Learning Hindi: Common Phrases, Numbers, Time, and Pronouns

Hindi: A Vibrant Language for Everyday Conversations

Hindi, a member of the Indo-Aryan family of languages, has emerged as one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. With over 530 million native speakers and countless more learning it as a second language, Hindi has become a fundamental part of daily communication in India and beyond. In this article, we'll delve into some common Hindi phrases to help you navigate everyday conversations with ease.

Basic Greetings

1. "नमस्ते" (namaaste) - This is the most common greeting in Hindi, roughly equivalent to "hello" or "good morning."
2. "क्या कर रहे हैं" (kya kar rahé hain) - A general question asking about someone's activities, equivalent to "what's up" in English.
3. "कैसे हैं" (kaise hain) - Ask someone's wellbeing, similar to "how are you" in English.
4. "धन्यवाद" (dhanyavād) - "Thank you" in Hindi, usually translated as "bless you" or "gratitude".

Common Phrases for Daily Life

1. "मैं खाना खाता हूँ" (main khānā khātā hūṃ) - I am eating, a simple phrase used at the dinner table.
2. "कहाँ जायेंगे" (kaha jāyēṅge) - Where are we going? A useful question for travel or group outings.
3. "कैसे आटे हैं" (kaise āte hain) - How did you come? Used to ask someone's mode of transportation or travel route.
4. "कितने की चार्ज" (kitnē kī cārj) - How much does it cost? A practical question for shopping or ordering services.
5. "वह क्या है" (vah kya hai) - What is that? A universal question to identify an object or concept.

Numbers and Quantities

1. 1-10: 1 (एक), 2 (दो), 3 (तीन), 4 (चार), 5 (पाँच), 6 (छः), 7 (सात), 8 (अट्ठ), 9 (नو), 10 (दश)
2. 11-99: 11 (एक घण्टा), 12 (दो घण्टा), 13 (तीन घण्टा), 14 (चार घण्टा), 15 (पाँच घण्टा), 20 (बीस), 30 (तीस), 40 (चारों घण्टा), 50 (पांचास), 60 (छलीस), 70 (सातों घण्टा), 80 (आठों घण्टा), 90 (नूंज), 100 (सौ)

Time and Dates

1. Days: 1. रविवार (ravivār), 2. सोमवार (somavār), 3. मंगलवार (mangalavār), 4. बुधवार (budhavār), 5. गुरुवार (guruvār), 6. शुक्रवार (shukravār), 7. शनिवार (shanivār)
2. Time: 1 hour = गंता (gantā), 12 noon = दुपराह (dupāra), midnight = शाम (shām).

Hindi Pronouns

1. "मैं" (main) - I
2. "तुम" (tum) - You (singular informal)
3. "वह" (vah) - He/She/It
4. "हम" (ham) - We
5. "आप" (āp) - You (singular formal)

Resources for Learning and Practice

• Duolingo: A popular language learning app that offers Hindi lessons, with gamified exercises and audio pronunciation.
• Babbel: Another language learning resource that provides interactive lessons and exercises for Hindi.
• YouTube channels: There are several channels on YouTube that offer free Hindi lessons and conversations for various levels of proficiency.
• Language exchange platforms: Sites like Tandem, HelloTalk, and Hello Lingo allow you to practice your Hindi with native speakers in exchange for practicing your own language.

Remember, consistent practice and exposure to the language are crucial for improving your Hindi skills. Good luck on your journey to learn Hindi, and enjoy the vibrant and colorful world that comes with it!