3

acknowledgmentsa

ckn

ow

led

gm

en

tsacknowledgments

This 5th edition of Lonely Planet’s Hindi, Urdu & Bengali phrasebook is based on the previous editions by the Lonely Planet Language Products team and translators Richard Delacy and Shahara Ahmed.

Richard has studied and taught Hindi and Urdu formally at tertiary institu-tions in Australia and the US for several years. He has been travelling to India since the early 1990s and has also been to Pakistan.

Shahara is originally from Dhaka and now lives in Melbourne and works for Lonely Planet as a Cartography Manager. She still considers Bangladesh her home and visits as often as she can.

ack

no

wle

dg

me

nts

00a-prelims-hub5.indd 30a-prelims-hub5.indd 3 7/04/2016 3:04:33 PM7/04/2016 3:04:33 PM

4

make the most of this phrasebook ...Anyone can speak another language! It’s all about confidence. Don’t worry if you can’t remember your school language lessons or if you’ve never learnt a language before. Even if you learn the very basics (on the inside covers of this book), your travel experience will be the better for it. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain when the locals hear you making an effort.

finding things in this book This book is divided into a Hindi/Urdu part and a Bengali part – for ease of navigation, both are subdivided into the same sections. The Tools chapters are the ones you’ll thumb through time and again. The Practical sections cover basic travel situations like catching transport and finding a bed. The Social sections give you conversational phrases and the ability to express opinions – so you can get to know people. Food has a section all of its own: gourmets and vegetarians are covered and local dishes feature. Safe Travel equips you with health and police phrases, just in case. Remember the colours of each section and you’ll find everything easily; or use the compre-hensive Index. Otherwise, check the two-way traveller’s Dictionaries for the word you need.

being understoodThroughout this book you’ll see coloured phrases on each page. They’re phonetic guides to help you pronounce the language – you don’t even need to look at the language if you’re not familiar with the Hindi, Urdu or Bengali script. The pronunciation for Hindi and Urdu words and phrases is generally the same, but where they differ we’ve given a different pronun-ciation guide for each, preceded by ⓗ for Hindi and ⓤ for Urdu. The pro-nunciation chapter in Tools will explain more, but you can feel confident that if you read the coloured phrase slowly, you’ll be understood.

communication tipsBody language, ways of doing things, sense of humour – all have a role to play in every culture. ‘Local talk’ boxes show you common ways of saying things, or everyday language to drop into conversation. ‘Listen for …’ boxes supply the phrases you may hear and ‘signs’ boxes show you signs you might encounter.

MA

KE

TH

E M

OS

T O

F T

HIS

PH

RA

SE

BO

OK

00a-prelims-hub5.indd 40a-prelims-hub5.indd 4 7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM

5

CO

NT

EN

TS

HIN

DI &

UR

DU

about hindi & urdu ........................................9map .......................................................... 10 introduction .............................................. 11

basics ..........................................................13pronunciation ..................................... 13

vowel sounds ...................................... 13consonant sounds ............................... 13syllables & word stress ........................ 14reading & writing ............................... 15

a–z phrasebuilder ............................... 17language difficulties ........................... 29numbers & amounts ............................ 31

cardinal numbers ................................ 31

ordinal numbers ................................. 32fractions .............................................. 32useful amounts ................................... 32

time & dates ....................................... 33telling the time ................................... 33the calendar ........................................ 34present ............................................... 35past..................................................... 36future.................................................. 36

practical ......................................................37transport ............................................ 37

getting around.................................... 37tickets ................................................. 38luggage .............................................. 40plane .................................................. 41bus & coach......................................... 41train .................................................... 42taxi ..................................................... 43car & motorbike .................................. 44bicycle................................................. 47local transport .................................... 47

border crossing ................................... 49border crossing ................................... 49at customs .......................................... 50

directions............................................ 51accommodation .................................. 53

finding accommodation...................... 53booking ahead & checking in .............. 53requests & queries .............................. 55complaints .......................................... 57checking out ....................................... 58

shopping ............................................ 59looking for .......................................... 59making a purchase.............................. 59

bargaining .......................................... 61books & reading .................................. 62clothes ................................................ 63hairdressing ........................................ 64music .................................................. 64photography ....................................... 65repairs................................................. 66

communications ................................. 67the internet ........................................ 67mobile/cell phone............................... 68phone ................................................. 69post office ........................................... 70

money & banking ................................ 71sightseeing ......................................... 73

sightseeing ......................................... 73getting in ............................................ 74tours ................................................... 75

business.............................................. 77specific needs...................................... 79

senior & disabled travellers ................. 79women travellers ................................ 80travelling with children ...................... 80

00a-prelims-hub5.indd 50a-prelims-hub5.indd 5 7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM

