A Short Introduction to Hindiby Poul Williams

Namaskar

These pages contain information on Hindi. I have written them while learning Hindi myself. Please note that I am not fluent in Hindi and that the pages are probably filled with mistakes. Use them at your own risk.

The following abbreviations are used:  

f   feminine genderm   masculine genderpl   pluralr   respectfuls   singular

You are welcome to put a link to my Hindi site on your pages. Please link to the top page http://www.it-c.dk/people/pfw/hindi/ and not to the sub-pages. I might move the pages around and links to sub-pages would then become invalid. If you add a link, drop me an e-mail.

These pages ( the pages with URLs starting with http://www.it-c.dk/people/pfw/hindi/ and http://www.it.dtu.dk/~pfw/hindi/ ) are copyright (c) 1996-2000 by Poul Williams. You may view them on the Internet. You may make printed copies for your own personal use. Selling or making a profit of these pages is not allowed. You may not modify the pages. You may not put them on another server on the Internet. Basically, treat the pages like you want me to treat your pages!

These pages come with absolutely no guarantees of correctness. If you are serious about learning Hindi, buy a book, or even better, take a class.

If you have any comments, please feel free to write me at pfw@it-c.dk.

Pronunciation

Hindi is written using the Devanagari script. The Hindi you see on these pages have been transcribed using the English alphabet. Because the Devanagari script contains more letters than the English alphabet, sometimes it is necessary to use two or even three English letters to represent one Devanagari letter. Below is a list of vowels and consonants in Hindi together with guidelines for pronouncing them. Hindi makes widely use of nasal sounds; vowels exist in both a regular and a nasalized version. When transcribing Hindi, one often writes the letter 'n' after a nasalized vowel. Example:

Mera naam Poul hai. Kyaa aap John hain? (My name is Poul. Are you John?)

The 'ai' in "hai" is a non-nasalized vowel, while the 'ai' in "hain" is nasalized.

There are no upper and lower case letters in Hindi; all letters have only one case. Any capitalization of Hindi words on these pages is only to aide the reader.

Vowels

a   normal, formal, woman, popular.

aa   father, par, car, far.

i   hit, pin, gin, tin, win, sin.

u   bull, full, pull, put.

uu   crucial.

e   set, pet, let.

ee   they, hey.

ai   said

o   over, lower.

oo   mole, pole, post.

au   audit, August, Paul.

Consonants

g   get, gun, mug, give.gh   g + h.n   sing, wing, bring.ch   much, such.chh   ch + h.

jh   j + h.t   tree, tea.th   t + h (hard).d   day, do, deed.d   then, this, the.dh   d + h (hard).th   thin, both.sh   she, show, shop.s   seen, sun.

Syntax

Hindi uses a different word order than English. The main differences are that verbs are placed at the end of the sentence (like in German) and that Hindi (like other Indian languages) uses postpositions instead of prepositions. Postpositions are like prepositions except that they are written after the noun.

Normal sentences

English: Subject Verb Object => I learn HindiHindi: Subject Object Verb => I Hindi learn

English: Subject Verb Preposition Object => I go to the shopHindi: Subject Object Postposition Verb => I shop to go

Imperative sentences

English: Verb Place Adverb => Come here nowHindi: Place Adverb Verb => Here now come

English: Verb Negative Verb Adverb => Do not eat quicklyHindi: Adverb Negative Verb => Quickly not eat

Interrogate sentences

English: Adverb Aux.Verb Subject Verb => What are you drawing?Hindi: Subject Adverb Verb => You what draw?

Pronouns

First Person

I  - mainTo me - mujhkoMy  - mera (m) , meri (f) , mere (pl)We  - hamTo us  - hamko

Our  - hamara (m) , hamari (f) , hamare (pl)

Second Person

You  - tum , ap (r)To you  - tumko , apko (r)

Your  - tumhara (m) , tumhari (f) , tumhare (pl)

Your (r) - apka (m) , apki (f) , apke (pl)

Third Person

He, she, it (there)  - vah , ve (r)He, she, it (here)  - yah, ye (r)To him, her, it (there) - usko, unko (r)To him, her, it (here)  - isko, inko (r)His, her, its  - uska (m) , uski (f) , uske (pl)They  - veTo them  - unkoTheir  - unka (m) , unki (f) , unke (pl)

