Travel Glossary · Hindi Phrases
These English to Hindi words and phrases help travelers in India give directions to a cab driver, find their car at pickup and ask for help. Every phrase is written in English letters with an easy pronunciation, plus the Hindi script you can show your driver.
Airport transfers, full day hire and outstation trips across India, with a fixed price before you pay.
Read the "Say it like" column the way you would read English. Capital letters show the part of the word to stress.
Drivers navigate by landmarks more than addresses. Say "metro station ke paas" (near the metro station) or "mall ke saamne" (opposite the mall).
"Haan ji", "theek hai ji" and "bhaiya ji" sound friendly and respectful. Polite requests end in "-iye", as in "rokiye" (please stop).
Sector, tower, gate and flat numbers are usually said in English in Delhi NCR, so "Sector 51, tower 4" works well.
Send your live location on WhatsApp before pickup. With Delhi Cabz, you get the driver's name and number before the trip.
Start every ride with a greeting. Adding "ji" after a word, as in "haan ji", makes it more polite.
| English | Hindi in English letters | Say it like | Show your driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Namaste | nuh-muh-STAY | नमस्ते |
| Thank you | Dhanyavaad / Shukriya | dhun-yuh-VAAD / shoo-KREE-yaa | धन्यवाद / शुक्रिया |
| Please | Kripya | KRIP-yaa | कृपया |
| Yes | Haan / Haan ji | haan / haan jee | हाँ / हाँ जी |
| No | Nahin | nuh-HEEN | नहीं |
| Okay, fine | Theek hai | TEEK hay | ठीक है |
| Sorry, excuse me | Maaf kijiye | maaf KEE-jee-yay | माफ़ कीजिए |
| Brother (a friendly way to address the driver) | Bhaiya | BHAI-yaa | भैया |
| Do you speak English? | Kya aap English bolte hain? | kyaa aap ENG-lish BOAL-tay hain | क्या आप इंग्लिश बोलते हैं? |
| I don't understand | Mujhe samajh nahin aaya | MOO-jhay SUM-ujh nuh-HEEN AA-yaa | मुझे समझ नहीं आया |
| Please say it again | Phir se boliye | phir say BOH-lee-yay | फिर से बोलिए |
These are the words you will use most. Drivers in Delhi NCR also understand "left", "right" and "U-turn" in English.
| English | Hindi in English letters | Say it like | Show your driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Left | Baayein | BAA-yen | बाएँ |
| Right | Daayein | DAA-yen | दाएँ |
| Straight | Seedha | SEE-dhaa | सीधा |
| Turn left, please | Baayein mudiye | BAA-yen MOO-ree-yay | बाएँ मुड़िए |
| Turn right, please | Daayein mudiye | DAA-yen MOO-ree-yay | दाएँ मुड़िए |
| Go straight, please | Seedhe chaliye | SEE-dhay CHUL-ee-yay | सीधे चलिए |
| Take a U-turn | U-turn lijiye | yoo-turn LEE-jee-yay | यू-टर्न लीजिए |
| Stop here | Yahaan rokiye | yuh-HAAN ROE-kee-yay | यहाँ रोकिए |
| Stop over there | Wahaan rokiye | wuh-HAAN ROE-kee-yay | वहाँ रोकिए |
| Wait here | Yahaan rukiye | yuh-HAAN ROO-kee-yay | यहाँ रुकिए |
| Slow down, please | Dheere chaliye | DHEE-ray CHUL-ee-yay | धीरे चलिए |
| Next turn | Agla mod | UG-laa mor | अगला मोड़ |
| Ahead | Aage | AA-gay | आगे |
| Behind | Peeche | PEE-chay | पीछे |
| Opposite, facing | Saamne | SAAM-nay | सामने |
| Near | Paas | paas | पास |
| Far | Door | door | दूर |
| Traffic light | Batti / signal | BUT-tee | बत्ती |
| Crossing, intersection | Chauraha / chowk | chow-RAA-haa / chowk | चौराहा / चौक |
| Which way? | Kis taraf? | kis tuh-RUF | किस तरफ़? |
| How far is it? | Kitni door hai? | KIT-nee door hay | कितनी दूर है? |
| How long will it take? | Kitna time lagega? | KIT-naa time luh-GAY-gaa | कितना टाइम लगेगा? |
Heading to the airport? Read how our IGI Airport transfers work, so your chauffeur is waiting at arrivals and you only need "namaste".
