Hindi vocabulary: upper intermediate (B2)
The 165 words and phrases taught in the upper intermediate chapters, in the order the course teaches them. Press ▶ to hear each one.
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1. Discussing and debating
From chapter 1: learn these words in context
- मुद्दाmuddaaissue, question (under discussion) · masculine; (aaj kaa muddaa), today's topic
- हिस्साhissaapart; share · masculine; (ek hisse men), in one part
- अपनी बात रखनाapnee baat rakhnaato make your case, to give your view · (apnee baat rakhiye), please give your view
- लगभगlagbhagabout, nearly · (lagbhag sau bachche), about a hundred children
- जगहjagahplace; space, room · feminine; (khelne kee jagah), a place to play
- सुरक्षितsurakshitsafe · never changes; (surakshaa), safety, is feminine
- बीच मेंbeech menin between, in the middle · (beech men bolnaa), to interrupt
- गाड़ी खड़ी करनाgaaree kharee karnaato park (a car) · / (kharaa / kharee) means “standing”: the car is made to stand
- ज़्यादातरzyaadaatarmostly; most · (zyaadaatar log), most people
- हटानाhataanaato remove, to move (something) away
- ख़िलाफ़khilaafagainst · (ke khilaaf): (main iske khilaaf hoon), I'm against it
- ख़ुदkhudmyself, yourself, himself, herself (for emphasis) · never changes; (main khud chaahtaa hoon), I want it myself
- सवालsavaalquestion · masculine; (savaal poochhnaa), to ask a question
- तरफ़tarafside; direction · feminine; (donon taraf), both sides
2. Work in depth
From chapter 2: learn these words in context
- अभी तकabhee takyet, so far; still · (abhee tak naheen), not yet
- देख लिया होगाdekh liyaa hogaawill (probably) have seen · the presumptive: the simple past + (hogaa)
- हो सकता है किho saktaa hai kiit may be that, maybe · followed by the subjunctive: (ho saktaa hai ki ve vyast hon)
- दिन भरdin bharall day, the whole day · (bhar) after a time word means “the whole”: (raat bhar), all night
- व्यस्तvyastbusy · never changes
- बदलावbadlaavchange · masculine; (badlaav karnaa), to make changes
- ख़ासकरkhaaskarespecially · from (khaas), special
- हल्काhalkaalight (in colour or weight) · / / (halkaa / halkee / halke); the opposite is (gahraa), dark, deep
- बेहतरbehtarbetter · never changes; … (behtar hogaa ki …), it would be better if …
- एक-दोek-doone or two, a couple of · (ek-do din aur), another day or two
- उसके बदलेuske badlein return, instead · (ke badle), in exchange for
- मान जानाmaan jaanaato agree, to come round · (ve maan jaayenge), they'll agree; no (ne)
- चलेगाchalegaawill do, is fine · informal: (Raahul bhee chalegaa), Rahul is fine too
- आदत पड़नाaadat parnaato get used to, to get into the habit · (aadat parne men samay lagegaa), it'll take time to get used to
3. Film, books and media
From chapter 3: learn these words in context
- धीमाdheemaaslow · / / (dheemaa / dheemee / dheeme)
- बूढ़ाboodhaaold (of a person); old man · / / (boodhaa / boodhee / boodhe); for things, use (puraanaa)
- अकेलाakelaaalone, lonely · / / (akelaa / akelee / akele); (akele) also means “on your own”
- याद करनाyaad karnaato remember, to think back to; to miss · (puraanee trenon ko yaad kartaa hai), he thinks back to the old trains
- कोशिश करनाkoshish karnaato try · (koshish), attempt, is feminine; (koshish kartaa hoon), I'll try
- गाँवgaanvvillage · masculine
- पता चलनाpataa chalnaato find out · … (use pataa chaltaa hai ki …), he finds out that …
- बंद होने वालाband hone vaalaaabout to close · the -ने (-ne) form + (vaalaa): about to …
- काफ़ीkaafeeenough; quite · never changes; (itnaa kaafee hai), that's enough
- अंतantend, ending · masculine; (ant vaalaa seen), the final scene
- हिलानाhilaanaato move, to shake · (haath hilaanaa), to wave
- आँसूaansootear, tears · masculine; (aankhon men aansoo aa gaye), tears came to my eyes
- किताबkitaabbook · feminine; plural (kitaaben)
- उपन्यासupanyaasnovel · masculine
4. Science and technology
From chapter 4: learn these words in context
- छतchhatroof · feminine; (chhat par), on the roof
- लगवानाlagvaanaato have (something) put up, installed · the causative of (lagaanaa), to put on, to fix
- समझ नहीं आनाsamajh naheen aanaanot to understand, not to get · … (mujhe samajh naheen aataa ki …), I don't understand how, why …
- सूरजsoorajsun · masculine; (dhoop parnaa), for the sun to shine on something
- रोशनीroshneelight · feminine
- बिजलीbijleeelectricity, power · feminine; (bijlee kaa bil), the electricity bill
- यानीyaaneethat is, in other words, so · (yaanee bil kam ho jaayegaa?), so the bill will come down?
