How do you say hello in Hindi?

The most common greeting is नमस्ते (namaste). It works at any time of day, for anyone, and is also used to say goodbye.

What is the difference between tum and aap?

Both mean “you”. आप (aap) is polite and is used for elders, teachers and people you have just met. तुम (tum) is for friends and people your own age. When unsure, use aap.

Can I learn to speak Hindi without learning the script?

Yes. You can begin speaking with Hindi written in English letters, as on this page. Learning Devanagari later helps your pronunciation, because each letter has exactly one sound.

What is the fastest way to start speaking Hindi?

Learn a small set of sentences you will really use, say them aloud every day, and practise with a person who corrects you. Speaking with a teacher, even twice a week, builds confidence much faster than reading alone.

Free Hindi guide · Spoken Hindi

Everyday Hindi phrases for beginners

रोज़ बोले जाने वाले हिंदी वाक्य

You don't need to read Devanagari to start speaking. Say these sentences aloud using the English letters, and you can greet people, introduce yourself and get around from the first day.

How to read these phrases

“Say it” spells the Hindi in English letters. Double vowels are long: aa as in father, ee as in see, oo as in moon. An n at the end of a word, as in hoon or nahin, is said softly through the nose.

Greetings and polite words

Greetings and polite words
Hindi	Say it	Meaning
नमस्ते	namaste	Hello / Goodbye
आप कैसे हैं?	aap kaise hain?	How are you? (to a man)
आप कैसी हैं?	aap kaisi hain?	How are you? (to a woman)
मैं ठीक हूँ।	main theek hoon	I am fine.
धन्यवाद	dhanyavaad	Thank you
कृपया	kripaya	Please
माफ़ कीजिए	maaf keejiye	Sorry / Excuse me
कोई बात नहीं	koi baat nahin	No problem
स्वागत है	svaagat hai	Welcome
फिर मिलेंगे	phir milenge	See you again
शुभ रात्रि	shubh raatri	Good night

Introducing yourself

A man says “raha hoon”; a woman says “rahi hoon”.

Introducing yourself
Hindi	Say it	Meaning
मेरा नाम अमन है।	mera naam Aman hai	My name is Aman.
आपका नाम क्या है?	aapka naam kya hai?	What is your name?
मैं दिल्ली से हूँ।	main Dilli se hoon	I am from Delhi.
आप कहाँ से हैं?	aap kahaan se hain?	Where are you from?
आपसे मिलकर खुशी हुई।	aapse milkar khushi hui	Nice to meet you.
मैं हिंदी सीख रहा हूँ।	main Hindi seekh raha hoon	I am learning Hindi. (man)
मैं हिंदी सीख रही हूँ।	main Hindi seekh rahi hoon	I am learning Hindi. (woman)
मुझे थोड़ी हिंदी आती है।	mujhe thodi Hindi aati hai	I know a little Hindi.

Useful questions

Useful questions
Hindi	Say it	Meaning
यह क्या है?	yah kya hai?	What is this?
कहाँ?	kahaan?	Where?
कब?	kab?	When?
क्यों?	kyon?	Why?
कौन?	kaun?	Who?
कैसे?	kaise?	How?
कितना?	kitna?	How much?
क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं?	kya aap angrezi bolte hain?	Do you speak English?
मुझे समझ नहीं आया।	mujhe samajh nahin aaya	I didn't understand.
कृपया धीरे बोलिए।	kripaya dheere boliye	Please speak slowly.
फिर से कहिए।	phir se kahiye	Please say that again.

Shopping and getting around

Shopping and getting around
Hindi	Say it	Meaning
यह कितने का है?	yah kitne ka hai?	How much is this?
बहुत महँगा है।	bahut mahanga hai	It is very expensive.
थोड़ा कम कीजिए।	thoda kam keejiye	Please reduce the price a little.
मुझे यह चाहिए।	mujhe yah chaahiye	I want this.
स्टेशन कहाँ है?	station kahaan hai?	Where is the station?
सीधे जाइए।	seedhe jaaiye	Go straight.
बाएँ मुड़िए।	baayen mudiye	Turn left.
दाएँ मुड़िए।	daayen mudiye	Turn right.
यहाँ रुकिए।	yahaan rukiye	Stop here.

At home and with family

At home and with family
Hindi	Say it	Meaning
खाना खा लिया?	khaana kha liya?	Have you eaten?
मुझे भूख लगी है।	mujhe bhookh lagi hai	I am hungry.
पानी दीजिए।	paani deejiye	Please give me water.
खाना बहुत स्वादिष्ट है।	khaana bahut svaadisht hai	The food is delicious.
चलो घर चलें।	chalo ghar chalen	Let's go home.
आप क्या कर रहे हैं?	aap kya kar rahe hain?	What are you doing?
मुझे आपकी याद आती है।	mujhe aapki yaad aati hai	I miss you.
अपना ध्यान रखना।	apna dhyaan rakhna	Take care of yourself.

Short answers

Short answers
Hindi	Say it	Meaning
हाँ	haan	Yes
नहीं	nahin	No
ठीक है	theek hai	Okay
बहुत अच्छा	bahut achchha	Very good
शायद	shaayad	Maybe
मुझे नहीं पता।	mujhe nahin pata	I don't know.

Family wordsपरिवार

Hindi has a separate word for almost every relative, including different words for your father's and your mother's parents.

Hindi words for family members
Hindi	Say it	Meaning
माँ	maa	mother
पिताजी	pitaaji	father
भाई	bhai	brother
बहन	behan	sister
दादा / दादी	daada / daadi	father's father / father's mother
नाना / नानी	naana / naani	mother's father / mother's mother
बेटा / बेटी	beta / beti	son / daughter
दोस्त	dost	friend

From phrases to real conversation

Memorised sentences get you through the first minute. To keep a conversation going you need to build your own sentences and be understood, and that takes practice with someone who answers back. In our spoken Hindi classes the teacher unmutes learners one at a time, so everybody speaks in every class. No Devanagari is needed to begin.

Want clear pronunciation right away? Read our Hindi pronunciation guide, start reading with the Hindi alphabet, or practise counting with Hindi numbers 1 to 100.

Questions about speaking Hindi

How do you say hello in Hindi?: The most common greeting is नमस्ते (namaste). It works at any time of day, for anyone, and is also used to say goodbye.
What is the difference between tum and aap?: Both mean “you”. आप (aap) is polite and is used for elders, teachers and people you have just met. तुम (tum) is for friends and people your own age. When unsure, use aap.
Can I learn to speak Hindi without learning the script?: Yes. You can begin speaking with Hindi written in English letters, as on this page. Learning Devanagari later helps your pronunciation, because each letter has exactly one sound.
What is the fastest way to start speaking Hindi?: Learn a small set of sentences you will really use, say them aloud every day, and practise with a person who corrects you. Speaking with a teacher, even twice a week, builds confidence much faster than reading alone.

Keep learning Hindi

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