6

CO

NT

EN

TS

HIN

DI

& U

RD

U

social ...........................................................83meeting people .................................. 83

basics .................................................. 83greetings & goodbyes ......................... 84addressing people .............................. 86making conversation .......................... 86nationalities ........................................ 87age...................................................... 88occupations & studies ......................... 88family ................................................. 90farewells ............................................. 90

interests ............................................. 91common interests ............................... 91music .................................................. 91cinema & theatre ................................ 92art ....................................................... 93sport ................................................... 94

feelings & opinions ............................. 95feelings ............................................... 95politics & social issues ......................... 96the environment ................................. 97

going out ............................................ 99where to go ........................................ 99invitations......................................... 100responding to invitations .................. 101arranging to meet ............................. 101

beliefs & cultural differences ............. 103religion ............................................. 103cultural differences ........................... 104

outdoors ........................................... 105hiking ............................................... 105weather ............................................ 107flora & fauna ..................................... 108

food ...........................................................109eating out ......................................... 109

basics ................................................ 109finding a place to eat ........................ 109restaurant ......................................... 110at the table ....................................... 112talking food ...................................... 113methods of preparation .................... 113nonalcoholic drinks ........................... 114alcoholic drinks ................................. 115

in the bar .......................................... 115 self-catering..................................... 117

buying food ...................................... 117cooking utensils ................................ 118

vegetarian & special meals ................ 119ordering food .................................... 119special diets & allergies..................... 120

menu decoder ................................... 121

safe travel..................................................129emergencies ..................................... 129

emergencies ..................................... 129police ................................................ 130

health ............................................... 133doctor ............................................... 133symptoms & conditions .................... 134

parts of the body............................... 137alternative treatments ...................... 138allergies ............................................ 138pharmacist ........................................ 139dentist .............................................. 140

dictionaries ...............................................141english–hindi/urdu dictionary ................ 141hindi–english dictionary ......................... 157

urdu–english dictionary ......................... 163

00a-prelims-hub5.indd 60a-prelims-hub5.indd 6 7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM

7

CO

NT

EN

TS

BE

NG

AL

I

about bengali ............................................169map ........................................................ 170 introduction ............................................ 171

basics ........................................................173pronunciation ................................... 173

vowel sounds .................................... 173consonant sounds ............................. 174syllables & word stress ...................... 175reading & writing ............................. 175

a–z phrasebuilder ............................. 177language difficulties ......................... 187numbers & amounts .......................... 189

cardinal numbers .............................. 189ordinal numbers ............................... 190

fractions ............................................ 190useful amounts ................................. 190

time & dates ..................................... 191telling the time ................................. 191the calendar ...................................... 191present ............................................. 193past................................................... 193future................................................ 193during the day .................................. 194

practical ....................................................195transport .......................................... 195

getting around.................................. 195tickets ............................................... 196luggage ............................................ 197plane ................................................ 197bus & coach....................................... 198train .................................................. 199boat .................................................. 199taxi ................................................... 200car & motorbike ................................ 201bicycle............................................... 203local transport .................................. 204

border crossing ................................. 205border crossing ................................. 205at customs ........................................ 206

directions.......................................... 207accommodation ................................ 209

finding accommodation.................... 209booking ahead & checking in ............ 209requests & queries ............................ 210complaints ........................................ 212checking out ..................................... 213renting .............................................. 214staying with locals ............................ 214

shopping .......................................... 215

looking for ........................................ 215making a purchase............................ 215bargaining ........................................ 217books & reading ................................ 217clothes .............................................. 218hairdressing ...................................... 218music ............................................... 219photography ..................................... 219repairs............................................... 220

communications ............................... 221the internet ...................................... 221mobile/cell phone............................. 222phone ............................................... 222post office ......................................... 224

money & banking .............................. 225sightseeing ....................................... 227

sightseeing ....................................... 227getting in .......................................... 228tours ................................................. 228

business............................................ 229specific needs.................................... 231

senior & disabled travellers .............. 231women travellers .............................. 232travelling with children .................... 232

00a-prelims-hub5.indd 70a-prelims-hub5.indd 7 7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM

8

CO

NT

EN

TS

BE

NG

AL

I

social .........................................................235meeting people ................................ 235

basics ................................................ 235greetings & goodbyes ....................... 235addressing people ............................ 237making conversation ........................ 237nationalities ...................................... 238age.................................................... 238family ............................................... 239occupations & studies ....................... 239farewells ........................................... 240

interests ........................................... 241common interests ............................. 241music ................................................ 241cinema & theatre .............................. 242art ..................................................... 243sport ................................................. 244

feelings & opinions ........................... 245

feelings ............................................. 245politics & social issues ....................... 245the environment ............................... 246

going out .......................................... 247where to go ...................................... 247invitations......................................... 248responding to invitations .................. 249arranging to meet ............................. 249love ................................................... 250

