Electronics

1. मोबाइल

   mobile

   Mobile phone

   Usage

   The everyday word in India. The Sanskritic "doorbhaash" exists but is written-only

2. स्मार्टफ़ोन

   smartphone

   Smartphone

   Usage

   For talking about models or at a repair shop. In daily talk "mobile" is enough

3. टैबलेट

   taiblet

   Tablet

   Usage

   The word you hear at airport security when told to take it out of your bag

4. लैपटॉप

   laptop

   Laptop

   Usage

   For asking a cafe whether you may use a socket, or whether it fits the guesthouse safe

5. चार्जर

   chaarjar

   Charger

   Usage

   The classic thing to leave behind. Reception can often lend one — show the word and ask

6. चार्जिंग केबल

   chaarjing kebal

   Charging cable

   Usage

   Sold at phone shops and station-front stalls. Show the connector shape to be sure of the type

7. पावर बैंक

   paavar baink

   Power bank

   Usage

   Worth carrying for power cuts and long train rides. The English term is used as-is

8. अडैप्टर

   adaiptar

   Plug adapter

   Usage

   India uses round three-pin sockets at 230V / 50Hz — check that your device supports it too

9. प्लग पॉइंट

   plug point

   Power outlet

   Usage

   Indian English borrowed straight into Hindi. Asking where the "plug point" is works everywhere

10. बैटरी

    baitri

    Battery

    Usage

    Covers built-in batteries and dry cells alike. A dry cell is sometimes called "sel"

11. वाई-फ़ाई

    wi-fi

    Wi-Fi

    Usage

    The first thing to check at a guesthouse or cafe. At cheaper places it drops out at certain hours

12. वाई-फ़ाई का पासवर्ड

    wi-fi ka password

    Wi-Fi password

    Usage

    Show it at the counter and they will write it down. Check which letters are capitals

13. सिम कार्ड

    sim card

    SIM card

    Usage

    Buying one as a visitor needs your passport, a photo and your hotel address. The airport counter is the quickest route

14. मेमोरी कार्ड

    memory card

    Memory card

    Usage

    For the camera shop. Write the capacity as a figure to avoid confusion

15. ईयरफ़ोन

    earphone

    Earphones

    Usage

    Cheap ones are sold at stations and street shops. "Headphone" is understood just as well

16. कैमरा

    kaimra

    Camera

    Usage

    Temples and museums often charge a separate camera ticket — use it to ask whether photography is allowed

17. टॉर्च

    torch

    Flashlight

    Usage

    Indian English used as-is. Needed where power cuts are frequent and in cave temples

18. एयर कंडीशनर

    air conditioner

    Air conditioner

    Usage

    Almost always shortened to "AC" in speech, and it is also the name of a class of room, train coach and bus

19. रिमोट

    rimot

    Remote control

    Usage

    Show it at reception when the room has no remote for the AC or the TV

20. पंखा

    pankha

    Electric fan

    Usage

    One of the few appliances with a native Hindi name. Usually a ceiling fan, with speed set by a wall dial

21. फ्रिज

    frij

    Refrigerator

    Usage

    For asking whether a room has one — worth checking if you need to keep medicine cold

22. टीवी

    TV

    TV

    Usage

    For checking room facilities. The fuller "television" sounds stiff in everyday speech

23. माइक्रोवेव

    microwave

    Microwave

    Usage

    Use it to ask for something to be reheated in a shared guesthouse kitchen

24. इलेक्ट्रिक केतली

    electric ketli

    Electric kettle

    Usage

    For asking whether the room can boil water — important if you want to sterilise drinking water

25. वॉशिंग मशीन

    washing machine

    Washing machine

    Usage

    Self-service laundries are rare — laundry is usually given to a "dhobi", the local washerman

26. गीज़र

    geezar

    Water heater

    Usage

    The tank heater on the bathroom wall. Many places need it switched on 20 minutes ahead — no hot water usually means it is simply off

27. इन्वर्टर

    invartar

    Power backup inverter

    Usage

    The household battery unit that keeps lights and fans alive in a cut. Asking whether a guesthouse has one tells you how it copes with outages

28. बिजली

    bijli

    Electricity

    Usage

    A power cut is "bijli chali gayi", literally "the electricity has gone" — a daily event in many towns

Browse all TravelPhrases languages