Use these when you are finding your car at the airport, a hotel or a mall.
| English | Hindi in English letters | Say it like | Show your driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Where are you? | Aap kahaan hain? | aap kuh-HAAN hain | आप कहाँ हैं? |
| I am at gate number 4 | Main gate number chaar par hoon | main gate number CHAAR pur hoon | मैं गेट नंबर चार पर हूँ |
| I am coming (said by a man / a woman) | Main aa raha hoon / aa rahi hoon | main aa RUH-haa hoon / RUH-hee hoon | मैं आ रहा हूँ / आ रही हूँ |
| Please wait 5 minutes | Paanch minute rukiye | paanch MIN-ut ROO-kee-yay | पाँच मिनट रुकिए |
| Please take me to the hotel | Mujhe hotel le chaliye | MOO-jhay ho-TEL lay CHUL-ee-yay | मुझे होटल ले चलिए |
| Please put the bags in the boot | Saamaan dikki mein rakh dijiye | saa-MAAN DIK-kee main rukh DEE-jee-yay | सामान डिक्की में रख दीजिए |
| What is your name? | Aapka naam kya hai? | AAP-kaa naam kyaa hay | आपका नाम क्या है? |
| Drop me at the main gate | Main gate par utaar dijiye | main gate pur oo-TAAR DEE-jee-yay | मेन गेट पर उतार दीजिए |
Polite requests for a comfortable trip. "Dijiye" at the end of a sentence turns it into a polite request.
| English | Hindi in English letters | Say it like | Show your driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Please turn on the AC | AC chala dijiye | ay-see chuh-LAA DEE-jee-yay | एसी चला दीजिए |
| Please turn the AC down | AC kam kar dijiye | ay-see kum kur DEE-jee-yay | एसी कम कर दीजिए |
| Please lower the music | Gaana dheere kar dijiye | GAA-naa DHEE-ray kur DEE-jee-yay | गाना धीरे कर दीजिए |
| Please drive carefully | Dhyaan se chalaiye | dhyaan say chuh-LAA-ee-yay | ध्यान से चलाइए |
| Please hurry, I have a flight | Jaldi kijiye, meri flight hai | JUL-dee KEE-jee-yay, MAY-ree flight hay | जल्दी कीजिए, मेरी फ़्लाइट है |
| I need a washroom | Mujhe washroom jaana hai | MOO-jhay washroom JAA-naa hay | मुझे वॉशरूम जाना है |
| Please stop for water | Paani ke liye rokiye | PAA-nee kay LEE-yay ROE-kee-yay | पानी के लिए रोकिए |
| I am not feeling well | Meri tabiyat theek nahin hai | MAY-ree tuh-BEE-yut teek nuh-HEEN hay | मेरी तबीयत ठीक नहीं है |
Many place names are the same in English. These are the Hindi words drivers and locals also use.
| English | Hindi in English letters | Say it like | Show your driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Airport | Hawai adda | huh-WAA-ee UD-daa | हवाई अड्डा |
| Railway station | Railway station | RAIL-way STAY-shun | रेलवे स्टेशन |
| Hospital | Aspataal | us-puh-TAAL | अस्पताल |
| Pharmacy | Dawai ki dukaan | duh-WAA-ee kee doo-KAAN | दवाई की दुकान |
| Market | Bazaar | baa-ZAAR | बाज़ार |
| Temple | Mandir | MUN-dir | मंदिर |
| Police station | Thaana | THAA-naa | थाना |
| Home | Ghar | ghur | घर |
| Road | Sadak | SUH-duk | सड़क |
| Lane, side street | Gali | GUH-lee | गली |
| Toilet | Shauchalay | SHOW-chaa-lay | शौचालय |
For more travel words, such as "chauffeur", "disposal" and "outstation", see our transportation glossary.
