes: With the words for "yes" and "no" jī (जी) may be added before to give it a more polite tone. Sometimes, speakers will simply reply with jī, as an affirmation of something someone says. Jī is added to a person's name as a sign of respect. For example; in India, Mahatma Gandhi is known simply as Gāndhījī (गांधीजी). Another suffix which is indispensable is vālā (-वाला), often rendered in English as "-wallah". Many books devote whole chapters to vālā. With nouns, it gives the meaning "the one or thing that does" and with verbs, it indicates something is about to happen. Examples:
- noun – shop (दुकान dukān) + vālā = shopkeeper (दुकानवाला dukānvālā)
- verb – to come (आना ānā) + vālā = (the) ... is coming (... आनेवाला है ... ānēvālā hai)
English Loan Words: The British Empire's influence spread into the language itself, and this continues today with American culture being exported throughout the world. So, an English word or phrase may almost always be inserted into any Hindi sentence. You will often hear Indians, whom while talking in Hindi, pepper their sentences with English words. Sometimes, they'll even alternate sentences, going from Hindi to English, and back to Hindi! Upon meeting an Indian, many times you may not even get to practice your Hindi, because they want to practice their English on you! English loan words are particularly used for modern inventions/technologies, so words like TV, computer and microwave are the same as in English apart from the slight change of accent. However; this is mostly in the cities, and learning some Hindi will have been all the more rewarding when in rural or non-tourist areas, as well as allowing you to communicate with a wider variety of people in the cities.
Gender & The 2nd Person Pronoun: Certain words have different endings depending on your gender. If you are a man, say these with an -a suffix, and if you're a woman, -ī. However; when addressing the person respectively with āp (आप), the masculine ending takes the plural form. This is not all that different from the behavior of other Indo-European languages, c.f. German Sie, which like āp is also both the respectful 2nd person pronoun and plural form of address. The other two forms are the familiar tum (तुम) and intimate tū (तू). These change the forms of certain words. Tum is for friends and peers, tū for small children (within the family); between 'significant others' in private; traditionally to lower castes; in the past, slaves; and, paradoxically, when supplicating to the gods/God (c.f. Greek mythology). As a general rule, stick with āp, until you become more familiar with the language and culture. Forget about tū altogether, at the best using it would be a faux pas and at the worst, very offensive. For those reasons as well as practical ones, this section will only use the āp form.
Common signs
- OPEN
- CLOSED
- ENTRANCE
- EXIT
- PUSH
-
- PULL
- TOILET
- MEN
- WOMEN
- FORBIDDEN
|
Accha! OK? TK!
One of the most useful words to know is accha. It is both an adjective and interjection. Its meanings include (but are not limited to!): good, excellent, healthy, well, OK, really?, awesome!, hmm..., a-ha!, etc.! If you learn no other word, remember this one.
Another common all-purpose word is ṭhīk hai, pronounced and occasionally even spelled out as "TK". It is used in the same manner, meaning: OK/all right, yes/understood (affirmation), right/correct, etc. Sometimes shortened to just ṭhīk.
|
English
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
Hello (used esp. when answering the phone) |
हेलो |
hēlo
|
Hello |
नमस्ते |
namastē
|
Hello/Goodbye |
नमस्कार |
namaskār
|
Hello/Goodbye (Hindu, respectful) |
प्रणाम |
praṇām
|
Hello/Goodbye (Hindu, colloquial) |
राम राम |
rām rām
|
Hello/Goodbye (Sikh) |
सत श्री अकाल |
sat śrī akāl
|
Hello/Goodbye (Sikh, formal) |
वाहेगुरू जी का खाल्सा |
vāhēgurū jī ka khālsa
|
Hello/Goodbye (Sikh, reply) |
वाहिगुरू जी की फ़तह |
vāhēgurū jī kī fateh
|
See you later |
फिर मिलेंगे |
phir milēṅgē
|
How are you? |
आप कैसे/कैसी हैं? |
āp kaisē/kaisī haĩ?
|
How are you? |
आप ख़ैरियत से हैं? |
āp khairiyat se haĩ?
|
I am fine |
मैं ठीक हूँ |
maĩ ṭhīk hū̃
|
OK/fine (colloq.) |
ठीक है |
ṭhīk hai
|
Fine, and you? (more formal reply) |
मैं कुशल हूँ, आप सुनाइये |
ṭhīk, āp sunāiyē
|
What is your name? |
आपका नाम क्या है? |
āpkā nām kyā hai?
|
My name is ___ . |
मेरा नाम ___ है। |
mērā nām ___ hai.
|
Nice to meet you (formal). |
आपसे मिलकर बहुत खुशी हुई। |
āpsē milkar bahut k͟hūśī huī
|
Nice to meet you too (reply). |
मुझे भी |
mujhē bhī
|
Yes |
हाँ |
hā̃
|
No/not |
नहीं |
nahī̃
|
Do you speak English? |
आपको अंग्रेज़ी आती है? |
āpko aṅgrēzī ātī hai?
|
Is there someone here who speaks English? |
क्या किसी को अंग्रेज़ी आती है? |
kyā kisī ko aṅgrēzī ātī hai?
|
I don't speak Hindi. |
मुझे हिन्दी नहीं आती है। |
mujhē hindī nahī̃ ātī hai.
|
I can't speak Hindi |
मैं हिन्दी नहीं बोल सकता हूँ। |
maĩ hindī nahī̃ bol sakta hū̃.
|
I speak some Hindi. |
मुझे कुछ हिन्दी आती है। |
mujhē kuc hindī ātī hai
|
I don't understand. |
मैं समझा/समझी नहीं। |
maĩ samjhā/samjhī nahī̃
|
Speak more slowly |
धीरे धीरे बोलिये। |
dhīrē dhīrē boliyē
|
Come again? |
फिर आइये। |
phirsē?
