Sanskrit (संस्कृतम्) is an ancient language in which many Hindu religious texts were written. It is an Indo-European language, and hence related to languages such as Greek and Latin. Similar to Latin, it is now primarily a liturgical language and not spoken as a native language by any significant sector of the population. Nevertheless, as many contemporary Indian languages are descended from Sanskrit, and even those unrelated to Sanskrit have been strongly influenced by it, learning Sanskrit is of immense value to those with a keen interest in Indian culture. Sanskrit has also had a strong influence on many languages of Southeast Asia. It is one of the official languages of India.
Writing
Sanskrit is written in many scripts in different parts of India and Southeast Asia. It is predominantly written in the Devanāgarī (देवनागरी) script, shared with Hindi, Nepali, Marathi and a number of other Indian languages. Learning Devanagari is not quite as difficult as you might think at first glance, but mastering it takes a while and is beyond the scope of most travellers. See Learning Devanagari for a primer.
Pronunciation
Most English speakers find Sanskrit pronunciation rather challenging, as there are 11 separate vowels and 35 separate consonants, employing a large number of distinctions not found in English. Don't let this intimidate you: for the vast majority of its speakers, Sanskrit is not a mother tongue, and many speakers are quite used to regional accents and mangling in various degrees.
Vowels
The key distinction is the difference between short and long vowels. In this phrase book, long vowels are noted with a macron (ā), with short vowels listed without one. You will often come across non-standard romanizations, noted in parentheses below when applicable.
| Devanagari | Transliteration | Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| अ | a | as in __a__bout |
| आ | ā | as in f__a__ther |
| इ | i | as in s__i__t |
| ई | ī (ee) | as in el__i__te |
| उ | u | as in p__u__t |
| ऊ | ū (oo) | as in fl__u__te |
| ऋ | ṛ | as in Scottish hea__r__d, t__ri__p. |
| ए | e | long e as in German "zehn". It is not a diphthong; the tone does <u>not</u> fall. |
| ऐ | ai | as in M__ai__l, sometimes a longer ए. In Eastern dialects as in br__i__ght. |
| ओ | o | as in German K__oh__le, not a diphthong; tone does <u>not</u> fall. |
| औ | au | as in __o__xford. In Eastern dialects as in German l__au__ft, or English t__ow__n. |
Consonants
Many Sanskrit consonants come in three different forms: aspirated, unaspirated and retroflex.
Aspiration means "with a puff of air", and is the difference between the sound of the letter "p" in English __p__in (aspirated) and s__p__it (unaspirated). In this phrasebook, aspirated sounds are spelled with an h (so English "pin" would be phin) and unaspirated sounds without it (so "spit" is still spit). Sanskrit aspiration is quite forceful and it's OK to emphasize the puff: b__h__arti.
Sanskrit retroflex consonants, on the other hand, are not really found in English. They should be pronounced with the tongue tip curled back. Practice with a native speaker, or just pronounce as usual — you'll usually still get the message across.
| Devanagari | Transliteration | Equivalent/Comments |
|---|---|---|
| क | k | as in s__k__ip. |
| ख | kh | as in sin__kh__ole. |
| ग | g | as in __g__o. |
| घ | gh | as in do__gh__ouse. |
| ङ | ṅ | as in si__ng__. Does not occur independently. |
| च | c | as in ch__ur__ch. |
| छ | ch | as in pin__chh__it. |
| ज | j | as in __j__ump. |
| झ | jh | as in do__dge h__er. |
| ञ | ñ | as in ca__ny__on. Does not occur independently. |
| ट | ṭ | as in __t__ick. Retroflex, but still a "hard" t sound similar to English. |
| ठ | ṭ | as in ligh__th__ouse. Retroflex |
| ड | ḍ | as in __d__oom. Retroflex |
| ढ | ḍ | as in mu__dh__ut. Retroflex |
| ण | ṇ | retroflex n as in Pa__n__dit. |
| त | t | as in hi__t__her ( and thither) |
| थ | th | aspirated version of the previous letter, as in __th__ither |
| द | d | dental d. as in __th__e |
| ध | dh | aspirated version of the above. |
| न | n | dental n. as in __n__ear. |
| प | p | as in s__p__in. |
| फ | ph | as in u__ph__ill. |
| ब | b | as in __b__e. |
| भ | bh | as in a__bh__or. |
| म | m | as in __m__ere. |
| य | y | as in __y__et. |
| र | r | as in Spanish pe__r__o, a tongue trip. Don't roll as in Spanish rr, German or Scottish English. |
| ल | l | as in __l__ean. |
