The short answer
English works in hotels, airports and most tourist places, but a few Hindi phrases change how India treats you. Learn five well - namaste, dhanyavaad, kitna hua, kam teekha and madad - and keep the rest on this page to show on your phone. Hindi is understood across north and central India; in the south, English plus these phrases covers nearly everything.
The five phrases that matter most
नमस्ते
na-MAS-tay
Hello / respect greeting
हैलो / आदरपूर्ण अभिवादन
धन्यवाद
dhun-yuh-VAAD
Thank you
धन्यवाद / शुक्रिया
कितना हुआ?
KIT-naa HU-aa
How much is this?
इसका दाम कितना?
कम तीखा, कृपया
kam TEE-kha, kri-PYA
Less spicy, please
कम तीखा, कृपया
मदद!
mu-DUD
Help!
मदद! / बचाइए!
All the phrases
Greetings and thanks
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello / respect greeting | नमस्ते | na-MAS-tay | हैलो / आदरपूर्ण अभिवादन |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद | dhun-yuh-VAAD | धन्यवाद / शुक्रिया |
| Yes | हाँ | haan (nasal n) | हाँ |
| No | नहीं | na-HEEN | नहीं |
| Please | कृपया | kri-PYA | कृपया |
| Excuse me / sorry | माफ़ कीजिए | maaf KEE-ji-ye | माफ़ कीजिए |
Getting help
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Do you speak English? | क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं? | kyaa aap an-GRAY-zee BOL-tay hain | क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं? |
| I do not understand | मैं समझा नहीं | main suMJH-aa na-HEEN | मैं समझा/समझी नहीं |
Food (vegetarian, Jain, allergies)
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Less spicy, please | कम तीखा, कृपया | kam TEE-kha, kri-PYA | कम तीखा, कृपया |
| I am vegetarian | मैं शाकाहारी हूँ | main sha-kaa-HAA-ree hoon | मैं शाकाहारी हूँ |
| Water, please | पानी दीजिए | PAA-nee DEE-ji-ye | पानी दीजिए |
Directions and transport
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Stop here, please | यहाँ रोकिए, कृपया | ya-HAAN RO-ki-ye, kri-PYA | यहाँ रोकिए, कृपया |
| Where is the toilet? | टॉयलेट कहाँ है? | TOY-let ka-HAAN hai | टॉयलेट कहाँ है? |
| Left / right | बाएँ / दाएँ | BAA-yein / DAA-yein | बाएँ / दाएँ |
Shopping and numbers
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| How much is this? | कितना हुआ? | KIT-naa HU-aa | इसका दाम कितना? |
| It is too expensive | बहुत महँगा है | ba-HOOT meh-HN-gaa hai | यह बहुत महँगा है |
Emergency
| English | Local script | How to say it | हिन्दी |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help! | मदद! | mu-DUD | मदद! / बचाइए! |
| Call a doctor, please | डॉक्टर को बुलाइए, कृपया | DOC-tar ko bu-LAA-iye, kri-PYA | डॉक्टर को बुलाइए, कृपया |
Save or print
Save the top phrases as a picture to send to your parents, or print the whole sheet.
The five phrases that matter most
- Hello / respect greeting / हैलो / आदरपूर्ण अभिवादन
- नमस्ते (na-MAS-tay)
- Thank you / धन्यवाद / शुक्रिया
- धन्यवाद (dhun-yuh-VAAD)
- How much is this? / इसका दाम कितना?
- कितना हुआ? (KIT-naa HU-aa)
- Less spicy, please / कम तीखा, कृपया
- कम तीखा, कृपया (kam TEE-kha, kri-PYA)
- Help! / मदद! / बचाइए!
- मदद! (mu-DUD)
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Quick questions
Sources
- Shabdkosh: Shabdkosh English-Hindi dictionary: word and phrase translations · checked 31 Oct 2026