|
What does "..." mean? |
"..." का मतलब क्या है? |
"..." kā artha/matlab kyā hai?
|
How do you say "..."? |
"..." को कैसे कहते हैं? |
"..." kaisē kahatē haĩ?
|
Where are you from? |
आप कहाँ के रहने वाले हैं? |
āp kahā̃ sē haĩ?
|
I'm from ... |
मैं ... से हूँ |
maĩ ... sē hū̃
|
Please |
कृपया |
kṛpyā
|
Thank you |
धन्यवाद / शुक्रिया |
dhanyavād/śukriyā (Hindustani/Urdu)
|
Thank you |
थैंक्यू |
thaiṅkyū
|
Thank you very much |
बहुत बहुत (धन्यवाद / शुक्रिया) |
bahut bahut (dhanyavād/śukriyā)
|
You're welcome |
आपका स्वागत है। |
āpkā svāgat hai
|
You're welcome (lit. don't mention it) |
कोई बात नहीं। |
koī bāt nahī̃
|
Excuse me (getting s.o.'s attention) |
सुनिये |
suniyē
|
Pardon me |
क्षमा कीजिये! |
kṣamā kījiyē
|
Pardon me/I'm sorry |
माफ़ कीजिये! |
māf kījiyē
|
Where is the toilet? |
टॉयलेट कहाँ है? |
ṭā̆yalēṭ kahā̃ hai?
|
Where is the toilet? |
शौचालय कहाँ है? |
śaucālay kahā̃ hai?
|
Good!, really?, nice, etc. |
अच्छा!, अच्छा? |
acchā
|
Just one minute |
एक मिनट |
ēk minaṭ
|
What time is it? |
कितने बजे हैं? |
Kitne baje hain?
|
Forms of Address[edit]
English
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
Ji (q.v. ut supra) |
जी |
jī
|
Mr. |
मिस्टर |
misṭar
|
Mrs. |
मिसेज़ |
misez
|
Mr. |
श्री |
śrī
|
Mrs. |
श्रीमती |
śrīmatī
|
Mr. (Sikh, ਸਰਦਾਰ) |
सरदार |
sardār
|
Mrs. (Sikh, ਸਰਦਾਰਨੀ) |
सरदारनी |
sardārnī
|
Sir |
महोदय |
mahodaya
|
Dr. |
डॉक्टर |
ḍākṭar
|
Interrogatives[edit]
English
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
how/of what kind? |
कैसा? |
kaisa
|
how much/many? |
कितना/कितने? |
kitna/kitne
|
what? |
क्या? |
kyā?
|
when? |
कब? |
kab?
|
where? |
कहाँ? |
kahān?
|
who? |
कौन? |
kaun?
|
which? |
कौनसा? |
kaunsa?
|
why? |
क्यों? |
kyon?
|
Numbers[edit]
The numerals used to write in decimal are called Indo-Arabic numerals. Developed in India, they were borrowed by the Arabs, and gradually spread to Europe. The similarities are hard to miss. Here are their respective numerals.
Roman
|
Devanagari
|
0 |
०
|
1 |
१
|
2 |
२
|
3 |
३
|
4 |
४
|
5 |
५
|
6 |
६
|
7 |
७
|
8 |
८
|
9 |
९
|
Hindi numbers ending in 9 are named as "un" (-1) plus the next multiple of ten. Instead of naming powers of a thousand, Hindi has unique names for a thousand, a hundred thousand, ten million etc. These peculiarities don't seem to have affected the proliferation of Indian mathematicians.
Numeral
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
Numeral
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
Numeral
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
Numeral
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
0 |
शून्य |
shUnya, bi.ndi |
25 |
पच्चीस |
paccīs |
50 |
पचास |
pacās |
75 |
पचहत्तर |
pachattar
|
1 |
एक |
ek |
26 |
छब्बीस |
chabbīs |
51 |
इक्यावन |
ikyāvan |
76 |
छिहत्तर |
chihattar
|
2 |
दो |
do |
27 |
सत्ताईस |
satāīs |
52 |
बावन |
bāvan |
77 |
सतहत्तर |
sathattar
|
3 |
तीन |
tīn |
28 |
अट्ठाईस |
aṭṭhāīs |
53 |
तिरपन |
tirpan |
78 |
अठहत्तर |
aṭhhattar
|
4 |
चार |
chār |
29 |
उनतीस |
untīs |
54 |
चौवन |
cauvan |
79 |
उन्यासी |
unyāsī
|
5 |
पांच |
pānc |
30 |
तीस |
tīs |
55 |
पचपन |
pacpan |
80 |
अस्सी |
assī
|
6 |
छह, छै, छः |
cheh, chai, cheḥ |
31 |
इकत्तीस |
ikttīs |
56 |
छप्पन |
chappan |
81 |
इक्यासी |
ikyāsī
|
7 |
सात |
sāt |
32 |
बत्तीस |
battīs |
57 |
सत्तावन |
sattāvan |
82 |
बयासी |
bayāsī
|
8 |
आठ |
āṭh |
33 |
तैंतीस |
taintīs |
58 |
अट्ठावन |
aṭṭhāvan |
83 |
तिरासी |
tirāsī
|
9 |
नौ |
nau |
34 |
चौंतीस |
cauntīs |
59 |
उनसठ |
unsaṭh |
84 |
चौरासी |
caurāsī
|
10 |
दस |
das |
35 |
पैंतीस |
paintīs |
60 |
साठ |
sāṭh |
85 |
पचासी |
pacāsī
|
11 |
ग्यारह |
gyāreh |
36 |
छत्तीस |
chattīs |
61 |
इकसठ |
iksaṭh |
86 |
छियासी |
chiyāsī
|
12 |
बारह |
bareh |
37 |
सआंतीस |
saintīs |
62 |
बासठ |
bāsaṭh |
87 |
सात्तासी |
sattāsī
|
13 |
तेरह |
tereh |
38 |
अड़तीस |
aṛtīs |
63 |
तिरसठ |
tirsaṭh |
88 |
अट्ठासी |
aṭṭhāsī
|
14 |
चौदह |
caudeh |
39 |
उनतालीस |
untālīs |
64 |
चौंसठ |
cainsaṭh |
89 |
नवासी |
