Travel Tips: Language
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 in all but remote, rural locations. However, attempts to speak the local language are always appreciated. The language most widely spoken in the North is Hindi, while Urdu and Bengali are more commonly used in places. In the South, Tamil is spoken in Tamil Nadu, Malayali in Kerala, Kanad in Karnataka and Marathi in Maharashtra.
Indian languages are phonetically regular, based on syllables rather than an alphabet. Important differences are made between long and short vowels, and reteroflex, palatal and labial consonants – listen hard to get a feel for the vocabulary below. There are various systems of transliteration, and you may see many of the words below spelt different ways in English. Where a consonant is followed by ‘h’ this is an aspirated sound, ‘c’ is usually pronounced ‘ch’ (followed by ‘h’, ‘chh’), and ‘zh’ in Tamil stands for a sound somewhere between a reteroflex ‘l’ and ‘r’.
Traveller’s Hindi
Basics
Hello/goodbye Namaste
Yes Ji ha
No Ji nehi
Perhaps Shayad
Thank you Dhanyavad/shukriya
How are you? Ap kaise hai?/Ap thik hai?
I am well Me thik hu/thik hai
What is your name? Apka nam kya hai?
My name is (John/Jane) Mera nam (John/Jane) hai
Where do you come from? Ap kahan se aye?
From (England) (England) se
How much (money)? Kitna paise hai?
That is expensive Bahut mahenga hai
Cheap Sasta
I like (tea) Mujhe (chai) pasand hai
Is it possible? Kya ye sambhav hai?
I don’t understand Mujhe samajh nehi
I don’t know Mujhe malum nehi
Money Paisa
Newspaper Akhbar
Sheet Chadar
Blanket Kambal
Bed Palang
Room Kamra
Clothes Kapre
Cloth Kapra
Market Bajar
Pronouns
I am Mai hun
You are Ap hain
He/she/it is Voh hai
They are Ve hain
Verbs
To drink Pina
To eat Khanna
To do/make Karna
To buy Kharidna
To sleep Sona
To see Dekhna
To hear/listen to Sunna
To wash (clothes) Dhona
To wash (yourself) Nahana
To get Milna or pana
Prepositions, adverbs and adjectives
Now Ab
Right now Abhi
Quickly Jaldi
Slowly Dirhe se
A bit Bahut
A little Tora
Here Yaha/idhar
There Vaha/udhar
Open Khola
Closed Bund
Finished Khatam hai
Big/older Bara
Small/younger Chota
Beautiful Sundar
Old Purana
New Naya
Questions
What is? Kya hai?
Where is? Kahan hai?
Why? Kyun?
Who is? Kaun hai?
When is? Kab hai?
How? Kaisa?
Most straightforward sentences can easily be turned into a question by putting ‘kya’ on the front and raising the pitch of the voice at the end of the sentence, eg ‘Dhobi hai’, ‘There is a washerman’, ‘Kya dhobi hai?’, ‘Is there a washerman?’
Days of the week
Monday Somvar
Tuesday Mangalvar
Wednesday Budhvar
Thursday Guruvar
Friday Shukravar
Saturday Shanivar
Sunday Itvar
Today Aj
Yesterday/tomorrow kal
Week Hafta
Months
January Janvari
February Farvari
March March
April Aprail
May Mai
June Jun
July Julai
August Agast
September Sitambar
October Aktubar
November Navambar
December Disambar
Month Mahina
Year Sal
Relatives
Mother Mata-ji
Father Pita-ji
Sister Behen
Brother Bhai
Husband Pati
Wife Patni
Maternal grandmother Nani
Maternal grandfather Nana
Paternal grandmother Dadi
Paternal grandfather Dada
Elder sister (term of respect) Didi
Daughter Beti
Son Beta
Girl Larki
Boy Larka
Are you married? Kya ap shadishuda hai?
Are you alone (male/female)? Kya ap akela/akeli?
How many children have you got? Apke kitne bache hai?
How many brothers and sisters have you got? Apke kitne bhai behen hai?
Health
Doctor Daktar
Hospital Aspatal
Dentist Dentist
Pain Dard
I am ill Main bimar hun
I have been vomiting Mujhe ulti ho rahi thi
I have a temperature Mujhe bukhar hai
I have a headache Mere sir men dard hai
I have a stomach ache Mere pat men dard hai
I have diarrhoea Mujhe dast ar raha hai
The English word ‘motions’ is a common expression for diarrhoea.
Travel
Where is (Delhi)? (Dilli) kahan hai?
Bus station Bus adda
Railway station Tren stashan/railgari
Airport Hawai adda
Car Gari
How far is it? Kitni dur hai?
