Help and emergencies in Hindi
The words you hope to never need. Play the ten Hindi words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Hindi phrases in this lesson
- बचाओ!ba-CHAO
- Help!
- डॉक्टर को बुलाइएDOK-tar ko bu-LAA-i-yeh
- Call a doctor
- पुलिसpu-LEES
- Police
- दवाई की दुकानda-VAA-ee kee du-KAAN
- Pharmacy
- अस्पतालas-pa-TAAL
- Hospital
- मैं रास्ता भटक गयाmain RAAS-ta bha-TAK ga-ya
- I'm lost
- मेरी तबीयत ठीक नहीं हैMAY-ree ta-BEE-yat theek na-HEE hai
- I don't feel well
- चोरी हो गयाCHO-ree ho ga-ya
- It was stolen
- यह इमरजेंसी हैyeh i-MAR-jen-see hai
- It's an emergency
- मुझे अकेला छोड़ दोmu-JHAY a-KAY-la chhod do
- Leave me alone
Literally "save me", the true emergency shout. For everyday assistance, "madad kijiye" (ma-DAD KEE-ji-yeh), please help. Crowds in India materialize instantly and helpfully around any visible problem.
The all-India emergency number is 112. Ambulances exist but traffic ignores sirens; in a real emergency, a taxi to the hospital is often faster. Private hospitals in cities offer excellent care.
Dial 100 or 112. For tourists, many cities have dedicated tourist police who speak English and exist precisely for your problems. Hotel staff are the fastest first fixers of almost anything.
The "medical store", on every street, often open late. Pharmacists dispense advice and most medicines over the counter cheaply. Generic medicine shops (Jan Aushadhi) are cheaper still.
Private chains (Apollo, Fortis, Max) offer world-class care at a fraction of Western prices; India is a global medical tourism hub for a reason. Carry cash or card, insurance claims come later.
A woman says bhatak gayi (bha-TAK ga-yee), the -i ending from the essentials lesson. Honestly, showing your phone map or hotel card to any shopkeeper works better than grammar. Three people will join to debate the best route on your behalf; this is standard and endearing.
Tabiyat is your state of health, a beloved everyday word. Point and add "dard hai" (dard hai), there is pain: pet mein dard, stomach ache, the traveler's classic. Hydrate, rest, and respect the street food learning curve.
Combine: mera phone chori ho gaya. File an FIR (the police report) for insurance; tourist police smooth the process. Basic city sense applies: front pockets in crowds, bags zipped on trains.
The emergency number in India is 112.
A woman says अकेली (a-KAY-lee).