SURVIVAL

HINDI
How to Communicate Without
Fuss or Fear—Instantly!

Sunita Narain
Madhumita Mehrotra

TUTTLE Publishing
Tokyo | Rutland, Vermont | Singapore
 The Tuttle Story: “Books to Span the East and West”

Most people are surprised to learn that the world’s largest publisher of books on Asia had its
humble beginnings in the tiny American state of Vermont. The company’s founder, Charles E.
Tuttle, belonged to a New England family steeped in publishing. And his first love was naturally
books—especially old and rare editions.
Immediately after WW II, serving in Tokyo under General Douglas MacArthur, Tuttle was
tasked with reviving the Japanese publishing industry. He later founded the Charles E. Tuttle
Publishing Company, which thrives today as one of the world’s leading independent publishers.
Though a westerner, Tuttle was hugely instrumental in bringing a knowledge of Japan and
Asia to a world hungry for information about the East. By the time of his death in 1993, Tuttle had
published over 6,000 books on Asian culture, history and art—a legacy honored by the Japanese
emperor with the “Order of the Sacred Treasure,” the highest tribute Japan can bestow upon a non-
Japanese.
With a backlist of 1,500 titles, Tuttle Publishing is more active today than at any time in its
past—inspired by Charles Tuttle’s core mission to publish fine books to span the East and West and
provide a greater understanding of each.
Published by Tuttle Publishing, an imprint of Periplus Editions (HK) Ltd.

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 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Om, Let me meditate on the goddess of speech,

Oh, wife of Lord Brahma, give me higher intellect,
and let Goddess of “Vani” illuminate my mind.

With the blessings of Goddess Saraswati, our fathers, the late Dr. Lalit
Behari Lall Mathur and Mr. K.K. Sarkar, and our mothers, Mrs. Sarla
Mathur and Mrs. Bani Sarkar, this book, Survival Hindi, has finally taken
shape and is ready to help those who would like to embark on a journey to
explore the rich and diverse culture of India.
We would especially like to thank Sameer Narain and Rakhi Narain,
whose insight, intellect, and indispensable typing abilities helped us to
finish this book on time; as well as Rishi Narain for sharing his experience
as a foreigner in India.
We also thank all of our family and friends, who lent their tremendous
support, in one way or another, to compile this work.
 Contents
Acknowledgments
Welcome

INTRODUCTION
e Alphabet
Pronunciation Guide
Notes on How Hindi Works

PART 1 Common Expressions & Key Words

Greetings
Introductions; Introducing Others
Titles
Personal
Academic
Business and Professional
Trade / Skilled Worker
Common Expressions and Phrases
Any Questions? Just Ask!
Asking for Toilets and Restrooms
Asking for Help

PART 2 Numbers, Time, and Other “Basics”

Cardinal Numbers
Ordinal Numbers
Days of the Week
Which Day?
Months
Dates
Seasons
Weather
Asking and Telling Time
Family
Parts of the Body
Map Directions

PART 3 Getting Around

At the Airport
Hiring a Taxi or Autorickshaw
Renting a Vehicle
Hiring a Cycle Rickshaw
At a Train Station
Metro Rail
Traveling by Bus
Asking for Directions & Locations

PART 4 Emergencies and Essentials; Lodging

At the Police Station
Medical Emergencies
Accommodations
Making Reservations
Banking and Money

PART 5 In a Restaurant; Out and About

Ordering Food and Paying the Bill
Shopping
Purchasing & Bargaining
At a Book Store
At a Clothing Store
Measurements & Sizes
At the Post Office
At a Pharmacy
At the Barbershop
At the Beauty Salon
Using the Telephone / Cell Phones

PART 6 Enjoying India

Holidays
Holiday Greetings
Top Destinations in India
Sightseeing

PART 7 Key Names & Signs

India’s States and Union Territories
Common Signs
Road Signs

PART 8 Additional Vocabulary

Food Terms
General Word List
 WELCOME!

We welcome you with the traditional Hindi greeting “Namaste,” which

means “I bow to you,” and are very pleased to take you on a short journey
through Hindi, the official language of India.
With a little bit of instruction about how Hindi works, we will help you
properly communicate with the locals in India. We’ll help you speak to
others on various basic “survival” topics, such as introducing yourself,
asking for directions, ordering food, paying a bill, bargaining with a local
vendor, and even reporting an incident to police. Essentially, all the things
you might find most useful to say are in this survival guide for getting by in
Hindi.
Our years of experience teaching Hindi to non-natives, along with vast
personal interactions with foreigners in India, have armed us with an
abundance of detailed cultural and linguistic information. We hope that here
in Survival Hindi, it will serve to ease your journey, and give you a sense of
joy in more fully understanding India and its people. Let’s begin!
 INTRODUCTION
“e Language of the Gods”
Hindi, spoken today by nearly 500 million people as a first language, is
derived from the ancient language Sanskrit, considered one of the most
intriguing, musical, and divine languages ever spoken. Sanskrit is
recognized by its unique written alphabet, Devanagari, meaning “Language
of the Gods.” Hindi retains the use of Devanagari today as its own
alphabet. Of the numerous daughter tongues originating from Sanskrit,
Hindi is the most widespread, and is one of the 22 official languages of the
Republic of India.
According to Hindu mythology, the human voice, or vak, was provided
to mankind by the goddess Sarasvati, who presided over wisdom,
knowledge, learning, music, and the arts. Vak is also often personified as a
separate goddess commonly identified with Bharati (Bhaar-tee) or Sharda
(Shaar-daa), the goddess of speech. The term vak is a cognate to the modern
English word voice (Latin vox), and is derived from the verbal root vac-,
meaning “to speak, tell, utter.” It also shares meaning with such words as
“speech” and “talk.”