In front of/opposite (the Taj Mahal) (Taj Mahal) ke samne
Near Ke nazdik/ke pas
Far Dur
Ticket Tikat
Stop Rukh jaiye
Let’s go Chele jao
I have to go Mujhe jana hai
Come Ayie
Go Jayie
Food
I want (a thali) Mujhe (thali) chahiye
Without chilli Mirch ke bina
Little chilli Kam mirch
Hot Garam
Cold Thanda
Ripe/cooked Pukka
Unripe/raw Kachcha
Basics
Mirch Chilli
Namak Salt
Ghee Clarified butter
Dahi Yoghurt
Raita Yoghurt with cucumber
Chaval Rice
Panir Cheese
Pani Water
Dudh Milk
Lassi Yoghurt drink
Nimbu pani Lime water
Tandur Oven
Pilao Rice cooked with ghee and spices
Biriyani Rice cooked with vegetables or meat
Mithai Sweets
Breads (Roti)
Puri Deep-fried and puffed-up wheat bread
Chapatti Unleavened flat bread
Nan Leavened flat bread
Tandoori roti Similar to nan
Paratha Chapatti cooked with ghee
Vegetables (Sabzi)
Palak Spinach
Aloo Potato
Gobi Cauliflower
Bindi Okra
Pyaz Onion
Matter Peas
Tamata Tomato
Baingain/brinjal Aubergine
Dal Dried pulses
Meat
Gosht Lamb
Murg Chicken
Machli Fish
Fruit
Kela Banana
Santra Orange
Aum Mango
Traveller’s Tamil
Basics
Hello Vanakkam
Goodbye Poyvituvarukiren
(Reply Poyvituvarungal)
Yes Amam
No Illai
Perhaps Oruvelai
Thank you Nandri
How are you? Celakkiyama?
What is your name? Ungal peyar yenna?
My name is (John/Jane) Yen peyar (John/Jane)
Where is the (hotel)? (Hotel) yenge?
What is this/that? Idu/Adu yenna?
What is the price? Yenna vilai?
That is very expensive Anda vilai mikavum adikum
I want (coffee) (Kapi) Vendum
I like (dosa) (Dosai) Pudikkum
Is it possible? Mudiyuma?
I don’t understand Puriyadu
Enough Podum
Toilet Tailet
Bed Kattil
Room Arai
Train Rayil
Sari Pudavai
Dhoti Vesti
Towel Tundu
Sandals Ceruppu
Money Punam
Temple Kovil
Verbs
To come (imperative) Varungal
To go (imperative) Pongal
To stop (imperative) Nillungal
To sleep Tungu
To eat Sappidu
To drink Kudi
To buy Vangu
To pay (money) Punam kodu
To see Par
To wash (clothes) Tuvai
To wash (yourself) Kazhavu
Prepositions, adverbs and adjectives
Quickly Sikkirum
Slowly Meduvaka
A lot Mikavum
A little Koncam
Here Inge
There Ange
This Idu
That Adu
Now Ippodu
Same Ade
Good Nalla
Bad Ketta
Hot Karam
Cold Kulirana
Dirty Acattam
Clean Cattam
Beautiful Azhakana
Sweet Inippu
Big Periya
Small Cinna
Old Pazhaiya
New Pudiya
Days of the week
Monday Tingal
Tuesday Cevvay
Wednesday Putam
Thursday Viyazhan
Friday Velli
Saturday Ceni
Sunday Nayiri
Today Inraikku
Week Varam
Month Matam
Year Varutam
Questions and ‘and’
How? Yeppadi?
What? Yenna?
Who? Yar?
Why? Yen?
Where? Yenge?
When? Yeppodu?
How much? Yettanai/Yevvalavu?
Questions in Tamil are usually formed by adding a long ‘a’ to the last word of a sentence (usually the verb), eg ‘Ningal venduma?’ ‘What do you want?’. ‘And’ is formed by adding ‘um’ to the end of the nouns (with an extra ‘y’ if the noun ends in a vowel), eg ‘Kapiyum, dosaiyum’, ‘Coffee and dosa’.
Pronouns and relatives
I Nan
You Ningal
He/she/it Avan/Aval/Avar
We (including addressee)/(excluding addressee) Nam/Nangal
They Avakal
Man Manidan
Woman/girl/daughter Pen
Boy/son Paiyan
Children Pillaikal
Baby Pappu
Mother Amma
Father Appa
Husband Kanavan
Wife Manaivi
Health
I am sick (vomiting) Utampu cariyillai irukkiradu
I have a pain Vali irukkiradu
I have diarrhoea ’Motions’ irrukkiradu
Doctor Taktar
Help! Utavi cey!
Food (Sappadu)
Tunnir Water
Sadum Rice
Puzham Fruit
Kaykuri Vegetables
Pal Milk
Mor Buttermilk
Minakay (iilamal) (without) chilli
Tengay Coconut
Mampazham Mango
Valaippazham Banana
Kapi Coffee
Ti Tea
Iddli Steamed rice cakes
Dosai Pancake made from fermented dough
Vadai Deep fried snack made of dal
Rasam Thin, spicy soup, usually with a tamarind base
Sampar Thick soup made from dal
Poriyal Dry vegetable curry
Kolikarri Chicken curry
Attukkari Lamb curry
Mils ’Meals’, similar to a North Indian thali, traditionally served on a banana leaf
Payasam Sweet milk-based dish served at festivals
Hindi Numbers
1 ek
2 do
3 tin
4 char
5 panch
6 che
7 sat
8 arth
9 nau
10 das
20 bis
30 tis
40 chalis
50 pachas
60 sath
70 setur
80 assi
90 nabbe
100 sau
1,000 hazar
100,000 lakh
10,000,000 kror
Tamil Numbers
1 onru
2 irandu
3 munru
4 nanku
5 aindu
6 aru
7 yezhu
8 yettu
9 onpadu
10 pattu
11 patinonru
12 pannirandu
20 irupadu
30 muppadu
40 rarpadu
50 aimpadu
60 arupadu
70 alupadu
80 yenpadu
90 tonnuru
100 nuru
100,000 latcam
10,000,000 kodi
Glossary of Commonly Used Terms
Acha OK, good, I understand, really?