Demonstrative & relative

This  - yahThis very, this same  - yahinThat  - vahThat very, that same - vahinThese  - yeThose  - veWho  - kaunWhom (s)  - kis koWhom (pl or r)  - kin koWhose  - kis ka (m) , kis ki (f)Which (s)  - kaun siWhich (pl)  - kis ko

Of which (s)  - kis kiOf which (pl)  - kin ki

Pronouns in the direct and indirect cases

Singular      Plural    Direct  - Indirect | Direct  - Indirectyah  - is  | ye  - inyahin  - isin  | ye hin  - inhinvah  - us  | ve  - unvahin  - usin  | ve hin  - unhinkaun  - kis  | kaun  - kinkoin  - kisin  | koin-koin - kinhinjo  - jis  | jo  - jin

Hindi Verbs

Hindi verbs are inflected with respect to

gender of the subject (masculine, feminine) number of the subject (singular, plural) tense (present, past, future) action (perfect, imperfect, continuous) degree of respect (intimate, familiar, respect)

Verbs are referred to in their infinitive noun form which ends in na.

Examples:

bolna   to speaklikhna   to writelena   to takeana   to come

The stem of a verb is the infinitive form minus the na ending.

Examples:

bollikhlea

Present Tense

Present tense of hona (to be):

      main hun  I amtu hai   you are (intimate)yah hai   this, he, she, it isvah hai   that, he, she, it isham hain  we aretum ho   you are (familiar)ap hain   you are (respect)ye hain   these, they areve hain   those, they are

Present Imperfect

The present imperfect is used for habitual actions. It is formed by adding ta, te, or ti to the stem of the verb followed by the present tense of hona.

Below are shown the forms in the masculine. The feminine forms can be constructed by replacing bolta and bolte with bolti.

      main bolta hun  I speaktu bolta hai   you speak (intimate)yah bolta hai   this, he, it speaksvah bolta hai   that, he, it speaksham bolte hain   we speaktum bolte ho   you speak (familiar)ap bolte hain   you speak (respect)ye bolte hain   these, they speakve bolte hain   those, they speak

Present Continuous

The present continuous is used for ongoing actions -- like the "-ing" form in English. It is formed like this: stem + raha/rahe/rahi + present tense of hona

Below are shown the forms in the masculine. The feminine forms can be constructed by replacing raha and rahe with rahi.

      

main bol raha hun  I am speakingtu bol raha hai   you are speaking (intimate)yah bol raha hai   this, he, it is speakingvah bol raha hai   that, he, it is speakingham bol rahe hain   we are speakingtum bol rahe ho   you are speaking (familiar)ap bol rahe hain   you are speaking (respect)ye bol rahe hain   these, they are speakingve bol rahe hain   those, they are speaking

Past Tense

Past tense of hona (to be):

      main tha / thi   I wastu tha / thi   you were (intimate)yah tha / thi   this, he, she, it wasvah tha / thi   that, he, she, it washam the / thin  we weretum the / thin   you were (familiar)ap the / thin   you were (respect)ye the / thin   these, they wereve the / thin   those, they were

(The slash seperates masculine and feminine forms)

Past Imperfect

The past imprefect is used for habitual actions in the past. It is formed like the present imperfect but with the past tense of hona instead of the present tense.

Below are shown the forms in the masculine. The feminine forms can be constructed by replacing bolta and bolte with bolti, replacing tha with thi, and the with thin.

      main bolta tha  I used to speaktu bolta tha   you used to speak (intimate)yah bolta tha   this, he, it used to speakvah bolta tha   that, he, it used to speakham bolte the   we used to speaktum bolte the   you used to speak (familiar)ap bolte the   you used to speak (respect)ye bolte the   these, they used to speakve bolte the   those, they used to speak

Past Continuous

The past continuous is used for ongoing actions in the past -- like the "-ing" form in English. It is formed like this: stem + raha/rahe/rahi + past tense of hona

Below are shown the forms in the masculine. The feminine forms can be constructed by replacing raha and rahe with rahi, replacing tha with thi, and the with thin.

      main bol raha tha  I was speakingtu bol raha tha   you were speaking (intimate)yah bol raha tha   this, he, it was speakingvah bol raha tha   that, he, it was speakingham bol rahe the   we were speakingtum bol rahe the   you were speaking (familiar)ap bol rahe the   you were speaking (respect)ye bol rahe the   these, they were speakingve bol rahe the   those, they were speaking

Future Tense

Future Imperfect

The future imprefect is used to refer to the future as well as to make assumptions about the presents (just like in English). It is formed by adding unga/i, ega/i, enge/i, or oge/i to the stem.

