englishtohindi

Food phrases in Hindi: 6 phrases with pronunciation

Ordering in Hindi runs on चाहिए — literally is wanted — rather than a verb meaning to want. मुझे पानी चाहिए is the natural way to ask for water, and it stays the same whether one person or ten are asking. Dietary restrictions use नहीं खाता / नहीं खाती, which again changes with your gender.

Last updated

“Water” in Hindi

पानी

Paani

“Water” in Hindi is पानी, pronounced Paani. पानी is universal. जल (jal) is the Sanskrit word, used in religious contexts and formal writing but never when asking a waiter.

Example sentences

  • Please bring some water.

    थोड़ा पानी लाइए।

    Thoda paani laiye.

  • I want cold water.

    मुझे ठंडा पानी चाहिए।

    Mujhe thanda paani chahiye.

“Food” in Hindi

खाना

Khaana

“Food” in Hindi is खाना, pronounced Khaana. खाना is both the noun "food" and the verb "to eat", so खाना खाना means "to eat food" — which is genuinely how people say it.

Example sentences

  • Have you eaten?

    क्या तुमने खाना खा लिया?

    Kya tumne khaana kha liya?

  • The food is ready.

    खाना तैयार है।

    Khaana taiyaar hai.

“It is delicious” in Hindi

यह बहुत स्वादिष्ट है

Yeh bahut swadisht hai

“It is delicious” in Hindi is यह बहुत स्वादिष्ट है, pronounced Yeh bahut swadisht hai. स्वादिष्ट is slightly formal but perfectly natural as a compliment. Casually, people say मज़ा आ गया (maza aa gaya — that was a delight).

Example sentences

  • This food is delicious.

    यह खाना बहुत स्वादिष्ट है।

    Yeh khaana bahut swadisht hai.

  • Wow, that was fantastic!

    वाह, मज़ा आ गया!

    Waah, maza aa gaya!

“Not spicy, please” in Hindi

तीखा मत बनाइए

Teekha mat banaiye

“Not spicy, please” in Hindi is तीखा मत बनाइए, pronounced Teekha mat banaiye. तीखा is chilli heat specifically. मसालेदार (masaledaar) means heavily spiced, which is a different thing — you may want one without the other.

Example sentences

  • Please make it less spicy.

    कम तीखा बनाइए।

    Kam teekha banaiye.

  • I can't eat spicy food.

    मैं तीखा नहीं खा सकता।

    Main teekha nahi kha sakta.

Common mistake

Asking for "not spicy" using मसालेदार gets you food without spices — bland, not mild. The word for chilli heat is तीखा.

“I am vegetarian” in Hindi

मैं शाकाहारी हूँ

Main shaakaahaari hoon

“I am vegetarian” in Hindi is मैं शाकाहारी हूँ, pronounced Main shaakaahaari hoon. शाकाहारी is understood everywhere. Note that in India this usually excludes eggs too — say अंडा भी नहीं (anda bhi nahi) if that matters.

Example sentences

  • I am vegetarian, no meat please.

    मैं शाकाहारी हूँ, मांस नहीं चाहिए।

    Main shaakaahaari hoon, maans nahi chahiye.

  • No egg either, please.

    अंडा भी नहीं, कृपया।

    Anda bhi nahi, kripya.

“The bill, please” in Hindi

बिल लाइए

Bill laiye

“The bill, please” in Hindi is बिल लाइए, pronounced Bill laiye. बिल is the borrowed word and is standard. लाइए means "please bring" — the polite imperative you'd use with any waiter.

Example sentences

  • Bring the bill, please.

    बिल लाइए, कृपया।

    Bill laiye, kripya.

  • How much is the total?

    कुल कितना हुआ?

    Kul kitna hua?

The grammar behind these phrases