Learn Hindi with our iPhone & iPod touch application!
INDIA | Saturday, 15 November 2008 | Views [2836]
The World Nomads Hindi language guide iPhone app is now available for free from the iTunes app store.
Available for free from the Apple iTunes store, our short lesson in Hindi (the official language of India) may not teach you the entire language but contains enough of the most common travel phrases to help you get by.
Designed for adventure travellers, the WorldNomads.com Hindi language guide contains both audio language phrases to let your iPhone do the talking and a language lesson in context to help you in conversation with the locals.
From asking directions to haggling with taxi's, it has enough of the most common travel phrases to help keep you travelling safely.
Requirements:
- iTunes
- iPhone or iPod touch
- Requires iPhone 2.1 Software Update
Download Here
Hindi Language Guide Script
For those of you keen to have a written version on the language lesson, here is the script below:
Scott: Ahh excuse me – would you mind taking a photo of me in front of the Gateway?
Mrs Sharma: Sure, if you would like it behind you we may have to move a bit closer.
Scott: I’d love to but I was over there a minute ago and was totally hassled by beggars and hawkers, so I retreated back here!
Mrs Sharma:
Come, I will go with you and protect you! To avoid being hassled it is
a good idea to wear some local clothes so you don’t look like too much
of a tourist.
Scott: Thanks for the tip – I’m not taking you away from anything?
Mrs Sharma:
No, I’m meeting some friends for lunch at the Taj Mahal – but I’m early
and am just enjoying the view for awhile. Come, move quickly with me.
Scott: My name is Scott – how do I say this in Hindi?
Mrs Sharma:
You say mera naam scott hai . I’m Mrs Sharma – in Hindi you say mera
naam Mrs Sharma hai. This is a good spot for a photo – stand just
there... say cheese!
Scott: Cheese!
Mrs Sharma: Here – what do you think – good yes?
Scott: How do I say ‘good’ in Hindi?
Mrs Sharma:
You say achchhaa. My friends won’t be here for half an hour or so –
would you like me to teach you some more Hindi while I wait for them?
Scott: If it is not inconvenient for you I’d really appreciate it!
Mrs Sharma:
Not at all. Come, lets sit here where we can watch the hawkers and
tourists – can you see the snake charmer over there… he has been there
for as long as I can remember!
Scott: People actually do that?!?! Wow – I never thought I’d see a snake charmer – I didn’t think they really existed!
Mrs Sharma: Foreigners find it takes a few days to get used to Mumbai! Now, what would you like me to teach you?
Scott:
Ok, well I’ve been trying to learn a few phrases whenever I visit a new
country, I’ve got a little set of them that I find useful. First,
greetings – how do I say Hello, Good Morning and Goodbye?
Mrs Sharma:
Well, you say Namaste for hello – you can also use this for good
afternoon and good evening, good morning is shuba prahbaat and goodbye
is achacha phir milenygey
Scott: Namaste, shuba prahbaat and achacha phir milenygey . You told me how to say my name but how do I ask “What is your name?”
Mrs Sharma:Ahh, this is aap kaa naam kya hai ?. You have probably heard that in India status is very important. We always refer to peoples by their title – even if it is only Mr, Mrs or Miss. So, out of respect, an Indian would refer to me as Mrs Sharma rather than by my first name, which is Leela. Try to remember to do this as Indians will appreciate you making the effort.
Scott:
Ok, I’ll do that. I’m travelling around for a few months so I was
hoping to meet some locals along the way! What about things like excuse
me, sorry, please and thank you?
Mrs Sharma: Ahh, you are a nice polite boy – you will do well in India! You say shamma kare, maanf karain, kripyaa and dhanyavaad
Scott: So, shamma kare, maanf karain, kripyaa and dhanyavaad
Mrs Sharma:
If you are travelling all over India you shouldn’t have any problem
being understood, most people speak English plus Hindi and Urdu are
very similar so you should have no trouble communicating no matter
where you are.
Scott: That is comforting! How do I say yes and no and ok?
Mrs Sharma:
yes is easy, this is hanh, ok is theek hai and no is nahin – but you
will not often hear an Indian say no as it is considered very harsh and
we do not like to disappoint – rather you may hear things like “I’ll
try” or “we’ll see” or “possibly” – just watch for these phrases and
you will figure out what the person is trying not to say.
Scott: Kinda like saving face?
Mrs Sharma: Yes, sort of, it is about being helpful and polite.
Scott: Ok, that is good to know. What about directions? Can you tell me how to say “Where is” and “Which way to”
Mrs Sharma: Where is kahaan hai and which way to … kaa raasta kya hai?
Scott:
So, kahaan hain and … kaa raasta kya hai? I know, I’ll need to know a
few things to help find accommodation, can you tell me how to say “Have
you a room”
Mrs Sharma: Sure, this is kya aapke paas kamra khaalee hai?
Scott: kya aapke paas kamra khaalee hai? and what about “How much is it” and “can I see it”
Mrs Sharma: yes, this is kitna kiraaya hogaa? and kya main dekh sakta hoon?
Scott: So, kitna kiraaya hogaa? and kya main dekh sakta hoon?