e Alphabet
Hindi script (Devanagari) is made up of 46 basic characters; there are
33 consonants and 12 vowels. Each character stands for one syllable.
The Devanagari script represents the phonetics of the Hindi language.
This means that Hindi is spoken the same way it is spelled. Its alphabet is
scientifically arranged.
Along with the written Hindi, each phrase in this book offers you an
easy, English-based transliteration to help you pronounce it. Here’s how it
works.
 Pronunciation Guide
Long Vowels
ā (aa) car
ī (ee) beet
é (a) gate
ū (oo) fool

Short Vowels
i(it)
u (put, foot)

Nasal Sounds
A dot over a consonant or a vowel, or an “n” in parentheses, indicates a
nasal sound. Imagine you are half-saying an “n” or “m” sound after that
syllable.

hai(n) mei(n)

ṁ as in “ṁandir ” (mun-dir)

é̇ as in “lé̇gé” (layn-gay)

Sometimes you’ll see a nasal ending after a long vowel:

ā̇ as in “sārdiyā̇ ” (saard-iyaan)
Vowels
 Consonants
Each consonant of the Devanagari (Hindi) script contains the inherent
vowel “a ” in it. Without its help no consonant is considered to be complete.
There are 33 consonants in the Devanagari script.
We can look at them organized according to the kinds of sounds they are
—and where in the mouth the sounds are made.
A Bit More About Pronunciation...

You’ll see the pronunciation of a word or a phrase written in italics after it:
Hindi (hin-dee). The words are broken into syllables, separated by a hyphen
(-). Keep in mind that these hyphenated English phonetics should be
pronounced in a smooth, even flow. Read them out loud several times to
train your tongue and lips in making the proper sounds smoothly. Here are
notes on a few special sounds:
“Chh ”—uppercase C with lowercase hh —is used for a sound where
aspiration is needed, as you hear in the English word “catch.” The
lowercase “ch” is used for the regular non-aspirated sound, as in “satchel.”
You will notice that at many places we have used the uppercase letter
“T” in a word; this means that the letter “T” is a retroflex sound. It is
pronounced with the tip of the tongue turned back against the roof of the
mouth—you can feel this by saying the word “retroflex.” The lowercase
“t,” on the other hand, indicates that the sound is dental; you say it with the
tongue against the upper teeth, as in “tee.”
The uppercase “D” is used to indicate the retroflex d sound as in “mad,
bed”; whereas the lowercase “d” is used to indicate the sound of th in the
English “though” or “the.”
In Hindi, there is no distinction between a v and a w sound. So the
letters “v” and “w” may be used interchangeably to indicate that sound.
 Notes on How Hindi Works
Word Order
In English you might say, “The boy is eating in the room.” But the word
order in Hindi grammar is Subject + Object + Verb. So in Hindi you would
say, “The boy room in eating is.”

Nouns
Hindi distinguishes two genders (male or female), two numbers (singular or
plural), and three cases or forms (the direct, oblique, and vocative). So the
form a noun takes, when you are saying or writing it, depends on those
factors. You’ll see these differences called to your attention in some
sections of the book.

Genders
The genders in Hindi are highly significant. There is no neuter gender in
Hindi: every noun is either masculine or feminine. The gender of a noun
determines its masculine, feminine and plural forms, and also the
appropriate way to modify adjectives and participles.

Adjectives
Since Hindi is a gender-oriented language, an adjective must agree with the
noun it’s describing. So, Hindi adjectives have masculine, feminine and
plural forms. To help you choose the correct one depending on what you
want to say, we’ve used “/” to show those options.
Masculine is indicated by (m.)
Feminine is indicated by (f.)
Plural is indicated by (pl.)

Verbs
We have provided the imperative forms of verbs for your convenience. As a
command a verb will end in the “o” sound, and as a request it will end in “-
i-yay. ” Here are a few examples:

As a command:
Listen. Suno. (Su-no)
Stop. Ruko (Ru-ko)

As a request:
Please listen. Suniyé. (Su-ni-yay)
Please stop. Rukiyé (Ru-ki-yay)

Hindi verbs are conjugated according to the gender of the subject in the
direct case, and in the indirect case it conjugates with the object of the
sentence. In this book you will find that if the subject of a direct-case
sentence or a phrase such as “I am going” is a female noun, then the
sentence will end in long ī (ee) vowel with an auxiliary verb. And if it is a
male subject, then it will end in long ā (aa).
 PART ONE
Common Expressions & Key Words

GREETINGS

► Hello / Goodbye

► Good morning

► Good night

► Nice to meet you.

