Numbers & Regional Languages
Numbers
| Number | Hindi | Pronunciation |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | एक | Ek |
| 2 | दो | Do |
| 3 | तीन | Teen |
| 4 | चार | Chaar |
| 5 | पाँच | Paanch |
| 10 | दस | Das |
| 20 | बीस | Bees |
| 50 | पचास | Pachaas |
| 100 | सौ | Sau |
| 1,000 | हज़ार | Hazaar |
Important: India uses its own numbering system for large numbers: Lakh (100,000) and Crore (10,000,000). When an Indian says "two Lakh," they mean 200,000. On price tags: 2,00,000 instead of 200,000.
Regional Languages
India has 22 official languages and over 19,500 dialects. Hindi is only a native language in the north and central India — in the south and northeast, it is often reluctantly spoken. An overview:
- Tamil (Tamil Nadu): One of the oldest living languages in the world. Tamils are proud of their language and prefer to speak English over Hindi.
- Malayalam (Kerala): The language of Kerala — complex and melodic.
- Kannada (Karnataka): Spoken in Bengaluru, Mysore, Hampi region.
- Telugu (Andhra Pradesh, Telangana): The most spoken Dravidian language.
- Bengali (West Bengal): Language of Tagore and Bengali culture.
- Marathi (Maharashtra/Mumbai): Official language in Mumbai.
- Urdu: Closely related to Hindi, written in Arabic script. Language of Mughal poetry and many Bollywood songs.
English in India
English is the second official language and is used in education, business, judiciary, and interregional communication. In tourist areas, hotels, and restaurants, you can get by with English without any problems. In rural areas and with older people, it can be more challenging. Indian English has its own phrases: "What is your good name?" (What is your name?), "Prepone" (to advance, opposite of postpone), "Do the needful" (do what is necessary).
💡 Tipp
The most important Hindi word for tourists: "Accha" (good/okay/understood) — it works in practically every situation. And "Bahut accha!" (Very good!) as a compliment for food or experiences is always rewarded with a beaming smile. The Namaste with folded hands is the universal greeting throughout India — even in the south, where Hindi is not spoken.
