Hindi phrases: Basics
Politeness in Hindi comes mostly from *आप* (aap) and polite verb forms like *बैठिए* (baithiye), not from a word for “please”.
Speed:
- जी हाँ।Jee haan.Yes. · Polite. Plain (haan) is casual.
- जी नहीं।Jee naheen.No. · Polite. Plain (naheen) is casual.
- कृपया।Kripyaa.Please. · Formal; used mostly in writing and announcements.
- धन्यवाद।Dhanyavaad.Thank you. · (shukriyaa) is just as common.
- कोई बात नहीं।Koee baat naheen.No problem. / That's all right.
- माफ़ कीजिए।Maaf keejiye.Sorry. / Excuse me.
- ठीक है।Theek hai.OK.
- मुझे नहीं पता।Mujhe naheen pataa.I don't know.
- मैं समझा नहीं।Main samjhaa naheen.I didn't understand. · Said by a man. A woman says (main samjhee naheen).
- एक बार फिर बोलिए।Ek baar phir boliye.Please say that again.
- थोड़ा धीरे बोलिए।Thoraa dheere boliye.Please speak a little more slowly.
- क्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलते हैं?Kyaa aap Angrezee bolte hain?Do you speak English? · To a man. To a woman: (boltee hain).