navāsī
|
15 |
पंद्रह |
pandreh |
40 |
चालीस |
cālīs |
65 |
पैंसठ |
painsaṭh |
90 |
नब्बे |
nabbe
|
16 |
सोलह |
soleh |
41 |
इकतालीस |
iktālīs |
66 |
छियासठ |
chiyāsaṭh |
91 |
इक्यानवे |
ikyānave
|
17 |
सत्रह |
satreh |
42 |
बयालीस |
bayālīs |
67 |
सरसठ |
sarsaṭh |
92 |
बानावे |
bānave
|
18 |
अठारह |
aṭhāreh |
43 |
तैंतालीस |
taintālīs |
68 |
अड़सठ |
aṛsaṭh |
93 |
तिरानवे |
tirānave
|
19 |
उन्नीस |
unnīs |
44 |
चवालीस |
cavālīs |
69 |
उनत्तहर |
unhattar |
94 |
चौरानवे |
caurānave
|
20 |
बीस |
bīs |
45 |
पैंतालीस |
paintālīs |
70 |
सत्तर |
sattar |
95 |
पचानवे |
pacānave
|
21 |
इक्कीस |
ikkīs |
46 |
छियालीस |
chiyālīs |
71 |
इकहत्तर |
ikhattar |
96 |
छियानवे |
chiyānave
|
22 |
बाईस |
bāīs |
47 |
सैंतालीस |
saintālīs |
72 |
बहत्तर |
behattar |
97 |
सत्तानवे |
sattānave
|
23 |
तेईस |
teīs |
48 |
अड़तालीस |
aṛtālīs |
73 |
तिहत्तर |
tihattar |
98 |
अट्ठानवे |
aṭṭhānave
|
24 |
चौबीस |
chaubīs |
49 |
उनचास |
uncās |
74 |
च्हत्तर |
cauhattar |
99 |
निन्यानवे |
ninyānave
|
Numeral
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
100 |
सौ |
sau
|
200 |
दो सौ |
do sau
|
300 |
तीन सौ |
tīn sau
|
1000 |
हज़ार |
hazār
|
2000 |
दो हज़ार |
do hazār
|
3000 |
तीन हज़ार |
tīn hazār
|
10,000 |
दस हज़ार |
das hazār
|
1,00,000 |
लाख |
lākh
|
10,00,000 |
दस लाख |
das lākh
|
1,00,00,000 |
करोड़ |
karoṛ
|
10,00,00,000 |
दस करोड़ |
Das karoṛ
|
1,00,00,00,000 |
अरब |
arab
|
10,00,00,00,000 |
दस अरब |
Das arab
|
1,00,00,00,00,000 |
खरब |
kharab
|
10,00,00,00,00,000 |
दस खरब |
das kharab
|
1,00,00,00,00,00,000 |
नील |
Neel
|
10,00,00,00,00,00,000 |
दस नील |
das Neel
|
1,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 |
पद्म / पदम |
Padm
|
10,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 |
दस पद्म / पदम |
das Padm
|
1,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 |
शंख |
Shankh
|
10,00,00,00,00,00,00,00,000 |
दस शंख |
das Shankh
|
number _____ (train, bus, etc.) |
नबंर _____ ट्रेन, बस, ... |
nambar _____ ṭren, bas, ...
|
1 half |
आधा |
ādhā
|
less |
कम/थोड़ा |
kam/thoṛa
|
more |
अधिक/ज्यादा |
adhika/jyada
|
English
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
now |
अब, अभी |
ab, abhī
|
later |
बाद में, फिर |
bād men, phir
|
before |
पहले |
pehle
|
morning |
सुबह, सवेरा |
subeh, savera(early morn.)
|
afternoon |
दोपहर |
dopehar; sa pehar
|
evening |
शाम |
shām
|
night |
रात |
rāt
|
Clock time[edit]
English
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
one o'clock AM |
रात में एक बजे |
rāt men ek baje
|
two o'clock AM |
रात में दो बजे |
rāt men do baje
|
noon |
दोपहर |
dopehar
|
one o'clock PM |
दोपहर एक बजे |
dopehar ek baje
|
two o'clock PM |
दोपहर दो बजे |
dopehar do baje
|
midnight |
आधी रात |
ādhī rāt
|
Duration[edit]
English
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
minute |
मिनट |
minaṭ
|
hour |
घंटा |
ghanṭa
|
day |
दिन |
din
|
week |
हफ़्ता |
hafta
|
month |
महीना |
mahīna
|
year |
साल |
sāl
|
English
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
Today |
आज |
āj
|
Yesterday/Tomorrow (depends on context/tense) |
कल |
… kal
|
Day after tomorrow/day before yesterday |
परसों |
parson
|
Week |
सप्ताह/हफ़्ता |
hafta
|
This week |
इस हफ़्ते |
is hafte
|
Last week |
पिछले हफ़्ते |
pichle hafte
|
Next week |
अगले हफ़्ते |
agle hafte
|
Two weeks |
दो हफ़्ते |
do hafte
|
Month |
महीना |
mahīna
|
The Hindu days of the week are each ruled by a planet, and corresponding exactly to ancient cultures in the West, i.e. Sunday = Ravivār (Lord of the Sun's day [lit. time or period]). Thursday/O.N. Þorsdagr, Thor's day = Guruvār (Lord of Jupiter's day), Saturday/Saturn's day = Śani's (Lord of Saturn's day), etc. Unlike her Western counterparts, in India, Astrology is still a vital part of Hindu culture. Though attitudes may vary on its validity, priests are still consulted, as per tradition, for an auspicious day to hold a wedding. -वार (-vār), meaning day, time, or period is often dropped colloquially.