► Nice to meet you too.

► See you later.

► See you tomorrow.

► How are you?

Remember, for many phrases you’ll see options, because in Hindi how you say something may be
different depending on whether you’re male or female. If you are male, you should choose the option
labeled “male speaker” (or “m. spkr”); and if you are female, choose the option for “female speaker”
(“f. spkr”).

► I’m fine.

► And you?

► Thank you.

Although India’s main language is Hindi, there is a substantial amount of Urdu (a language widely
spoken in Pakistan) vocabulary that is used in India on a day-to-day basis. Therefore, it would be
politically correct to use Shukhriya as another way to say “Thank you.”

INTRODUCTIONS

► What is your name?

► My name is ___.

► Where are you from?

► I am from (insert place)

INTRODUCING OTHER PEOPLE

► This is my wife.
► This is my husband.

► These are my/our children.

► This is my friend.

► This is my father.

► This is my mother.

Remember, for many phrases you’ll see options, because in Hindi how you say something may be
different depending on whether the speaker is male or female. This difference, and other word
options that are possible, are sometimes marked in this book with a slash: “/”.

PERSONAL TITLES

► Mr.

► Sir

► Mrs.

► Miss / Ms.
 ACADEMIC TITLES

► President

► Chancellor

► Principal (of a school; male)

► Principal (of a school; female)

► Principal (of a college; male)

► Principal (of a college; female)

► Department Head

► Professor

► Lecturer

► Teacher (male)

► Teacher (female)

► Student (male)
► Student (female)

BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL TITLES

► accountant

► artist

► attorney

► businessman

► clerk

► consultant

► doctor

► driver

► editor
► engineer

► factory owner

► general manager

► government officer

► government worker

► governor

► guide

► journalist

► laborer

► librarian

► mayor

► mechanic
► musician

► nurse

► President (country’s)

► president (of an organization)

► prime minister

► scientist

► secretary

► sportsperson

► technician

► tourist

► translator

► vice-president
► writer

TRADE / SKILLED WORKER TITLES

► tea vendor

► fruit seller

► vegetable seller

► barber

► cobbler

► washerman

► tailor

► janitor

► maid

► servant
► nanny

► milkman

► milkmaid
 COMMON EXPRESSIONS AND PHRASES

► Do you speak English?

Remember, for many phrases you’ll see options, indicated by a slash: “/”.

These several phrases are good examples of that! Just choose the correct option for your situation.

► I have understood.

► I did not understand.

► Please speak slowly.

► Please write it down.

► What is this called in Hindi?

► Thank you very much.

Note: In India people don’t usually respond to “thank you very much” by saying “you’re welcome.”
Instead they would simply say “It’s OK.”

► It’s OK.
► Excuse me.

► I am sorry / sorry to disturb you.

► Just a moment please.

► Hello! (to attract someone’s attention)

► I see!

► I don’t want anything else. / No more, thank you.

► Is it all right?

► I don’t want / need it.

► Really! Is that right?

► Where is the toilet / restroom?

► I am here on business.

► I am tired.
► I am sick.

► I’ve got a bad cold.

► I am thirsty.

► I am hungry.

► I’ll see you later.

► Do you have time / Are you free?

► Can you do me a favor?

► Don’t worry.

► Everything is OK.

► How was your trip?

► How old are you?

► What a coincidence!
► What happened?

► What is the matter?

Keep in mind that the hyphenated English phonetics shown in this book should be pronounced in a
smooth, even flow. Read them out loud several times to train your tongue and lips in making the
proper sounds smoothly.

ANY QUESTIONS? JUST ASK!

The answer to these types of questions is either:

► Yes

► No

When you ask a question, end the sentence on a higher note, just as you do in your own language.

► Do you know where this place is?

► Do you know the way to the hotel?

► Do you have a western-style toilet?

► Do you have a cold Bisleri water bottle?

“Bisleri” is a brand name for bottled mineral water in India.

► Do you have ___ in a larger size?

► Is the train on time?

► Can you tell us the way?

► Is this train / bus going to ___?

► Can I sit here?

► What is this?

► This is ___.

► What is that?

► What is its price?

► What did you say?

► What does this mean?

► When does ___ go / depart?

The option to choose here, and for the next two questions, depends on what mode of transportation
you're asking about. “Plane,” “auto,” “cycle rickshaw” and “truck” are masculine in Hindi, while
“bus,” “train,” and “Jeep” are feminine.

► When will ___ go / depart?

► When did __ leave?

► Where are you from?

Many people you meet in India will probably ask you this type of question, simply out of
inquisitiveness!

► Where are you going?

► Where do you (all) live?

► Why?
► Why not?

► How are you?

► How old are you?

► How many are there in (it)?

► How much do you want?

► How do you say this?

► This

► What is this?

► That

► What is that?

► Who is this?
► Which one do you like?

► Which way is it?

