Meeting people in Hindi
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes. 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
- आप कैसे हैं?aap KAI-say hain
- How are you?
- मैं ठीक हूँmain THEEK hoon
- I'm fine, thanks
- और आप?aur AAP
- And you?
- आपका नाम क्या है?AAP-ka naam kya hai
- What's your name?
- मेरा नाम ... हैMAY-ra naam ... hai
- My name is...
- आप कहाँ से हैं?aap ka-HAAN say hain
- Where are you from?
- मैं ... से हूँmain ... say hoon
- I'm from...
- मुझे पसंद हैmu-JHAY pa-SAND hai
- I like it
- बहुत सुंदर हैba-HUT SUN-dar hai
- It's beautiful
- स्वागत हैSWAA-gat hai
- Welcome
Aap is the respectful you, for elders and strangers; tum for friends. When unsure, aap, always. To a woman the verb shifts: aap kaisi hain.
Theek hai strikes again. The warm full answer: main theek hoon, aap sunaiye, I am fine, tell me your news. "Sab badhiya" (all great) is the cheerful casual version.
The two-word volley. Aur (and) plus the right "you": aur aap to elders, aur tum to friends. Always return the question; conversation in India is a rally, not a serve.
Hotels say आपका स्वागत है (AAP-ka SWAA-gat hai), you are welcome here.