Hindi is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world, and even a few basic words can go a long way in daily interactions. Whether you're travelling, working, or just curious, these 25 must-know words will help you get started.
Greetings & Basics
नमस्ते
/nə.məs.t̪eː/“Hello”
The universal Hindi greeting, used for both hello and goodbye.
धन्यवाद
/d̪ʱən.jə.ʋɑːd̪/“Thank you”
A polite way to express gratitude.
हाँ / नहीं
/hɑ̃ː/ /nəhiːŋ/“Yes / No”
Basic affirmations and negations.
कृपया
/kɾɪp.jɑː/“Please”
Used to make requests more polite.
माफ कीजिए
/maːpʰ kiːdʒɪeː/“Sorry / Excuse me”
A way to apologise or get someone's attention.
Common Questions
आप कैसे हैं?
/aːp kɛseː hɛ̃ː/“How are you?”
A standard greeting question.
यह क्या है?
/jəh kjaː hɛː/“What is this?”
Useful for asking about unfamiliar objects.
कितना है?
/kɪt̪nɑː hɛː/“How much is it?”
Essential for shopping and bargaining.
कहाँ है?
/kəhɑ̃ː hɛː/“Where is it?”
Handy for directions.
Food & Drink
पानी
/pɑː.niː/“Water”
A must-know word in any language.
चाय
/t͡ʃɑːj/“Tea”
India runs on chai - know this word well.
भूख
/bʱuːkʰ/“Hunger”
Useful when you need to express hunger.
मिठाई
/mɪ.ʈʰɑː.iː/“Sweet”
India has incredible desserts - this word will come in handy.
Numbers & Time
एक
/eːk/“One”
The number one - essential for counting.
दस
/d̪əs/“Ten”
A foundational number.
समय
/sə.məj/“Time”
Useful when asking for the time.
कल
/kəl/“Tomorrow / Yesterday”
Context determines whether it means tomorrow or yesterday.
Practical Words
बाथरूम
/bɑːt̪ʰ.ɾuːm/“Bathroom”
A word you don’t want to be stuck without.
मदद
/mə.d̪əd̪/“Help”
Important in emergencies.
अच्छा
/ət̪.t͡ʃʰɑː/“Good”
A versatile word meaning good, okay, or even 'I see'.
बुरा
/bʊ.ɾɑː/“Bad”
The opposite of 'अच्छा'.
पैसे
/pɛː.sɑː/“Money”
Essential for transactions.
Pro tip: Hindi speakers appreciate even broken attempts at their language. Don’t worry about perfect pronunciation - just give it a go!
If you're looking for more language guides, check out our articles on 40 Must-Know Welsh Words for Daily Life in Wales or 50 Foundational Estonian Vocabulary Words for Beginners.
