<p>If you&#39;re planning to travel to India and want to learn the language, brace yourself: There isn&#39;t just one. Depending on where in the country you&#39;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).</p><p>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&#39;re outside an urban center you&#39;ll want to at least know some common words and phrases. </p><h3>English to Hindi / Bengali / Marathi</h3><p>Here&#39;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&#39;t a comprehensive list, but it will at least get you started and let you find your way around.</p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#999999"><td><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="2"><tbody><tr><td><strong>English</strong></td><td><strong>Hindi</strong></td><td><strong>Bengali</strong></td><td><strong>Marathi</strong></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" height="20"><strong>Yes</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee" height="20">Ha</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" height="20">Ha</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee" height="20">Hoye/ Ho</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>No</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nahi</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Na</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nako</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Thank You</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Dhanyavaad</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Dhanyabad</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Dhanyavaad</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Thank you very much</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aapakaa bahut bahut dhanyavaad</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Tomake onek dhanyabad</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Tumcha Khup Dhanyavaad</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>You&#39;re welcome</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aapakaa svaagat hai</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Swagatam</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Suswagatam</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Please</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Kripyaa</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Anugrah kore</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Krupya</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Excuse me</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Shamma kare</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Maaf korben</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Maaf Kara</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Hello</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Namaste</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Nomoskar</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Namaskar</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Goodbye</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Alavidha (namaste)</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Accha - Aashi</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Accha Yetho</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>So long</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Phir milengay</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Abar dekha hobe</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Evada ved</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good morning</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Shubha prabhaat</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Suprovat</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Suprabhat</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good afternoon</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Namaste</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Subha aparannah</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Namaskar</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good evening</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Namaste</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Subha sandhya</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Namaskar</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good night</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Shubha raatri</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Subha ratri</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Shubh Ratri</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>I do not understand</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Mai nahii samajta hu</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Ami bujhte parchi na</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Mala samjat nahi</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>How do you say this in [English]?</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aap ise angrezi mei kaise bolengay?</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Apni eta engraji te ki bolben?</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Heey engraji madhye Kase mhanaiche?</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Do you speak ...</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Kyaa aap...bolate hain?</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Apni ki bolte paren?</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Tumhi ...boltat?</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>English</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Angrejii</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Engraji</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Engraji</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>French</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Phransisi</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Pharasi</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Phransisi</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>German</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">German</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Germani</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">German</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Spanish</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Spanish</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Spanish</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Spanish</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Chinese</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Cheeni</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Chinese</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Cheeni</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>I</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Mai</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Aami</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Me</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>We</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Hum</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Amra</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aamhi</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>You (singular)</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Tum</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Tumi</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Tu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>You (formal)</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aap</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Apni</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Tumhi</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>You (plural)</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aap sab</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Tomra/Apnara</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Tumhi</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>They</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Vo sab</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Onara</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Thyani / Tey</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>What is your name?</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aapka naam kya hai?</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Aapnar naam ki?</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Tumche nav kai aahe?</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Nice to meet you.</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aapse milkar khushii huyii</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Aapnar sathe dekha kore bhalo laglo</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Tumhala bhetun anand Jhala</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>How are you?</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aap kaise hai?</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Apni kemon achen?</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Tumhi kashe ahat?</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Achchhey</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Bhalo</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Chaangle</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Bad</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Buray</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Baaje/Kharap</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Wayit</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>So so</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Thik thak</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Motamuti</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Thik Thak</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Wife</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Patni</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Sthree/Bou</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Baiko</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Husband</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Pati</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Swami/Bor</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Navra</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Daughter</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Beti</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Kannya/Meye</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Mulgi</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Son</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Beta</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Putra/Chele</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Mulga</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Mother</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Mataji</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Maa</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aei</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Father</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Pitaji</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Baba</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Vadil</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Friend</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Dost, mitra</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Bondhu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Mitr<br/> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table><p> </p><p>English to Tamil / Telugu /Kannada</p><p>Next, we&#39;ll look at that same list of words and phrases in three other major Indian languages: Tamil, Telugu and Kannada. Again, you&#39;re not going to be able to recite poetry but you&#39;ll be able to converse with a taxi driver or a hotel clerk with the phrases and words in this guide.