Greetings

1. नमस्ते

   Na-mas-te

   Hello / Greetings

   Usage

   Universal greeting used at any time of day. Often accompanied by the namaste gesture (palms pressed together)

   Grammar Note

   The most popular Hindi greeting, derived from Sanskrit. Though it has religious roots, it is widely used as a general everyday greeting.

2. नमस्कार

   Na-mas-kaar

   Greetings (more formal)

   Usage

   Slightly more formal than namaste. Used with elders or in business contexts

   Grammar Note

   Derived from the same root as namaste but considered more formal. Preferred in South India and official settings.

3. सुप्रभात

   Su-pra-bhaat

   Good morning

   Usage

   Morning greeting. Slightly formal, derived from Sanskrit

   Grammar Note

   Sanskrit-derived morning greeting. In casual speech, the English "good morning" is also commonly used.

4. शुभ रात्रि

   Shubh raa-tri

   Good night

   Usage

   Used when parting at night or before going to sleep

   Grammar Note

   "Shubh" (auspicious) + "ratri" (night). The English "good night" is also commonly used in informal speech.

5. आप कैसे हैं?

   Aap kai-se hain?

   How are you? (formal)

   Usage

   Polite "how are you" for strangers or elders. "aap" is the formal "you"

   Grammar Note

   Hindi uses plural forms for polite address, hence "hain" instead of "hai". "Tum kaise ho?" is the same question for friends.

6. मैं ठीक हूँ, धन्यवाद

   Main theek hoon, dhan-ya-vaad

   I'm fine, thank you

   Usage

   Standard response to "how are you"

   Grammar Note

   Hindi "to be" verbs (hoon/hain/hai) change based on person. First person singular uses "hoon".

7. अलविदा

   Al-vi-daa

   Goodbye

   Usage

   Farewell greeting. Derived from Arabic via Urdu, used across North India

   Grammar Note

   Arabic/Urdu-origin farewell word, widely used by all communities. "Phir milenge" (we will meet again) is another common farewell.

8. फिर मिलेंगे

   Phir mi-len-ge

   See you again / We'll meet again

   Usage

   Warm farewell used with friends and acquaintances

   Grammar Note

   Hindi future tense uses endings "-enge/-ega/-egi". "Milenge" is the first-person plural future of "milna" (to meet).

9. धन्यवाद

   Dhan-ya-vaad

   Thank you

   Usage

   Formal "thank you" derived from Sanskrit. Used with elders and strangers

   Grammar Note

   "Shukriya" is an Arabic/Urdu-origin informal "thank you". Both dhanyavaad and shukriya are widely understood.

10. माफ़ करें

    Maaf ka-ren

    Excuse me / Sorry

    Usage

    Useful for both apologizing and getting someone's attention

    Grammar Note

    "Maaf karna" is casual "sorry". "Maaf karen" is the polite imperative form. Hindi formal imperatives use the "-en" ending.

11. कृपया

    Kri-pa-yaa

    Please

    Usage

    Added before or after a request to add politeness

    Grammar Note

    Sanskrit origin. Typically placed at the start of a request (e.g., कृपया बताइए = please tell me).

12. आपसे मिलकर खुशी हुई

    Aap-se mil-kar khu-shi hui

    Nice to meet you

    Usage

    Used when meeting someone for the first time. Polite form using "aap"

    Grammar Note

    The verb agrees with the grammatical subject "khushi" (joy), not with the speaker. "Khushi" is feminine, so "hui" is used by male and female speakers alike.

13. टॉयलेट कहाँ है?

    Toy-let ka-haan hai?

    Where is the toilet/bathroom?

    Usage

    One of the most essential phrases while traveling. Useful in public places and shops

    Grammar Note

    "Kahāṃ" is the Hindi question word for location. Basic word order: "noun + kahāṃ + hai". "Shauchalaya" is the formal Sanskrit-derived word for toilet.

14. मुझे हिन्दी नहीं आती

    Mu-jhe Hin-di na-hiin aa-ti

    I can't speak Hindi

    Usage

    Basic phrase to express a language barrier. Use when asking for assistance in another language

    Grammar Note

    Hindi expresses inability as "it doesn't come to me" using the dative construction. "Hindi" is a feminine noun, so the feminine form "āti" is used.

15. मैं फिर आऊँगा

    Main phir aa-un-ga

    I'll come again

    Usage

    Said when leaving a shop

16. बहुत मज़ा आया

    Ba-hut ma-za aa-ya

    I had a great time

    Usage

    Said when parting ways

17. धन्यवाद, फिर मिलेंगे

    Dhan-ya-vaad, phir mi-len-ge

    Thanks, see you

    Usage

    A casual way to say goodbye

18. मैं निकल रहा हूँ / निकल रही हूँ

    Main nikal raha hoon / nikal rahi hoon

    I'm heading out

    Usage

    Said when leaving the guesthouse. Masculine/feminine forms (choose based on the speaker's gender)

19. मैं वापस आ गया / आ गई

    Main wapas aa gaya / aa gayi

    I'm back

    Usage

    Said when returning to the guesthouse. Masculine/feminine forms

20. मैं पहले चलता हूँ / चलती हूँ

    Main pehle chalta hoon / chalti hoon

    I'll be going now

    Usage

    Said when leaving before others, e.g. at a meal. Masculine/feminine forms

21. कोई बात नहीं

    Koi baat nahi

    You're welcome

    Usage

    Response to being thanked (literally "it's no big deal")

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