Translate English to Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu or Kannada

Tourists in India
Linka A Odom / Getty Images

If you're planning to travel to India and want to learn the language, brace yourself: There isn't just one. Depending on where in the country you're traveling, you may need to know one (or more) of the 22 official languages recognized in India (some estimates put the true number of languages spoken in the thousands, but officially there are 22).

Hindi is the most widely spoken language in India, and English is very common in its cities and major urban areas. But if you plan to be in the country for a while and want to be able to communicate, if you're outside an urban center you'll want to at least know some common words and phrases. 

English to Hindi / Bengali / Marathi

Here's a list of common words, phrases and sentences in three of the major Indian languages: Hindi, Bengali and Marathi, translated from English. This isn't a comprehensive list, but it will at least get you started and let you find your way around.

English Hindi Bengali Marathi
Yes Ha Ha Hoye/Ho
No Nahi Na Nako
Thank you Dhanyavaad Dhanyabad Dhanyavaad
Thank you very much Aapakaa bahut bahut dhanyavaad Tomake onek dhanyabad Tumcha Khup Dhanyavaad
You're welcome Aapakaa svaagat hai Swagatam Suswagatam
Please Kripyaa Anugrah kore Krupya
Excuse me Shamma kare Maaf korben Maaf Kara
Hello Namaste Nomoskar Namaskar
Goodbye Alavidha (namaste) Accha - Aashi Accha Yetho
So long Phir milengay Abar dekha hobe Evada ved
Good morning Shubha prabhaat Suprovat Suprabhat
Good afternoon Namaste Subha aparannah Namaskar
Good evening Namaste Subha sandhya Namaskar
Good night Shubha raatri Subha ratri Shubh Ratri
I do not understand Mai nahii samajta hu Ami bujhte parchi na Mala samjat nahi
How do you say this in [English]? Aap ise angrezi mei kaise bolengay? Apni eta engraji te ki bolben? Heey engraji madhye Kase mhanaiche?
Do you speak ... ? Kyaa aap...bolate hain? Apni ki bolte paren? Tumhi ...boltat?
English Angrejii Engraji Engraji
French Phransisi Pharasi Phransisi
German German Germani German
Spanish Spanish Spanish Spanish
Chinese Cheeni Chinese Cheeni
I Mai Aami Me
We Hum Amra Aamhi
You (singular) Tum Tumi Tu
You (formal) Aap Apni Tumhi
You (plural) Aap sab Tomra/Apnara Tumhi
They Vo sab Onara Thyani/Tey
What is your name? Aapka naam kya hai? Aapnar naam ki? Tumche nav kai aahe?
Nice to meet you. Aapse milkar khushii huyii Aapnar sathe dekha kore bhalo laglo Tumhala bhetun anand Jhala
How are you? Aap kaise hai? Apni kemon achen? Tumhi kashe ahat?
Good Achchhey Bhalo Chaangle
Bad Buray Baaje/Kharap Wayit
So so Thik thak Motamuti Thik Thak
Wife Patni Sthree/Bou Baiko
Husband Pati Swami/Bor Navra
Daughter Beti Kannya/Meye Mulgi
Son Beta Putra/Chele Mulga
Mother Mataji Maa Aei
Father Pitaji Baba Vadil
Friend Dost, mitra Bondhu Mitr

English to Tami / Telugu / Kannada

Next, we'll look at that same list of words and phrases in three other major Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Again, you're not going to be able to recite poetry but you'll be able to converse with a taxi driver or a hotel clerk with the phrases and words in this guide.

English Tamil Telugu Kannada
Yes Aamam Sare Howdu
No Illai Vadu Illa
Thank you Nandri Dhaniyavadaalu Dhanyavada
Thank you very much Romba Nandri Chala dhaniyavadaalu Bahala Dhanyavada
You're welcome Nandri Meku Swagatham Suswagata
Please Dayviseiyudhu Daya chesi Dayavittu
Excuse me Mannichu vidungal Nannu kshaminchandi Kshamisi
Hello Vanakam Namaste Namaskara
Goodbye Naan poi varugirane Velli vastaanu Hogi Baruve
So long Poitu Varen Chaala kaalamu Hogi Baruthini
Good morning Kaalai vanakkam Shubhodayam Shubha dina
Good afternoon Maalai Vanakkam Namaskaramulu Namaskara
Good evening Maalai Vanakkam Namaskaramulu Namaskara
Good night Eeniyaa eeravu Shubha ratri Shubha Ratri
I do not understand Yenakku puriyavillai Naaku artham kaaledu Nanage artha vagalilla
How do you say this in [English]? Englishil idhay yeppidy solluvengal? Yedi englishlo yela chaptaru Idannu Englishinalli Hege Heluvudu?
Do you speak ... ? Neengal ... pesuve-ngala? Meru...matadutara? Nimage...mathaladalu barute?
English Angilam Anglamu English
French French French French
German German German German
Spanish Spanish Spanish Spanish
Chinese Chinese Chinese Chinese
I Naan Nenu Naanu
We Naangal Memu Naavu
You (singular) Nee Nuvvu Neenu
You (formal) Nee Nuwu Neenu
You (plural) Neengal Meeru Neevu
They Avargal Vaallu Avaru
What is your name? Ungal peyar enna Mee peru emitti? Nimma Hesaru Yenu?
Nice to meet you. Ungalai sandhithadhil magilchi Meemalni kalisi chala santosham aiyindi Nimmanu Bhetiyagiddu Santosha
How are you? Sowkyama? Yelavunaru Neevu Hege Iddira?
Good Nalladhu Manchi Volleyadu
Bad Kettadhu Chedu Kettadu
So so Paravaillai Parvaledu Paravagilla
Wife Manavi Bharya Hendati
Husband Purushan Bharta Ganda
Daughter Pen kolandai Kuturu Magalu
Son Aan kolandai Koduku Maga
Mother Thaye Amma Thayi
Father Thagappan Nanna Thande
Friend Nanban Snahitudu Geleya
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Your Citation
Das, Subhamoy. "Translate English to Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu or Kannada." Learn Religions, Apr. 5, 2023, learnreligions.com/translate-english-to-hindi-4076778. Das, Subhamoy. (2023, April 5). Translate English to Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu or Kannada. Retrieved from https://www.learnreligions.com/translate-english-to-hindi-4076778 Das, Subhamoy. "Translate English to Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu or Kannada." Learn Religions. https://www.learnreligions.com/translate-english-to-hindi-4076778 (accessed March 28, 2024).