- की वजह सेkee vajah sebecause of · (vajah), reason, is feminine: (is vajah se), for this reason
- ख़र्चkharchcost, expense · masculine; (kitnaa kharch aayegaa?), how much will it cost?
- नाप लेनाnaap lenaato take measurements, to measure · (naap), measurement, is masculine
- तय करनाtay karnaato decide, to settle, to fix · (tay) never changes: (taareekh tay ho gaee), the date has been fixed
- मज़बूतmazbootstrong, tough · never changes
- साफ़ करनाsaaf karnaato clean · (saaf), clean, never changes
- धूलdhooldust · feminine
5. Society and the environment
From chapter 5: learn these words in context
- जलनाjalnaato burn; to sting · (aankhen jal rahee hain), my eyes are stinging. To burn something is (jalaanaa).
- प्रदूषणpradooshanpollution · masculine
- कचराkachraarubbish, waste · masculine
- धुआँdhuaansmoke · masculine
- साँसsaansbreath · feminine; (saans lenaa), to breathe
- बीमारीbeemaareeillness, disease · feminine; (beemaar), ill
- कहीं … नkaheen … na(I'm afraid) … might · with the subjunctive, for a fear: (kaheen der na ho jaaye), I hope we won't be late
- ध्यान देनाdhyaan denaato pay attention · (dhyaan), attention, is masculine: (is par dhyaan deejiye), please pay attention to this
- ध्यान दिया होताdhyaan diyaa hotaahad paid attention (but didn't) · the simple past + (hotaa), for a past that didn't happen
- हालतhaalatcondition, state · feminine; (unkee haalat kharaab hai), he's in a bad way
- सोचनाsochnaato think · (sochtee hoon), I think, I wonder (a woman)
- ज़िम्मेदारीzimmedaareeresponsibility · feminine
- पेड़pertree · masculine; (per lagaanaa), to plant trees
- देखा होdekhaa homay have seen · the simple past + (ho), after (ho saktaa hai ki) or (shaayad)
6. Public life
From chapter 6: learn these words in context
- भाषाbhaashaalanguage · feminine; (akhbaar kee bhaashaa), newspaper language
- महापौरmahaapaurmayor · masculine, also used for a woman; in everyday speech (meyar)
- घोषणाghoshnaaannouncement · feminine; (ghoshnaa karnaa), to announce
- योजनाyojnaaplan, scheme · feminine; the formal word for (plaan)
- केंद्र सरकारkendra sarkaarthe central government · feminine; (kendra), centre; each Indian state also has its own (raajya sarkaar)
- विपक्षvipakshthe opposition · masculine
- नेताnetaaleader, politician · masculine; plural (netaa)
- दावा करनाdaavaa karnaato claim · (daavaa), claim, is masculine
- वादाvaadaapromise · masculine; (vaadaa pooraa karnaa), to keep a promise
- इनकार करनाinkaar karnaato deny; to refuse · … (is baat se inkaar kiyaa ki …), denied that …
- की जगहkee jagahinstead of · (madad kee jagah sahaaytaa likho), write sahaaytaa instead of madad
- नागरिकnaagrikcitizen · masculine
- सुविधाsuvidhaaconvenience; facility · feminine; (naagrikon kee suvidhaa ke liye), for the convenience of citizens
- बयानbayaanstatement · masculine
7. Education and learning
From chapter 7: learn these words in context
- परीक्षाpareekshaaexam, examination · feminine; students also say (egzaam) or (pepar)
- नतीजाnateejaaresult · masculine; (nateejaa aa gayaa), the results are out
- कमीkameeshortcoming, lack · feminine; (kamee kahaan rah gaee?), where did it fall short?
