India: useful phrases

With 18 official languages, hundreds of others and countless dialects, India can present a linguistic minefield. Luckily for the traveller, English is often understood, and it is usually possible to get by. However, attempts to speak the local language are always appreciated even in the most touristy parts of the country. The language most widely spoken in the north is Hindi Indias official lingua franca which, largely thanks to the Bollywood cinema industry, is understood just about everywhere. In the south, Tamil has the highest profile. Across the mountains in neighbouring Kerala, Malayalam is the mother tongue.

General
yes ji ha no nahi please meher bani thank you -dhanyavad (sometimes shukriya in northern India) My name is. Mera nam hai What is your name? Apka nam kya hai? I beg your pardon/sorry Maf (or shama) kijiy hello/welcome/goodbye namast How are you? Kya hal hai/ap kais hai Im fine Thik hai I dont understand Samjha nahi tomorrow/yesterday kal (confusion is possible) today aj tonight aj rat ko good achcha Lets go! Chalo (polite form chaliy) It is very good. Bahut achcha hai This is not good. Y achcha nahi hai

Numbers
1 ek 2 do

3 tin 4 char 5 panch 6 chh 7 saat 8 aat 9 nau 10 dass 100 sau 1,000 hazar

Arrival and departure

Im here on main yahaan ... pur hoon a business trip karobaari yatraa holiday [vacation] chutti Im going to main ... jaa raha hoon

Money and banking

Wheres the nearest ? sabse nazdeek kahan hai bank bank bureau de change mudra vinimay karyalaay automated teller (ATM) ATM Id like to change some dollars/pounds into Rupees. main kuch dollar/pounds ko rupaye mein badalnaa chahtaa hoon

Transport
1/2/3 ticket(s) to ... ke liye ek/do/teen ticket single [one-way] ektarfaa return [round-trip] waapsi How much? kitnaa How do I get to theHotel? main ... hotel kaise pahoonchoonga Where can I buy a ticket? main ticket kahan se khareed saktaa hoon Do I have to change trains? kya mujhe koi train badalnee hai

Is this the right platform for the train to? kyajaane ke liye yehe sahi platform hai Is this the train to? kya yehe train ... jaa rahi hai Id like to rent a main ekkiraye pur lena chahoonga 3-/10-gear bicycle teen-/dus-gear cycle moped/motorbike moped/motorbike Where can I rent a car? mujhe kiraye pur car kahan se mil saktee hai Wheres the next petrol [gas] station? aglaa petrol pump kahan hai Ive lost my way. main raasta bhool gaya hoon

Accommodation
I have a reservation. mere paas ek aarakshan hai My name is mera naam hai Do you have a room? kya aapke paas kamre hain How much is it ? yeh kitne ka hai per night/week ek raat/saptaah Do you have a cheaper room? kya aapke paas saste kamre hain Can I see the room, please? kya main kumraa dekh saktaa hoon Id like a room with main waala kamraa chahtaa hoon twin beds do bed a double bed ek double bed a bath/shower ek bath/shower There are insects in our room. hamare kamre mein kirre hain

Emergencies
Help! bachao Go away! chalo hato Call the police! police ko bulaao Stop thief! chor ko roko Fire! aag Get a doctor! doctor ko bulaao Im in pain. mujhje dard ho raha hai Im lost. main kho gaya hoon

Health
Im ill [sick]. main bimaar hoon I feel faint. mujhe behoshi ho rahi hai I feel feverish. mujhe bukhaar jaisa lug raha ha Ive been vomiting. mujhe ultiyaan ho rahi hai Wheres the nearest pharmacy? nikuttum dawakhaana kahan hai What time does the pharmacy open/close? dawakhaana kitne baje khultaa/bund hota hai Can you make up [fill] this prescription for me? kya aap mere liye yeh nuskhaa tayaar kur sakte hain How much should I take? mujhe kitnaa lenaa chaahiye What would you recommend for? ke liye aap kya sujhaav denge diarrhoea diarrhea insect bites keera kaa kaatnaa I have insurance. mera beema hai Can I have a receipt for my insurance? kya main apne beema hetu raseed prapt kur saktaa hoon

Eating out
A table for, please. kripyaake liye table chahiye 1/2/3/4 ek/do/teen/chaar Can you recommend some typical local dishes? kya aap kuch vishisht sthaniye vyanjun bata sakte hain Where are the toilets [restrooms] shauchaalaya/toilet kahan hai The bill, please. kripyaa bill dijiye That was a very good meal. khanaa bahut badhiya tha Id like a of red/white wine. mujhe ek red/white wine chahiye glass/carafe/bottle gilass/suraahi/bottle Do you have beer? kya aapke paas beer hai