Hindi Words for Beginners: Taking Your First Steps

September 23, 2021

The Top 200+ Hindi Words for Beginners

Simplicity never goes out of style.

By the same token, today we’ll teach you the simplest yet most practical Hindi beginner words. These words will help ease you into the language, serving as a foundation on which to build your Hindi skills. As you expand your vocabulary, you’ll find that you can speak and understand Hindi with greater and greater proficiency.

If you’re new to the Hindi language and don’t know where to start, then this lesson is for you!

A Father Listening as His Daughter Reads Something

Reading together is fun!

Before we begin: Rest assured that we haven’t just dumped some random things here. We’ve chosen Hindi words for beginners that are simple, useful, and easy for newbies to pick up. In addition, we’ve carefully designed our list to ensure we cover everything—from pronouns to auxiliary verbs! Memorizing these words will make you a much more fluent speaker and writer in Hindi, so let’s get right to it.

Table of Contents

Popular Pronouns
Cracking the Numbers
Knowing the Nouns
Essential Verbs
A Splash of Adjectives
Connect with Conjunctions
Auxiliary Verbs
Mastering the Hindi Language with HindiPod101.com

1. Popular Pronouns

As a beginner in Hindi, most of your conversations will be rather simple. You’ll likely spend a lot of time talking about yourself or others, which will require the use of pronouns. In the table below, you’ll find the most common pronouns in Hindi along with examples of how they’re used.

our dedicated article

this free vocabulary list

Personal Pronouns

“You” = तुम (Tum) / आप (aap)
“Me” = मुझे (mujhe)
“I” = मैं (main)
“We” = हम (ham)
“He” = वह (vah)
“She” = वह (vah)
“They” = वे (ve)
“Them” = उनको (uNako) / उन्हें (uNhen)

Example Sentences:

हम बाहर जा रहे हैं। (ham baahar jaa rahe hain.)
“We are going out.”

आप मुझसे कुछ कहना चाहते थे? (aap mujh Se kuch kahaNaa caahaTe THe?)
“You wanted to say something to me?”

Demonstrative Pronouns

“This” = यह (yah)
“That” = वह (vah)
“These” = ये (ye)
“Those” = वे (ve)

Example Sentence:

यह सेब है। (yah Seb hai.)
“This is an apple.”

Interrogative Pronouns

“What” = क्या (kyaa)
“Why” = क्यों (kyon)
“Where” = कहाँ (kahaan)
“How” = कैसे (kaiSe)
“When” = कब (kab)
“Who” = कौन (kauN)
“Whom” = किसको (kiSako) / किसे (kiSe)
“Whose” = किसका (kiSakaa)
“Which” = कौन-सा (kauN Saa) / कौन-सी (kauN Sii)

Example Sentences:

मेरा फ़ोन कहाँ है? (meraa foN kahaan hai?)
“Where is my phone?”

तुम कौन हो? (Tum kauN ho?)
“Who are you?”

Are “those” tomatoes?

2. Cracking the Numbers

How much is it? When’s your birthday? What time is it?

These are simple everyday questions we ask each other. Did you notice how these cannot be answered without using numbers? Be it money, time, shopping, teaching, or catching a flight, our lives are quite dependent on numbers. Digits keep things so organized and clear for us.

Here are some basic Hindi numbers that even a beginner like you can practice!

Numbers

“One” = एक (ek)
“Two” = दो (Do)
“Three” = तीन (TiiN)
“Four” = चार (caar)
“Five” = पांच (paanc)
“Six” = छः (chah)
“Seven” = सात (SaaT)
“Eight” = आठ (aath)
“Nine” = नौ (Nau)
“Ten” = दस (DaS)
“Twenty” = बीस (biiS)
“Thirty” = तीस (TiiS)
“Forty” = चालीस (caaLiS)
“Fifty” = पचास (pacaaS)
“Sixty” = साठ (Saath)
“Seventy” = सत्तर (SaTTar)
“Eighty” = अस्सी (aSSii)
“Ninety” = नब्बे (Nabbe)
“Hundred” = सौ (Sau)
“Thousand” = हज़ार (hazaar)

Example Sentences:

सीमा ने दो दर्जन केले ख़रीदे। (Siimaa Ne Do DarjaN keLe khariiDe.)
“Seema bought two dozen bananas.”

दादी की उम्र अस्सी साल है। (DaaDii kii umr aSSii SaaL hai.)
“Grandma is eighty years old.”

Someone Receiving Tickets at a Movie Theater

Two tickets, please!