 ASKING FOR TOILETS AND RESTROOMS

Public restrooms and toilets in India are not always commonly found, especially in rural areas and
smaller cities. Larger metropolitan areas have the government-run bathrooms called “sulabh
shauchalaya” (literally, “easily available restrooms”).You can find them at railway stations and bus
depots. The restrooms in sulabh shauchalaya facilities are the “squatter” style. In cities such as
Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, and Calcutta western-style malls are common, and in them you can find clean
western-style restrooms. The bigger tourist monuments usually have good washrooms with western-
style toilets. If you face a problem locating any public toilets, you may ask a restaurant or hotel to let
you use their toilets. Advice: Carry toilet paper, hand sanitizers and hygiene product with you, as
they are not commonly available all over India.

► bathroom

► Men’s restroom

► Women’s restroom

Since the word “bathroom” is widely used in India for toilets, you can use the word “bathroom”
instead of using shauchālay:

► Where is the toilet?

► Is there any bathroom here?

 ASKING FOR HELP

Indians in general are very friendly and will be eager to provide you any help. But always use your
best judgment and instinct when you ask for help or directions, of course. After all, crooks are found
everywhere you go in the world.

► help

► hospital

► doctor

► police station

► pharmacy

► Please help me!

► Save me!

► Can you help me?

► My things got stolen—I need help.

► Please, someone help!

► Someone call the police.

► Call a doctor.

► Call an ambulance.

► It’s an emergency.

► Is there a police station nearby?

► Is there a hospital nearby?

 PART TWO
Numbers, Time, and Other “Basics”

CARDINAL NUMBERS

SANSKRIT ORDINAL NUMBERS

For trains:

► First class

► Second class

► Third class

HINDI ORDINAL NUMBERS

► First room
► On the first

HINDI ORDINAL NUMBERS

DAYS OF THE WEEK

WHICH DAY?

MONTHS

As you notice, the names of the months in Hindi are similar to English months. The main difference
is in pronunciation.

DATES

► What is today’s date?

► Today is the 1st of January.

SEASONS

WEATHER

► How is the weather today?

► What is today’s temperature?

► Today the weather is hot.

► Today it’s hot.

► It’s sunny today.

► It’s going to be cloudy today.

► It’s scorching hot these days.

► It’s very cold today.

► It’s going to rain today.

► It’s raining.

► It’s very pleasant today.

ASKING AND TELLING TIME

► What time is it?

Note: When asking a stranger for the time, if it’s a man always ask formally and politely, “Bhai
sahib, kit-ne buj-ay hain?” When asking a woman, ask “Behen ji kitnay buj-aa hain?”

A reminder: Wherever the letter “n” is in parentheses, read it at the end of the previous letter as a
nasal sound—as if you are producing the sound from your nose.

► 1:00

► 2:00

► 3:00

► 4:00
► 5:00

► 6:00

► 7:00

► 8:00

► 9:00

► 10:00

► 11:00

► 12:00

► 12:15

► 1:15

► 2:15

► 3:15
► 4:15

► 5:15

► 6:15

► 7:15

► 8:15

► 9:15

► 10:15

► 11:15

► 12:30

► 1:30

► 2:30

► 3:30
► 4:30

► 5:30

► 6:30

► 7:30

► 8:30

► 9:30

► 10:30

► 11:30

► 11:45

► 1:45

► 2:45

► 3:45
► 4:45

► 5:45

► 6:45

► 7:45

► 8:45

► 9:45

► 10:45

► 1:05 five minutes after one

► 2:10 ten minutes after two

► 10:50 ten minutes to eleven

► 9:40 twenty minutes to ten

TIMES IN A DAY

To indicate the times of the day with hour:

► Ten o’clock in the morning

► Twelve o’clock at noon

► Three o’clock in the afternoon

► Five o’clock in the evening

► Eight o’clock at night

FAMILY
 PARTS OF THE BODY

MAP DIRECTIONS

► North

► South

► East

► West
 PART THREE
Getting Around

AT THE AIRPORT

India offers many interstate airlines, and travel has become easier for foreign as well as Indian
travelers. There are many good services available for most of the larger metropolitan areas in India.

airport

airplane

first class

one way

round trip

flight

flight number

”Business,” “economy,” “check-in” and “connecting flights” are said with the English words.
reservation

baggage

aisle seat

window seat

boarding time

departure time

arrival time

attention please

departing flight

arriving flight

gate number

security check
information

passenger

► I would like an aisle seat.

► I would like a window seat.

► I need to go to the airport.

HIRING A TAXI OR AUTORICKSHAW

Taxis and autorickshaws are the primary modes of road transportation in India. They both run on
meters. Taxis can be hired for longer-distance transportation, but autorickshaws are used for
transportation within a city. Taxis are mainly painted black and yellow and can be easily located.
Auto-rickshaws are painted green and yellow.

► fare

► I need a taxi.

► Will you go to ___?

► Is this taxi available?

► Let’s go.

► How much will you charge for going to ___ ?

► How much is it to go to___ ?

► Is your meter on?

► How far is this place?

► Can you please wait for few minutes?

► I will be right back.

► I will be right back.

► Please slow down.

► Please drive slowly.

► Please stop.

► How much do I owe you?

 RENTING A VEHICLE

car

driver

air conditioned

speed limit

in the morning

right now

at midnight

► I need to rent a car.

► I also need a driver.

► How much is it by the day?

