Hindi Phrases for the Traveller

In my continuing effort to learn Hindi language, I have obtained a variety of language and phrase books, usually bought right here in India. The quality varies widely, but usually there is no shortage of useful and often humorous phrases that can be of great utility to the traveller. This time around I am using Hindi-English Phrasebook by Ms. Kavita Kumar, who holds a masters in Economics from Delhi University. In reviewing the book, I have come across many phrases which could be helpful to you in your adventures across India. Many of these will not only help you to accomplish your missions in India but will also aid in your understanding of the vast and varied culture that is found here in India.

The book employs a character ‘Robert’ to give colour to the phrases and a certain scope and direction to the text. Most people learn better when there is a human element to the lessons. If the phrase ‘To err is human.’ is true, then Robert is most certainly human. Perhaps your adventures will resemble his in some ways, but hopefully not. Ms. Kumar has probably invented him; but if he is based on a real person, I want to read his biography, for he is a true adventure traveller!

Why? Kyom?

An early section of the book introduces the all important question: ‘Why?’ (Kyom?) This will be a question that is all -important because it will apply to nearly everything that happens to you as you travel. Robert’s first (and probably your) first mistake in India is to employ this word often. It is an exercise in frustration.

For safety, remember the phrase ‘Ve kyom daur rahem haim?’ (Why are they running?) for, if you do see a large number of people running, it is best not to ask questions, but to run as well, and in the same direction. Ask questions later, for chances are, they are running for a very good reason. Running is not a common pastime in India, people only run in dire necessity.

‘Where?’ is also important, but less common and useful than ‘Why?’. Sometimes things get critical as far as nature’s call goes, and public toilets are very hard to find. In such circumstances use ‘Gusalkhana kaham hai?’ (Where is the bathroom?).

When in some kind of fix, you will find on average, at least 5-10 men more than willing to get involved and offer their opinion in relation to your predicament. Ms. Kumar offers the useful command: ‘Jao. Jakar apna kam karo!’, which she translates as: ‘Butt out!’ In cases of persistent opinion offering try: ‘Dur ho jao!’, or ‘Get Lost!’ Literally translated as: ‘Go far away!’ The only strong command offered in the book is ‘Bharh mem jao!’ or ‘Go to Hell’. More than likely your command will be met with ribald laughter by the men so willing to offer their opinions. When the situation deteriorates far enough, and you might often reach this point, depending on how many times you have been to India, use: ‘Mujhe bahut gussa aya.’ Or, ‘So mad I could scream.’
Useful in answering phrases from the section on Why?, try to remember the phrase: ‘Ishvar hi janta hai.’, or ‘God only knows.’ For this may be the only response to your question of Kyom?

Talking with the Locals

Meeting new people might involve introductions so you might say or be asked ‘Apka nam kya hai?’ or ‘What is your name?’ but usually  most Indians want to try out their English on you, so will instead ask: ‘What is your good name?’
Ms. Kumar seems to have taken a few phrases from the old days and the word ‘Horsefeathers’ would be incomprehensible to most English speakers today, but if you do have need of such a word, use: ‘Saval hi nahim uthata. Bakvas.’

In case you are asked to take a photograph (much less likely than for you to be in one) you can use the Hindi phrase employed for photography: ‘Muskarao’ or ‘Say Cheese.’
Often your country will also be inquired about and the book offers the useful phrase ‘I am from France.’ Or ‘Maim frans se hum’.

Travelling

In the section entitled ‘In the Taxi’ one could try out this phrase: ‘Is sarak par itna traifik kyom hai?’ or the futile questions (which would again fall under the 'Why' section) ‘Why is there so much traffic on the road?’. This phrase is generally used just to keep the conversation with the taxi driver flowing along, unlike the traffic.