3. Knowing the Nouns

Oh! What would life be without coffee, or pastries, or Brad Pitt—oops! Sorry, nouns! 😉

Nouns are one of the most essential parts of speech, and you couldn’t have a conversation without them! We use nouns to identify people, places, or things.

To give you a headstart, we’ve prepared a thorough list of simple Hindi nouns in different categories.

Let’s have a look!

Time

“Hour” = घंटा (ghantaa)
“Minute” = मिनट (miNat)
“Second” = सेकंड (Sekand)
“Morning” = सुबह (Subah)
“Afternoon” = दोपहर (Dopahar)
“Evening” = शाम (saam)
“Night” = रात (raaT)
“Day” = दिन (DiN)
“Week” = सप्ताह (SapTaah) / हफ़्ता (hafTaa)
“Month” = महीना (mahiiNaa) / माह (maah)
“Year” = वर्ष (vars) / साल (SaaL)
“Sunday” = रविवार (ravivaar) / इतवार (iTavaar)
“Monday” = सोमवार (Somavaar)
“Tuesday” = मंगलवार (mangaLavaar)
“Wednesday” = बुधवार (budhavaar)
“Thursday” = बृहस्पतिवार (brihaSpaTivaar) / गुरुवार (guruvaar)
“Friday” = शुक्रवार(sukravaar)
“Saturday” = शनिवार (saNivaar) / शनिचर (saNicar)
“January” = जनवरी (jaNavarii)
“February” = फ़रवरी (farvaarii)
“March” = मार्च (maarc)
“April” = अप्रैल (apraiL)
“May” = मई (mayii)
“June” = जून (juuN)
“July” = जुलाई (juLaaii)
“August” = अगस्त (agaST)
“September” = सितंबर (SiTambar)
“October” = अक्टूबर (aktuubar)
“November” = नवंबर (Navambar)
“December” = दिसंबर (DiSambar)
“Autumn” = पतझड़ (paTajhad)
“Winter” = सर्दी (SarDii) / जाड़ा (jaadaa)
“Summer” = गर्मी (garmii) / ग्रीष्म (griism)
“Spring” = बहार (bahaar) / बसंत (baSaNT)

Example Sentences:

जनवरी में बहुत ठंड होती है। (jaNavarii men bahuT thand hoTii hai.)
“It’s so cold in January.”

स्कूल जुलाई में खुलेंगे। (SkuuL juLaaii men khuLenge.)
“The schools will open in July.”

Family

“Mother” = माँ (maan) / माता (maaTaa)
“Father” = पिता (piTaa)
“Brother” = भाई (bhaaii)
“Sister” = बहन (bahaN)
“Son” = बेटा (betaa)
“Daughter” = बेटी (betii)
“Maternal Grandmother” = नानी (NaaNii)
“Maternal Grandfather” = नाना (NaaNaa)
“Paternal Grandmother” = दादी (DaaDii)
“Paternal Grandfather” = दादा (DaaDaa)
“Uncle” = चाचा (caacaa)
“Aunt” = चाची (caacii)
“Mr.” = श्रीमान (srimaaN)
“Mrs.” = श्रीमती (srimaTii)

Example Sentences:

रोहन के पिता लेखक हैं। (rohaN ke piTaa Lekhak hain.)
“Rohan’s fatherबेटियाँ is a writer.”

मेरी दो बेटियाँ हैं। (merii Do betiyaan hain.)
“I have two daughters.”

Places

“School” = स्कूल (SkuuL) / विद्यालय (viDyaaLay)
“Hospital” =बेटियाँ अस्पताल (aSpaTaaL)
“Shop” = दुकान (DukaaN)
“Mall” = मॉल (mauL)
“Pharmacy” = दवा की दुकान (Davaa kii DukaaN)
“Restaurant” = रेस्टोरेंट (reStorent)
“Salon” = सैलून (SaiLuuN)
“Office” = ऑफ़िस (aufiS) / दफ़्तर (DafTar)
“Bakery” = बेकरी (bekarii)
“Bank” = बैंक (baink)

Example Sentences:

दवा की दुकान पास में ही है। (Davaa kii DukaaN paaS men hii hai.)
“The pharmacy is nearby.”

यह शहर की सबसे अच्छी बेकरी है। (yah sahar kii SabaSe acchii bekarii hai.)
“This is the best bakery in the city.”

