Please, thank you, sorry
What you will learn
- Thank someone and reply to thanks
- Apologise and accept an apology
- Make polite requests without sounding harsh
- Ask permission to come in
English explanation
Section titled “English explanation”Thanks. Shukriya is the everyday word. Dhanyavaad is more formal. Say Bahut bahut shukriya for “thank you very much”. A common reply is Koi baat nahin (no problem). In friendly talk, Hindi speakers often say “thank you” in English too.
Sorry. Maaf kijiye means both “I am sorry” and “excuse me”. To apologise for being late: Maaf kijiye, mujhe der ho gayi. Learn it as one block.
Please. Hindi has no everyday single word for “please”. Politeness is built into the verb ending -iye: baithiye (please sit), aaiye (please come), dijiye (please give). Add zara for a softer tone: Zara paani dijiye. The reply Zaroor! means “certainly”.
Asking permission. Kya main andar aa sakta hoon? (Can I come in?) A woman says aa sakti hoon. Sakta / sakti means “can”, and you will use it a lot later.
நன்றி சொல்ல Shukriya (சாதாரணம்) அல்லது Dhanyavaad (முறையானது). பதிலுக்கு Koi baat nahin (பரவாயில்லை). மன்னிப்புக்கும் “மன்னிக்கவும்” என்பதற்கும் Maaf kijiye. “Please” என்பதற்குத் தனிச் சொல் இல்லை; வினையின் முடிவில் -iye சேர்த்தால் பணிவான கேட்பு ஆகும்: baithiye, aaiye, dijiye. அனுமதி கேட்க Kya main andar aa sakta hoon? (பெண் என்றால் sakti).
Vocabulary
| Hindi | Say it | English | Tamil | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| shukriya | SHUK-ri-yaa | thank you (everyday) | நன்றி | |
| dhanyavaad | dhan-ya-VAAD | thank you (more formal) | நன்றி (முறையாக) | |
| zaroor | za-ROOR | certainly, of course | நிச்சயமாக | |
| zara | za-RAA | just, kindly (softens a request) | கொஞ்சம் (பணிவாகக் கேட்க) | |
| andar | AN-dar | inside | உள்ளே | |
| aaiye | AA-ee-ye | please come | வாருங்கள் | |
| der | DER | delay, lateness | தாமதம் |
Example sentences
Real-life dialogue
Arriving late to the office
Exercises
Say 'Thank you very much.'
Show answer
Bahut bahut shukriya.
Someone apologises to you. Say 'No problem.'
Show answer
Koi baat nahin.
A woman asks permission to come in.
Show answer
Kya main andar aa sakti hoon?
Politely ask for a little water.
Show answer
Zara paani dijiye.
Quiz
Quick quiz
1. How do you say 'Thank you'?
2. What do you say when someone thanks you or says sorry?
3. A woman asks 'May I come in?'
4. What does 'zaroor' mean?
Lesson summary
- Shukriya = thank you. Dhanyavaad is more formal.
- Koi baat nahin = no problem.
- Maaf kijiye = sorry or excuse me.
- The -iye ending (dijiye, baithiye, aaiye) makes a request polite.