Hindi travel phrases

Essentials

• Yes

  हाँ

  Hāṅ

  haan

  "Jī hāṅ" adds respect.

• No

  नहीं

  Nahīṅ

  nuh-HEEN

  "Jī nahīṅ" softens it politely.

• Please

  कृपया

  Kripayā

  KRIP-uh-yaa

  Slightly formal; everyday requests often soften the verb instead.

• Thank you

  धन्यवाद

  Dhanyavād

  dhun-yuh-VAAD

• Do you speak English?

  क्या आपको अंग्रेज़ी आती है?

  Kyā āpko aṅgrezī ātī hai?

  kyaa AAP-koh un-GRAY-zee AA-tee hai

  Formal

• I don't understand

  मुझे समझ नहीं आया

  Mujhe samajh nahīṅ āyā

  moo-JHAY SUH-mujh nuh-heen AA-yaa

• Please speak slowly

  कृपया धीरे बोलिए

  Kripayā dhīre boliye

  KRIP-uh-yaa DHEE-ray BO-lee-yay

  Formal

• How much does it cost?

  यह कितने का है?

  Yah kitne kā hai?

  yeh KIT-nay kaa hai

• Where is the bathroom?

  शौचालय कहाँ है?

  Shauchālay kahāṅ hai?

  shau-CHAA-luy kuh-HAAN hai

  "Bathroom" and "washroom" are widely understood in cities.

Greetings

• Hello

  नमस्ते

  Namaste

  nuh-muh-STAY

  Works at any time of day, with palms together if you like.

• Good morning

  सुप्रभात

  Suprabhāt

  soo-pruh-BHAAT

  Namaste is just as common in the morning.

• Goodbye

  अलविदा

  Alvidā

  ul-vee-DAA

  "Phir milenge" — see you again — is a warmer everyday parting.

• How are you?

  आपका क्या हाल है?

  Āpkā kyā hāl hai?

  AAP-kaa kyaa haal hai

  Formal

• Nice to meet you

  आपसे मिलकर खुशी हुई

  Āpse milkar khushī huī

  AAP-say MIL-kur khoo-SHEE hoo-EE

  Formal

Courtesy

• Excuse me

  माफ़ कीजिए

  Māf kījiye

  maaf KEE-jee-yay

  Formal

  Works both for getting attention and for a polite pardon.

• I'm sorry

  मुझे माफ़ करें

  Mujhe māf kareṅ

  moo-JHAY maaf kuh-REN

  Formal

• You're welcome.

  कोई बात नहीं।

  Koī bāt nahīṁ.

  KOH-ee baat nuh-HEEN

• Cheers!

  चियर्स!

  Ciyars!

  cheers

  Toasting is uncommon; most people simply say “cheers”.

Restaurants

• A table for two, please.

  दो लोगों के लिए टेबल मिलेगी?

  Do logoṁ ke lie ṭebal milegī?

  doh LOH-gon keh lee-YEH TEH-bul mi-LEH-gee

• Do you have a menu in English?

  अंग्रेज़ी में मेन्यू है?

  Aṅgrezī meṁ menyū hai?

  ang-REY-zee men MEN-yoo heh

• I'll have this, please.

  मुझे यह चाहिए।

  Mujhe yah cāhie.

  MOO-jheh yeh CHAA-hee-yeh

• Water, please

  पानी दीजिए

  Pānī dījiye

  PAA-nee DEE-jee-yay

  Formal

• The check, please

  बिल दे दीजिए

  Bil de dījiye

  bil day DEE-jee-yay

  Formal

• Can I pay by card?

  कार्ड चलेगा?

  Kārḍ calegā?

  kaard chuh-LEH-gaa

  Literally “will card work?” — the everyday way to ask.

Directions

• How do I get to the station?

  स्टेशन कैसे जाऊँ?

  Sṭeśan kaise jāūṁ?

  STEH-shun KAI-seh jaa-OON

• Is it far from here?

  यहाँ से दूर है?

  Yahāṁ se dūr hai?

  yah-HAAN seh door heh

• Can I walk there?

  क्या पैदल जा सकते हैं?

  Kyā paidal jā sakte haiṅ?

  kyaa PAI-dul jaa SUK-teh hain

Getting Understood

• I only speak a little.

  मुझे थोड़ी-बहुत हिंदी आती है।

  Mujhe thoṛī-bahut hindī ātī hai.

  MOO-jheh THOH-ree bah-HOOT HIN-dee AA-tee heh

• Could you say that again, please?

  कृपया फिर से कहिए।

  Kṛpayā phir se kahie.

  KRIP-yaa fir seh KUH-hee-yeh

  Formal

• Could you write it down, please?