Day
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
Sunday |
रविवार/इतवार |
itvār, ravivār (Sun)
|
Monday |
सोमवार |
somvār (Moon); pīr
|
Tuesday |
मंगलवार/मंगल |
mangalvār (Mars); mangal
|
Wednesday |
बुधवार/बुध |
budhvār (Mercury); budh
|
Thursday |
गुरुवार/बृहस्पितवार |
guruvār (Jupiter)/brihaspativār
|
Friday |
शुक्रवार |
śukravār (Venus)
|
Saturday |
शनिवार |
śanivār (Saturn)
|
India has two main calendars in use, though other groups like the Parsis have their own calendar as well. The Western (Gregorian) calendar is used for day to day and business affairs, and the Hindu calendar is used by religious communities.
Gregorian Calendar[edit]
Name
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
January |
जनवरी |
janvarī
|
February |
फ़रवरी |
farvarī
|
March |
मार्च |
mārc
|
April |
अप्रैल |
aprail
|
May |
मई |
maī
|
June |
जून |
jūn
|
July |
जुलाई |
julāī
|
August |
अगस्त |
agast
|
September |
सितम्बर |
sitambar
|
October |
अक्तूबर |
aktūbar
|
November |
नवम्बर |
navambar
|
December |
दिसम्बर |
disambar
|
Hindu Calendar[edit]
The Hindu Calendar (विक्रम संवत् Vikram saṃvat) is named after a legendary king of Ujjain, who is supposed to have founded the Vikramditya (विक्रमादित्य) era c. 56 BCE. The year 57 BCE was the first year of this (संवत् saṃvat) era. Thus, to calculate the current date of the Hindu calendar, add 57 years. Today, the Hindu Calendar is used mainly for religious purposes and calculating festivals. Because it is based on the lunar month, every 30 months an "impure" intercalary leap month is added, during which no ceremonies are performed. The Hindi names are variations of the original Sanskrit ones.
Name
|
Hindi
|
№ of Days
|
Gregorian Equivalent
|
Caitra |
चैत्र/चैत |
30 |
(March - April)
|
Baisākh |
बैसाख |
31 |
(April - May)
|
Jeṭh |
जेठ |
31 |
(May - June)
|
Asāṛh |
असाढ़ |
? |
(June-July)
|
Sāvan |
सावन |
31 |
(July-August)
|
Bhādon |
भादों |
31 |
(August-September)
|
Kvār |
क्वार |
30 |
(September-October)
|
Kārtik |
कातिक |
30 |
(October-November)
|
Aghan |
अगहन |
30 |
(November-December)
|
Pūs |
पूस |
30 |
(December-January)
|
Māgh |
माघ |
30 |
(January-February)
|
Phagun |
फागुन |
30 |
(February-March)
|
Malmās |
मलमास |
? |
?
|
Writing the time and date[edit]
Give some examples how to write clock times and dates if it differs from English.
The time is written exactly as in English, that is hours followed by minutes.
12:45am will thus be दोपहर के 12 बजकर पैंतालीस मिनट (dopehar ke 12 bajkar paintālīs minaṭ), note that बजकर (bajkar) would indicate something like "o'clock" in English . मिनट (minaṭ) is just a literal translation of "minutes."
Color
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
color |
रंग |
rang
|
colorful |
रंगबिरंगी |
bahut bahAna, rangabirangī
|
colorless |
रंगहीन/बेरंग |
berang
|
black |
काला |
kālā
|
white |
सफ़ेद |
safed/shwet
|
red |
लाल |
lāl
|
pink, rosy |
गुलाबी |
gulābī
|
orange |
नारंगी |
nārangī
|
saffron |
केसिरया |
kesirayā
|
yellow |
पीला |
peela
|
green |
हरा |
harā
|
blue |
नीला |
neelā
|
turquoise |
फ़िरोज़ी |
firozī
|
purple |
बैंगनी, जामुनी |
bainganī, jāmnī
|
brown |
भूरा |
bhūrā
|
gray |
स्लेटी |
sleṭī
|
golden |
सुनहरा |
sunaharā
|
silver |
चांदी |
chāndhī (also the metal)
|
shiny |
चमकीला |
chamkeelā
|
deep, dark |
गहरा |
gaharā
|
pale, light |
हल्का |
halkā
|
Transportation[edit]
Travel Vocabulary[edit]
English
|
Hindi
|
Transliteration
|
Train |
ट्रेन, रेलगाड़ी |
ṭren, relgāṛī
|
Train Station |
स्टेशन |
sṭeśan
|
Bus |
बस |
bas
|
Bus Station |
बस अड्डा |
bas aḍḍa
|
Bus Stop |
बस स्टाप |
bas sṭāp
|
Bicycle |
साइकिल |
sāikil
|
Rickshaw |
रिक्शा |
rickśa
|
Auto Rickshaw |
आटो |
āṭo
|
Taxi |
टैक्सी |
ṭaiksī
|
Car |
गाड़ी, कार |
gāṛī, kār
|
Airplane |
विमान / हवाई जवाज़ |
havāī jahāz
|
Airport |
हवाई अड्डा |
havāī adda
|
Bus and Train[edit]
- How much is a ticket to _____ ?
