Travellers will find that most people asscoiated with the tourism industry in India speak or at least understand English. Standard Hindi is the official language of India and is the most widely spoken of India’s scheduled languages. It is spoken mainly in northern states of Rajasthan, Delhi, Haryana, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Bihar. It can be useful to learn Hindi to help enhance your travels.  Here is a handy list of keywords and phrases that will help you have a comfortable stay in India.

1. WHILE SHOPPING:
How much?: Kitney ka?
It’s very expensive: Bahut mehnga hain.
Lower the price a little: Thoda kum kardo.
Don’t want: Nahi chahye.
Thank you: Shukriya/Dhanyavaad

2. WHILE DINING:
I want … : Mujhe…chahye
Salt: Namak
Is it vegetarian?: Yeh shakahaari hain?
What’s in it?: Ismey kya hain?
How much time will it take?: Kitna time lagega?
It’s cold: Thanda hain.
Don’t make it too spicy: mirchi kam.
Don’t add ice: Baraf nahi/matt daalna.

3. WHILE TRAVELING:
Drive to…: … chaliye.
Drive faster: Jaldi chalaiye
Drive slower: Dheere chalaiye
Stop: Rukye.
Where is…: ….kahan hain?
How far is…: ….kitni dur hain?
How much (money) till…?: …tak kitne lagenge?
What time?: Kitne baje?

NUMBERS:
1. Ek
2. Do
3. Teen
4. Chaar
5. Paanch
6. Chhe
7. Saat
8. Aath
9. Nau
10. Dus

In addition to Hindi there are over a hundred regional dialects spoken. For region-specific phrases your homestay hosts would be happy to help you learn a few key phrases and will assist you by writing things down as and when you need them.