Devanagari Street Signs: How to Read Hindi in India
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Time to read 3 min
If you are visiting India or learning Hindi,
Devanagari street signs are impossible to miss — they appear on highways, train platforms, markets, and storefronts. Recognizing even a few of these signs can help you navigate confidently, feel more at ease, and connect with local culture more deeply.
This guide is your entry point to understanding Devanagari street signs with real examples, beginner-friendly tips, and visual learning techniques.
What Is the Devanagari Script?
Devanagari is the script used to write Hindi, Marathi, Nepali, and a few other Indian languages. It is written from left to right and features a distinctive horizontal line across the top of each word.
For example:
नमस्ते (namaste) — “Hello”
भारत (bhaarat) — “India”
If you want to read street signs in India, learning the Devanagari script is essential.
Where You’ll See Devanagari in Daily Life
1. Road Signs and Directions
You’ll often find signs like:
दिल्ली 25 किमी (dillī 25 kimī) — “Delhi 25 km”
रुकिए (rukie) — “Stop”
धीरे चलिए (dhīre chalie) — “Drive Slowly”
These are commonly seen on highways, toll booths, and village crossings. Many signs include English, but smaller towns and rural areas often use Devanagari only. This is especially common in areas without bilingual signage, as shown by ITDP India.
This video labels warning and mandatory signs with Hindi text—ideal for recognizing common Devanagari words.
2. Metro and Train Stations
Cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Lucknow display station names in multiple languages.
Examples:
नई दिल्ली (naī dillī) — “New Delhi”
चांदनी चौक (chāndnī chauka) — “Chandni Chowk”
गेट नंबर २ (geṭ nambar 2) — “Gate Number 2”
Knowing the script helps you find the right platform or transfer with ease.
3. Bus Stops and Public Notices
Public transport uses Devanagari for everything from route names to announcements.
Examples:
प्रवेश (pravesh) — “Entry”
निकास (nikās) — “Exit”
बस समय सारणी (bas samay sāraṇī) — “Bus timetable”
HindiPod101 highlights real-world contexts where Devanagari appears outside the classroom.
How to Start Reading Devanagari Street Signs
1. Learn High-Frequency Letter Shapes
You do not need the entire alphabet on day one. Start with letters you see often in signs, such as:
क (ka)
म (ma)
न (na)
र (ra)
द (da)
ल (la)
Learning these gives you the building blocks to decode common words.
2. Recognize Common Words in Context
Some recurring words include:
दिशा (dishā) — “Direction”
मार्ग (mārg) — “Road”
स्थान (sthān) — “Place”
किमी (kimī) — “Kilometer”
Even without full sentences, knowing these helps you guess meaning fast.
3. Practice with Real Signboards
Try reading Devanagari in real photos or Google Street View before looking at the English translation. Over time, you will start recognizing letter patterns naturally.
Want to train your eye faster?
Our Hindi Alphabet Flashcards make it easy to recognize letters, sounds, and words on real signs.
Check them out on our Amazon store to find more.
Real-World Examples of Devanagari Street Signs
Construction Sign
निर्माण कार्य चल रहा है
(nirmāṇ kārya chal rahā hai)
“Construction work in progress”
Bus Route
गाजियाबाद → मोहन नगर
(gājiyābād → mohan nagar)
“Ghaziabad to Mohan Nagar”
City Welcome Board
आपका स्वागत है, आगरा में
(āpkā swāgat hai, āgrā meṅ)
“Welcome to Agra”
These types of signs make for great flashcard material. Screenshot, crop, and practice them regularly. Kaggle’s Hindi character recognition dataset is great for testing recognition models.
Why It Matters for Language Learners
Reading real-world Devanagari:
Boosts your Hindi vocabulary
Helps you navigate Indian streets independently
Trains your brain to read faster in context
Builds confidence in real-world interactions
And best of all, it brings the language to life outside the classroom.
Your Journey Starts With a Sign
The next time you see a street sign in India, don’t just skip past it. Stop. Try to read it. Sound it out. Match the shapes to what you’ve learned.
Because every sign in Devanagari is a chance to sharpen your reading — and connect with the language of the land.
And now you know how to begin.