- _____ जाने की टिकट कितने की है? ("_____ jaane ki ticket kitne ki hai?")
- One ticket to _____
- एक _____ की टिकट दीजिये. Ek _____ ki ticket dijiye.
- Where does this train go?
- ये ट्रेन किधर जाती है? Yeh train kidhar jaati hai?
- Does this train/bus stop in _____?
- क्या ये ट्रेन/बस _____ पर रुकती है? Kya yeh train/bus _____ par rukti hai?
- When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
- _____ की ट्रेन/बस कब निकलेगी? _____ ki train/bus kab niklegi?
- When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
- ये ट्रेन/बस _____ कब पहुँचेगी? Yeh train/bus _____ kab pahuchegi?
Directions[edit]
- How do I get to _____ ?
- ____ tak kaise jaoON?
- ____the train station?
- रेलवे स्टेशन_____? — railway station
- ____the bus station?
- बस अड्डे____? — bas aḍḍa...?
- ____the airport?
- हवाई अड्डे____? — اڈّا...؟ —
- ____Town square?
- चौक____? — chowk
- ____Hotel?
- _____ होटल...? — hotel
- Where can I find (some)____
- (कुछ) ____ कहाँ मिलेंगे? — (kuch) ... kidharai? (?)
- ____hotels?
- होटलें____ — hotelEIN
- ____restaurants?
- रेस्ट्राँ____? — restRON
- ____bars?
- शराब ख़ाने...? — sharaab khaNE
- ____sites to see?
- ...dekhne layek jaghain*? (...)
- Can you show me on the map?
- मुझे नक़्शे में दिखा दीजिये — mujhe nakSHE mEIN dikhaa deejiYE
- Can you tell me the way to _____?
- मुझे _____ का रास्ता बताइए? — — muJHE _____ kaa rasta bataIYE
- street
- सड़क — saDak
- path
- रास्ता — raastaa
- Turn left.
- बायीं तरफ़ मुड़िये — bāyīn muDiye
- Turn right.
- दाहिनी तरफ़ मुड़िये — dāhinī muDiye
- right
- दाहिना — dāhina
- left
- बायाँ — bāyā
- straight ahead
- सीधे — sīdhe
- towards the _____
- _____ की ओर — _____ kee OR
- past the _____
- _____ के अगले — _____ ke agle
- before the _____
- _____ के पिछले — _____ ke piCHHle
- Watch for the _____.
- _____ देखो — _____ dekho
- intersection
- चौराहा — chOWraahaa
- north
- उत्तर — uttar
- south
- दक्षिण — dakshin
- east
- पूर्व — pūrv
- west
- पश्चिम — paścim
- uphill
- चढ़ाई — chaDHai
- Taxi!
- टैकसी — taiksi
- Take me to _____, please
- _____ जाना है — ____jaanaa hAI
- How much does it cost to get to _____?
- ____ जाने को कितना लगता है? — ____ jaane ko kitnaa lagtaa hAI
Lodging[edit]
- Do you have any rooms available?
- Kamra Kirayi pe milega? (कमरा किराये पर मिलेगा?)
- How much is a room for one person/two people?
- Ek/Do admi ka kitna lagega? (एक/दो आदमी का कितना लगेगा?)
- Does the room come with...
- Kamre mein ---- hain kya? (कमरे में --- हैं क्या?)
- ...bedsheets?
- ...bedsheets? (चादर है?)
- ...a bathroom?
- snaanaghara? (स्नानघर ?)
- ...a telephone?
- ...a telephone? (टेलीफोन?)
- ...a TV?
- ...a TV? (टीवी?)
- May I see the room first?
- phele,kumra dekh lun? (पहले कमरा देख लूँ?)
- Do you have anything quieter?
- apkai pas aur chupchap/shA.nta/sthira he? (आपके पास इससे भी शान्त कमरा है?)
- ...bigger?
- ...Aur barrha? (और बड़ा?)
- ...cleaner?
- ...Aur saaf? (और साफ)
- ...cheaper?
- ...Aur susta? (और सस्ता)
- OK, I'll take it.
- Theek hai, laileinge (ठीक है ले लेंगे)
- I will stay for _____ night(s).
- ____raath rahuungaa. (____रात रहूँगा।)
- Can you suggest another hotel?
- Aur koi hotel bataeai? (और कोई होटेल बताइये)
- Do you have a safe?
- Tijorii hai? (तिजोरी है?)
- ...lockers?
- ...lockers? (लॉकर?)
- Is breakfast/supper included?
- nashta/raat ka bhojana-shamil he? (नास्ता/रात का भोजन इसमें शामिल है?)
- What time is breakfast/supper?
- nashta/raat ka bhojana kitane baje milega? (नास्ता/रात का भोजन कितने बजे मिलेगा?)
- Please clean my room.
- kamra saaf kurlo. (कमरा साफ कर दो।)
- Can you wake me at _____? | ____baje jugaa denaa? (____बजे जगा देना।)
- I want to check out.
- main nikalnaa chaahataa huun. (मैं निकलना चाहता हूँ)
- Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
- Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? आप अमेरिकी / ऑस्ट्रेलियाई / कनाडा डॉलर स्वीकार करते हैं?
(Aap amerikee / ostreliyaee / kanaada dolar sveekaar karate hain?)
- Do you accept British pounds?
- Do you accept British pounds? आप ब्रिटिश पाउंड स्वीकार करते हैं
(Aap british paund sveekaar karate hain?)
- Do you accept credit cards?
- Do you accept credit cards? (CreditKaard svIkara karthaihe?)
- Can you change money for me?
- Can you change money for me? (rupaya parivartna karthaihe?)
- Where can I get money changed?