- मेहनतmehnathard work · feminine; (mehnat karnaa), to work hard
- करनी चाहिए थीkarnee chaahiye theeshould have done · agrees with a feminine object, here (mehnat)
- ग़लतीgalteemistake · feminine; plural (galtiyaan); (galtee maannaa), to admit a mistake
- बारहवींbaarahveenClass 12, the last year of school · feminine; literally “the twelfth”; (dasveen) is Class 10
- घरवालेgharvaalefamily, the people at home · masculine plural
- इतिहासitihaashistory · masculine
- विषयvishaysubject, topic · masculine; (apnee pasand kaa vishay), a subject of your own choice
- शुरू करनाshuroo karnaato start, to begin · (shuroo) never changes; (shuroo honaa), to begin (by itself)
- जैसे हीjaise heeas soon as · starts a full clause: , … (jaise hee main pahunchaa, …), as soon as I arrived, …
- तैयारीtaiyaareepreparation · feminine; (pareekshaa kee taiyaaree), preparing for an exam
- तरीक़ाtareekaaway, method · masculine; (padhne kaa tareekaa), the way you study
8. Idioms and everyday speech
From chapter 8: learn these words in context
- मुहावराmuhaavraaidiom · masculine; plural (muhaavre)
- हाथ बँटानाhaath bantaanaato lend a hand · (meraa haath bantaao), give me a hand
- बचनाbachnaato be left, to remain; to be saved · (teen din bache hain), there are three days left
- लड्डूladdooladdoo, a round sweet · masculine; plural (laddoo)
- घीgheeghee, clarified butter · masculine
- ख़ुशबूkhushboopleasant smell, fragrance · feminine
- मुँहmunhmouth; face · masculine
- मतलबmatlabmeaning; I mean · masculine; (iskaa kyaa matlab hai?), what does this mean?
- नौ दो ग्यारह होनाnau do gyaarah honaato vanish, to run off · an idiom: literally “to become nine two eleven”
- वैसेvaiseby the way; actually · at the start of a sentence, to change the subject
- मुस्कुरानाmuskuraanaato smile · no (ne)
- बढ़ियाbadhiyaagreat, excellent · never changes; very common in speech
- बहानाbahaanaaexcuse, pretext · masculine; … (… kaa bahaanaa), an excuse for …
- सिर खानाsir khaanaato pester, to drive someone mad · an idiom: (meraa sir mat khaao), stop pestering me
9. Humour and informal language
From chapter 9: learn these words in context
- यारyaarmate, friend · masculine, but said to women too
- इधरidharhere, over here, this way · (udhar), there, that way
- भीड़bheercrowd · feminine; (bahut bheer hai), it's very crowded
- तेराteraayour (with तू) · / / (teraa / teree / tere); (tere liye), for you
- पकड़ा जानाpakraa jaanaato get caught · (pakraa gayaa), you've caught me (a man)
- भाव खानाbhaav khaanaato play hard to get, to act important · informal; (bhaav mat khaa), don't act so important
- बड़ा आयाbaraa aayaalook who's talking (ironic) · (baree aaee) about a woman
- खिलानाkhilaanaato feed; to treat (someone to food) · (main tujhe samose khilaaoongaa), I'll treat you to samosas
- कंजूसkanjoosstingy, mean with money · never changes
- बंदाbandaaguy, bloke · informal; (bandee), girl
- मस्तmastgreat, fun · informal, never changes
- जुगाड़jugaara clever fix, a makeshift solution · masculine; (jugaar ho gayaa), it's sorted
- मामाmaamaauncle (mother's brother) · (maamaa ke yahaan), at my uncle's
- बिंदासbindaascool, carefree · informal, never changes
10. Formal writing
From chapter 10: learn these words in context
- पत्रpatrletter · masculine; the formal word for (chitthee)
- गलीgaleelane, narrow street · feminine
