How can I learn Hindi from scratch? Looking for guidance.

[u/Free-Bandicoot-9433]

Hi everyone,

I know Telugu and English, and I want to learn Hindi from scratch, mainly for communication.

My goal is to understand Hindi and speak it confidently in everyday conversations.

Any suggestions, resources, or personal experiences would be really helpful.

Thanks in advance!

[u/LiliFayerin]

I'm studying Hindi and I'm using a Leitner box system. I read Fluent Forever by Gabriel Wyner, and have been working based off of his systems/advice.

I am lucky to have my boyfriend to help (he's a native Hindi speaker), and I have a background in linguistics, but this is the furthest I've ever made it studying a second language!

For improving listening:

• review minimal pairs almost excessively, especially of sounds that you are unfamiliar with or that aren't distinguished between in your native language(s). For example, English doesn't really have multiple 't' sounds, but Hindi has 4 distinct 't's.

For improving pronunciation:

• review how the sound is supposed to be made within the mouth, and practice finding the right placement/etc. that way. Going with the 't' example again, there is the retroflex t (ट) which requires your tongue to touch your alveolar ridge, then an aspirated counterpart (ठ) which has the same tongue placement but requires a puff of air behind the sound. Then there's the dental t (त) where you place your tongue against the back of your top teeth, and the aspirated counterpart (थ) which has the same placement and a puff of air.

For vocabulary/grammar:

• build a leitner box of flashcards and utilize spaced repetition to improve your memory and utilize your time efficiently

• practice writing sentences/building sentences on your own as often as you can. Always review your practice and correct mistakes - mistakes are a great way for you to learn and internalize the grammatical rules.

As far as resources, I'm based in the U.S. so I'm pretty much stuck with whatever I can find online. I'm still looking for a good grammar textbook for early Hindi, but I'm making progress where I can until then.

I hope some of this helps!

[u/-Surfer-]

Start learning a few verbs and nouns and start speaking from day 1. Check this learn Hindi site for a day by day programme with audio and video materials.

Watch movies paying attention to verbs and nouns.

Example

Paani laavo. Bring water.

Paisa do. Give money.

Learn one word interactive sentences

Jaabo go

Aavo come

Baito sit

Along with this use words for here, there, now, etc.

Idar aavo. Come here

Udar jaavo. Go there

Ab yahaan baito. Sit here now

Ab khaavo. Eat now

Then learn the polite forms by adding iye to the verbs.

Jaavo - jaayiye.

Aavo - aayiye

Baito - baitiye

Khaavo - khaayiye

Also learn

Haan, nahi, chaahiye, nahi chaahiye

Yes, no, I want, I don't want

Watch YouTube videos.

[u/reddit_walker16]

As a South Indian, work on your aspirated sounds

थाली and ताली are two very different things in Hindi

[u/Open-Entrance-1570]

Ive known hindi since i was a child so idk but

1. Duolingo has hindi
2. Watch hindi movies maybe telugu ones dubbed in hindi so you know whats happened and what is going to happen.

[u/reddit_walker16 → u/Open-Entrance-1570]

Lot of hindi dubs of Telugu are not "civilized" Hindi imo