► I need it for ___ days.

► I need an air-conditioned car.

► I need the car for a week / ten days.

► How much is it for ten days?

► Does it include insurance and mileage?

► I need the car at 10:00.

HIRING A CYCLE RICKSHAW

Cycle rickshaws can be seen everywhere you go in India. They are pedal-powered, by a human
being! When calling a rickshaw, say “Hey rick-shay waa-lay-jee” or “Hey rickshaw.”

► Will you go to ___?

► Is this rickshaw available?

► I need to go to ___.

AT A TRAIN STATION

The primary mode of traveling from one end of India to the other is by train. If you really want to
experience the hustle-bustle and diverse colors of India, then trains are the way to go. Before you
board a train make sure you have your seat or berth reserved, which is done electronically.
train

passenger train

express train

A passenger train is a slow train that makes multiple stops. It is convenient for getting on and off at
small towns and villages.

Ticket Window

Ticket Office

Information

reservation

First Class

Second Class

Third Class

Sleeper Coach
Inquiry

Dining Car

Chair Car

AC Three Tier

Compartment

Waiting Area

Rest Area

Cafeteria

Toilets

Complaints

Reserved Seat

Unreserved Seat
Get on board

Get off train

Station Superintendent

Station Master

Ticket Collector

Departure

Arrival

departing train

arriving train

► The train coming from ___ is expected to arrive 30 minutes late.

► The train arriving from ___ is coming on platform number ___.

► Where is the ticket office?

► I need two tickets for Jaipur.

► I need to buy an Indian rail pass, whom should I see?

► Do you have space in “foreign tourists quota”?

As its name suggests, a separate “foreign tourist quota” has been provided for the convenience of
foreign nationals, in all classes and in nearly all trains. International tourists holding valid passports
can also obtain Indian railpasses using payment in U.S. Dollars, Pounds, Sterling, Euros and Indian
Rupees from any reservation office.

► Can I get two tickets in “tatkal quota”?

Tatkal in English means “immediate,” and it is an emergency reservation program. You may buy
“tatkal quota” tickets a few days before your departure.

METRO RAIL

In major cities in India, such as Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Banglore and Hydrabad, the metro is a very
convenient way to travel, and to avoid traffic. Metro rail service in India is fully automated. The
metro lines run till 11 p.m.

► Where is the metro rail station?

► Can I get a metro rail guide in English?

► Where can I get off to go to___?

► How often does the metro run?

► What color line goes to ___?

TRAVELING BY BUS

Since all the cities are interconnected through a state-run bus network, traveling by bus is a very
common and cost effective method of transportation in India. Every city has its own bus depot or bus
stand where you can buy tickets. Traveling like a local has its challenges—sometimes you will find
the bus crammed with people—yet can be highly enjoyable!

bus station

state roadways

interstate bus station

► How much is the fare to ___?

► Where is the bus station?

► When does the bus to ___ leave?

► Does this bus stop in ___?

► I have to get off at ___.

► Which city is this?

► What is the next bus stop?

ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS & LOCATIONS

direction

toward

straight

left

to the left

right

to the right

across
behind

behind it

there

here

near

nearby

how many miles?

how many kilometers?

how far is it?

opposite of

neighborhood

in the neighborhood
walking distance

► As soon as the road ends

► At this intersection

► On the fourth floor

India follows the British system of labeling floors. In contrast to the American system, in India the
ground floor is called just that, not the “first” floor. “G+4 floor” means a building has 5 stories.

► It is just around the corner.

► I’m looking for this place.

► Where is this place?

► How do I get to ___?

► Can I walk there?

► What is the best way to get to ___?

► Is it far?
► Can you show me on the map?
 PART FOUR
Emergencies and Essentials; Lodging

AT THE POLICE STATION

complaint

offense

thief

theft

An F.I.R. (First Information Report) is the initial written document that's prepared by the police.

► I want to file a complaint.

► I have to report an offense.

► Someone has stolen my bag.

► My passport has been stolen.

► I have lost my ___.

► I have been raped.

► Someone is following me.

► Someone has assaulted me.

MEDICAL EMERGENCIES

sick/ill

I am sick/ill.

hurts

It hurts here.

dizziness

I am feeling dizzy.

headache
I have a headache.

toothache

I am having tooth ache.

fever

I have a high fever.

food poisoning

I’ve got food poisoning.

I have eaten some bad food.

heat stroke

I’ve got heat stroke.

heart attack

I am having a heart attack.

breathing problem
I can’t breathe.

cut

I have cut my hand.

injury

I am injured.

blood

I am bleeding.

wound

My wound is bleeding.

► Please call an ambulance quickly.

fire

Fire! Fire! (Shout in case of fire)

 ACCOMMODATIONS

Most Indian cities, whether they’re big or small, provide a huge selection of hotels for any budget.
You can also find state-run tourist bungalows in every state; this is an affordable option. If you want
to experience the India lifestyle “up close and personal,” consider staying with a family who provides
services in alliance with Tourism Development Corporations, for example those of Rajasthan,
Laddakh, Chennai and Mumbai.

room

rooms

room charge

room key

facilities

bedding

comforter

pillow
sheet

mattress

single bed

double bed

bath

MAKING RESERVATIONS

► Do you have a room available?

