OoruLearn Hindi: everyday phrases for Delhi
Hindi is the language of the street in Delhi, mixed freely with English and Punjabi. These are the phrases newcomers use most: greetings, talking to auto drivers, getting around on the metro, ordering food, shopping and getting help. Each one is written the way it sounds, so there is no script to learn.
One-line survival kit
If you learn only five lines, make it these:
- Mujhe Hindi achhi nahin aati: I don't speak Hindi well
- Kya aap English bolte hain?: Do you speak English?
- Yeh kitne ka hai?: How much is this?
- Yahin rok dijiye: Stop right here
- Meri madad kijiye: Please help me
Basic Politeness
| English | Hindi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Hello | Namaste |
| Thank you | Shukriya / Dhanyavaad |
| Yes (polite) | Haan ji |
| No | Nahin |
| Okay | Theek hai |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Maaf kijiye |
| Please say that again | Phir se boliye |
| Please speak slowly | Thoda dheere boliye |
| I don't understand | Samajh nahin aaya |
Asking Directions
| English | Hindi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Where is this? | Yeh kahan hai? |
| Where is [place]? | [place] kahan hai? |
| How far is it? | Kitni door hai? |
| Go straight | Seedhe jaiye |
| Turn left | Left le lijiye |
| Turn right | Right le lijiye |
| Here / There | Yahan / Wahan |
| Near / Far | Paas / Door |
| Which is the nearest metro station? | Sabse paas metro station kaun sa hai? |
Auto / Cab / Metro
| English | Hindi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Will you go to [place]? | [place] chaloge? |
| How much will you take? | Kitna loge? |
| That's too much! | Bahut zyada hai! |
| Please go by the meter | Meter se chaliye |
| Stop right here | Yahin rok dijiye |
| I have to go to [place] | Mujhe [place] jaana hai |
| Which line goes to [place]? | [place] ke liye kaun si line? |
| Which gate? | Kaun sa gate? |
Ordering Food
| English | Hindi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| I want this | Mujhe yeh chahiye |
| What is this? | Yeh kya hai? |
| Less chilli | Mirchi kam |
| Without sugar | Bina cheeni ke |
| Water | Paani |
| One more | Ek aur |
| That's enough | Bas |
| Bill please | Bill de dijiye |
| Delicious! | Bahut badhiya hai! |
| Please pack it | Pack kar dijiye |
Shopping
| English | Hindi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| How much is this? | Yeh kitne ka hai? |
| Please lower it a bit | Thoda kam kijiye |
| What's your last price? | Last kitna lagaoge? |
| Give me one / two | Ek de dijiye / Do de dijiye |
| Do you have change? | Chhutte hain? |
| Can I pay by UPI? | UPI chalega? |
Emergency / Help
| English | Hindi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Help! | Bachao! |
| Please help me | Meri madad kijiye |
| Call the police | Police ko bulaiye |
| Where is the hospital? | Hospital kahan hai? |
| I am lost | Main raasta bhool gaya hoon (gayi, for women) |
| I need a doctor | Mujhe doctor chahiye |
Small Talk
| English | Hindi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| How are you? | Aap kaise hain? |
| I'm fine | Main theek hoon |
| What's your name? | Aapka naam kya hai? |
| My name is… | Mera naam… hai |
| Where are you from? | Aap kahan se hain? |
| I'm from… | Main… se hoon |
| Let's go | Chalo |
| See you later | Phir milte hain |
Delhi Slang
| English | Hindi (say it like this) |
|---|---|
| Brother / sister: polite address for drivers, shopkeepers and waiters | Bhaiya / Didi |
| What's the plan? | Kya scene hai? |
| A clever, makeshift fix | Jugaad |
| Brother (Punjabi, friendly) | Paaji |
| Don't worry | Tension mat lo |
| How are things? | Kya haal hai? |
Cultural tip
Delhi talks fast and loud, and none of it is rude. Add "ji" to be polite (haan ji, nahin ji, bhaiya ji), and use "aap" rather than "tum" with anyone you don't know. A smile and a "bhaiya" will get you further at a market than perfect grammar.
Hindi questions people ask
How do you say thank you in Hindi?
"Dhanyavaad" is the formal word and "shukriya" the everyday one. In Delhi most people simply say "thank you" or "thanks".
How do you say hello in Hindi?
"Namaste" is the standard greeting, said with palms together. Among friends you will also hear "Kya haal hai?", which means how are you doing.
How do I tell an auto driver where to go in Hindi?
Say "Bhaiya, [place] chaloge?" to ask whether he will go there, then "Kitna loge?" for the fare. "Meter se chaliye" asks him to use the meter, and "Yahin rok dijiye" means stop right here.
Why do people in Delhi say "bhaiya"?
"Bhaiya" means elder brother, and it is the polite, friendly way to address auto drivers, shopkeepers and waiters. "Didi" (elder sister) does the same for women. For older people, "uncle" and "aunty" are terms of respect, not family.
Do I need to learn Hindi to live in Delhi?
You can manage with English in offices, malls and on the metro, but markets, autos and neighbourhood shops run on Hindi. A few dozen phrases make daily life much easier, and people appreciate the effort.
How do you ask "how much" in Hindi?
"Yeh kitne ka hai?" means "How much is this?". At a market, "Thoda kam kijiye" asks for a lower price.
More in our guides: our Delhi city guide and Khana, our Delhi food guide.