Below are shown the forms in the masculine. The feminine forms can be constructed by replacing the ending a or e with i.

      main bolunga  I will speaktu bolega   you will speak (intimate)yah bolega   this, he, it will speakvah bolega   that, he, it will speakham bolenge   we will speaktum bologe   you will speak (familiar)ap bolenge   you will speak (respect)ye bolenge   these, they will speakve bolenge   those, they will speak

Future Continuous

The future continuous is used to refer to ongoing actions in the future. It is formed as the present imperfect but with the future of raha instead of hona.

Below are shown the forms in the masculine. The feminine forms can be constructed by replacing the ending a or e with i in both verbs.

      main bolta rahunga  I will be speaking

tu bolta rahega  you will be speaking (intimate)

yah bolta rahega   this, he, it will be speakingvah bolta rahega   that, he, it will be speakingham bolte rahenge   we will be speakingtum bolte rahoge   you will be speaking (familiar)ap bolte rahenge   you will be speaking (respect)ye bolte rahenge   these, they will be speakingve bolte rahenge   those, they will be speaking

Imperative

There are three different imperatives in Hindi: tu, tum, and ap imperative. The tu imperative is the stem itself The tum imperative is the stem + o The ap imperative is the stem + ie or iye

Examples:

pani la   bring water (intimate)pani lao   bring water (familiar)pani laie   bring water (respect)

The imperatives are made negative by adding mat, na, or nahin. Use mat with the tu imperative. Use mat or na with the tum imperative. Use na or nahin with the ap imperative.

Examples:

vahan mat ja   don't go there (intimate)vahan na jao   don't go there (familiar)vahan nahin jaie   don't go there (respect)

To Have

There is no Hindi verb for "to have". Possession is expressed in other ways.

Movable Objects

Possession of movable objects is expressed using ke pas after the (English) subject.

Examples:

Ram ke pas gari hai   Ram has a car ("near Ram a car it is")mera pas kitab hai   I have a book ("near me a book it is")

Immovable Objects

Possession of immovable objects and of relatives is expressed using the possessive particles ka, ki, ke.

Examples:

uska makan hai   he has a house ("of him a house it is")Ram ke do bete hain   Ram has two sons ("of Ram two sons there are")

Verb list

A

to advance - age barhnato answer  - jawab denato arrive  - ana, pahunchanato attack  - hamla karnato attempt  - koshish karna

B

to bathe  - nahanato be  - honato bear  - sahnato beat  - marnato beg  - mangna

to behave  - bartav karnato believe  - vishwas karnato be sleepy  - nind anato be tired  - thaknato bind  - bandhnato bite  - katnato break  - tornato breakfast - nasta karnato bring  - lanato bring up  - palnato burn  - jalna, jalanato burst  - phutanato bury  - dafnana

C

to call  - bulanato care  - parwah karnato cast  - dhalnato catch  - pakarnato change  - badalnato clean  - saf karnato climb  - charhnato comb  - kanghi karnato come  - anato converse - bat karnato cook  - pakanato copy  - nakal karnato cover  - dhaknato creep  - rengnato cry  - chillana, ronato cruch  - kuchalnato cut  - katna

D

to depart  - juda hona, alag hona, jana

to decend - utarnato dig  - khodnato die  - marnato dine  - khana khanato do  - karnato dream  - sapna dekhnato drink  - pinato dry  - sukhna, sukhana

to dye  - rangna

E

to eat  - khanato excuse  - maf karnato expect  - asha karnato explain - samjhanato express - vichar prakat karna

F

to fall  - girnato fear  - darnato fight  - larnato fill  - bharnato fly (in air)  - urnato fly (run away) - bhag janato forget  - bhulnato forgive  - maf karna

G

to get  - panato get up - uthanato give  - denato go  - jana

H

to have - hona, rakhnato hate  - nafarat karnato hear - sunnato help  - sahayata dena, madad denato hide  - chhipana

I

to improve - thik karnato irrigate  - pani denato irritate  - chirhana, naraz karna

