Getting around
मेट्रो
अगला स्टेशन।
Next station.
You hear this when the doors close or the next stop is called. It is written down too, so a missed word does not end the ride.
Delhi
India
Delhi is India's capital, between a long ceremonial avenue and the lanes of Shahjahanabad.
How the language is used
Hindi is official alongside English. Many other languages are part of life in the city.
In this city
- Language
- Hindi
- Also heard
- English, Urdu and Punjabi
- A local word
- ऑटो — An auto-rickshaw.
- Writing
- Devanagari
What people say
Ordinary lines from this city: the ride, the counter, the food, and the greeting.
The counter
दुकान
एक चाय।
One tea.
This line is a whole order. You do not need a longer sentence.
Food
ऑटो
कहाँ तक?
Where to?
The order is built in short pieces like this one.
The street
सड़क
नमस्ते।
Hello.
People keep this line short. It is enough for the moment.
The language through the day
Hindi is official alongside English. Many other languages are part of the city, and a shop may switch.
In Chandni Chowk, Khan Market, Hauz Khas, you also hear English, Urdu and Punjabi.
A first day in Delhi can run on four lines: “अगला स्टेशन।”, “एक चाय।”, “कहाँ तक?”, and “नमस्ते।”. Each one is already a complete moment.
If you are new here
- Stops, prices, and shop signs are written in Devanagari.
- आप is the polite you in a shop. तुम is closer, with people you know.
- If a spoken line goes past you, read the screen or the board. In Delhi, the stop and the price are written down.
One local word: ऑटो. It means An auto-rickshaw..
Places you can see
- India Gate — A sandstone arch for soldiers of the First World War stands on the ceremonial avenue.
- Red Fort — Shah Jahan's red sandstone fort faces the Yamuna on the edge of Old Delhi.
- Humayun's Tomb — A garden tomb of the Mughal emperor. Its plan later shaped the Taj Mahal.
Food
Old Delhi is known for butter chicken and Mughlai grills, and street stalls sell chaat.
Getting around
The metro joins New Delhi with the old city. For a short hop, you can take an auto-rickshaw.
Daily life
Ministries work in Hindi and English. A market lane may change language from one shop to the next.
A few everyday phrases
Hindi
| Phrase | Reading | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| नमस्ते | Namaste | Hello |
| धन्यवाद | Dhanyavaad | Thank you |
| सुप्रभात | Suprabhaat | Good morning |
| मेरा नाम… है | Mera naam… hai | My name is… |
