Directions

1. यह कहाँ है?

   Yah ka-han hai?

   Where is this?

   Usage

   The most basic way to ask for a location

   Grammar Note

   Pointing at a map on your phone while asking "yah kahan hai?" is practical. "Wahan kahan hai?" (where is that?) is used for distant places

2. होटल कैसे पहुँचें?

   Ho-tel kai-se pa-hun-chen?

   How do I get to the hotel?

   Usage

   Ask how to get to a specific place. Replace "hotel" with your destination

   Grammar Note

   The subjunctive form "pahunchen" creates a "how can I reach" meaning. Alternative: "main X jana chahta hoon" (I want to go to X)

3. बाईं तरफ़ मुड़िए

   Baa-yin ta-raf mu-ri-ye

   Turn left

   Usage

   Used when giving or following directions to turn left

   Grammar Note

   The "-iye" ending is the polite imperative in Hindi. Learn the pair: "bain taraf" (left side) and "dain taraf" (right side). Also learn "seedhe jaiye" (go straight)

4. दाईं तरफ़ मुड़िए

   Daa-yin ta-raf mu-ri-ye

   Turn right

   Usage

   Used when directing or understanding a right turn

   Grammar Note

   India drives on the left. Road signs in Hindi-speaking North India are often in Hindi. "Dain or" (toward the right) is an alternative phrasing

5. सीधे जाइए

   See-dhe jaa-i-ye

   Go straight

   Usage

   Used when directing or understanding instructions to go straight ahead

   Grammar Note

   "Seedhe" means both "straight" (direction) and "direct/simple" (character). "Bilkul seedhe" (absolutely straight) adds emphasis

6. यहाँ से कितनी दूर है?

   Ya-han se kit-ni dur hai?

   How far is it from here?

   Usage

   Used to check the distance to a destination from the current location

   Grammar Note

   "Dur" (far) contrasts with "paas" (near/close). You can also ask "kitne kilometer?" (how many kilometers?) to specify units

7. क्या आप नक्शे पर दिखा सकते हैं?

   Kya aap nak-she par di-kha sak-te hain?

   Can you show me on the map?

   Usage

   Used when verbal directions are unclear and you want to see on a map

   Grammar Note

   "Naksha" (map) becomes "nakshe" before the postposition "par". Combining this with pointing at your phone's map app makes communication much easier

8. मैं रास्ता भूल गया

   Main raa-sta bhul ga-ya

   I got lost / I forgot the way

   Usage

   Used to tell someone you are lost and need help (male speaker)

   Grammar Note

   Female speakers use "bhul gayi". Hindi verbs agree with the speaker's gender in perfective tense (m: gaya / f: gayi). Combine with "mujhe madad chahiye" (I need help)

9. पैदल कितने मिनट लगेंगे?

   Pai-dal kit-ne mi-nat la-gen-ge?

   How many minutes will it take on foot?

   Usage

   Used to find out how long it takes to walk to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "Lagna" (to take/feel) is a versatile verb used for time, cost, and feelings. Also useful: "rikshe se kitna waqt lagega?" (how long by rickshaw?)

10. क्या यह बाज़ार की तरफ़ जाता है?

    Kya yah baa-zaar ki ta-raf jaa-ta hai?

    Does this road go towards the market?

    Usage

    Used to confirm whether a road heads toward a market or tourist destination

    Grammar Note

    "Ki taraf" is a postpositional phrase showing direction. "Bazar" is deeply embedded in Hindi from Persian. Traditional Indian markets are also called "haat" or "mandi"

11. दाईं तरफ़

    Daain taraf

    Right

    Usage

    Shows a driver or passer-by which way to go, in one word

12. बाईं तरफ़

    Baain taraf

    Left

    Usage

    Shows a driver or passer-by which way to go, in one word

13. सीधे

    Seedhe

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Point at it when you want the driver to keep going without turning

14. वापस

    Vaapas

    Go back

    Usage

    Point at it to ask the driver to turn around and go back

15. रोकिए

    Rokiye

    Stop (the vehicle)

    Usage

    Show it to a driver to make the vehicle stop; ruk-iye (रुकिए) means stop what you are doing

16. उत्तर

    Uttar

    North

    Usage

    The compass direction, for matching against maps and road signs

17. दक्षिण

    Dakshin

    South

    Usage

    The compass direction, for matching against maps and road signs

18. पूर्व

    Poorv

    East

    Usage

    The compass direction, for matching against maps and road signs

19. पश्चिम

    Pashchim

    West

    Usage

    The compass direction, for matching against maps and road signs

20. होटल

    Hotal

    Hotel

    Usage

    The destination word to show a rickshaw driver or passer-by

21. एयरपोर्ट

    Eyarport

    Airport

    Usage

    The destination word; havaai adda means the same and appears on signboards

22. बस स्टॉप

    Bas stop

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Show it when asking where the bus stop is

23. मेट्रो स्टेशन

    Metro steshan

    Metro station

    Usage

    Urban rail in India is called the Metro; use it as a destination

24. दूतावास

    Dootaavaas

    Embassy

    Usage

    The destination word when you have lost your passport or need consular help

25. एटीएम

    E-ti-em

    ATM

    Usage

    Show it when looking for a cash machine

26. मनी एक्सचेंज

    Mani ekschenj

    Money exchange

    Usage

    Indian exchange counters are signposted in English as Money Exchange

27. कपड़े धोने की दुकान

    Kapde dhone ki dukaan

    Laundry shop

    Usage

    Coin-operated laundromats barely exist in India; you hand your clothes to a laundry shop or dhobi

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