J

to jump - kudnato join  - jornato judge - vichar karna

K

to keep  - rakhnato kick  - thokar marnato kill  - marna

to kiss  - chumna, chumma lena

to know - janna

L

to laugh  - hansnato lead  - karne denato learn  - sikhnato let  - makan kiraye denato lie (on bed)  - letnato lie (speak)  - jhuth bolnato lift  - uthanato like  - chahnato live (reside)  - rahnato live (not to die) - jinato look  - dekhnato lose  - khonato love  - pyar karna

M

to make  - bananato measure - napnato mould  - dhalnato move  - sarkana

N

to nibble - kutarna

O

to open  - kholnato order - hukum dena

P

to pat  - thapthapanato pay  - denato play  - khelnato play (music)

 - baja bajana

to pour  - dalnato promise  - vada karnato pronounce  - bolnato pull  - khinchnato push  - dhakka denato put  - rakhna

Q

to quarral - jhagra karna

R

to read  - parhnato receive  - panato recollect  - yad karnato recommend - sifarish karnato reject  - napasnd karnato reply  - jawab denato ride  - charhnato rise  - uthana

S

to say  - kahnato scold  - dantnato see  - dekhna, talash karnato seek  - dhundhanato sell  - bechnato send  - bhejnato sew  - sinato shake - hilnato shout  - chillanato show  - dikhanato shut  - band karnato sing  - ganato sit  - baithnato sleep  - sonato smell  - sunghanato solve  - hal karnato sow  - bona

to speak - bolnato spin  - katnato spit  - thuknato stay  - thaharnato steal  - churanato stop  - thaharna, tharanato swim  - tairna

T

to take  - lenato talk  - batchit karnato taste  - chakhnato tear  - pharnato tease  - tang karnato tell  - kahna, batanato think

 - sochna

U

to understand - samajhna

V

to vomit - ulti karna

W

to walk  - chalna, ghumnato wander - idhar-udhar phirnato wash  - dhonato waste  - barbad karnato weep  - ronato weave  - bunna

Nouns

Gender

There are two genders in Hindi: masculine and feminine.

Rule of thumb: nouns ending on a are masculine and nouns ending on i are feminine. There are exceptions.

Number

There are two numbers in Hindi: singular and plural.

Case

There are two cases in Hindi: direct and indirect case.

Indirect case: Used when the noun is followed by a postposition.

Direct case: Otherwise

Masculine nouns on -a

 Direct Indirect  (larka = boy)Singular larka  larkePlural  larke  larkon

Other masculine nouns

 Direct Indirect  (guru = teacher)Singular guru  guruPlural  guru  guruon

Feminine nouns on -i

 Direct  Indirect   (larki = girl)Singular larki  larki

Plural  larkiyan

 larkiyon

Other feminine nouns

 Direct  Indirect  (kitab = book)Singular kitab  kitabPlural  kitaben kitabon

 Postpositions

Postpositions in Hindi are like prepositions in English but they are placed after the noun.

The noun in front of the postposition is always in the indirect case.

The use of postpositions makes it possible to express the "missing" cases in Hindi.  

nominative larki the girl (direct case)genitives, m larki ka kam the work of the girls, f larki ki bat the word of the girlpl, m larki ke kam the works of the girlpl, f larki ki baten the words of the girldative larki ko to the girlaccusative

larki a girl (direct case)larki ko the girl

vocative larki girl! (direct case)ablative larki se from / with / of the girlagentive larki ne the girllocative

larki men in the girllarki par on / upon / after the girllarki tak as far as / as long as / up to the girl

 Adjective list

  easy  - asandifficult  - mushkilsweet  - mithabitte  - karwasour  - khattagood  - achchhabad  - kharabblunt  - bhauntasharp  - painadark  - lightopen  - khulaclosed  - bandfull  - bharaempty  - khalitired  - thakafresh  - tazastale  - basifat  - motalean  - dubladirty  - gandaclean  - safthick  - motathin  - patlatrue  - sachchafalse  - jhuthadistant  - durnear  - pashot  - garamcold  - thandahonest  - imandardishonest  - beimanhollow  - polasolid  - thosliquid  - taralglad  - khusksad  - ranjidawealthy  - maldarrich  - dhanipoor  - garibhealthy  - tandurustsick  - bimar