English numbers are widely understood, but these help when you read a fare or a gate number out loud.
| English | Hindi in English letters | Say it like | Show your driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1, 2, 3 | Ek, do, teen | ayk, doh, teen | एक, दो, तीन |
| 4, 5, 6 | Chaar, paanch, chhah | chaar, paanch, chheh | चार, पाँच, छह |
| 7, 8, 9, 10 | Saat, aath, nau, das | saat, aath, now, dus | सात, आठ, नौ, दस |
| 20, 50 | Bees, pachaas | bees, puh-CHAAS | बीस, पचास |
| 100, 1,000 | Sau, hazaar | sow, huh-ZAAR | सौ, हज़ार |
With Delhi Cabz you pay online when you book, so these are most useful for other cabs and tips.
| English | Hindi in English letters | Say it like | Show your driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| How much? | Kitna hua? | KIT-naa hoo-AA | कितना हुआ? |
| Is the toll included? | Kya toll shaamil hai? | kyaa toll SHAA-mil hay | क्या टोल शामिल है? |
| I will pay by UPI (said by a man / a woman) | Main UPI se doonga / doongi | main yoo-pee-eye say DOON-gaa / DOON-gee | मैं यूपीआई से दूँगा / दूँगी |
| Do you have change? | Chhutte hain? | CHHOOT-tay hain | छुट्टे हैं? |
| Keep the change | Baaki rakh lijiye | BAA-kee rukh LEE-jee-yay | बाकी रख लीजिए |
Dial 112 for police, fire or ambulance anywhere in India.
| English | Hindi in English letters | Say it like | Show your driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Help! | Bachao! | buh-CHAA-o | बचाओ! |
| Call the police | Police ko bulaiye | po-LEES ko boo-LAA-ee-yay | पुलिस को बुलाइए |
| Call an ambulance | Ambulance bulaiye | AM-byoo-lens boo-LAA-ee-yay | एम्बुलेंस बुलाइए |
| Stop the car | Gaadi rokiye | GAA-ree ROE-kee-yay | गाड़ी रोकिए |
| I need a doctor | Mujhe doctor chahiye | MOO-jhay DOK-tur CHAA-hee-yay | मुझे डॉक्टर चाहिए |
Say "yahaan rokiye", pronounced yuh-HAAN ROE-kee-yay. For "stop over there", say "wahaan rokiye".
Left is "baayein" (BAA-yen) and right is "daayein" (DAA-yen). To ask the driver to turn, add "mudiye": "baayein mudiye" means turn left, please.
Many drivers understand basic English words such as left, right, stop and U-turn. Delhi Cabz chauffeurs speak English, and you get their name and phone number before the trip.
"Theek hai" (TEEK hay), meaning okay or fine, and "dhanyavaad" (dhun-yuh-VAAD), meaning thank you. Adding "ji" after a word, as in "haan ji", makes you sound polite.
Hindi is widely spoken across North India, including Delhi, Gurgaon, Noida, Jaipur and Agra. In South and East India, local languages such as Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Bengali are more common, and English is widely understood in cities.
Dial 112 for police, fire or ambulance anywhere in India. In a Delhi Cabz car, you can also call our 24/7 line on +91 991 023 4423.
Name a landmark. Drivers in India navigate by landmarks, so say "metro station ke paas" (near the metro station) or "mall ke saamne" (opposite the mall), and share your live location on WhatsApp.
Book online in minutes on our Book Now page, or call or WhatsApp +91 991 023 4423.