Mrs Sharma:
Exactly! Don’t forget Hindi is a very expressive language, I’m sure
you’ve seen how Indians like to talk with their hands – don’t be afraid
to be expressive when you are bargaining!
Scott: Ok and speaking of bargaining how do I say ‘too expensive’
Mrs Sharma: I don’t think you will need to use a lot in India – but you say bahut mehngaa hain
Scott:
bahut mehngaa hain – I know India is cheap but I’m still on a budget
you know! Hey, what about “I like this” and “I don’t like this”
Mrs Sharma: You should say mujhe yeh pasand hain or mujhe yeh pasand nahin aayaa
Scott:
So, mujhe yeh pasand hain xxxxx or mujhe yeh pasand nahin aayaa I’ve
noticed that Indians speak really quickly – whether in English or Hindi
– can you tell me how to say “Please say that more slowly”
Mrs Sharma: yes, we do talk very quickly and with our hands – it can be a bit confusing. Just say kripya zaraa dheere-dheere boliye
Scott:
kripya zaraa dheere-dheere boliye I’m really trying to use my hands
while I’m talking – it’s hard as I don’t normally do this! Now, what
about numbers – how do I count to ten?
Mrs Sharma: this is ek, do, teen, chaar, paanch, chey, saat, aath, naw, dus
Scott: ek, do, teen, chaar, paanch, chhey, saat, aath, naw, dus
Mrs Sharma: Very good – you are picking this up quickly!
Scott: It doesn’t feel that way! Do you have time to teach me a few more phrases?
Mrs Sharma:
Sure, Indians are not normally very punctual – you will hear of
something called IST – Indian Stretched Time – you must not let this
frustrate you – particularly if you are dealing with Government Bodies,
just go with the flow. My lunch booking is soon, but I have time to
help you some more.
Scott: I really appreciate it. I’ve seen lots of people eating with their hands – is this common?
Mrs Sharma:
Yes, unless you are in a top Western Restaurant you will find most
people will eat with their hands – remember to only ever use your right
hand though!
Scott: Why?
Mrs Sharma: Because they use their left hand to wipe their…
Scott: Ahhhhh…..Ok – glad you told me that! Can you teach me how to say bus, train, taxi and boat.
Mrs Sharma: Of course, these are bus, railgaadi, taxi, naav
Scott: bus, railgaadi, taxi, naav - oh, what about ticket
Mrs Sharma:
This is tikit – try to travel outside peak times particularly on the
trains, just about all Indians commute to work so peak times are very
very crowded. Taxi’s are very cheap – just make sure you get the driver
to use the meter.
Scott:
Ok – more good tips – I’m so glad you’re helping me. Now when I’m
booking tickets or accommodation I might need to know today, tomorrow
and now
Mrs Sharma: these are aaj, kal & abhi
Scott: aaj, kal & abhi – oh and what about yesterday?
Mrs Sharma: this is kal
Scott:
kal – now I’ve heard lots of stories about Bombay Belly – I’m hoping to
avoid this, but just in case I don’t, how do I say doctor and hospital
Mrs Sharma:
Yes, even locals regularly get sick. Try to eat some lassi and yoghurt
and only ever drink water from sealed bottles – but you will probably
get sick at some point no matter how careful you are. Doctor is daktar
and hospital is haspataal . Also, bananas and papayas are good to eat
if you are not well.
Scott:
so, daktar and haspataal . Ok, so I should prepare for Bombay Belly at
some point – I had heard that! What about if I get in trouble or
something happens – how do I say Police or Stop thief!
Mrs Sharma:
Actually, you will probably not need these as India has a pretty low
crime rate – but just in case police is police and stop thief is chor
ko pakro
Scott:
police and chor ko pakro . Now Mrs Sharma you are really going to think
I’ve lost my marbles – but I’ve been learning this phrase in all the
countries I visit, can you tell me how to say “Don’t Shoot, those drugs
aren’t mine!”
Mrs Sharma: Scott, you
are very funny – considering that most Indians do not even drink
alcohol I’m not sure why you think you are going to need these! I will
have to tell the girls about this over lunch! You say bandook naa
chalaye, yeh nasheeli davaayen meri nahin hain
Scott:
bandook naa chalaye, yeh nasheeli davaayen meri nahin hain – it might
be funny now Mrs Sharma, but what if I actually need to use this
phrase!?!?! That was my last phrase – thank you so much for your help,
can I walk you to the restaurant?
Mrs Sharma: That is very kind of you – thank you.
Download Here
Further online Hindi Language Resources
Introductory Hindi Lesson
Hindi Alphabet and Writing
Hindi Reading Resources
Hindi Audio Lessons
Hindi Morphological Tagger
Hindi Language Site
Terms & conditions
World Nomads Language Guide Podcasts are free to download and may be used as free content on other websites so long as no part of the podcast is changed, altered or added to in any way. World Nomads
Language Guide Podcasts may not be sold by any website or individual. ©
World Nomads Pty Ltd, 2006.
Tags: free, hindi lesson, iphone, ipod touch, learn hindi, language guide, world nomads
Add your comments