You know you have come to the wrong country on your holiday when you have to use the phrase: ‘Mujhe bahut bhirwale sthan pasand nahim ate.’ (I don’t like crowded places.) If you use this phrase for more than just conversation, ask the taxi driver to take you to the nearest airport.
If you are driving or unlucky enough to have to walk you can use a phrase which will undoubtedly get you going in the wrong direction ‘Kya yah sarak ... jati hai?’ or, ‘Does this road go to....?’, which always elicits the non-committal head wobble, meaning neither ‘Yes’ nor ‘No’. In the country-wide reluctance to tell a guest of India ‘No’, the person in question will invariably agree with you, whether the direction you inquired about goes to the said destination or not.

Obstacles abound on the roads in India and you may need two different phrases to describe your experiences: ‘Meri kar ke samne acanak gay a gai; durghatna hote-hote baci.’ (Suddenly a cow came in front of my car. An accident almost happened.’) Or ‘Hamara riksa bailgari se bhir gaya.’ Or, ‘Our riksha collided with a bullock-cart.’ You might need these phrases more than you think, so try to memorise them.

In a humorous aside, Ms. Kumar gives a bit of advice in a section titled ‘Be Mentally Prepared, Not Afraid.’, which is sound advice but very difficult to actually follow. She writes: “The roads in most cities, other than the metropolitan, contain countless craters, pits, curves and potholes of weird shapes and dimensions, some even unknown to science.” (Italics mine.)
In another ‘Useful Tips’ box entitled ‘No Panic! No Stress Syndrome!” She provides the traveller with the phrase of Karmic Law ‘Jo hona hai, so hoga.’: ‘Whatever has to happen, will happen.’ She writes “What marvellous self-abandonment by the people, in the midst of entire hectic mundane activity to the all pervasive Will of the Lord.”  Such a philosophy is scant comfort to travellers who seek to understand the mysterious ways of India.

Driving Yourself

Thus armed with this weapon of Karmic law, you will be able to see every situation as just what it is and nothing more. You will most certainly need to absorb this first law of India if you drive yourself. Robert seems to have taken a car to address the business he is in India to do.

When your ‘gari’ (car) breaks down on the road,  you will probably need all of the following: ‘Safar mem adhe raste par meri kar kharab ho gai.’ (My car developed some fault half way through the journey.’) Consider yourself lucky that you got half way. ‘Meri kar acanak calte-calte ruk gai.’- ‘My car suddenly stopped moving.’ ‘Baitari kamzor par gai lagti hai.’-‘Battery seems to have gone low.’ ‘Tyub pankcar ho gai ahi’-‘The tube is punctured.’ ‘Tayar phat gaya hai.’-The tire burst.’ ‘Pichle darvaze ka haindal nikal aya hai.’- ‘The handle of the back door has come out.’ ‘Dikki hanim khul rahi.’-‘The trunk wouldn’t open.’ ‘Kar ka rediyo kam nahim kar raha.’- ‘The car radio is not working.’ ‘Brek-paidal jam ho gaya hai.’ –‘Brake-pedal is stuck.’ ‘Stiyaring bahut muskil se ghumta hai.’- ‘Steering moves with great difficulty.’

Obviously, these phrases will not cover all of your troubles, but it should keep you going for the first few hours.

In the Hotel

Upon arrival at your destination (if you do, in fact, get there), more than likely you will get a hotel room. There are quite a number of phrases that you will most certainly need when trying to get comfortable in your hotel room. Regardless of the price you are paying, you will need: ‘Manejar sahib kaham haim?’ (Where is the manager?); ‘Gusalkhane ke nai mem pani nahim a raha.’ Or ‘There is no running water in the bathroom.’ When it is hot, as it often is, you will need ‘Pankha aur kular donom hi khariab haim.’ (‘Both the fan and the cooler are not working.’)
If you pay extra for your room, you will probably have a bathroom, so you will need: ‘Gusalkhane ki nail band ho gai hai.’ Or ‘The bathroom drain is clogged.’ If you pay even more, you get to use an extra Hindi phrase which comes with every expensive room: ‘E.Si. vi nahim cal raha.’ Or, ‘Also, the A.C. is not working.’ This is a problem because Robert recently heard a phrase on the radio: ‘Aj ka adhiktam tapman ikyavan digri selsaias hai.’ ‘Today’s highest temperature is fifty one degrees Celsius.’ Welcome to India!!