School/Office Essentials

“Book” = किताब (kiTaab)
“Notebook” = कॉपी (kaupii)
“Pen” = कलम (kaLam) / पेन (peN)
“Pencil” = पेंसिल (peNSiL)
“Eraser” = रबड़ (rabad)
“Sharpener” = कटर (katar)
“File” = फ़ाइल (faaiL)
“Computer” = कंप्यूटर (kampyuutar)
“Printer” = प्रिंटर (priNtar)
“Marker” = मार्कर (maarkar)

Example Sentences:

मुझे एक कलम चाहिए। (mujhe ek kaLam caahiye.)
“I need a pen.”

प्रिंटर ख़राब हो गया है। (priNtar kharaab ho gayaa hai.)
“The printer is not working.”

Body Parts

“Eyes” = आँख (aankh)
“Nose” = नाक (Naak)
“Ears” = कान (kaaN)
“Mouth” = मुंह (munh)
“Teeth” = दाँत (Daant)
“Tongue” = जीभ (jiibh)
“Lips” = होंठ (honth)
“Forehead” = माथा (maaTHaa)
“Face” = चेहरा (ceharaa)
“Neck” = गर्दन (garDaN)
“Throat” = गला (gaLaa)
“Head” = सिर (Sir)
“Back” = पीठ (piith)
“Stomach” = पेट (pet)
“Hands” = हाथ (haaTH)
“Legs” = पैर (pair)
“Knee” = घुटना (ghutaNaa)
“Elbow” = कोहनी (kohaNii)
“Fingers” = उंगलियां (ungLiyaan)
“Toe” = अँगूठा (anguuthaa)
“Nails” = नाख़ून (NaakhuuN)
“Skin” = त्वचा (Tvacaa)
“Hair” = बाल (baaL)
“Muscle” = माँसपेशी (maanSapesii)
“Bone” = हड्डी (haddii)

Example Sentences:

पूनम के बाल बहुत सुंदर हैं। (puuNam ke baaL bahuT SuNDar hain.)
“Poonam has such lovely hair.”

मानव शरीर में दो सौ छह हड्डियाँ होती हैं। (maaNav sariir men Do Sau chah haddiyaan hoTii hain.)
“There are two hundred and six bones in the human body.”

Food

“Water” = पानी (paaNii)
“Vegetables” = सब्ज़ियाँ (Sabziyaan)
“Fruits” = फल (phaL)
“Salad” = सलाद (SaLaaD)
“Milk” = दूध (DuuDH)
“Curd” = दही (Dahii)
“Sugar” = चीनी (ciiNii)
“Eggs” = अंडे (ande)
“Chicken” = चिकन (cikaN)
“Fish” = मछली (machaLii)
“Pulses” = दाल (DaaL)
“Rice” = चावल (caavaL)
“Spice” = मसाले (maSaaLe)
“Butter” = मक्खन (makkhaN)
“Flour” = आटा (aataa)
“Oil” = तेल (TeL)
“Buttermilk” = छाछ (chaach)
“Clarified butter” = घी (ghii)
“Bread” = ब्रेड (bred) / डबल रोटी (dabaL rotii)
“Flatbread” = रोटी (rotii)
“Tea” = चाय (caay)
“Coffee” = कॉफ़ी (kaufii)

Example Sentences:

मुझे दो अंडे मक्खन के साथ चाहिए। (mujhe Do ande makkhaN ke SaaTH caahiye.)
“I want two eggs with butter.”

फल और सब्ज़ियां एकदम ताज़ी हैं। (phaL aur Sabziyaan ekaDam Taazii hain.)
“The fruits and vegetables are really fresh.”

Eggs, Strawberries, Prawns, Nuts, Kiwi, Milk, and Chocolate

Eggs and milk, please!

4. Essential Verbs

Another set of easy Hindi words for beginners you should learn right away are the essential verbs.

There’s a verb playing in every moment of our lives, whether we recognize it or not. Even if we were to stand as still as a statue, we would still be breathing and our hearts would still be beating. What’s more, verbs can sometimes act as a full sentence in and of themselves: Sit. Shut up. Don’t.

Here’s a list of the most popular verbs used by native speakers.