beliefs & cultural differences ............. 251religion ............................................. 251cultural differences ........................... 252

outdoors ........................................... 253hiking ............................................... 253weather ............................................ 253flora & fauna ..................................... 254

food ...........................................................255eating out ......................................... 255

basics ................................................ 255finding a place to eat ........................ 255restaurant ......................................... 256at the table ....................................... 257talking food ...................................... 258nonalcoholic drinks ........................... 259alcoholic drinks ................................. 259

in the bar .......................................... 260self-catering ..................................... 261

buying food ...................................... 261cooking utensils ................................ 262

vegetarian & special meals ................ 263ordering food .................................... 263special diets & allergies..................... 264

menu decoder ................................... 265

safe travel..................................................271emergencies ..................................... 271

emergencies ..................................... 271police ................................................ 272

health ............................................... 273doctor ............................................... 273symptoms & conditions .................... 274

allergies ............................................ 275parts of the body............................... 276alternative treatments ...................... 277pharmacist ........................................ 277dentist .............................................. 278

dictionaries ...............................................279english–bengali dictionary ..................... 279 bengali–english dictionary ..................... 291

glossary ............. 297 index .................. 299

00a-prelims-hub5.indd 80a-prelims-hub5.indd 8 7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM7/04/2016 3:04:34 PM

10

AB

OU

T H

IND

I, U

RD

U &

BE

NG

AL

I

hindi & urdu

Luck

now

Agra

Tirth

Raj

Pray

ag(A

llaha

bad)

Jodh

pur

Mum

bai

(Bom

bay)

Hyde

raba

d

Vara

nasi

Chan

diga

rh

Hyde

raba

dKa

rach

i

Amrit

sar

Laho

re

Pesh

awar

Delh

i

Islam

abad

BA

Y O

FB

EN

GA

L

Mouths of

t h e I n dus

Mo

uth

s o

fth

e G

an

ges

AR

AB

IAN

SE

A

Mah

aras

htra

Andh

raPr

ades

h

Him

acha

lPr

ades

h

Punj

abUt

tara

ncha

lHa

ryan

a

Utta

r Pra

desh

Raja

stha

n

Sind

h

Punj

ab

North

ern

Area

sNo

rth-W

est

Fron

tier

Prov

ince

Balo

chist

an

Biha

r

Wes

tBe

ngal

Mad

hya

Prad

esh

Jhar

khan

dGu

jara

t

Chha

ttisg

arh

Oriss

a

Jam

mu &

Kash

mir

Azad

Jamm

u &Ka

shmi

r

Sikk

im

Tibe

t

Tela

ngan

a

Afgh

anis

tan

Iran

(Chi

na)

Nepa

l

Bang

la-

desh

INDI

A

PAKI

STAN

The e

xter

nal b

ound

aries

of In

dia o

n th

ism

ap h

ave n

ot be

en au

then

ticat

edan

d may

not

be co

rrect

BA

Y O

FB

ENG

AL

AR

AB

IAN

SEA

Anda

man

Islan

dsNi

coba

rIsl

ands

Bang

lade

sh

Mya

nmar

Nepa

lTi

bet (

Chin

a)Bh

utan

Sri

Lank

a

INDI

A

PAKI

STAN

250

km15

0 m

i0 0

official language (Hindi) widely understood (Hindi & Urdu) official language (Urdu) For more details, see the introduction, page 11.

AB

OU

T H

IND

I &

UR

DU

00b-hu-title-map-hub5.indd 100b-hu-title-map-hub5.indd 10 7/04/2016 2:56:40 PM7/04/2016 2:56:40 PM

13

BASICS > pronunciation¬Cc;r,e' • تلفّظ

Many of the Hindi and Urdu sounds are also found in English. As ever, no book will replace listening to the language, but as a guide it can get you started.

vowel soundsThe length of a vowel is distinctive, so work on getting the differences between short vowels (like a) and long vowels (like aa) right.

vowel soundssymbol english equivalent hindi/urdu example

a run pa·ti

aa father pi·taa

ai aisle sa·mai

ay day pay·se

au cow au·rat

e bed de·kaa

ee bee pat·nee

i bit mil·naa

o go bol·naa

oo fool dood

u put sun·naa

consonant soundsThere’s a difference between ‘aspirated’ consonants (pronounced with a strong puff of air, like saying ‘h’ after the sound) and ‘unaspirated’ ones. There are also ‘retroflex’ consonants, where you bend your tongue backwards to make the sound. Our sim-plified pronunciation guide doesn’t include these distinctions – however, you’ll be understood just fine if you follow our system.

pro

nu

ncia

tion

01a-hu-pronunciation-hub5.indd 13a-hu-pronunciation-hub5.indd 13 6/04/2016 1:13:41 PM6/04/2016 1:13:41 PM