Vehicles

1. गाड़ी

   gaadi

   Vehicle / Car

   Usage

   The broadest word for a vehicle — it can mean a car or a train depending on context. Safe when you are not sure what will turn up

2. कार

   kaar

   Car

   Usage

   Use it when you specifically mean a passenger car — the word you need with ride apps and travel agents

3. बस

   bas

   Bus

   Usage

   Covers both city buses and state long-distance coaches. Destinations are often painted on the side in Hindi only

4. स्लीपर बस

   sleeper bas

   Sleeper bus

   Usage

   The overnight coach with lie-flat berths, standard for city-to-city hops. You can request an upper or lower berth when booking

5. ऑटो रिक्शा

   auto riksha

   Auto-rickshaw

   Usage

   The yellow-and-green three-wheeler that runs Indian cities, often just called "auto". Insist on the meter or agree a fare before you get in

6. रिक्शा

   riksha

   Cycle rickshaw

   Usage

   The pedal-powered three-wheeler for short hops through old-city lanes. Many drivers are elderly — do not haggle them down too hard

7. ई-रिक्शा

   e-riksha

   E-rickshaw

   Usage

   The battery three-wheeler that has taken over Delhi and Uttar Pradesh. Cheap shared rides from stations to nearby areas

8. टेम्पो

   tempo

   Shared tempo

   Usage

   A larger shared three-wheeler on a fixed route, with a flat local fare. Confirm the destination with the driver before boarding

9. टैक्सी

   taiksi

   Taxi

   Usage

   Airports and stations have prepaid taxi counters — paying there removes any need to negotiate

10. कैब

    kaib

    App cab

    Usage

    The word for a ride hailed through an app. "Kaib book karo" means "book me a cab"

11. मेट्रो

    metro

    Metro

    Usage

    Running in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and more. It bypasses the traffic, and there are women-only carriages

12. लोकल ट्रेन

    lokal tren

    Local train

    Usage

    The commuter trains of Mumbai and Kolkata. Rush hour is extreme — women should use the ladies' carriage

13. ट्रेन

    tren

    Train

    Usage

    The long-distance railway. Hindi also has "relgaadi", but at stations you will hear "tren" more

14. मोटरसाइकिल

    motarsaaikil

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    Helmets are compulsory if you rent one. Often just called "baik"

15. स्कूटर

    skootar

    Scooter

    Usage

    Rentable in Goa, Rishikesh and similar towns. Carry an international driving permit

16. साइकिल

    saaikil

    Bicycle

    Usage

    Rentable in smaller destinations such as Udaipur and Hampi. Best avoided on busy highways

17. जीप

    jeep

    Shared jeep

    Usage

    The shared four-wheel drive that replaces buses on mountain roads in Himachal and Uttarakhand. It leaves when full, not on a timetable

18. हवाई जहाज़

    havaai jahaaz

    Airplane

    Usage

    On long routes domestic flights can cost about the same as the train. An airport is "havaai adda"

19. नाव

    naav

    Boat

    Usage

    The small or rowed boat you take on the Varanasi ghats, the Kerala backwaters, or a lake trip

20. जहाज़

    jahaaz

    Ship

    Usage

    A large vessel — the word for the long sea routes to the Andamans or out of Mumbai

21. फ़ेरी

    feri

    Ferry

    Usage

    For the Elephanta boat out of Mumbai or the river crossings in Goa. Show the word at the ticket window

22. एम्बुलेंस

    embulens

    Ambulance

    Usage

    Show this in an emergency. The national emergency number is 112, and 108 calls an ambulance

23. ट्रक

    truck

    Truck

    Usage

    The kings of the highway. The painted bodywork is a photo subject — ask the driver before you shoot

24. बैलगाड़ी

    bailgaadi

    Bullock cart

    Usage

    Still working in the countryside, and sometimes offered as a tourist ride

25. किराए की कार

    kiraye ki kaar

    Rental car

    Usage

    In India a hire car normally comes with a driver — confirm at the outset whether self-drive is what you are getting

Browse all TravelPhrases languages