  कृपया इसे लिख दीजिए।

  Kṛpayā ise likh dījie.

  KRIP-yaa ee-SEH likh DEE-jee-yeh

  Formal

Time & Opening Hours

• What time do you open?

  कितने बजे खुलता है?

  Kitne baje khultā hai?

  KIT-neh BUD-jeh KHOOL-taa heh

• What time do you close?

  कितने बजे बंद होता है?

  Kitne baje band hotā hai?

  KIT-neh BUD-jeh bund HOH-taa heh

Transport & Tickets

• One ticket, please.

  एक टिकट दीजिए।

  Ek ṭikaṭ dījie.

  ayk TIK-ut DEE-jee-yeh

  Formal

• Which platform?

  कौन से प्लेटफ़ॉर्म से?

  Kaun se pleṭfŏrm se?

  kown seh PLATE-form seh

• Does this go to the airport?

  क्या यह एयरपोर्ट जाती है?

  Kyā yah eyarporṭ jātī hai?

  kyaa yeh AIR-port JAA-tee heh

• Stop here, please.

  यहीं रोक दीजिए।

  Yahīṁ rok dījie.

  yuh-HEEN rohk DEE-jee-yeh

  Formal

Hotels & Lodging

• I have a reservation.

  मेरी बुकिंग है।

  Merī bukiṅg hai.

  MEH-ree BOO-king heh

• What time is check-out?

  चेक-आउट कितने बजे है?

  Cek-āuṭ kitne baje hai?

  check-OWT KIT-neh BUD-jeh heh

• Could I leave my bags here?

  क्या मैं अपना सामान यहाँ रख दूँ?

  Kyā maiṁ apnā sāmān yahāṁ rakh dūṁ?

  kyaa mein UP-naa saa-MAAN yah-HAAN rukh doon

Airport & Border

• I'm here on holiday.

  मैं यहाँ छुट्टियों पर हूँ।

  Maiṁ yahāṁ chuṭṭiyoṁ par hūṁ.

  mein yuh-HAAN CHOOT-tee-yon pur hoon

• Where is baggage claim?

  सामान कहाँ मिलेगा?

  Sāmān kahāṁ milegā?

  saa-MAAN kuh-HAAN mi-LEH-gaa

Shopping & Money

• I'm just looking, thank you.

  बस देख रहे हैं, शुक्रिया।

  Bas dekh rahe haiṁ, śukriyā.

  bus dekh ruh-HAY hain, shook-REE-yaa

• That's too expensive.

  यह बहुत महँगा है।

  Yah bahut mahaṅgā hai.

  yeh bah-HOOT muh-HUNG-aa heh

• Could I have a receipt, please?

  रसीद दे दीजिए।

  Rasīd de dījie.

  ruh-SEED deh DEE-jee-yeh

  Formal

Wi-Fi & Phone

• Is there Wi-Fi here?

  यहाँ वाई-फ़ाई है?

  Yahāṁ vāī-fāī hai?

  yah-HAAN WY-fy heh

• I'd like a SIM card with data.

  मुझे डेटा वाला सिम चाहिए।

  Mujhe ḍeṭā vālā sim cāhie.

  MOO-jheh DAY-taa VAA-laa sim CHAA-hee-yeh

Meeting People

• My name is…

  मेरा नाम … है

  Merā nām … hai

  MAY-raa naam … hai

  Your name goes in the middle: Merā nām Ana hai.

• Where are you from?

  आप कहाँ से हैं?

  Āp kahāṁ se haiṁ?

  aap kuh-HAAN seh hain

  Formal

What you'll hear

Questions and answers people are likely to say to you. You only need to recognize them.

• Passport, please.

  पासपोर्ट दीजिए।

  Pāsporṭ dījie.

  PAAS-port DEE-jee-yeh

  Formal

• How long will you be staying?

  आपको कितने दिन रुकना है?

  Āpko kitne din ruknā hai?

  AAP-koh KIT-neh din ROOK-naa heh

  Formal

• For how many people?

  कितने लोग हैं?

  Kitne log haiṅ?

  KIT-neh lohg hain

• Are you ready to order?

  ऑर्डर लूँ?

  Ŏrḍar lūṁ?

  OR-dur loon

• Cash or card?

  कैश या कार्ड?

  Kaiś yā kārḍ?

  cash yaa kaard

• Go straight ahead.

  सीधे जाइए।

  Sīdhe jāie.

  SEE-dheh JAA-ee-yeh

  Formal

• Turn left.

  बाएँ मुड़िए।

  Bāeṁ muṛie.

  BAA-en MOO-ree-yeh

  Formal

• Turn right.

  दाएँ मुड़िए।

  Dāeṁ muṛie.

  DAA-en MOO-ree-yeh

  Formal