Making Out in Hindi. Daniel Krasa
The full forms of the vowels are written at the beginning or end of a word, or when they are in combination with another vowel. Otherwise Hindi writes the vowels with small signs over, under, before or after the consonant that comes before them.
A TINY BIT OF GRAMMAR
The old sex thing
We knew that this would get your attention, so let’s talk about …well, actually, gender. In Hindi grammar there are two genders, male and female. Nouns have either male or female gender and any adjective relating to a noun has to adjust its gender to the gender of the noun—somewhat like in French. Verbs also have male and female forms. Depending on who is acting, the verb will have to adopt the male form ♂ or female♀form.
What’s Your Address?
Nope, we’re not gonna write you a letter. It’s all about addressing people. There are three types of addresses in Hindi, three words for the simple English “you”. Which of the three you use depends on your relationship with, or the status of, the person you wish to address.
• tū – OK among very close relatives, friends and lovers, otherwise it’s insulting. It’s sometimes deliberately used to demean someome.
• tum – Used among friends, family members and good acquaintances.
• āp – the most polite form of address, for people of high standing, strangers, and in formal situations.
Similarly, the possessive pronoun “your” has three forms: terā/terī, tumhārā/tumhārī and āpkā/āpkī. Grammatically, the pronouns are treated like adjectives, so their gender would have to be adjusted to the gender of the associated noun.
1
What’s Up?
Good morning/afternoon/evening!
Namaskār!
नमस्कार!
Note: Unlike English, Hindi has different forms of greeting depending on the speaker’s religion. Hindus use Namaskār!, Namaste! or Rām rām!, Sikhs use Sat srī akāl! and Muslims greet each other with Salām alaikum!.
How are you?
Āp kaise ♂/kais♀haiñ?
आप कैसे/कैसी हैं?
How are you doing?
Āpkā hāl kyā hai?
आपका हाल क्या है?
I’m fine. And you?
Maiñ ṭhīk hūñ. Aur āp?
मैं ठीक हूँ। और आप?
Do you remember/recognize me?
Mujhe pahcānte ho?
मुझे पहचानते हो?
Casual greetings between friends
Hello!
Hello!
हेलो!
How are you?
Tum kaise ♂/kaisī♀ho?
तुम कैसे/कैसी हो?
How’s things with you?
Kyā hāl-cāl hai?
क्या हाल-चाल है?
I’m fine.
Maiñ ṭhīk hūñ.
मैं ठीक हूँ।
What’s up?
Kyā khabar?
क्या ख़बर?
What’s the news?
Kyā samācār?
क्या समाचार?
So-so.
Ṭhīk-ṭhāk.
ठीक-ठाक।
Everything’s alright.
Sab ṭhīk-ṭhāk.
सब ठीक-ठाक।
Not very well.
Kāfī acchā ♂/acchī♀nahīñ.
काफ़ी अच्छा/अच्छी नहीं।
Not