{"id":27663,"date":"2018-06-18T08:30:00","date_gmt":"2018-06-17T22:30:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures?p=27663&preview=true&preview_id=27663"},"modified":"2024-09-18T16:26:07","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T06:26:07","slug":"how-to-sound-like-a-local-in-india","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.intrepidtravel.com\/adventures\/how-to-sound-like-a-local-in-india\/","title":{"rendered":"How to sound like a local in India: Your guide to Delhi slang"},"content":{"rendered":"

As a passionate traveller, you already know that the best way to get to know a new culture is to do as the locals do.<\/strong><\/p>\n

In India<\/a>, that means trying the local dishes at hole-in-the-wall spots, asking locals for recommendations for things to do, and, to the best of your ability, trying not to stand out as a tourist. One of the best ways to make that happen? Study up on the local lingo so that you go in with a couple of slang words up your sleeve.<\/p>\n

Here are 10 local-approved Hindi expressions to take with you on your next trip to India<\/a>.<\/p>\n

1. Yaar<\/h3>\n

This is a term of endearment that you use to address your friend \u2013 which is especially helpful if you\u2019re traveling through India with a buddy or two. In situations where English speakers may say \u201cThanks, man,\u201d or \u201cCome on, bro,\u201d Indians who speak Hindi will say yaar<\/em>. Locals swear that the best way to sound like a true Indian is to add yaar<\/em> after pretty much everything.<\/p>\n

\u00a0PUT YOUR INDIAN LANGUAGE SKILLS TO THE TEST ON OUR 15-DAY CLASSIC RAJASTHAN ADVENTURE<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

2. Lag gaye<\/h3>\n

You know those moments when you\u2019re traveling and you realize you and your friends took the wrong train, and you\u2019re in the middle of nowhere and don\u2019t have money for a hotel? That\u2019s when you would say lag gaye<\/em>. It basically means, \u201cWe are so screwed.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Travelers<\/a>

Photo by Samantha Reid<\/p><\/div>\n

3. Katta<\/h3>\n

One thing to know about many Indians is that they love poking fun of each other, but in an endearing way \u2013 which is the umbrella katta<\/em> falls under. The literal translation means \u201cyou got cut\u201d, but locals use the expression as a way to jokingly poke fun at one of their friends when something embarrassing happens to them. If one guy gets ripped off, for example, or asks a girl out and gets rejected, another may laugh and say, \u201cKatta<\/em>!\u201d. It\u2019s a little bit mean, but it\u2019s rooted in love.<\/p>\n

4. Ghanta<\/h3>\n

A ghanta<\/em> is a big fat \u201chell no!\u201d with a capital N. Interestingly, the literal translation is the sound a clock makes, because it\u2019s basically like a giant buzzer at the end of a game show that signifies that your time is up and no, you will not pass go, and no, you will not collect $200. Locals say that the key is to enunciate your ghanta<\/em> with a fairly crude accent, in order to emphasize juuust how much no is loaded in your no. For example, if you\u2019re traveling and someone suggests something that you really really don\u2019t want to do, it may be time to bust out your ghanta<\/em>.<\/p>\n

BROWSE OUR RANGE OF ADVENTURES IN INDIA HERE<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

5. Jugaad<\/h3>\n

Think back to the last time something needed to get done, but you didn\u2019t have the proper supplies, so you made do with what you had and somehow managed to scrape something together. You may not have known it, but you exhibited a strong sense of jugaad<\/em>, which is the ability to achieve results \u2013 in a hack-y way. For example, if you\u2019re traveling and you make a DIY Band-Aid when you don\u2019t have the real thing, that\u2019s jugaad<\/em>.<\/p>\n

\"Local<\/a>

Photo by David Bednarczyk<\/p><\/div>\n

6. Pet phat gaya<\/h3>\n

Translated, this literally means \u201cmy stomach just burst open.\u201d Locals use it when they\u2019ve already eaten a lot, but someone is trying to feed them more by offering them even more food (which happens a lot in India). This will definitely come in handy if you have dinner with a local family and they try to offer you fourths!<\/p>\n

RELATED: THE MAGIC OF MOVING OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE IN INDIA<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

7. Phod diya<\/h3>\n

Speaking of food, if you eat a ton of food without having to say pet phat gaya<\/em>, your friend may say, \u201cPhod diya!\u201d. It basically means, \u201cYou nailed it.\u201d The literal translation is \u201cto demolish something\u201d or \u201cto destroy something\u201d, but Indians use it to describe a situation in which someone truly excelled at something, whether it\u2019s inhaling a pile of food and living to tell the tale, or doing really well on a test, or whatever else. Anything that\u2019s worthy of a high five is worthy of a phod diya<\/em>!<\/p>\n

\"Man<\/a>

Photo by Benemac<\/p><\/div>\n

8. Chep<\/h3>\n

While English speakers may call someone who\u2019s a bit clingy and won\u2019t go away a leech or a barnacle, Indians call this kind of person a chep<\/em>. It actually means a \u201csticky person\u201d; someone who is overstaying their welcome and just won\u2019t let go.<\/p>\n

SUBSCRIBE TO INTREPID\u2019S NEWSLETTER FOR TRAVEL TIPS, COMPETITIONS, GIVEAWAYS & MORE<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

9. Bhains ki aankh<\/h3>\n

The literal translation of this is a buffalo\u2019s eye, but locals use it as an exclamation that means \u201cWoah!\u201d or \u201cOMG!\u201d. You will probably say this when you see the Taj Mahal for the first time. Just saying.<\/p>\n

10. Kaand<\/h3>\n

A kaand<\/em> is a not-so-good situation. Locals often use it when they have either created the situation and need help getting out of it, or when they hear about a kaand<\/em> that someone else is responsible for. They may say something like, \u201cLet\u2019s go to the other block; I hear there\u2019s a kaand<\/em> over there that we should check out.\u201d A word to the wise: Don\u2019t go creating too many kaands<\/em> on your next trip to India!<\/p>\n

Ready to test a few of these out? Sound like a local on your next trip to India<\/a>\u00a0on a small group adventure \u2013 browse our extensive range here.<\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n

Feature image by Samantha Reid.\u00a0<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s one of the best ways to immerse yourself in a new culture? Study up on the local lingo so that you go in with a couple of slang words up your sleeve.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16081,"featured_media":27667,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[455,1313],"tags":[180,537,6],"class_list":["post-27663","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-feature","category-guides","tag-asia","tag-delhi","tag-india","ipf_region-india"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n10 Ways To Sound Like A Local In Delhi, India | Intrepid Travel Blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Travelling to India and want to shrug off the \u2018tourist\u2019 moniker? 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