long  - lambashort  - chhotanew  - nayaold  - puranayoung  - jawanold  - buddhalight (color)  - halkadark (color)  - gahralight  - halkaheavy  - bharipolite  - namrarude  - badtamizmannerless  - badtamiznarrow  - sankra, tangwide  - chaurabroad  - chauraactive  - phurtilalazy  - sustsmart  - hoshiyardull  - mattha, mandaangry  - narazkind  - meharbanpleased  - khushdispleased  - narazproud  - ghamandihumble  - namracheap  - sastadear  - mahngadry  - sukhawet  - gilaclever  - hoshiyarstupid  - bewakufdeep  - gahrashallow  - uthlaurban  - shahrirural  - dehatibrave  - vircoward  - kayarhandsome  - sundarpretty  - sundarbeautiful  - sundarugly  - kurupraw  - kachchacooked  - pakasmelling good - khushbudarsmelling bad  - badbudar

noisy  - shorgul kaquiet  - shantall  - sablittle  - kuchhinteresting  - dilchaspadull  - ubane waladurable  - mazbutnot durable  - kamzorstrong  - takatwarweak  - kamzorelder  - (usase) barayounger  - (usase) chhotabig  - barasmall  - chhotahigh (person)  - barelow (person)  - chhotehigh (things)  - unchalow (things)  - nichasome  - thoramuch  - zyadafew  - kuchhmany  - bahutright  - sahiwrong  - galatexcellent  - barhiyaworthless  - raddiwise  - buddhimanfoolish  - bewakufsweet  - mithaharsh  - karanational  - deshi ya rashtriyaforeign  - videshithis much  - itna, itnias many  - jitne, jitnaseveral  - kaithat much  - utna, utnisuch  - aisa, aisiwhatever  - jo kuchhhard  - sakhtasoft  - mulayamother  - dusrasame  - vahi

 Different words

Questions

who  - kaunwhat  - kyawhy  - kyonwhen  - kabwhere  - kahanhow  - kaisewhich  - kaunsahow many - kitnehow much - kitna

Cardinal numbers

0  - sunya, sifar1  - ek2  - do3  - tin4  - char5  - panch6  - chhah7  - sat8  - ath9  - nau10  - das20  - bis30  - tis40  - chalis50  - pachas60  - sath70  - sattar80  - assi90  - nabbe100  - ek sau101  - ek sau ek200  - do sau1.000 - ek hazarlac  - ek lakh (100.000)crore - ek karor (10.000.000)

Other words having to do with numbers

1st  - pahla2nd  - dusra3rd  - tisra4th  - cautha5th  - pancvan6th  - chatha7th  - satvan8th  - athvan9th  - nauvan10th - dasvan1/2  - adha1/3  - tihai1/4  - cauthai3/4  - pauna

Colors

black  - kalablue  - nilabright  - chamkilabrown  - bhuracolor  - ranggolden  - sunahragray  - bhuragreen  - haraindigo  - baingniorange - naranjired  - lalrosy  - gulabiwhite  - safedyellow  - pila

 Adverbs, prepositions, conjuctions...

  about (place)  - as-pasabout (pertaining to)  - bare menabove  - uparacross  - usparafter  - bad men

again  - phiragain & again  - bar-baragainst (opposite)  - khilafagainst (touching)  - bhira karalas  - afsosaloof  - duralmost  - karib-karibalso  - ohialthough  - halankialtogether  - ekdamalways  - hameshaamong  - unke bich menand  - auraround  - asas if  - manoas far as  - jahantakas soon as  - jyonhiat  - tarafbackward  - pichhebackwards & forwards - age-pichhebecause  - kyonkibecause (him)  - vajah se (uski)before  - pahlebehind  - pichhebelow  - nichebeneath  - nichebetween  - bich menbeyond  - us parbravo  - shabashbut  - lekinby  - secertainly  - zarurcertainly not  - hargiz nahindown  - nichedownward  - niche ki tarafduring  - us bich menearly  - jaldieither  - ya toenough  - kafiespecially  - khas kareven  - bhieven then  - tab toever  - hameshaevery moment  - hardamfar  - durfor  - (uske) liye