| व | v | as in Spanish __v__aca, between English v and w, but without the lip rounding of an English w. (IPA: ʋ). |
| श | ś | as in __sh__oot. |
| ष | ṣ | almost indistinguishable retroflex of the above. slightly more aspirated. |
| स | s | as in __s__ee. |
| ह | h | as in __h__im. |
Phrase list
Basics
Common signs
; OPEN : उद्घाटित ; CLOSED : निमीलितम् ; ENTRANCE : प्रवेश ; EXIT : निर्गम ; PUSH : नोद ; PULL : आकर्षति ; TOILET : प्रसाधन ; MEN : पुरुषाः ; WOMEN : नार्यः ; FORBIDDEN : प्रतिबंधित
; Hello. : नमस्ते. () ; Hello. (informal) : . () ; How are you? : भवान् कथमसि?? (?) ; Fine, thank you. : ठीकम्, धन्यवादः। () ; What is your name? : भवतः नाम किमस्ति?? (?) ; My name is ______ . :मं नाम ______ . (mam naama _____ .) ; Nice to meet you. : मेलनेन बहु सन्तोषः। () ; Please. : . () ; Thank you. :धन्यवादम् . (dhanyavaadam) ; You're welcome. : . () ; Yes. :आम् . (aam__) ; No. :न . (na__) ; Excuse me. (getting attention) : . () ; Excuse me. (begging pardon) : . () ; I'm sorry. : . () ; Goodbye : . () ; Goodbye (informal) : . () ; I can't speak Sanskrit [well]. : [ ]. ([ ]) ; Do you speak English? :किं त्वम् आङ्ग्लभाषां वदसि ? (kim tvam aanglabhasham vadasi?) ; Is there someone here who speaks English? : ? (?) ; Help! : ! (!) ; Look out! : ! (!) ; Good morning. : . () ; Good evening. : . () ; Good night. : . () ; Good night (to sleep) : . () ; I don't understand. : . () ; Where is the toilet? : ? (?)
Problems
; Leave me alone. : . (.) ; Don't touch me! : ! (!) ; I'll call the police. : . (.) ; Police! : ! (!) ; Stop! Thief! : ! ! (! !) ; I need your help. : . (.) ; It's an emergency. : . (.) ; I'm lost. : . (.) ; I lost my bag. : . (.) ; I lost my wallet. : . (.) ; I'm sick. : . (.) ; I've been injured. : . (.) ; I need a doctor. : . (.) ; Can I use your phone? : ? (?)
Numbers
; 1 : एकम(ékam) ; 2 : द्व (dvá), ; 3 : त्रि (trí) ; 4 : चतुवार् (catur) ; 5 : पञ्चन् (páñcan) ; 6 : षष्ठ () ; 7 : सप्तम (saptán) ; 8 : अष्टम (astam) ; 9 :नवम (navam) ; 10 :दशम (dasham) ; 11 :एकादश (ekadash) ; 12 : () ; 13 p: () ; 14 : () ; 15 : () ; 16 : () ; 17 : () ; 18 : () ; 19 : () ; 20 : () ; 21 : () ; 22 : () ; 23 : () ; 30 : त्रिंशत् (triṃśát) ; 40 : चत्वारिंशत् (catvāriṃśát) ; 50 : पञ्चाशत् (pañcāśát) ; 60 : () ; 70 : () ; 80 : () ; 90 : () ; 100 : () ; 200 : () ; 300 : () ; 1,000 : () ; 2,000 : () ; 1,000,000 : () ; 1,000,000,000 : () ; 1,000,000,000,000 : () ; number _____ (train, bus, etc.) : () ; half : () ; less : () ; more : ()
Time
; now :अधुना (adhuna) ; later : () ; before : () ; morning : () ; afternoon : () ; evening : () ; night : ()
Clock time
; one o'clock AM : () ; two o'clock AM : () ; noon : () ; one o'clock PM : () ; two o'clock PM : () ; midnight : ()
Duration
; _____ minute(s) : () ; _____ hour(s) : () ; _____ day(s) : () ; _____ week(s) : () ; _____ month(s) : () ; _____ year(s) : ()
Days
; today : अद्य (adya) ; yesterday : ह्यस् (hyas) ; tomorrow : श्वस् (śvas) ; this week : () ; last week : () ; next week : (__)
; Sunday : () ; Monday : () ; Tuesday : () ; Wednesday : () ; Thursday : () ; Friday : () ; Saturday : (__)
Months
; January : () ; February : () ; March : () ; April : () ; May : () ; June : () ; July : () ; August : () ; September : () ; October : () ; November : () ; December : ()
Writing time and date
Colors
; black :कृष्ण (krishna) ; white :श्वेत (shweta) ; gray : () ; red : () ; blue : () ; yellow : () ; green : () ; orange : () ; purple : () ; brown : ()
Transportation
Bus and train
; How much is a ticket to ___? : () ; One ticket to _, please. : () ; Where does this train/bus go? : () ; Where is the train/bus to ___? : () ; Does this train/bus stop in _? : () ; When does the train/bus for _____ leave? : () ; When will this train/bus arrive in ___? : ()
Directions
; How do I get to _____ ? : () ; ...the train station? : () ; ...the bus station? : () ; ...the airport? : () ; ...downtown? : () ; ...the youth hostel? : () ; ...the _____ hotel? : () ; ...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? : () ; Where are there a lot of... : () ; ...hotels? : () ; ...restaurants? : () ; ...bars? : () ; ...sites to see? : () ; Can you show me on the map? : () ; street : () ; Turn left. : () ; Turn right. : () ; left : () ; right : () ; straight ahead : () ; towards the _____ : () ; past the _____ : () ; before the _____ : () ; Watch for the _. : () ; intersection : () ; north : () ; south : () ; east : () ; west : () ; uphill : () ; downhill : (__)
