Essential Hindi Phrases for Travel (with Pronunciation)
Hindi is the most spoken language in India, especially in the north (Delhi, Agra, Jaipur, Varanasi). English is common in cities, but Hindi phrases help with rickshaws, street food, markets and smaller towns.
Updated October 2026
Basics and greetings
| English | Hindi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Hello | नमस्ते | Namaste |
| Goodbye | फिर मिलेंगे | Phir milenge |
| Please | कृपया | Kripya |
| Thank you | धन्यवाद | Dhanyavaad |
| Yes | हाँ | Haan |
| No | नहीं | Nahin |
| Excuse me / Sorry | माफ़ कीजिए | Maaf kijiye |
| I don't understand | मुझे समझ नहीं आया | Mujhe samajh nahin aaya |
| Do you speak English? | क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं? | Kya aap angrezi bolte hain? |
At the restaurant
| English | Hindi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| A table for two, please | दो लोगों के लिए टेबल, कृपया | Do logon ke liye table, kripya |
| The menu, please | मेन्यू दीजिए | Menu dijiye |
| Water, please | पानी दीजिए | Paani dijiye |
| The bill, please | बिल दीजिए | Bill dijiye |
| It's delicious | बहुत स्वादिष्ट है | Bahut swadisht hai |
Getting around and shopping
| English | Hindi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Where is the toilet? | टॉयलेट कहाँ है? | Toilet kahaan hai? |
| Where is the station? | स्टेशन कहाँ है? | Station kahaan hai? |
| How much is it? | यह कितने का है? | Yeh kitne ka hai? |
| Can you write it down? | क्या आप इसे लिख सकते हैं? | Kya aap ise likh sakte hain? |
Emergencies and health
| English | Hindi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| Help! | बचाओ! | Bachao! |
| I need a doctor | मुझे डॉक्टर चाहिए | Mujhe doctor chahiye |
| Where is the pharmacy? | दवाई की दुकान कहाँ है? | Davai ki dukaan kahaan hai? |
| Call the police! | पुलिस को बुलाइए! | Police ko bulaiye! |
| I'm lost | मैं रास्ता भूल गया / गई | Main raasta bhool gaya / gayi |
Practical tips
- "Namaste" with hands pressed together works as hello and goodbye.
- "Ji" added after a name or "haan" ("haan ji") makes it more respectful.
- Agree on the price before getting into a rickshaw or taxi without a meter.
- India has many languages: in the south (Tamil Nadu, Kerala), Hindi is less used and English is often the common language.
Too many phrases to remember?
With OIEM Translator you can simply talk. Choose English and Hindi, tap the microphone once and speak normally: the translation appears in about half a second and is spoken out loud in Hindi. When the other person answers, OIEM detects their language automatically and translates back — no need to tap again.
- Hands-free two-way conversation
- Text translation also works offline
- Photo translation for menus and signs
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Frequently asked questions
Is English enough in India?
In cities, hotels and with younger people, often yes. Hindi helps for everyday interactions in the north, and people really appreciate it.
Can my phone speak Hindi for me?
Yes. With a voice translator like OIEM Translator you speak in English and your iPhone says it out loud in Hindi, then translates the answer back. It is useful when a phrase list is not enough.
Do these phrases work offline?
This page works offline if you save it or take screenshots before your trip. In OIEM Translator, text translation works offline; voice translation needs an internet connection.