- नगर निगमnagar nigammunicipal corporation, city council · masculine
- सरकारीsarkaareegovernment, official · never changes; from (sarkaar)
- सेवा मेंsevaa menTo: (at the top of a formal letter) · literally “in the service of”
- विभागvibhaagdepartment · masculine; (jal vibhaag), the water department
- औपचारिकaupchaarikformal · never changes
- महोदयmahodaySir (in a letter) · (mahodayaa), Madam
- अधिकारीadhikaareeofficer, official · masculine, also used for women; everyday (afsar)
- सविनय निवेदन है किsavinay nivedan hai kiI respectfully wish to inform you that · a fixed opening for formal letters
- क्षेत्रkshetrarea, region · masculine
- बुज़ुर्गbuzurgelderly; an elderly person · a respectful word for old people
- अनुरोधanurodhrequest · masculine; … (aapse anurodh hai ki …), I request you to …
- कार्रवाईkaarravaaeeaction (by an office or the police) · feminine; (kaarravaaee karnaa), to take action
11. Giving a presentation
From chapter 11: learn these words in context
- चलती-फिरतीchaltee-phirteemobile, on the move · (chaltee-phirtee laaibreree), a mobile library; formal (pustakaalay), library
- आँकड़ाaankraafigure, statistic · masculine; plural (aankre)
- यही वजह है किyahee vajah hai kithat's exactly why · (yahee) is (yah) + (hee)
- पर आनाpar aanaato come to (a point in a talk) · (ab main hamaare hal par aatee hoon), now I come to our solution
- ले जानाle jaanaato take (away), to take along · (kitaaben ghar le jaanaa), to take books home; no (ne)
- चुननाchunnaato choose; to elect · (bachche khud kitaaben chunenge), the children will choose the books themselves
- नुक़सानnuksaanloss, damage · masculine; (nuksaan bharnaa), to pay for a loss
- अनुभवanubhavexperience · masculine; (hamaare anubhav men), in our experience
- अलगalagseparate, different · never changes
- उसीuseethat very, the same · (us) + (hee): (main usee par aa rahee thee), I was just coming to that
- संस्थाsansthaaorganisation, institution · feminine
- पक्काpakkaasure, certain; firm · (mujhe pakkaa naheen pataa), I'm not sure
- संक्षेप मेंsankshep menin short, to sum up · formal; in speech also (kul milaakar)
12. Final review
From chapter 12: learn these words in context
- आजकलaajkalthese days, nowadays · (aajkal kyaa chal rahaa hai?), what are you up to these days?
- बाल सफ़ेद होनाbaal safed honaato go grey · (baal), hair, is masculine plural here
- टेंशन लेनाtenshan lenaato worry, to get stressed · informal; (tenshan) is feminine: (koee tenshan naheen lee)
- बन गए होगेban gaye hogewill (probably) have become · the presumptive with (tum); to a woman: (ban gaee hogee)
- पत्रकारpatrakaarjournalist · masculine, also used for women
- सपना देखनाsapnaa dekhnaato dream (of) · (patrakaar banne kaa sapnaa), the dream of becoming a journalist
- ली होतीlee hoteehad taken (but didn't) · the unreal past of (lenaa), agreeing with a feminine object
- मिल गई होगीmil gaee hogeewill have arrived, you'll have got it · the presumptive, agreeing with (riport), which is feminine
- क्या करेंkyaa karenwhat can you do? · a shrug: literally “what should we do?”
- पकड़ी गईpakree gaeeyou've caught me (a woman) · a man says (pakraa gayaa)
- पत्रिकाpatrikaamagazine · feminine
- लेखकlekhakwriter, author · masculine; a woman writer is (lekhikaa)
Other levels: Beginner (A1) · Elementary (A2) · Intermediate (B1)