Aap, tum or tu
Hindi has three words for you: आप (aap) for strangers and elders, तुम (tum) for friends and तू (tu) for the very closest. Start with aap and you'll always be polite.
Hindi course · 27 languages in one app
Learn Hindi by speaking it
Hindi is spoken by more than 600 million people, and they're generous with anyone who tries. Talvo starts with the phrases you'll use from day one, in Devanagari with romanization alongside, and a tutor that waits for you to answer out loud.
First lesson free · iPhone and Mac, one subscription
Hindi · First phrasesनमस्ते
namaste
Hello / Goodbye
Chai sellerक्या लेंगे?What will you have?
Your first Hindi phrases
Twelve polite phrases for meeting people, shopping and getting around. They use आप (aap), the respectful you, so they work with anyone.
| Hindi | Say it like | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नमस्ते | namaste | Hello / Goodbye |
| आप कैसे हैं? | aap kaise hain? | How are you?To a man; to a woman, kaisi hain |
| मैं ठीक हूँ, धन्यवाद | main theek hoon, dhanyavaad | I'm fine, thank you |
| आपका नाम क्या है? | aapka naam kya hai? | What's your name? |
| मेरा नाम सैम है | mera naam Sam hai | My name is Sam |
| आपसे मिलकर ख़ुशी हुई | aapse milkar khushi hui | Nice to meet you |
| शुक्रिया | shukriya | ThanksEveryday; dhanyavaad is more formal |
| यह कितने का है? | yeh kitne ka hai? | How much is this? |
| बहुत महंगा है | bahut mahanga hai | It's too expensive |
| बाथरूम कहाँ है? | bathroom kahaan hai? | Where's the bathroom? |
| मुझे समझ नहीं आया | mujhe samajh nahin aaya | I didn't understand |
| धीरे बोलिए, प्लीज़ | dheere boliye, please | Please speak slowly |
Double vowels are long: aa as in father, ee as in see, oo as in food. An n after a vowel, as in main and hain, makes the vowel nasal rather than adding a full n.
A conversation you'll practice
A chai stall in Delhi. The tutor plays the chai seller, and you order out loud.
Chai sellerक्या लेंगे?kya lenge?What will you have?
Youएक चाय, प्लीज़।ek chai, please.One chai, please.
Chai sellerचीनी कम या ज़्यादा?cheeni kam ya zyaada?Less sugar or more?
Youकम चीनी, धन्यवाद।kam cheeni, dhanyavaad.Less sugar, thanks.
Chai sellerबीस रुपये।bees rupaye.Twenty rupees.
Mistakes Talvo helps you fix
Verbs follow gender
The verb changes with who's speaking: a man says मैं गया (main gaya) and a woman says मैं गई (main gayi), both meaning I went.
Two kinds of t and d
त and द are said with the tongue on the teeth, ट and ड with it curled back. तीन (teen, three) and टीन (tin sheet) differ only in this.
Hindi and Urdu
Everyday Hindi and Urdu are close enough that speakers understand each other easily. They're written in different scripts and formal vocabulary differs. Talvo has both as separate courses: see Urdu.
How Talvo teaches Hindi
- Every phrase in Devanagari with a readable romanization, and romanized answers are accepted while you learn the script
- Standard Hindi as spoken in Delhi, with notes on the words Hindi shares with Urdu
- Every unit, from beginner (A1) to advanced (C1), is written around your interests and the words you already know
- Role-play a café, a market, a taxi or meeting someone new. The tutor speaks first, waits for your answer and corrects you with the reason
- Use the live interpreter when you're talking with a native speaker for real
- Every new word goes into your review deck and comes back right before you'd forget it
Questions about learning Hindi
Do I need to learn Devanagari first?
No. Every phrase shows romanization alongside the Devanagari script, and you can answer in romanization while you learn the letters.
Should I learn Hindi or Urdu?
For conversation they're very close, so either one opens the other. Choose Hindi for India and Devanagari, and Urdu for Pakistan and the Urdu script.
Can I learn Hindi with Talvo for free?
Yes, to start. Your first lesson, three live-interpreter exchanges, your reviews and your deck are free. Talvo Pro unlocks unlimited lessons and conversations, and the yearly plan starts with a 7-day free trial.
Can I use Talvo on my Mac?
Yes. Talvo is a native app for iPhone and Mac, and one subscription covers both.
More language guides
Say your first Hindi sentence today.
The first lesson is free. It takes about five minutes.