10 Hinglish (Hindi + English) Phrases That Indians Lovingly Use

The question is framed awkwardly here, but in Hindi, it’s the right way to ask someone their name, “Aapka shubh naam?” The literal translation, however, confuses non-Indians. Is there such a thing as a bad name? 

Do what needs to be done—that’s what someone wants to communicate when they say this. In offices, when your boss asks you to do the needful, you know he wants you to finish a particular task. 

Again in Hindi, we have a phrase, “Maa kasam” which is used to relay that you’re being truthful and you’ll swear on your mother that you’re not lying. The literal translation is “Mother promise.” “God promise” may also make an appearance in colloquial lingo if someone thinks calling on a deity will yield better results. 

The purist English sentence would be: “You’re coming, aren’t you?” The “na” is a Hindi word, which is sometimes also replaced with “no.” So, you will also see the variation of “You’ll do this, no?”  

“He’s like that only!” The only has no meaning in the sentence. It’s used to emphasize something and it can appear anywhere, anytime.  

The Hindi translation, “Ek kaam kar,” makes much more sense. This is used when you’re giving someone advice on how they should handle a situation. Sometimes, the “one thing” includes a set of actions, so you might want to write it all down. “Do one thing, pre-heat the oven, cut the potatoes in cubes, add herbs, and then roast them for 35-40 minutes.”

Again, “toh” is a Hindi word used as “so,” “so what,” or just as a filler. It is also an emphasizer, which is how it’s working here.

There’s a Bollywood song called Aunty ji, aunty ji, get up and dance. “Ji” is a mark of respect in India, so you’ll see it peppered in sentences, especially when someone is addressing an elder. I’m not even surprised when “Dear Apeksha ji” is used as a salutation in emails and messages. (Note: I’m not that old, but it’s considered polite.)

This one was a sweet discovery for me, too. Feeling glassy means feeling thirsty. I would have thought they were referring to glazed eyes, indicative of an underlying condition like conjunctivitis!

Incoming: another song! When you ask someone how they are and they say, “first-class,” they mean they’re well and happy. You’d think that first class will be about the ultra-luxurious plane cabin, but as Bollywood actor Varun Dhawan has reiterated, it suggests all is well.