- Where can I get money changed? (paisa parivartna kidhar karloo?)
- Can you change a traveler's check for me?
- Can you change a traveler's check for me? (traveler check parivartna kurlaiga?)
- Where can I get a traveler's check changed?
- Where can I get a traveler's check changed? (traveler check kiddhar parivartna karoo)
- What is the exchange rate?
- What is the exchange rate? (parivartna ka bHaoon kitnae?)
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
- Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? (AeTeeEmm kiddhare?)
- A table for one person/two people, (please).
- एक/दो लोग/-ओं के लिये जगह चाहिये — ek/do log/-on ke liye jagah cāhiye
- Can I look at the menu, please?
- मेणयू कर्ड दीजिये — ("menyoo kard diijiyeh")
- Can I look in the kitchen?
- रसोईघर में विचार कर सकता/सकती हूँ? (resoighr main vijar kr sakta/sakti hoon?)
- Is there a house specialty?
- Is there a house specialty? (iis hotel ka special kya hai)
- Is there a local specialty?
- Is there a local specialty? (iis jaga ka special kya hai)
- I'm a vegetarian.
- मैं शाकाहारी हूँ — main śākāhārī
- I don't eat pork.
- मैं सुअर का मांस नहीं खाता/-ती — main suar ka māns nahīn khāta/-ī
- I don't eat beef.
- मैं गाय का मांस नहीं खाता/-ती — main gāy (gā‘ī) māns nahīn khāta
- I only eat kosher/halal food.
- मैं सिर्फ़ कोशर/हलाल खाना खाता — main sirf kośar/halāl khāna khāta (?)
- Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard)
- Can you make it "lite", please? (kum tail mey mil sakta hai)
- fixed-price meal
- एक दाम का खाना — ek dām ka khāna (?)
- à la carte
- आ-ला कार्ट — ā-lā kārṭ
- breakfast
- नाश्ता — nashta
- lunch
- दोपहर का खाना — dopehar ka khāna; sa-pehar ka khāna
- tea (meal)
- शाम का खाना — sa.ndhya ka khāna
- dinner
- रात का खाना — rāt ka khāna
- I want _____.
- मुझे _____ चाहिये — mujhe _____ cāhiye
- I want a dish containing _____.
- मुझे _____ का खाना चाहिये — — mujhe _____ ka khāna cāhiye (?)
- meat
- मांस — māns
- chicken
- मुर्ग़ — chi.nganA, murgi
- beef
- गाय का मांस — gāy ka māns
- fish
- मछली — machlī
- lamb
- भेड़ का मांस — bheṛ ka māns/mutton
- cheese
- पनीर — panīr, chIja
- eggs
- अंडा — anḍa
- lentils
- दाल — dāl
- (fresh) vegetables
- (ताज़ा) सब्ज़ी — tarakAri, bhAji
- (fresh) fruits
- (ताज़ा) फल — pHal
- bread
- रोटी, नान, पराँठा... — roṭī, parānṭha...
- rice
- चावल — cāval
- sweetmeats
- लड्डू — laḍḍū
- samosa : समोसा — samosa
- spice(s)
- मसाला — mirchi
- chutney
- चटनी — caṭnī
- curry
- सालन, कढ़ी — sālan, kaṛhī (< Tamil கறி)
- ghee (clarified butter)
- घी — ghī
- May I have a glass/cup/bottle of _____?
- मेरे लिये एक ग्लास/प्याला/बोतल _____ लाना — ميرے ﻟﺌﮯ mere liye ek glās/pyāla/boṭal _____ lāna
- coffee
- काफ़ी — kāfī
- tea
- चाय — cāy (i.e. chai)
- juice
- रस — ras
- water
- पानी, जल — pānī, jal
- carbonated water
- सोडा — soḍa
- milk
- दूध — dūdh
- lassi (yoghurt drink)
- लस्सी — lassī
- sweet, salty, mango (lassi)
- मीठा, नमकी, आम — mīṭha, namakī, ām
- cool drink (Indian Eng. 'soda, cola, etc.')
- ठंडी/सौफ़्ट ड्रिंक — ţhanḍī/saufṭ ḍrink
- soft drink (attn- in S. Asia this means a sherbet drink, not cola!)
- शरबत — śarbat
- alcohol
- शराब — sharāb
- beer
- बियर — biyar
- red/white wine
- (लाल/साफ़ेद) मिदरा, वाइन — — madira (< Port. Madeira), vāin
- Whisky
- ह्विस्की, स्काच — hviskī/wiskī, skāc
- May I have some _____?
- May I have some _____? (muje kuch _____ milega)
- salt
- नमक — namak
- black pepper
- काली मिर्च — kālī mirc
- chile
- मिर्च — mirc
- butter
- मक्खन — makkhan
- Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
- बैरा!, वेटर! — baira!, veṭar!
- I'm finished.
- मैं ख़तम है — main khatam hai (?)
- It was delicious.
- बढ़िया — بڑهيا — baṛhiya
- Please clear the plates.
- प्लेटें लीजिये — pleten lījiye
- The check, please.
- बिल/चेक लाइये — bil/cek lāiye
- Do you serve alcohol?
- Do you serve alcohol? (kya aap shaarab bechte hain)
- Is there table service?
- Is there table service? (kya table service mil sakti hai)
- A beer/two beers, please.
- A beer/two beers, please. (krupaya ek beer/do beers de)
- A glass of red/white wine, please.
- A glass of red/white wine, please. (ek glass lal/safed wine)
- A pint, please.
- A pint, please. (ek bottle dena)
- A bottle, please.
- A bottle, please. (ek bottle dena)
- _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
- _____ and _____, please. (...)
- whiskey
- whiskey (whiskey/daru)
- vodka
- vodka (...)