</p><p> </p><table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"><tbody><tr bgcolor="#999999"><td><table cellpadding="2" cellspacing="1"><tbody><tr><td><strong>English</strong></td><td><strong>Tamil</strong></td><td><strong>Telugu</strong></td><td><strong>Kannada</strong></td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" height="20"><strong>Yes</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee" height="13">Aamam</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF" height="13">Sare</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee" height="13">Howdu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>No</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Illai</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Vadu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Illa</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Thank You</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nandri</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Dhaniyavadaalu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Dhanyavada</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Thank you very much</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Romba Nandri</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Chala dhaniyavadaalu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Bahala Dhanyavada</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>You&#39;re welcome</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nandri</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Meku Swagatham</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Suswagata</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Please</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Dayviseiyudhu</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Daya chesi</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Dayavittu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Excuse me</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Mannichu vidungal</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Nannu kshaminchandi</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Kshamisi</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Hello</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Vanakam</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Namaste</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Namaskara</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Goodbye</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Naan poi varugirane</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Velli vastaanu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Hogi Baruve</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>So long</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Poitu Varen</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Chaala kaalamu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Hogi Baruthini</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good morning</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Kaalai vanakkam</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Shubhodayam</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Shubha dina</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good afternoon</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Maalai Vanakkam</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Namaskaramulu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Namaskara</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good evening</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Maalai Vanakkam</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Namaskaramulu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Namaskara</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good night</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Eeniyaa eeravu</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Shubha ratri</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Shubha Ratri</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>I do not understand</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Yenakku puriyavillai</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Naaku artham kaaledu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nanage artha vagalilla</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>How do you say this in [English]?</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Englishil idhay yeppidy solluvengal?</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Yedi englishlo yela chaptaru</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Idannu Englishinalli Hege Heluvudu?</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Do you speak ...</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Neengal ...<br/>pesuve-ngala?</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Meru...matadutara?</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nimage ....mathaladalu barute?</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>English</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Angilam</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Anglamu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">English</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>French</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">French</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">French</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">French</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>German</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">German</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">German</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">German</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Spanish</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Spanish</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Spanish</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Spanish</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Chinese</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Chinese</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Chinese</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Chinese</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>I</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Naan</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Nenu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Naanu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>We</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Naangal</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Memu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Naavu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>You (singular)</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nee</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Nuvvu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Neenu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>You (formal)</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nee</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Nuwu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Neenu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>You (plural)</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Neengal</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Meeru</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Neevu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>They</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Avargal</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Vaallu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Avaru</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>What is your name?</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Ungal peyar enna</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Mee peru emitti?</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nimma Hesaru Yenu?</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Nice to meet you.</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Ungalai sandhithadhil magilchi</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Meemalni kalisi chala santosham aiyindi</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nimmanu Bhetiyagiddu Santosha</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>How are you?</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Sowkyama?</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Yelavunaru</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Neevu Hege Iddira?</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Good</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nalladhu</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Manchi</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Volleyadu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Bad</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Kettadhu</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Chedu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Kettadu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>So so</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Paravaillai</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Parvaledu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Paravagilla</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Wife</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Manavi</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Bharya</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Hendati</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Husband</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Purushan</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Bharta</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Ganda</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Daughter</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Pen kolandai</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Kuturu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Magalu</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Son</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Aan kolandai</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Koduku</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Maga</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Mother</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Thaye</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Amma</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Thayi</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Father</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Thagappan</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Nanna</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Thande</td></tr><tr><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF"><strong>Friend</strong></td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Nanban</td><td bgcolor="#FFFFFF">Snahitudu</td><td bgcolor="#eeeeee">Geleya<br/> </td></tr></tbody></table></td></tr></tbody></table>