for ever  - hamesha ke liyeforward  - agefrom  - segenerally  - am taur pargradually  - dhire-dhirehence (place)  - yahan sehence (time)  - ab sehere  - yahanhere and there  - yahan vahanhither  - yahanhow  - kaisehow much  - kitnaif  - agarif not  - agar nahin toif possible  - ho sake toif so  - agar aisa hai toimmediate  - zaruri, turamt andarin  - andarin brief  - thore menindeed  - vastav menin front of  - samneinparticular  - khas taur sein general  - am taur sein short  - thore meninside  - andarjust now  - abhi-abhilate  - der selittle by little  - thora-thora karkenear  - pasnever  - kabhi nahinneither  - na vahno  - nahinnor  - na vahnot  - nahinnothing  - kuchh nahinnot yet  - abhi tak naninnow  - abnow or never  - abhi ya phir kabhi nahinof  - kaof course  - albattaoff  - duroft / often  - aksaron  - uparonce  - ek baronly  - kewalor  - ya

out  - baharout and out  - bilkulover (higher)  - uparover (finished)  - khatamperhaps  - shayadplease  - krpayaquite  - bilkulquietly  - chupchapreally  - sachmuchscarcely  - mushkil seseldom  - kabhi-kabhisince (time)  - tab sesince (conditional)  - chunkiso  - isliyasome  - kuchhsomehow  - jyon tyon karkeso much  - itnaso and so  - falanaso late  - itni der seso soon  - itni jaldisoon  - jaldistill  - phir bhisorry  - afsossuddenly  - achanaksurely  - zarurthat (conjunction)  - kithan  - sethen  - to, tabthere  - vahantherefore  - isliyethither  - yahan sethough  - yadyapithrough  - us mensethrice  - tin barthus  - aisetill  - tab taktoday  - ajtogether  - ek sathtomorrow  - kaltonight  - rat kotowards  - taraftruly  - sach taur partruly  - sahitwice  - do barunder  - nicheuntil  - tab tak

up  - uparunless  - jab takvery  - bahutwell  - achchhawhen  - kabwhenever  - jab kabhiwhenever it de  - jab kabhi ho sakewhere  - cahanwherever  - kahin bhiwhereas  - chunkiwhile  - jab takwhy  - kyonyes  - hanyesterday  - kal

 Examples of sentences in Hindi

Greetings

Good morning  - subh prabhatGood day  - subh dinGood afternoon  - subh sandhyaGood night  - subh ratriHello  - namaskar / namaste / subh dinGood bye (hindus)  - namasteGood bye (muslims) - khuda hafizHow are you (r,m)  - ap kaise hain?How are you (r,f)  - ap kaisi hain?I am fine, thanks  - bahut accha, sukriyaI am fine, thanks  - main thik hun, dhanyavad

Hindus greet each other with namaste. The answer is also namaste.

Muslims greet each other with salam alekum. The answer is valekum as salam.

Questions

Who is that?  - yah kaun hai?What is this?  - yah kya hai?What is that?  - vah kya hai?Where is it?  - vah kahan hai?Where is ...?  - ... kahan hai?

How much is it?  - yah kitne ki hai?Who are you?  - ap kaun hai?What is your name?  - apka subh nam kya hai?Where are you from?  - ap kahan ke rahne vale hain?Which country are you from?

 - ap kis des ke hain?

How old are you?  - ap ki umar kya hai?What is your job?  - ap kya kam karte hain?What are you studying?  - ap kya padethe hain?What is wrong?  - Kya bat hai?Do you speak Hindi?  - kya ap hindi bol sakte hain?What time is it?  - kya samay hua?What time is it?  - kya baja hai?

Misc. sentences

(Masculine forms used)     My name is Poul  - mera nam poul haiI live in Denmark  - main denmark men rahta hunI am a student  - main vidyarthi hunI go to school in Lyngby  - lyngby men main skul jata hunI speak a little Hindi  - main hindi kuch-kuch bol sakta hunI would like some tea  - mujhe cay cahiyeI am tired  - main thak gaya haiI am thirsty  - mujhe pyas lagi haiI am hungry  - mujhe bhukh lagi haiI am not hungry  - mujhe bhukh nahin haiI have to go  - mujhe jana haiI don't understand it  - mujhe samajh men yah nahin a rahaI understand (now)  - (ab) main samajhaIt is important  - yah zaruri haiI would like to buy a ...  - main ... karidhna chahtha hunI would like a ...  - mujhe ... chahiyaI would like some ...  - mujhe kuch ... chaheinPoul speaking (on the phone)

 - yah poul bol raha hai

Who is it? (on the phone)  - kaun bol raha hai?