- rum
- rum (...)
- water
- पानी (pānī)
- club soda
- club soda (soda)
- tonic water
- tonic water (...)
- orange juice
- orange juice (...)
- Coke (soda)
- Coke (Coke)
- Do you have any bar snacks?
- Do you have any bar snacks? (kuch khane ke liye hai)
- One more, please.
- One more, please. (ek aur)
- Another round, please.
- Another round, please. (ek aur round milega)
- When is closing time?
- When is closing time? (kab tak khula hai(what time is bar open till)/ bar band kab hota haiWhen is closing time?)
Shopping[edit]
- Do you have this in my size?
- Do you have this in my size? (...) mere saiz ka milegaa?
- How much is this?
- How much is this? (...) iska kitna hoga?
- That's too expensive.
- That's too expensive. (...) bahut mehnga hai
- Would you take _____?
- Would you take _____? (...) kya aap _____ lena chahege?
- expensive
- महंगा mehnga
- cheap
- सस्ता sastā
- I can't afford it.
- मैं नहीं ले सकता I can't afford it. (...) main nahi le sakta
- I don't want it.
- I don't want it. (...) mujhe nahi chahiye
- You're cheating me.
- You're cheating me. (...) tu mujhe fassa rahe hoo
- I'm not interested.
- I'm not interested. (..) mujhe shauk nahi hai
- OK, I'll take it.
- OK, I'll take it. (...) theek hai, main le letā hoon
- Can I have a bag?
- Can I have a bag? (...) kyā āp mujhe thaili dege
- Do you ship (overseas)?
- Do you ship (overseas)? (...) parcel kar sakthe hoo
- I need...
- मुझे ...चाहिये — mujhe ... cāhiye
- ...toothpaste.
- (दँत) मंजन... — (dant) manjan
- ...a toothbrush.
- टूथ ब्रश... — tūth braś
- ...tampons.
- टैम्पोन... — ṭaimpon
- ...soap.
- साबुन... — sābun
- ...shampoo.
- शैंपू... — śaimpū
- ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
- दर्द की दवा/"ऐस्प्रिन"... — dard kī dawā
- ...cold medicine.
- खाँसी की दवा... — khānsī kī dawā
- ...stomach medicine.
- दस्तावर... — pet ki dawa / dastāvar
- ...a razor.
- रेज़र/उस्तरा... — rezar, ustara
- ...an umbrella.
- छाता... — chātā
- ...sunblock lotion.
- ...sunblock lotion. (...)
- ...a postcard.
- पोस्ट कार्ड... — posṭ kārḍ
- ...postage stamp.
- डाक शुल्क/महसूल... — ḍāk tikat/sṭaimp
- ...batteries.
- बैट्री... — baiṭrī
- ...writing paper.
- काग़ज़... — kāgaz
- ...a pen.
- क़लम... — kalam
- ...a pencil
- पेन्सिल... — pensil
- ...an English-language book.
- अंग्रेज़ी की किताब... — angrezī kī kitāb/pothI
- ... an English-language magazine.
- अंग्रेज़ी की पत्रिका... — angrezī ka/kī patrika/risālah/maigazīn
- ...an English-language newspaper.
- अंगरेज़ी का अख़बार... — angrezī kā akhbār; ...an English-Hindi dictionary. : अंग्रेज़ी-हिन्दी कोश... — angrezī-hindī koś
Driving[edit]
- I want to rent a car.
- मुझे कार किराया चाहिये — mujhe kār kirāya par cāhiye
- Can I get insurance?
- मुझे बीमा का कार सकता है? — mera insurance ho sakta (-ī) hai? (?)
- gas (petrol) station
- पेट्रोल पंप — peṭrol pamp
- petrol
- पेट्रोल — peṭrol
- diesel
- डीज़ल — ḍīzal
- get out of the way, please
- रस्ते से हट जाएं, कृपया; raaste se hut jayein, kripiya
Note: Indian Traffic Signs are much like those in Europe. Words are written in English and sometimes the regional language.
Problems[edit]
- Leave me alone.
- मुझे अकेला छोड़ दो! (mujhe akela chhod do)
- Don't touch me!
- मुझे मत छूओ । (mujhe chunā mat / mujhe mat chuo)
- I'll call the police.
- I'll call the police. पोलीस को बुलाता हूं । (police ko bulaaoonga main)
- Police!
- पोलीस ! पोलीस ! (police ! police !)
- Stop! Thief!
- रुको ! चोर ! (rukho! chor!)
- I need your help.
- मुझे अपकी सहायता चाहिये । (mujhe āpki sahayta chahie)
- It's an emergency.
- यह एक आपातकालीन समस्या है ("yah ek aapaatakaaleen samasya hai")
I'm lost. : मैं रास्ता भूल गया । (main rasta bhul gaya)
- I lost my bag.
- मेरा बैग गुम हो गया । (mera bag alage ho gaya)
- I lost my wallet.
- मेरा पर्स गुम हो गया । (mera purse ghoom ho gaya)
- I'm sick.
- मेरी तबियत ठीक नहीं है । (meri tabhiyet tikh nai hei)
- I've been injured.
- मुझे चोट लगी है । (mujhko chot lagi hai)
- I need a doctor.
- मुझे डॉक्टर चाहिये । (mujhko doctor chahie)
- Can I use your phone?
- फ़ोन कर सकता हूं ? (phone kar sakta hoon main ?)
Authority[edit]
- I haven't done anything wrong.
- I haven't done anything wrong. (.maine kuch galat nahi kiya..)
- It was a misunderstanding.
- It was a misunderstanding. (.Woh ek bhool thi..)
- Where are you taking me?
- Where are you taking me? (.Aap mujhe kahan le ja rahe hain?..)
