A1 · 35 words

Greetings and set phrases

What is said on meeting and parting, on thanking and apologising, and when you have not understood.

One greeting covers most of the day: नमस्ते, said with the palms together, works for hello and for goodbye, in the morning and at night. Politeness sits mostly in the verb — बैठिए and आइए already say “please” — and in the small word जी, which softens a yes or a no and follows a name as a mark of respect. Many of these are whole sentences learnt as one unit; take them as they stand.

The words

Adverb (2)

नहींno; notAdverbA1

नहीं, मैं आज नहीं आ सकता।No, I cannot come today.

कृपयाplease (formal)AdverbA1

कृपया यहाँ जूते उतारें।Please take off your shoes here.

Formal and mostly written; in speech the polite verb form in -इए already says please.

Exclamation (4)

अच्छाI see; oh really; OKExclamationA1

अच्छा, तो आप दिल्ली से हैं!I see, so you are from Delhi!

As an adjective the same word means good: अच्छा, अच्छी, अच्छे.

अलविदाfarewell; goodbye (for a long time)ExclamationA1

अलविदा, दोस्तो! हम फिर कभी मिलेंगे।Farewell, friends! We will meet again some day.

Heavier than नमस्ते: for a long parting, not for tomorrow.

अरेhey; ohExclamationA1

अरे, तुम यहाँ!Hey, you here!

वाहwow; well doneExclamationA1

वाह, क्या ख़ुशबू है!Wow, what a smell!

Phrase (27)

नमस्तेhello; goodbyePhraseA1

नमस्ते, मैं रवि हूँ।Hello, I am Ravi.

Said with the palms together, at any time of day, on meeting and on parting.

नमस्कारhello; good day (more formal)PhraseA1

नमस्कार, मैं आपकी क्या मदद कर सकता हूँ?Good day, how can I help you?

धन्यवादthank you (more formal)PhraseA1

आपकी मदद के लिए धन्यवाद।Thank you for your help.

शुक्रियाthanks; thank youPhraseA1

चाय के लिए शुक्रिया!Thanks for the tea!

Everyday and warm; among family a thank-you is often left out altogether.

माफ़ कीजिएexcuse me; sorryPhraseA1

माफ़ कीजिए, स्टेशन कहाँ है?Excuse me, where is the station?

Both for getting attention and for apologising.

कोई बात नहींit doesn't matter; no problemPhraseA1

आप देर से आए? कोई बात नहीं।You came late? It does not matter.

आपका स्वागत हैwelcomePhraseA1

हमारे घर में आपका स्वागत है।Welcome to our home.

ठीक हैOK; all rightPhraseA1

ठीक है, कल मिलते हैं।OK, see you tomorrow.

आप कैसे हैंhow are youPhraseA1

नमस्ते शर्मा जी, आप कैसे हैं?Hello, Mr Sharma, how are you?

To a woman: आप कैसी हैं?

मैं ठीक हूँI'm finePhraseA1

मैं ठीक हूँ, और आप?I am fine, and you?

क्या हाल हैhow are things; how's it goingPhraseA1

अरे राहुल, क्या हाल है?Hey Rahul, how are things?

Casual, among friends.

आपका नाम क्या हैwhat is your namePhraseA1

माफ़ कीजिए, आपका नाम क्या है?Excuse me, what is your name?

मेरा नाम … हैmy name is …PhraseA1

नमस्ते, मेरा नाम अनीता है।Hello, my name is Anita.

मिलकर ख़ुशी हुईnice to meet youPhraseA1

आपसे मिलकर बहुत ख़ुशी हुई।It was very nice to meet you.

फिर मिलेंगेsee you again; see youPhraseA1

अच्छा, अब चलता हूँ, फिर मिलेंगे।Right, I am off now, see you again.

शुभ रात्रिgood nightPhraseA1

शुभ रात्रि, कल सुबह बात करेंगे।Good night, we will talk tomorrow morning.

बधाई होcongratulationsPhraseA1

नई नौकरी की बधाई हो!Congratulations on the new job!

जन्मदिन मुबारक होhappy birthdayPhraseA1

प्रिया, जन्मदिन मुबारक हो!Happy birthday, Priya!

सुनिएexcuse me; listenPhraseA1

सुनिए, यह बस कहाँ जाती है?Excuse me, where does this bus go?

आइएcome in; please comePhraseA1

आइए, चाय पीते हैं।Come, let us have some tea.

बैठिएplease sit downPhraseA1

आप यहाँ बैठिए, मैं पानी लाता हूँ।Please sit here, I will bring some water.

एक मिनटone moment; just a minutePhraseA1

एक मिनट, मैं अभी आती हूँ।One moment, I am coming right now.

मुझे नहीं पताI don't knowPhraseA1

माफ़ कीजिए, मुझे नहीं पता।Sorry, I do not know.

मुझे समझ नहीं आयाI didn't understandPhraseA1

मुझे समझ नहीं आया, धीरे बोलिए।I did not understand, please speak slowly.

फिर से कहिएsay it again, pleasePhraseA1

एक बार फिर से कहिए।Please say it once more.

ख़याल रखनाtake carePhraseA1

सफ़र अच्छा हो, अपना ख़याल रखना!Have a good trip, take care!

To a friend; to someone you call आप: अपना ख़याल रखिए.

भाई साहबsir (polite address to a man)PhraseA1

भाई साहब, ज़रा रास्ता दीजिए।Excuse me, sir, please let me pass.

Literally “brother sir”; friendly and polite to any man you do not know.

Particle (2)

हाँyesParticleA1

हाँ, मुझे चाय पसंद है।Yes, I like tea.

जीyes; (word of respect)ParticleA1

जी, मैं अभी आता हूँ।Yes, I am coming right now.

Adds respect: जी हाँ “yes”, जी नहीं “no”, and after a name, शर्मा जी.

This list belongs to Greetings, conversation and ideas — four lists and 165 words that can also be practised as a whole.

Practise this list

In rounds of 20 from these 35 words: first what is due today, then new ones. First you choose, then you fill the gap, then you write it yourself. Mistakes come back again shortly.