► I want to book a room.

► We need two rooms with double beds.

BANKING AND MONEY

Indian paper currency is called rupiya (rupee). The paisa is equal to 1/100th of a rupee. You’ll
notice that the word “paisa” is also often used as a synonym for money or cash. Indian rupee notes
come in Rs.5, Rs.10, Rs.20, Rs.50, Rs.100, Rs.500 and Rs.1000. One- and two-rupee notes have been
discontinued in the paper form, but are still in circulation as coins. Coins in India are available in
seven denominations: 10 paise, 20 paise, 25 paise, 50 paise, one rupee, two rupees and five rupees.
currency

exchange rate

U.S. dollars

traveler’s check

► What is the current exchange rate?

► Where can I exchange dollars?

► Do you accept traveler’s checks?

► Please give me small change for this.

► What time does the bank open?

► I have no money with me.

 PART FIVE
In a Restaurant; Out and About

ORDERING FOOD AND

PAYING THE BILL

breakfast

fruits

egg

boiled egg

bread

butter

omelette

milk

juice
cold

hot

tea

sugar

spicy

lunch

bread

rice

vegetable

lentil

yogurt

pickle
yogurt relish

potato pastry

chutney (relish)

fritters

sherbet

water

ice

dinner

vegetarian

non-vegetarian

chicken

roasted
meat

goat

nan (flat bread)

fish

sweets

menu

When you go to a restaurant in India, remember not to ask for beef or pork. A majority of the
population in India is either Hindu or Muslim; the cow is considered by Hindus to be sacred, and
pork is considered unhygienic by Muslims.

► Excuse me!

► What do you have for breakfast?

► What do you have for lunch?

► I would like an omelette, butter and toast and a cup of coffee.

► Do you have any bottled water?

► Do you have a menu in English?

► Can you make less spicy food?

► Please get me my bill.

► Do you take credit cards?

SHOPPING

India is a shopping paradise for foreign travelers and shopaholics alike. On one hand, its bazaars are
bustling with multistoried shopping malls and high-class boutiques for those who have lots to spend;
on the other hand, the true color of the Indian bazaars can be seen through its local artisans and
midsized businesspeople who offer a variety of goods at reasonable prices to fit anyone’s budget.

market

shop

shop keeper

price
receipt

balance

refund

remaining money

cloth store

shoe store

cobbler

cash

credit

credit card

special

discount
expensive

cheap

of good quality

bargaining

pharmacy

PURCHASING & BARGAINING

Bargaining is a big part of the Indian mindset. Most of the vendors and shop keepers maintain a
certain margin for the bargaining, and if you bargain with them, they sometimes do reduce the
amount substantially. Stores such as pharmacies, book stores, stationery or greeting card shops, gift
shops, and showrooms usually do not bargain—they generally keep to a fixed price.

► How much is it?

► How much are they?

► What is its price?

► What is the price for this item?

► Show me a good quality one.

► Where can I find this?

► Do you take credit cards?

► Do you have change for five hundred rupees?

► Can you tell me where can I find this?

► Please reduce the price.

► Give me the right price.

► That’s too high, give me a better price.

► Can you show me one at a lower price than this?

► Can you ship these things to ___?

► I need to return this item.

AT A BOOK STORE
book

novel

magazine

newspaper

map

religious

political

music

children’s books

playing cards

chess

dictionary
► Do you have a map of Delhi?

► Do you also carry children’s board games?

► I need an English-to-Hindi dictionary.

► Please give me today’s English newspaper.

► May I sit here and read?

AT A CLOTHING STORE

saree

blouse

petticoat

tunic

loose pants for women

pajama
shirt

silk

silken

hand spun cotton

skirt (modern)

skirt (traditional)

girl’s dress

handkerchief

underwear

undershirt

long coat (for males)

socks
hat

► What is this shirt made out of?

► May I see some good silk sarees? [i.e., Please show us some good silk
sarees.]

► I want to buy few cotton kurtas.

MEASUREMENTS & SIZES

measurement

weight

length

width

height

breadth

kilogram
half a kilo

250 grams

yard

► Please measure it properly.

► Please weigh it properly

► Give me 250 grams of ____.

In this book we have provided two ways of requesting things in a market while shopping in India.
For instance, the polite form of the verb “to give” is dījīyé or dé dījīye (deeji-yay / day-dee-ji-yay)
which can be used at shops such as clothes, shoe, and book stores, post offices, or any other high-end
shops, whereas the neutral form of verb “to give,” dénā (day-naa), is most often used with
vegetable vendors, fruit sellers, roadside small vendors, makeshift stores and hawkers. The village
folk or lower end of the Indian society generally do not use the polite forms of verbs while speaking
or dealing with others.

AT THE POST OFFICE

mail

letter
post office

main post office

inland letter (within India)

envelope

stamp/postage

airmail

registered mail

message

address

ZIP code

fax

signature
► I have to send this letter to___.

► How much will it cost to send this letter to___?

► Three 3-rupee stamps please.

► I have to send this parcel outside of India.

► I have to have this registered.

