The key distinction is the difference between short and long vowels. In this phrasebook, long vowels are noted with a digraph (two letters), whereas short vowels are listed as one letter.

Hindi consonants have many qualities not familiar to native English speakers including aspiration and retroflex consonants.

Aspiration means "with a puff of air", and is the difference between the sound of the letter "k" in English kin (aspirated) and skip (unaspirated). In this phrasebook, aspirated sounds are spelled with an h (so English "kin" would be khin) and unaspirated sounds without it (so "skip" is still skip). Hindi aspiration is quite forceful and it's OK to emphasize the puff.

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.

Besides vowel diacritics, Hindi also has a special diacritic for consonants, called nuqta (नुक़्ता nooq-tah). It is used to alter the pronunciation of consonants to render loanwords.

क़ q

like skip but further back in the throat (IPA: q)

ख़ kh

like Chanukkah or Scottish loch (IPA: x)

ग़ gh

like Dutch geen  (IPA: ɣ)

ज़ z

like zoo (IPA: z)

झ़ zh

like measure (IPA: ʒ)

फ़ f

like fin (IPA: f)

For emphasising words don't stress them by voice (which would be regarded as a sign of aggressiveness) but add a to after them.

yuhh kyah hay? ("what's this?") → yuhh toh kyah hay? - ("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 "dhuh-nyuh-vahd" stress "dhuh"). But it is a mild stress which occurs naturally, so don't force it. Don't even think about it!

शुभकामनाएँ! (shoobh-kahm-nah-ẽh!) — Good luck

Greetings: There are no time elemental greetings in conversational 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.

Namaste (नमस्ते nuh-muhss-teh) is the most ubiquitous greeting. Though of Hindu origin it is now mostly secular. You say namaste with your hands folded and by bowing slightly – but don't go overboard Japanese style! Namaste literally means "I bow to you." The original religious significance was of bowing to the soul (aht-mah) within another. It is custom to touch the feet of someone older than you when saying namaste. Namaskār (नमस्कार nuh-muhss-kahr) 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. The Sikhs also fold their hands and bow, but have their own greetings. Sat śrī akāl (सत श्री अकाल suht shree uh-kahl) is the most common, which comes from the Punjabi ਸਤਿ ਸ੍ਰੀ ਅਕਾਲ meaning "God alone is Truth." Though Sikh people are mostly found in the Punjab region of India, Punjabi greetings are used by Sikhs all over the world. After meeting someone for the first time आपसे मिलकर बहुत खुशी हुई (ahp-seh mil-kuhr buh-hoot khoo-shee hoo-ee) may be said, meaning "I'm very happy to meet you."

Civilities: In Western cultures, saying phrases like please, thank you, you're welcome, excuse me, sorry, etc. are so ingrained into the people from a young age that they say them without a second thought. Not so for Indians. Saying such phrases in an inappropriate circumstance might even embarrass the person, or cheapen the gravity of the phrase itself. These phrases are only said in a sincere sense. For example, don't say धन्यवाद (dhuh-nyuh-vahd, thank you) after a clerk hands you your grocery bag, but when someone goes out of their way to do something nice for you. 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.

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 famous "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: When you answer with the words "yes" and "no", the word jī (जी jee) may be added afterwards 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 often referred to as Gandhiji (गांधीजी).

Another suffix which is indispensable is -wallah (-वाला -vah-lah). Many books devote whole chapters to -wallah. 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 doo-kahn) + (-वाला wah-lah) = shopkeeper (दुकानवाला doo-kahn-wah-lah)
• verb – to come (आना ah-nah) + (-वाला wah-lah) = (the) ... is coming (... आनेवाला है ... ah-neh-wah-lah hay)

English loanwords: 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! The local urbanites call it Hinglish, a mixture of the two languages. English loanwords 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.

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.

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.

Do you have any rooms available?

Kamra Kirayi pe milega? (...)

How much is a room for one person/two people?

Ek/Do admi ka kitna lagega? (...)

Does the room come with...

Room mein ---- hain kya? (...)

...bedsheets?

...bedsheets? (chaddar hai?)

...a bathroom?

...ek bathroom? (snaanaghara)

...a telephone?

...ek telephone? (teliphone)

...a TV?

...a TV? (teevee)

May I see the room first?

May I see the room first? (pehle, kamra dekh lun? )

Do you have anything quieter?

Do you have anything quieter? (apkai pas aur chupchap/shA.nta/sthira he?)

...bigger?

...bigger? (Aur Barrha)

...cleaner?

...cleaner? (Aur Saaf)

...cheaper?

...cheaper? (Aur Susta)

OK, I'll take it.

OK, I'll take it. (Theek hai, laileinge)

I will stay for _____ night(s).

I will stay for _____ night(s). (____raath rahengei)

Can you suggest another hotel?

Can you suggest another hotel? (Aur koi hotel batadijeeai)

Do you have a safe?

Do you have a safe? (surakShita sthAna hoga?)

...lockers?

...lockers? (sharAna sthAna)

Is breakfast/supper included?

Is breakfast/supper included? (jalapAna/raathka bhojana-byAlu dhArana he?)

What time is breakfast/supper?

What time is breakfast/supper? (kaleva/byAlu kis samaya he?)

Please clean my room.

Please clean my room. (kamra saaf kurlo.)

Can you wake me at _____? | Can you wake me at _____? (____time pe jugana)

I want to check out.

I want to check out. (mainai nikalna he)

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? (American/australian/canadian doelur mAnthai/svIkara karthai he?)

Do you accept British pounds?

Do you accept British pounds? (British pound svIkara karthaihe?)

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?

Can I look in the kitchen? (kya mai kitchen ke andar dekh sakta 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 — jalapAna

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 _____.

मैं _____ चाहिये — mujhe _____ cāhiye

I want a dish containing _____.

मैं _____ 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, 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? Recommended: Can I get alcohol? (Sharab milega)

Is there table service?

Is there table service? (kya table service mil sakti hai)

A beer/two beers, please.

A beer/two beers, please. (kripaya ek beer/do beer de)

A glass of red/white wine, please. एक गिलास लाल/सफेद वाइन (ek glass lal/safed wine)

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 (paani)

club soda

club soda (soda)

tonic water

tonic water (...)

orange juice

orange juice (...)

Coke (soda)

कोक (kok)

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 does the bar close?)

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.

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

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? (?)

petrol shed

पेट्रोल पंप — peṭrol pamp

petrol

पेट्रोल — peṭrol

diesel

डीज़ल — ḍīzal

Note: Indian Traffic Signs are much like those in Europe. Words are written in English and sometimes the regional language.

Leave me alone.

(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 । (main police ko bulaaoonga)

Police!

पोलीस ! पोलीस ! (police ! police !)

Stop! Thief!

रुको ! चोर ! (rukho! chor!)

I need your help.

मुझे अपकी सहायता चाहिये । (mujhe āpki sahayta/madad chahie)

It's an emergency.

यह एक मुसिबत है । (yeh ek musibat 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 । (mujhe chot lagi hai)

I need a doctor.

मुझे डॉक्टर चाहिये । (mujhe doctor chahie)

Can I use your phone?

क्या मै फ़ोन कर सकता हूं ? (kya main phone kar sakta hoon ?)

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 apne 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?..)