Daily Routine Verbs

“To get up” = उठना (uthaNaa)
“To eat” = खाना (khaaNaa)
“To drink” = पीना (piiNaa)
“To go” = जाना (jaaNaa)
“To work” = काम करना (kaam karaNaa)
“To study” = पढ़ाई करना (padhaaii karaNaa)
“To drive/ride” = गाड़ी चलाना (gaadii caLaaNaa)
“To sleep” = सोना (SoNaa)
“To write” = लिखना (LikhaNaa)
“To read” = पढ़ना (padhaNaa)
“To speak” = बोलना (boLaNaa)
“To scream” = चीखना (ciikhaNaa)
“To laugh” = हंसना (hanSaNaa)
“To cry” = रोना (roNaa)
“To cook” = पकाना (pakaaNaa)
“To run” = दौड़ना (DaudaNaa)
“To walk” = चलना (caLaNaa)
“To talk” = बात करना (baaT karaNaa)
“To meet” = मिलना (miLaNaa)
“To wash” = धोना (DHoNaa)
“To wipe” = पोंछना (ponchaNaa)

Example Sentences:

क्या तुम सोना चाहती हो? (kyaa Tum SoNaa caahaTii ho?)
“Do you want to sleep?”

कोई भी सुनील से बात करना नहीं चाहता। (koii bhii SuNiiL Se baaT karaNaa Nahiin caahaTaa?)
“Nobody wants to talk to Sunil.”

Other Common Verbs

“To give” = देना (DeNaa)
“To take” = लेना (LeNaa)
“To do” = करना (karaNaa)
“To make” = बनाना (baNaaNaa)
“To sit” = बैठना (baithaNaa)
“To stare” = घूरना (ghuuraNaa)
“To look” = देखना (DekhaNaa)
“To remind” = याद दिलाना (yaaD DiLaaNaa)
“To touch” = छूना (chuuNaa)
“To pull” = खींचना (khiincaNaa)
“To push” = धक्का देना (DHakkaa DeNaa)
“To peep” = झाँकना (jhaankaNaa)
“To ask” = पूछना (puuchaNaa)
“To smile” = मुस्कुराना (muSkuraaNaa)
“To find” = ढूँढना (dhuundhaNaa)
“To pick up” = उठाना (uthaaNaa)

Example Sentences:

इन फूलों को छूना मना है। (iN phuuLon ko chuuNaa maNaa hai.)
“It’s not allowed to touch these flowers.”

मैं कुछ देर शांत बैठना चाहती हूँ। (main kuch Der saanT baithaNaa caahaTii huun.)
“I want to sit quietly for a while.”

5. A Splash of Adjectives

Looking to add more color and playfulness to your life? Adding some adjectives to your Hindi vocabulary base will help put things into perspective! Adjectives are great tools for sharing how you feel about somebody or something, whether your emotions are positive or negative. Below, you’ll find a table of useful Hindi adjectives to start practicing right away.

What a “busy” day!

Describing People

“Pretty” = सुंदर (SuNDar)
“Cute” = प्यारा (pyaaraa) / प्यारी (pyaarii)
“Handsome” = आकर्षक (aakarsak)
“Tall” = लंबा (Lambaa)
“Short” = नाटा (Naataa)
“Healthy” = स्वस्थ (SvaSTH)
“Weak” = कमज़ोर (kamazor)
“Rich” = अमीर (amiir)
“Poor” = ग़रीब (gariib)
“Thin” = दुबला (DubaLaa)
“Fat” = मोटा (motaa)

Example Sentences:

आप काफ़ी कमज़ोर दिख रहे हैं। (aap kaafii kamazor Dikh rahe hain.)
“You look quite weak.”

स्वस्थ रहना बेहद ज़रूरी है। (SvaSTH rahaNaa behaD zaruurii hai.)
“It’s so important to stay healthy.”

Describing Emotions

“Happy” = ख़ुश (khus)
“Sad” = दुखी (Dukhii)
“Angry” = ग़ुस्सा (guSSaa) / नाराज़ (Naaraaz)
“Funny” = मज़ेदार (mazeDaar)
“Tired” = थका हुआ (THakaa huaa) / थकी हुई (THakii huyii)
“Confused” = उलझन में (uLajhaN men)
“Restless” = बेचैन (becaiN)
“Excited” = रोमांचित (romaaNciT)
“Shattered” = टूटा हुआ (tuutaa huaa) / टूटी हुई (tuutii huyii)
“Irritated” = झुंझलाया (jhunjhaLaayaa) / झुंझलाई (jhunjhaLaayii)

Example Sentences:

माँ रात भर बेचैन रही। (maan raaT bhar becaiN rahii.)
“Mother was restless all night.”

क्या तुम मुझसे नाराज़ हो? (kyaa Tum mujhaSe Naaraaz ho?)
“Are you angry with me?”