► My name is ___. I am expecting money from___. Has it arrived yet?

► Where do I have to sign?

AT A PHARMACY

medicine

ayurvedic medicine

pharmacy

ayurvedic pharmacy
prescription

injection

vaccination

bandage

ointment

Dettol antiseptic liquid

(Dettol is a brand of liquid antiseptic commonly found in India.)

► Please give me these medicines.

► I need a muscle relaxant.

► How much is a bottle of Dettol?

► What time should I come back?

AT THE BARBERSHOP
A barbershop in India is meant for men and boys. If you are a female and need to have your hair
done, look for a beauty parlor instead—they can be found everywhere in India, run only by women.
Unisex salons can also be found in some high-end areas in cities such as Delhi or Bombay. Some
barbers also set up their makeshift shops underneath a tree. They usually also offer head massages
and some body massage (like shoulders, head, neck). Cheap yet enjoyable!

barber

hair

beard

moustache

shaving

head massage

razor

massage

► I need to have my hair cut.

► I need to have my beard done.

► Could you please massage my head too?

► How much do I owe you?

► Keep the change.

This you can say to a roadside barber, but not in a beauty parlor or a salon. There you’d instead give
a tip. However, it is better to give some kind of tip to whomever provides you any type of service, the
same way you would in your own country.

AT THE BEAUTY SALON

eyebrows

threading

plucking

henna

make-up

nails

► I need to have my hair set.

► I want to have henna on my hands.

► I want to have my hair colored.

► Can you cut my hair in this style?

USING THE TELEPHONE / CELL PHONES

telephone

P.C.O

cell phone

rate

per minute

STD

ISD
Pre-paid card

► Can I make an international call from here?

► Where can I make a local call?

► What is the rate to make a phone call to ___?

► Do you know the code for ___? (country / state / city)

► Do you sell SIM cards for cell phones?

► Can I get a pre-paid phone card?

 PART SIX
Enjoying India
► Are you ready?

► Shall we go?

► Let’s go!

HOLIDAYS

When you visit India, you’ll likely have the chance to learn about a holiday—many holidays and
celebrations take place all year round. It’s a time to see the many colors of India, to taste the diverse
culture, to dance, and to live!

New Year

Mid Winter Harvest Festival (Jan. 13, Punjab and North India)

Mid Winter Harvest Festival (Jan. 15, Tamilnadu)

Republic Day (Jan. 26)

Neta ji’s birthday (Jan. 23)

Festival of Colors (March–April)

Prophet Muhammad’s Birthday (February)

Lord Ram’s Birthday (April)

Good Friday (April)

Easter (April)

Harvest Festival (April 13, Punjab)

Harvest Festival (April 15, Assam’s New Year)

May Day / Labor Day (May 1)

Lord Buddha’s Birthday (May full Moon)

Full moon day to observe Gurus (July full Moon)

Goddess Parvati’s Communion with Lord Shiva (Aug., Rajasthan, Haryana

& Punjab)
Lord Ganesha’s Birthday (September)

Independence Day (August 15)

Festival for brothers and sisters (August full moon)

Lord Krishna’s Birthday (Aug./Sept.)

End of Ramadan (August)

Harvest Festival (Aug./Sept., Kerela)

Teacher’s Day (Sept. 5)

Worshipping Goddess Durga (September/October)

Nine-day celebration (October)

Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday (Oct. 2)

Fasting by married women (October)

Lord Ram’s Victory Day (~October)

Worshipping the protector of wealth (~November)

Festival of Lights (New moon night between mid-October and mid-

November)

Pushkar Cattle Fair (5 days, November–December)

Children’s Day (Nov. 14, Nehru’s Birthday)

Christmas (Dec. 25)

HOLIDAY GREETINGS

► Happy New Year!

► Happy Republic Day!

► Happy Independence Day!

► Happy Holi!

► Happy Diwali!

► Happy Id!
► Happy birthday!

► A very happy wedding anniversary!

TOP DESTINATIONS IN INDIA

With its more than five thousand years of history, India has long attracted explorers from all over the
world seeking the spices of life and the colors of the rainbow.

► Agra Fort, Taj Mahal, Fateh Pur Sikri Agra

► Ajanta, Ellora and Elephanta caves, Maharshtra

► Beaches, churches and convents of Goa

► Buddhist Monuments at Sanchi, Uttar Pradesh

► Backwater rides / whitewater rafting, Kerela (The backwaters are a

network of canals, bayous, rivers, and other waterways that total more
than 900 km in length.)

► Great Living Chola Temples, Tamil Nadu

► Group of Monuments Khajuraho, Hampi and Mahabalipuram in Madhya

Pradesh and Maharshtra
► Red Fort, Humayun’s Tomb, Qutub Minar, Delhi

► Kaziranga, Keoladeo, Sundarbans National Park

► Wildlife sanctuaries

► Forts, palaces and sand dunes of Rajasthan

► Rock Shelters of Bhimbetka (Stone Age)

► Temples of India (East, West, North and South)

► Natural Beauty of North and East India (Kashmir, Uttranchal, Tibbet,

Assam, Manipur)

► Andamna and Nicobar Islands (in the Bay of Bengal)

SIGHTSEEING

holidays

vacation
tourist

place

tourist places

tourism

tourism department

travel

traveler

open

close

office

monument

remains
temple

mosque

shrine of a Muslim Sufi saint

fort

palace

ruins

tombs

garden

park

valley

museum

zoo
parliament house

president’s house

embankments

excursion

mountaineering

boat

boat ride

umbrella

observatory

planetarium

historical

cultural
religious

family

children

group

price

discount

local

outsiders / foreigners

► What time does the museum open?

