Why Learn Hindi Online (for Beginners)
Hindi opens doors to cinema, music, travel, and new friendships across India and beyond. Online, you can learn at your pace and keep it free with smart resources.
At A1–A2 level, aim for the basics: greetings, numbers, simple questions, and everyday verbs. You’ll build listening and speaking first, then add reading and writing step by step.
- Clear beginner goals (A1–A2)
- Short daily sessions in minutes
- Mix listening, speaking, reading
- Use free PDF and audio tools
Devanagari and Sound Basics
Hindi uses the Devanagari script. It’s logical: a horizontal headline connects letters, vowels change the base sound, and each symbol maps closely to a sound. Start with vowels, then the most common consonants.
Use transliteration briefly, but move to Devanagari early so you read real words. A simple alphabet chart PDF and a handwriting guide help you connect shape, sound, and stroke order.
- Learn vowels: a, aa, i, ii, u, uu, e, ai, o, au
- Master core consonants: k, g, n, t, d, p, b, m
- Practice 5–10 minutes tracing letters
- Read simple combos: ka, ki, ku, ta, ti, tu
Core Phrases and Grammar Basics
Build a small, useful toolkit you can use in all daily chats. Keep phrases short, learn polite forms, and notice word order: Hindi tends to be Subject–Object–Verb (I tea drink).
Gender and agreement matter. Many words change with masculine/feminine forms, and postpositions act like prepositions after nouns. Don’t worry—at beginners level, patterns become clear with repetition.
- Namaste — Hello
- Shukriya/Dhanyavaad — Thank you
- Mera naam … hai — My name is …
- Aap kaise hain? — How are you? (formal)
- Mujhe paani chahiye — I want water
- Kitne ka hai? — How much is it?
A 14-Day Plan: Minutes a Day
Consistency beats cramming. Use 15–25 minutes daily. Split time: quick review, new item, and output (say or write). Keep it light and repeat across days.
- Days 1–2: Alphabet basics, greetings, numbers 1–20 (20 minutes).
- Days 3–4: Pronouns, to be (hai), polite forms; read simple words (20 minutes).
- Days 5–6: Food and shopping phrases; prices and rupees (25 minutes).
- Days 7–8: Daily routine verbs; make 5 short sentences (25 minutes).
- Days 9–10: Directions, transport; ask and answer two questions (20 minutes).
- Days 11–14: Review all; short self-intro; 1–2 mini dialogues (25 minutes).
Free PDFs, Apps, and a Starter Book List
You can learn a lot with free tools. Start with a printable cheat sheet PDF (alphabet, numbers, common phrases) and a light grammar summary. Then add audio for listening and a small bilingual dictionary. If you want a book, pick a beginner-friendly phrasebook or an open-licensed basics workbook.
- Alphabet chart and stroke-order PDF (print and annotate).
- Beginner phrasebook PDF with audio if available.
- Mini grammar PDF: pronouns, present tense, postpositions.
- Flashcard app with spaced repetition (daily in minutes).
- Bilingual dictionary app and online Hindi keyboard.
- Starter book: a concise beginners phrasebook or basics workbook.
FAQ
- How many minutes a day should beginners study Hindi?
- Aim for 15–25 minutes daily. Short, focused sessions plus weekly review work better than long, irregular study.
- Do I need Devanagari to start, or can I learn with Latin letters?
- Begin with transliteration if needed, but switch to Devanagari within a few days. It improves pronunciation and speed.
- How long to reach A1–A2 in Hindi?
- With daily minutes and consistent practice, many learners reach solid A1 in 4–8 weeks and A2 in a few months.
- Where can I find a free Hindi PDF for the basics?
- Look for an alphabet chart PDF, a beginner phrasebook PDF, and a mini grammar summary from reputable educational sites.
- Which beginner book should I choose?
- Pick a clear phrasebook or a basics workbook with dialogues and audio. Keep chapters short and practical for everyday use.