Sightseeing

Chances are, when you arrive in a place, you will want to see some of the important monuments and sights in town. If you are staying indefinitely, you can use the phrase ‘Main is sahar mem sab mandir dekhna cahta hum.’, or ‘I would like to see all the temples in this city.’

Business

If you are in India on business (like Robert) or trying to get anything accomplished in Government Offices, Airline Offices or Banks, be on the look-out for the use of this phrase in regards to your business ‘Uske lie apko kafi intzar karna hoga.’ Or: ‘You will need to wait quite some time for that.’

Personal Hygiene

For all travellers in India, the road can take its toll on both body and soul. Dirt and dust is common throughout India, as is mud in the rainy season and cow shit in all seasons. One may eventually realize that some of these ever-present substances have found its way onto your clothes. Simply as a statement of fact more than a problem to be addressed, one can use the phrase: ‘Mere sab kapre gande ho gae haim.’ , or ‘All my clothes have become dirty.’ Using this phrase on a ‘dhobiwalla’ (washer-man), will elicit the usual agreement in the form of the head wobble. His agreement comes with the tacit realization that there is absolutely nothing to be done about it.
If one visits the beauty parlour to get some personal grooming and one can say: ‘Mere hathom aur pairom ke nakhun barh gae haim.’. Exactly which response and which treatment the phrase will elicit is a mystery, for it means: ‘My finger and toe nails have groin.’ (According to Ms. Kumar).

Communication by Telegram

Communication in India can be difficult, even though there are telephones and now Internet everywhere. In case one finds a village that is still stuck in the era of the British Raj, Ms. Sharma gives phrases useful for communication during those times: ‘Maim Mumbai tar bhejna cahta hum.’ Or ‘I would like to send a telegram to Mumbai.’ Chances are, if the village is so far removed from civilization, they won’t even know where Mumbai is (they changed the name of Bombay to Mumbai only a few years ago....)

Communication by Phone

If one is lucky enough to find a phone and be able to call back to one’s home country, a few phrases might be useful when one actually establishes a connection with a phone outside India. As we know, Ms. Sharma has based the book around the travels of ‘Robert’ who seems to be from either New York, Denver or France. He himself seems to be unsure. In this instance, Robert calls home on the occasion of his father’s birthday. Robert employs the extremely useful Hindi phrase when he calls his father: ‘Janamdin Mubarak, pitaji, maim raubart bol raha hum.’ Or ‘Happy birthday, dad, this is Robert, here.’ Just in case Robert’s dad had picked up some Hindi while Robert was in India.

Emergency Services

At some point after Robert’s car trouble, his temple tours, the problems at the hotel and his birthday call to his father, Robert seems to have found himself in something of a ‘sticky wicket’. He has a visit to the police station. (His house has caught fire earlier in the chapter.) It is a good thing he knew this phrase, when the police said to him ‘Ap par larkiyom se cher-char karne ka arop hai.’ (‘You have been charged with Eve-teasing.’) ‘Eve-teasing’ is the Hindi term for harassment of women by men. This is not all, for the police then tell Robert ‘Ap par bina visa des mem ghusne ka arop hai.’ ‘You are charged with entering the country without a visa.’ How on earth did he do that? Sneaking across the border from Pakistan, Tibet or Burma? Hmmmm....
It also seems Robert’s business ventures in India have gone a bit wonky too, for then he is told ‘Ap par nakli dwalyam banakar bechne ka arop hai.’; ‘You have been charged with manufacturing and selling fake medicines.’ Robert breaks the first rule of law-breaking: if you are going to break the law, don’t get caught! Then the bad news: ‘Apko tin din ke lie hirasat mem rakha jaega.’ ‘You will be kept in police custody for three days.’ And: ‘Apko pamc sau rupae jurmana bharna hoga.’ ‘You will have to pay Rs. 500 fine.’ It seems he has gotten off quite easily!