Describing Weather

“Hot” = गर्म (garm)
“Cold” = ठंडा (thandaa)
“Sunny” = खिली धूप (khiLii DHuup)
“Windy” = तेज़ हवा (Tez havaa)
“Rainy” = बारिश (baaris)
“Cloudy” = बदली (baDaLii)
“Dry” = शुष्क (susk) / सूखा (Suukhaa)
“Humid” = उमस (umaS) / नम (Nam)

Example Sentences:

बहुत उमस हो रही है! (bahuT umaS ho rahii hai!)
“It’s really humid!”

बाहर बहुत ठंड है। (baahar bahuT thand hai.)
“It’s so cold outside.”

Describing Objects

“Big” = ड़ा (badaa)
“Small” = छोटा (chotaa)
“Long” = लंबा (Lambaa)
“Short” = छोटा (chotaa)
“New” = नया (Nayaa)
“Old” = पुराना (puraaNaa)
“Broken” = टूटा (tuutaa)
“Light” = हल्का (haLkaa)
“Heavy” = भारी (bhaarii)
“Fresh” = ताज़ा (Taazaa)
“Stale” = बासी (baaSii)
“Wet” = गीला (giiLaa)
“Dry” = सूखा (Suukhaa)
“Spicy” = चटपटा (catapataa)
“Juicy” = रसीला (raSiiLaa)
“Sour” = खट्टा (khattaa)
“Sweet” = मीठा (miithaa)
“Salty” = नमकीन (NamakiiN)
“Bitter” = कड़वा (kadavaa)

Example Sentences:

यह सूप बहुत चटपटा और स्वादिष्ट है। (yah Suup bahuT catapataa aur SvaaDist hai.)
“This soup is so spicy and delicious.”

नेपाल एक छोटा देश है। (NepaaL ek chotaa Des hai.)
“Nepal is a small country.”

You look so “pretty”!

6. Connect with Conjunctions

Conjunctions serve as the glue between two words, phrases, or sentences. They help us explain reasons, define choices, and add meaning to what we want to say. Here’s a quick look at the essential Hindi conjunction words:

Conjunctions

“And” = और (aur)
“But” = लेकिन (LekiN)
“Then” = फिर (phir)
“Because” = क्योंकि (kyonki)
“So” = इसलिए (iSaLiye)
“If” = यदि (yaDi) / अगर (agar)
“Or” = या (yaa)

Example Sentences:

मेज़ पर सेब और संतरे रखे हैं। (mez par Seb aur SaNTare rakhe hain.)
“There are apples and oranges on the table.”

मैं इसलिए नहीं आ पाया क्योंकि मेरी तबियत ख़राब थी। (main iSaLiye Nahiin aa paayaa kyonki merii TabiyaT kharaab THii.)
“I couldn’t come because I was not well.”

Several Stationery Items Sitting on a Blue Table

Common Stationery Items

7. Auxiliary Verbs

To conclude our list of basic Hindi words for beginners, let’s look at auxiliary verbs. They serve a vital role in speech and you can’t afford to skip them; using them correctly will help you sound more like a native speaker (and less like a newbie!).

Auxiliary Verbs

“Is” = है (hai)
“Am” = हूँ (huun)
“Are” = हैं (hain)
“To be” = होना (hoNaa)
“Was” = था (THaa) / थी (THii)
“Were” = थे (THe) / थीं (THiin)
“Will be” = होगा (hogaa) / होगी (hogii)
“Can” = सकना (SakaNaa)

Example Sentences:

बिल्ली सो रही है। (biLLii So rahii hai.)
“The cat is sleeping.”

मैं अभी व्यस्त हूँ। (main abhii vyaST huun.)
“I am busy right now.”

A Guy Getting a Brain Freeze while Eating a Chocolate Popsicle

My god, this is so cold!

8. Mastering the Hindi Language with HindiPod101.com

And here we are at the end of our lesson. We hope you enjoyed our list of Hindi beginner words and found it useful. If so, keep in mind that we have so much more to share with you on HindiPod101.com! Check out our blog and website for plenty of other useful Hindi resources and lesson materials.

Enrich your Hindi language skills with our simple and effective teaching methods and free Hindi resources. You can also download our free mobile app for a language learning journey that knows no bounds. Facing trouble? Feel free to connect with us through our Help Center or to share your questions by joining the HindiPod101.com Forum.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Posted by HindiPod101.com in Hindi Language, Hindi Lessons, Hindi Online, Hindi Words, Learn Hindi

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