► What time does the tourist office close?

► Are there any special tickets for foreign tourists?

► May I take your photo?

► Can you take our picture?

► Who had it built?

► How old is it?

► Where can I have my pictures developed?

► What are the times of the tours?

► Is there any tour guide available?

 PART SEVEN
Key Names & Signs

INDIA’S STATES &

UNION TERRITORIES
THE 28 STATES
THE 7 UNION TERRITORIES
 COMMON SIGNS

Knowing and understanding road signs and any other signs in and on buildings is a very important
language asset for a foreign visitor to have. Here are few of the signs that you may find in India.

Entrance

Exit

Push

Pull

Emergency Exit
Toilet

Men

Women

Open

Closed

Danger

Beware

No smoking

Do not touch.
Information

Complaints

Notice

Cashier

► Please honk / Horn please

► Parking Lot

► Parking is prohibited here

► Do not enter

► No shoes in the temple

► Please take off your shoes outside

ROAD SIGNS

speed

speed limit

red light

green light

yellow light

stop

caution, beware
intersection

road

highway

grade

turn

roundabout

Entrance Prohibited
 PART EIGHT
Additional Vocabulary

FOOD TERMS

almond

apple

banana

beans

beet root

black pepper

butter
cabbage

cardamom

carrot

cashew

cauliflower

chick pea

chicken

chili powder

cinnamon

cloves
coriander

corn

cream of wheat

cucumber

cumin

curd / yogurt

eggplant

fenugreek

fish
flour (whole wheat)

flour, all purpose (white)

fruit

garlic

ginger

grapes

green pea

guava

honey

kidney beans
lemon

lentil

mango

mango powder

mint

mustard

oil

onion

orange

papaya
peanut

pear

pineapple

plum

pomegranate

potato

pumpkin

radish

raisin

rice

salt

sesame
spice

spinach

sugar

sweet potato

tamarind

tea

tomato

turmeric

turnip

vegetable

walnut

watermelon
yogurt
 GENERAL WORD LIST

A
accident

accommodation

address

air conditioning

airport

airmail

alcohol

American

appointment

art
assault

B
baby

baby sitter

bachelor/unmarried

baggage

bathroom

bicycle

big

bill

black

blue

boy
branch (office)

bread

breakfast

briefcase

broken

brown

burglar

bus stop

business

C
cafe

camel

camera (digital)
cancelled

canopy

capital (money)

car

card (playing)

cash

change (coins)

cheap

child

children

Christian

church
clean

clock

clothes

comb

confirm (a ticket, room)

D
date of birth

daughter

delay

departure

deposit

dirty

document
door

driver

drugs

drunk

E
earthquake

eat out

electricity

elephant

elevator

e-mail

embassy

emergency
entrance

exchange

exercise

exit

F
family

fan

fax

fee

festival

fire

first

fixed price
fight

flight

floor, story (of a building)

folk art

foreigner

forgive me

friend (male)

friend (female)

fun

G
gas station

gift

girl
guide

H
handicrafts

handmade

headache

heavy

highway

hobby

holiday (time off, vacation)

holiday (celebration)

home

hot

hungry (adj)
hurry up

husband

I
ice

identification

ill

illegal

India

Indians (as a people)

iron

J
jaggery (unrefined sugar)

jail

Jew
jewelry

joke

journal

journey

K
key

knife

kidnapping

kind (person)

kiss

kitchen

knitting
L
lad (boy)

lamp (earthen, clay)

language

laptop (computer)

large

last

late

later

laundry

leopard

lion

lock
loan

love

M
ma'am

magazine

mail

man

management

mandatory

market

married

mausoleum

memory
memory card (camera)

meeting

milk

mosquito

mouse

murder

music

mistake

monkey

monk

morning

mosque
N
nanny

name

nausea

near

necessary

needle

neither

new

news

newspaper

night

noise
O
obstetrician

office

open (adj)

orange

P
paper

parents

partner

pen

pillow

pill

post office

present (gift)
problem

price

Q
question

quickly

quilt

R
rain

reason

religious

relative

rent

road
room

river

right (direction)

right (correct)

S
school

shirt

shoe

shop

shop keeper

sign

smile

Skype (verb)
sleep

smoking

snake

soap

spoon

stain

student

sweet

T
tasty

tea

talk

table
temple

text, texting (electronic)

thirst

thirsty

thanks

today

tomorrow

tradition

train

translation

trash

U
umbrella
university

under

V
vacation

vegetarian

vehicle

video, DVD

W
wallet

wait

war

water

web site

week
welcome

west

wet

wife

window

woman

worship

Y
year

yesterday

yes

Z
zero