At the Airlines

It seems Robert has had quite enough, so he goes to book a flight out of India, as we all must when things in this mad country turn against us. It seems, though, that his experience in India so far has muddled his brain. At the airlines he no longer seems to know where he is or what he is doing. He says: ‘Main dainvar se dilli jana cahta hum.’ (‘I want to fly from Denver to Delhi.’) He also books it so he has a one-day stopover in Frankfurt.

In preparation for his flight, Robert goes to the pharmacy. Regulation of over the counter drugs in India is very light, so one can self-medicate as necessary, including such important additions to any traveller’s medicine bag: Xanax, Codeine, Valium and Ketamine. Robert tells the pharmacist: ‘Krpaya mujhe koi nimd ki goli dijie.’ ‘Please give me some sleeping pills.’ Note Robert’s Hindi uses the polite, formal imperative to gain his desires from the pharmacist. One would think, though, that is he was in India manufacturing illegal drugs, as the police alleged, he would have easy access to any number of substances and would not have to resort to going to the pharmacy. Perhaps the police charges were false and they just shook him down for 500 Rs.! 3 days in the can and 500 Rs.! Poor Robert.

Love

Everything changes when the love bug bites Robert and he falls for an Indian girl. Perhaps the Eve-teasing paid off after all! He learns how to say ‘Maim tumse pyar karta hum.’ The phrase one should know in every language: ‘I love you.’ The depth of his love forces him to expand his vocabulary: ‘Mujhe tumse pyar ho gaya hai.’ ‘I have fallen in love with you.’ It seems things have turned around for him and he wants to stay when he uses the all important Hindi phrase (useful for all travellers of both sexes) ‘Maim tunse sadi karna chata hum.’ ‘I want to marry you.’

Dowry Problem

Robert quickly realizes that the cultural differences are vast between his own country and the marriage customs of India. The bride’s family recoil in horror when Robert’s confusion reaches epic proportions. Whether he knew what he was saying or not he told the family ‘Pacim mem ham sunte haim ki bharat mem dahej ke lie vadhu ko jala diya jata hai.’ ‘In the West we hear that in India, for dowry, brides are burnt to death.’ He sends the bride’s family running, their dreams of their daughter living in New York, Denver or Paris shattered, when he says: ‘Yah sac hai ki bahut gharom mem var aur uske mata-pita milkar vadhu ka utpiran karte haim.’ ‘This is true that in several homes the groom and his parents together torture the bride.’ Poor girl.

Conclusion

Thus ends the story of Robert’s adventures and our own exploration of the Hindi language. I am sure that you, yourself, will find many of the phrases useful for your Indian travels, whether you want to find your way, sleep better, pay the police or even get married. Remember, you don’t have to limit yourself to the contexts used here in the book, but you can invent your own, improvising as you move through India. The sky’s the limit when you can truly communicate with the local people in their own language! So good luck and don’t be afraid to try out each and every phrase in any situation. So whether you use: ’ ‘Stiyaring bahut muskil se ghumta hai.’- ‘Steering moves with great difficulty.’, ‘Ve kyom daur rahem haim?’ ‘Why are they running?’, or   ‘Maim tunse sadi karna chata hum.’ ‘I want to marry you.’, remember it is all in the spirit of adventure and connection with the local people. No matter what happens always smile and ‘Muskarao’ : ‘Say Cheese!’ Happy communication!!

(In case you are interested: Hindi-English Phrasebook by Kavita Kumar. Rupa & Co., Daryaganj, New Delhi, 2010.)