Ahimsa Non-violence
Air cooler Fan that blows air through wet straw or similar
Angrez Foreigner
Ashram Spiritual retreat or community
Auto (rickshaw) Three-wheeled, scooter-engine conveyance, tuk tuk
Avatar Traditionally an incarnation of a god, but now used more broadly
Bagh Garden
Bandar Monkey
Bandh General strike
Banian T-shirt or vest
Baori Step well, meaning a well accessed by an elaborate series of stairways
Bhang Dried marijuana, sometimes added to lassi
Bhangra Punjabi dance music
Bharat India
Bidi Small, leaf-rolled cigarette
Bindi Red dot worn on forehead
Brahmin Highest Hindu caste of priests
Burqha All-concealing dress worn by Muslim women
Basti Slum
Cantonment Military area of town
Caste Hindu equivalent of class system, based on occupation
Chalo Let’s go
Charbagh Traditional Persian-style garden, divided into four quarters
Charpoi Traditional bed, made of rope woven across wooden frame
Choli Sari blouse
Chowk Junction
Chokidar Guard/caretaker
Coolie Porter
Crore 10 million
Dacoit Bandit
Dalit Lowest Hindu caste, previously known as ‘untouchables’
Dhaba Basic restaurant, often at side of the road
Dharamsala Basic accommodation for pilgrims
Dhobi Clothes washer
Dhobi Ghat Area where clothes are washed, often next to a lake or river
Dhoti Long skirt worn by men, pulled up between legs and tucked in
Dhurrie Cotton, flat woven carpet
Diwan-i-Am Public audience hall
Diwan-i-khas Private audience hall
Dowry money or goods traditionally given to groom’s family by bride’s parents during wedding
Durgah Shrine of Muslim saint
Eve teasing Sexually harassing women
Fakir Muslim ascetic
Ganesh Elephant-headed god of good fortune
Ganj Market
Gaon Village
Garh Fort
Gari Vehicle, normally car but also bike, train, etc
Geyser Water heater
Ghat Either steps leading down to a lake or river or a range of hills
Ghazal Urdu devotional/love song
Godown Warehouse
Gompa Tibetan monastery
Gulli Alley
Gurudwara Sikh temple
Hanuman Monkey god
Hati Elephant
Haveli Elaborate old walled mansion
Hijra Eunuch
Hindola Swing
Imam Muslim leader
Imambara Shiite tomb
Jali Ornately carved screen
Jhuggi Slum
Kabaddi Traditional sport, a bit like tag
Kameez Long shirt worn by women
Khadi Homespun cloth
Khalsa Sikh brotherhood
Khol Black eyeliner, often used on baby boys to ward off evil spirits
Kurta Long shirt worn by men
Lakh 100,000
Lok People
Lungi Skirt/sarong worn by men, particularly in South India
Mahabharata Epic Hindu poem of mythology
Mahal Room or palace
Mahout Elephant trainer
Maidan Open square in city
Mali Gardener
Mandala Circular painting particularly popular in Buddhism
Mandi Market
Mandir Temple
Marg Street or road
Masjid Mosque
Mehndi Henna, often used to paint intricate designs on ladies’ hands and feet, particularly for weddings
Mela Festival
Memsahib Madam
Nadi River
Namaskar/Namaste Traditional greeting
Namaz Muslim prayers
Namkeen Crunchy savoury snacks (often dubbed ‘Bombay Mix’ in the West)
Nilgai Blue bull, a type of antelope
NRI Non-Resident Indian
Nullah Small stream
Paise Penny, but more commonly used to mean money in general
Panchayat Village council
Pandit Priest or expert
Peon Office drudge
Prasad Sacred food which has been offered to and blessed by a deity in a Hindu temple
Puja Ritual in which offering is made as act of devotion
Qawwali Sufi singing
Qila Fort
Ramadan/Ramzan Annual Muslim month of daytime fasting
Sadhu Hindu ascetic
Sahib Sir
Salwar Kameez Shirt and trouser combo worn by women
Sambhar deer
Sati Traditional act of a wife setting fire to herself at her husband’s funeral
Scheduled Castes Official term for members of Dalit castes
Singh Literally ‘lion’, common surname amongst Sikhs and Rajputs
Stupa Buddhist monument
Sufi Muslim mystic
Tabla Twin drums
Tal Lake
Wallah ’Man’, used as suffix to denote occupation, eg chai wallah, dhobi wallah, etc
Yatra Pilgrimage