Basic Hindi Words Every Beginner Should Learn First

Starting to learn a new language can feel overwhelming, but knowing the most basic Hindi words will give you the confidence to begin speaking right away. Whether you’re learning Hindi for travel, heritage, school, or simply curiosity, building a strong vocabulary foundation is the key to fluency. This guide covers the essential Hindi words every beginner should master.

Diving into grammar too early or focusing on complex sentence structures can often lead to frustration. That is why it is smarter to start with the most common Hindi words that appear in daily conversations. These core terms help you:

• Form simple phrases without needing grammar rules

• Start understanding spoken Hindi from native speakers

• Build momentum quickly by recognizing familiar words everywhere

• Feel successful early on, which keeps your motivation high

Mastering basic Hindi words gives you a strong foundation. It makes every future topic easier to learn and apply in real life.

Greetings are some of the first things people learn in any language. They allow you to be polite, make connections, and show respect.

• नमस्ते (namaste) – A versatile hello or goodbye used in both formal and casual settings.

• नमस्कार (namaskaar) – A more formal version of namaste, often used in official or respectful situations.

• आप कैसे हैं? (aap kaise hain?) – A polite way to ask “How are you?”

• मैं ठीक हूँ (main theek hoon) – A common response meaning “I am fine.”

Learning these lets you start conversations naturally and connect with people immediately.

These are the verbs that will help you express everyday activities.

• है (hai) – The verb “is” helps describe people, places, and things. For example, “यह किताब है” means “This is a book.”

• था (tha) – Past tense of “is.” For example, “मैं वहाँ था” means “I was there.”

• जाना (jaana) – Means “to go.” Combine it with pronouns like “मैं जाता हूँ” (I go).

• करना (karna) – Means “to do.” This is used in many expressions like “काम करना” (to do work).

• देखना (dekhna) – Means “to see.” Useful when talking about watching TV or looking at something.

These verbs appear in almost every Hindi conversation.

The nouns below let you talk about your family, home, and surroundings.

• माँ (maa) – Mother

• पिता (pita) – Father

• घर (ghar) – Home

• स्कूल (school) – School

• बाज़ार (baazaar) – Market

You will use these terms to describe where you are going or who you are with.

Learning numbers is helpful for shopping, dates, and asking about prices.

• एक (ek) – One

• दो (do) – Two

• तीन (teen) – Three

• चार (chaar) – Four

• पाँच (paanch) – Five

Practice these with common objects like “दो किताबें” (two books).

Phrase-based learning lets you express full ideas early. These examples go beyond vocabulary and help you in real situations:

• मुझे समझ नहीं आया (mujhe samajh nahin aaya) – I did not understand. Say this when you get stuck during conversation.

• थोड़ा धीरे बोलिए (thoda dheere boliye) – Please speak slowly. Helps when talking with fast speakers.

• कृपया मदद करें (kripya madad karein) – Please help me. Essential for asking directions or assistance.

• शौचालय कहाँ है? (shauchalay kahaan hai?) – Where is the bathroom? One of the most practical questions to learn early.

Using these in daily interactions helps boost confidence and fluency.

Check out these basic Hindi words and phrases and listen to how they're pronounced.

Avoiding common mistakes helps you stay motivated and learn faster:

• Learning complex words before mastering basics

• Memorizing without understanding the meaning

• Forgetting to review words after a few days

• Relying only on English translations

• Ignoring pronunciation and tone

Focus on basic Hindi words that are actually used in conversations to build practical fluency.