- Am I under arrest?
- Am I under arrest? (.Kya mein giraftaar ho raha hoon?..)
- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
- I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. (.Mein America/Australia/Britain/Canada ka nagrik hoon..)
- I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
- I need to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. (.Mujhe America/ Australia/Britain/Canada ke rajdoot se sampark karna hai..)
- I want to talk to a lawyer.
- I want to talk to a lawyer. (.Mujhe ek vakil se baat karni hai..)
- Can I just pay a fine now?
- Can I just pay a fine now? (.Kya mein jurmaana abhi de sakta hoon?..)
Learning more[edit]
Despite Hindi being among Chinese, Spanish, English and Arabic as the most spoken languages, there is a dearth of resources on the subject(s), and even fewer which are worth-while. Instead of anger of frustration, the Hindi student should instead feel a smug superiority of being ahead of everyone else who are learning other languages, which may fill the rows of bookshelves in bookstores now, but cannot compare with the vast amount of volumes to be written on Hindi in the future! Here is a list of the better books and dictionaries. Stay away from books written for Indians who already know another related Indian language (such as the National Integration series), which make such claims as "Learn This or That Language in 30 days!" Remember the rule of thumb: If it sounds too good to be true, it usually is. If you know German, Margot Gatzlaff-Hälsig, has continued the incomparable German tradition of Indologie with two dictionaries and numerous books on Hindi.
- Lonely Planet Hindi & Urdu Phrasebook by Richard Delacy (Lonely Planet Publications). ISBN: 0864424256. Excellent. Rare, in that both Hindi Devanagari and Urdu Naskh are en face. Also includes glossary and cultural notes, etc. Highly recommended for travellers, and a great auxiliary source for students.
- Teach Yourself Beginner's Hindi Script by Rupert Snell (McGraw-Hill). ISBN: 0071419845. - An entertaining and easy to use introduction to Devanagari.
- Teach Yourself Beginner's Hindi by Rupert Snell (McGraw-Hill). ISBN: 0071424369. If you've never studied a language before or are a younger student this book might be where to start. Otherwise, don't waste your money and get the Complete Course instead.
- Teach Yourself Hindi Complete Course by Rupert Snell with Simon Weightman (McGraw-Hill). ISBN: 0071420126. By far this book is the most popular, and the usual starting point for those interested in learning Hindi. It is highly recommended that you purchase this with accompanying CD's (they are not available separately).
- Teach Yourself Hindi Dictionary by Rupert Snell (McGraw-Hill). ISBN: 0071435034. Companion to his other books in the Teach Yourself series. For Beginners, or younger students. Is not a complete dictionary in any sense of the word.
- Introduction to Hindi Grammar by Usha R. Jain (IAS Publishers). ISBN: 094461325X. Usha R. Jain's books, which she wrote for her Hindi class at the University of California at Berkeley are more straightforward and easier to use than Snell. Her books are preferred by Hindi professors and private teachers alike throughout North America and Europe. Available with a set of accompanying CD's.
- Intermediate Hindi Reader by Usha R Jain (IAS Publishers). ASIN: B000739HIG. 21 readings with serial glossaries to improve the student's comprehension of Hindi and expand vocabulary. Available with accompanying CD's and/or multimedia CD-Rom.
- A Primer of Modern Standard Hindi by Michael C. Shapiro (Motilal Banarsidass Publishers). ISBN: 8120804759. An academic approach, by an eminent scholar of South Asia. Focuses more on written than conversational Hindi.
- Say It in Hindi by Veena T. Oldenburg (Dover Publications). ISBN: 0486239594. If Delacy's book lacked anything, you may find it here. Mostly due to the fact that the book focuses on Hindi only. One major flaw is that the book uses an archaic Devanagari font, which may prove difficult to some readers. Worth taking a look at, but as a supplement to other books.
- Colloquial Hindi: A Complete Language Course by Tej K. Bhatia (Routledge). ISBN: 0415110874. Takes a different approach to teaching the language. Is more sympathetic to the average learner and doesn't go warp speed like Snell and Weightman's Teach Yourself Hindi. However; the biggest flaw is the minimal attention given to Devanagari, and the transliteration is not standard - may be more confusing than necessary to those already comfortable with the conventional style. Perhaps the best feature are the accompanying CD's.
Dictionaries[edit]
- The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary by R. S. McGregor (Oxford University Press). ISBN: 019864339X. Essential for the student.
- Oxford English-Hindi Dictionary by S. K. Verma (Laurier Books Ltd). ISBN: 0195648196. Common companion to R.S. McGregor's dictionary, but somewhat lacking compared with the former.
- The Modern English Hindi-Dictionary by I. N. Anand (Munshiram Manoharlal Publishers). ISBN: 8121504619. Though designed for Indians translating English, this is also a great tool for students. Includes modern and technical terms.
- English-Hindi Dictionary by Father Camille Bulcke (French & European Publications). ISBN: 0828811318. Recommended by many professors for their students.
- Hindi by Pimsleur (Pimsleur). ISBN: 0743506251. Great for the auditory learner of for listening to in the car. Helps immerse listener into the sounds of Hindi and developing listening skills. Good overall introduction to the language, but be aware that many of the phrases are much too formal to use in common, everyday speech.
- Teach Yourself Hindi Conversation by Rupert Snell (McGraw-Hil). ISBN: 0071456554. Focus on spoken Hindi. Includes small reference book.
- Spoken Hindi by Surendra K. Gambhir (Audio-Forum). ISBN: 0884326993. Includes book.
Software[edit]
- Rosetta Stone Hindi Personal Edition Level 1 (CD-Rom). Both Mac and PC.
This is a usable phrasebook. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use it to get by, but please plunge forward and help it grow!
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