Taxi
; Taxi! : (__) ; Take me to ___, please. : () ; How much does it cost to get to _? : () ; Take me there, please. : ()
Lodging
; Do you have any rooms available? : () ; How much is a room for one person/two people? : () ; Does the room come with... : () ; ...bedsheets? : () ; ...a bathroom? : () ; ...a telephone? : () ; ...a TV? : () ; May I see the room first? : () ; Do you have anything quieter? : () ; ...bigger? : () ; ...cleaner? : () ; ...cheaper? : () ; OK, I'll take it. : () ; I will stay for _____ night(s). : () ; Can you suggest another hotel? : () ; Do you have a safe? : () ; ...lockers? : () ; Is breakfast/supper included? : () ; What time is breakfast/supper? : () ; Please clean my room. : () ; Can you wake me at _? : () ; I want to check out. : ()
Money
; Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? : () ; Do you accept British pounds? : () ; Do you accept euros? : () ; Do you accept credit cards? : () ; Can you change money for me? : () ; Where can I get money changed? : () ; Can you change a traveler's check for me? : () ; Where can I get a traveler's check changed? : () ; What is the exchange rate? : () ; Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? : ()
Eating
; A table for one person/two people, please. : () ; Can I look at the menu, please? : () ; Can I look in the kitchen? : () ; Is there a house specialty? : () ; Is there a local specialty? : () ; I'm a vegetarian. : () ; I don't eat pork. : () ; I don't eat beef. : () ; I only eat kosher food. : () ; Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard) : () ; fixed-price meal : () ; a la carte : () ; breakfast : () ; lunch : () ; tea (meal) : () ; supper : () ; I want _. : () ; I want a dish containing _. : () ; chicken : () ; beef : () ; fish : () ; ham : () ; sausage : () ; cheese : () ; eggs : () ; salad : () ; (fresh) vegetables : () ; (fresh) fruit : () ; bread : () ; toast : () ; noodles : () ; rice : () ; beans : () ; May I have a glass of _? : () ; May I have a cup of _? : () ; May I have a bottle of _? : () ; coffee : () ; tea (drink) : () ; juice : () ; (bubbly) water : () ; (still) water : () ; beer : () ; red/white wine : () ; May I have some _? : () ; salt : () ; black pepper : () ; butter : () ; Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): () ; I'm finished. : () ; It was delicious. : () ; Please clear the plates. : () ; The check, please. : ()
Bars
; Do you serve alcohol? : () ; Is there table service? : () ; A beer/two beers, please. : () ; A glass of red/white wine, please. : () ; A pint, please. : () ; A bottle, please. : () ; _____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please. : () ; whiskey : () ; vodka : () ; rum : () ; water : () ; club soda : () ; tonic water : () ; orange juice : () ; Coke (soda) : () ; Do you have any bar snacks? : () ; One more, please. : () ; Another round, please. : () ; When is closing time? : () ; Cheers! : ()
Shopping
; Do you have this in my size? : () ; How much is this? : () ; That's too expensive. : () ; Would you take _? : () ; expensive : () ; cheap : () ; I can't afford it. : () ; I don't want it. : () ; You're cheating me. : () ; I'm not interested. : (..) ; OK, I'll take it. : () ; Can I have a bag? : () ; Do you ship (overseas)? : () ; I need... : () ; ...toothpaste. : () ; ...a toothbrush. : () ; ...tampons. : . () ; ...soap. : () ; ...shampoo. : () ; ...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) : () ; ...cold medicine. : () ; ...stomach medicine. : ... () ; ...a razor. : () ; ...an umbrella. : () ; ...sunblock lotion. : () ; ...a postcard. : () ; ...postage stamps. : () ; ...batteries. : () ; ...writing paper. : () ; ...a pen. : () ; ...English-language books. : () ; ...English-language magazines. : () ; ...an English-language newspaper. : () ; ...an English-English dictionary. : (__)
Driving
; I want to rent a car. : () ; Can I get insurance? : () ; stop (on a street sign) : () ; one way : () ; yield : () ; no parking : () ; speed limit : () ; gas (petrol) station : () ; petrol : () ; diesel : ()
Authority
; I haven't done anything wrong. : () ; It was a misunderstanding. : () ; Where are you taking me? : () ; Am I under arrest? : () ; I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. : () ; I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate. : () ; I want to talk to a lawyer. : () ; Can I just pay a fine now? : ()