Basic Words

1. हँ

   Han

   Yes

   Usage

   The basic yes. Add "जी" after it to sound more respectful to elders or strangers.

   Grammar Note

   Also written "हाँ" (the Hindi spelling); this card set uses "हँ" throughout.

2. ना

   Naa

   No

   Usage

   The basic no. Inside a sentence it goes before the verb to negate it.

   Grammar Note

   Short "ना" is used rather than Hindi "नहीं", and it goes before the verb.

3. धन्यबाद।

   Dhan-ya-baad.

   Thank you.

   Usage

   The basic word of thanks, safe with anyone, in shops or on the street.

   Grammar Note

   Spelled with "ब", as "धन्यबाद", not the Hindi spelling "धन्यवाद".

4. तनी सुनीं।

   Ta-ni su-nin.

   Excuse me.

   Usage

   A polite way to get someone's attention. You can put "भइया" before it when addressing a man.

   Grammar Note

   "सुनीं" is "सुन" (listen) with the polite imperative ending "-ीं"; use it with strangers and elders, and keep "सुन" or "सुनऽ" for close friends. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

5. माफ करीं।

   Maaph ka-rin.

   Sorry. / Please forgive me.

   Usage

   A polite way to apologise or to excuse a small imposition.

   Grammar Note

   "माफ करीं" is the polite imperative, "please forgive me"; for a close friend it would be "माफ करऽ". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

6. ठीक बा।

   Thik baa.

   It's OK. / I'm fine.

   Usage

   A short reply meaning "that's fine" or "I'm OK".

   Grammar Note

   A statement of state, so "बा" is used; Hindi "है" does not appear. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

7. हमरा समझ में ना आइल।

   Ham-raa sa-majh men naa aa-il.

   I don't understand.

   Usage

   Use it when you did not follow what was said. Follow it with "तनी धीरे बोलीं".

   Grammar Note

   Literally "understanding did not come to me", with "हमरा" for "to me"; Hindi "मुझे ... नहीं" is not used. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

8. हमरा समझ में आ गइल।

   Ham-raa sa-majh men aa ga-il.

   I understand.

   Usage

   A reply once you have understood an explanation.

   Grammar Note

   "आ गइल" adds "गइल" to "आइल" (came) to show the action is completed. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

9. हो गइल।

   Ho ga-il.

   I'm finished. / Done.

   Usage

   A remark when a meal or a procedure is finished.

   Grammar Note

   "हो" is the stem of "होखल" (to be/become) and "गइल" marks completion. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

10. तनी इंतजार करीं।

    Ta-ni in-ta-jaar ka-rin.

    Please wait.

    Usage

    A polite request asking someone to wait a little.

    Grammar Note

    "इंतजार करीं" is noun + "करल" (do); the ending "-ीं" makes it polite. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

11. एक मिनट।

    Ek mi-nat.

    Just a moment.

    Usage

    A short "one moment" to ask for a little time.

    Grammar Note

    "मिनट" is an English loan placed straight after the numeral "एक". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

12. हमरा लगे बुकिंग नइखे।

    Ham-raa la-ge bu-king na-i-khe.

    I don't have a reservation.

    Usage

    Tells a hotel or restaurant that you have no booking.

    Grammar Note

    "Not having" is "हमरा लगे ... नइखे"; having is "बा". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

13. हमरा लगे बुकिंग बा।

    Ham-raa la-ge bu-king baa.

    I have a reservation.

    Usage

    Tells a hotel or restaurant that you have a booking.

    Grammar Note

    "हमरा लगे ... बा" means "I have ..."; Hindi "मेरे पास है" is not used. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

14. हमार मदद करीं।

    Ha-maar ma-dad ka-rin.

    Please help me.

    Usage

    A polite way to ask someone for help when you are in trouble.

    Grammar Note

    "To help" is "मदद करल", with "हमार" for the person helped. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

15. फेर से बोलीं।

    Pher se bo-lin.

    Please say it again.

    Usage

    Asks the speaker to repeat what you did not catch.

    Grammar Note

    "बोलीं" is "बोल" (speak) with the polite ending "-ीं". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

16. तनी धीरे बोलीं।

    Ta-ni dhi-re bo-lin.

    Please speak slowly.

    Usage

    A polite request when someone speaks too fast for you.

    Grammar Note

    "तनी" means "a little" and softens the request. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

17. हम तनी भोजपुरी बोल सकत बानी।

    Ham ta-ni bhoj-pu-ri bol sa-kat baa-ni.

    I speak a little.

    Usage

    Tells people you speak a little of the local language. You can replace "भोजपुरी" with another language name.

    Grammar Note

    "Can do" is the verb stem plus "सकत बानी". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

18. रउआ अंगरेजी बोल सकत बानी का?

    Ra-u-aa an-ga-re-ji bol sa-kat baa-ni kaa?

    Do you speak English?

    Usage

    A polite way to ask a stranger whether English will work.

    Grammar Note

    A yes/no question takes "का" at the end, and "रउआ" goes with "बानी". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

19. ई

    I

    This

    Usage

    Said while pointing at something close by.

    Grammar Note

    For something far away, "ऊ" is used.

20. ऊ

    U

    That

    Usage

    Said while pointing at something or someone farther away.

    Grammar Note

    "ऊ" means both "that" and "he/she"; it is sometimes written "उ".

21. इहाँ

    I-haan

    Here

    Usage

    Points to the place where you are.

    Grammar Note

    "Here" is "इहाँ", not Hindi "यहाँ".

22. उहाँ

    U-haan

    There

    Usage

    Points to a place farther away.

    Grammar Note

    "There" is "उहाँ", not Hindi "वहाँ".

23. हम

    Ham

    I / me

    Usage

    The basic word for "I".

    Grammar Note

    "I" is "हम", not Hindi "मैं"; "my" is "हमार" and "to me" is "हमरा".

24. रउआ

    Ra-u-aa

    You (polite)

    Usage

    The polite "you" for strangers and elders.

    Grammar Note

    "रउआ" takes "बानी". The familiar "तू" is only for close friends and children, never for strangers.

25. साथे

    Saa-the

    Together

    Usage

    A word for "together" or "along with".

    Grammar Note

    It can follow a person to mean "together with". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

26. एतना बहुत बा।

    Et-naa ba-hut baa.

    This is enough.

    Usage

    Used to say "that's enough" when food is served or goods are offered.

    Grammar Note

    "एतना" means "this much" and is spelled differently from Hindi "इतना". Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

27. तुरंत

    Tu-rant

    Right now

    Usage

    Used when you need something done at once.

    Grammar Note

    Placed at the start or before a verb to add the sense "at once".

28. एगो आदमी

    E-go aad-mi

    One person

    Usage

    Gives a head count, for example in a restaurant.

    Grammar Note

    The counter "गो" attaches to the number; "एक" is the bare number while "एगो" counts people or things. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

29. दू गो आदमी

    Du go aad-mi

    Two people

    Usage

    Gives a head count, for example when asking for a table.

    Grammar Note

    The counter "गो" follows the numeral. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

30. तीन गो आदमी

    Tin go aad-mi

    Three people

    Usage

    Gives a head count, for example when asking for a table.

    Grammar Note

    The counter "गो" follows the numeral. Composed sentence; a native check is advisable.

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