Cindy Christina

“Hero” is नायक (nāyak) in formal Hindi. In daily talk and in films people say हीरो (hīro), and वीर (vīr) names a brave warrior.

“Good food” is अच्छा खाना (acchā khānā). To say the food is tasty, use स्वादिष्ट खाना (svādiṣṭ khānā) or the casual बढ़िया खाना (baṛhiyā khānā).

The Hindi word for pig is सूअर (sūar). It names the animal, and pork is सूअर का मांस (sūar kā māṃs). सूअर (sūar) is the normal word for the animal.

A man is an आदमी (aadmi) in everyday speech. पुरुष (purush) is the formal word used on forms and signs, and मर्द (mard) stresses manliness.

India is भारत (Bharat) in Hindi, which is also the country’s official Indian name. People also say इंडिया (India) and हिंदुस्तान (Hindustan).

English, the language, is अंग्रेज़ी (aṅgrezī) in Hindi. An English person is an अंग्रेज़ (aṅgrez). अंग्रेज़ी works as a noun and as an adjective.

“Goodnight” is शुभ रात्रि (śubh rātri). Friends also say शब्बा खैर (shabbā khair), and many people use गुड नाइट (guḍ nāiṭ) from English.

The Hindi word for tiger is बाघ (bāgh). Do not confuse it with शेर (sher), which means lion, or with चीता (chītā), which means cheetah.

Hindi speakers usually greet people in the afternoon with नमस्ते (namaste), the same greeting used all day.

The Hindi word for twin is जुड़वाँ (juṛvāṁ). For a twin brother say जुड़वाँ भाई (juṛvāṁ bhāī), and for a twin sister जुड़वाँ बहन (juṛvāṁ bahan).