Our spoken language would be pretty dull if we were to speak just the appropriate words and rely only on them to convey the correct meanings. On the other hand, when we sprinkle a pinch of idioms over our plain words, our speech is transformed into something more interesting, amusing, and memorable. In my blog “Idiomatic Guru,” I want to present you with this treasure trove of Hindi idioms in English that even a non-Hindi speaker would be able to understand and appreciate. You will soon be able to use the most popular Hindi idioms and proverbs in your daily conversations.
What are Hindi idioms?
Fluent Hindi speakers use several phrases that may sound strange to a non-Hindi speaker or someone who is not yet very articulate in the language. The literal word-by-word translation of these phrases may mean something very different from what the speaker intended to convey.
As in the English language, a Hindi idiom is a collection of words or phrases used to convey a meaning that is different from the literal meaning of those words. For example, consider the English idiom “Kill two birds with one stone.” A fluent English speaker knows that the real meaning of this phrase has nothing to do with stones, birds, or even killings. It just means the accomplishment of two different tasks with one single action. A dramatic phrase is used here to convey a simple meaning, making for an interesting conversation.
The ancient Greeks had a word for such “peculiar phraseology.” They called it “Idioma.” From the Greek idioma, the English language derived the word “idiom.” The Hindi word for idiom is मुहावरा (Muhavra) which, interestingly, has its roots in the Arabic language.
An example of a Hindi idiom is “Ankhon ka tara,” which literally means “The star of (one’s) eyes.” However, a fluent Hindi speaker will tell you that this phrase does not actually refer to anyone’s eyes or the stars in the sky. This phrase is the equivalent of the English phrase “The apple of one’s eyes,” meaning “A person who is greatly cherished.”
Understanding an idiom’s true meaning
To understand the true meaning of a Hindi idiom, you need to look at the entire phrase instead of the individual words in the phrase.
There is an English idiom that goes, “Don’t miss the forest for the trees.” It tells us not to get so busy criticizing the trees that we lose sight of the beauty of the forest as a whole.
While searching for its meaning, we cannot dissect an idiom grammatically. More often, idioms have a particular arrangement of words, also known as syntax, which may not always conform to the strict rules of grammar. Meanings of idioms and proverbs are found and understood by their regular and repetitive use in our daily talks.
Becoming conversant with Hindi idioms
Idioms have been around for several thousands of years and have gained popularity by being widely used. “Apple of the eye” is mentioned in the Bible (Psalm 17:8), which makes that idiom four thousand years old at the least!
The best way to become conversant with Hindi idioms is to use them regularly in our daily conversations. Once you begin using idioms, you can convey your message to another person in a way that is exciting and creative. The listener will remember what you said for a long time.
Without Hindi idioms, your speech in Hindi will sound as bland as food that is not seasoned. Idioms are the spices you need to make your messages distinctively peppery and tangy.
My “Idiomatic Guru” blog will have over a hundred Hindi idioms in English that will be easy for a non-Hindi speaker to grasp quickly. You could add some variety to your spoken Hindi by picking up one of those Hindi idioms and remembering to use them at least three times daily.
So, instead of saying blandly, “Bhook lagi hai” (feeling hungry), try the more spicy variety, “Paet mein chuhey daud rahe hain” (Mice are running about in my stomach). Add color to your language!
With daily practice, you will find yourself becoming more and more familiar with these exciting phrases. Soon, effortlessly, these popular Hindi idioms and proverbs will automatically start figuring in your daily speech.
A detailed explanation of every idiom
In order to make every Hindi idiom an unforgettable part of your Hindi vocabulary, I have followed a unique plan of presenting each idiom and proverb in a way that is easily understood and retained in your memory. I think my format will give you a thorough understanding and provide unique insights into the idioms presented in my ‘Idiomatic Guru’ blog posts.
In general, the order of things in most of my blog posts will be as follows:
- A Hindi idiom in Hindi (Devnagri) script: This will show the idiom in its original form and language.
- A transliteration of the idiom in English: This will help non-Hindi speakers read out the idiom using English letters.
- A literal translation of the idiom: This will tell you the literal meanings of each word in the idiom.
- The figurative meaning of the idiom: This is an essential section of the explanation, as it will reveal the idiom’s hidden or figurative meanings. This is the actual meaning that the idiom intends to convey.
- A picture or photograph: This will be an image or a sketch that will show a visual connection to the idiom being discussed.
- The usage of the idiom in a sample sentence: Here, I present you with a sample sentence where I make use of the idiom or the proverb under discussion. The sample sentence gives you an idea of how you too could practically use the idiom in a sentence of your own.
- Transliteration of the sample sentence: The sample sentence above is first written in the Hindi (Devnagiri) script, and then in this section, it is transliterated into English for the benefit of non-Hindi speakers.
- Meaning of the sample sentence: In this section, I translate the sample sentence in a way that the true meaning of the idiom is clearly understood.
- Origin of the idiom: This is where I attempt to discuss the historical etymology of the idiom and write about what I could discover of its beginnings and chronological evolution. Some of the idioms we use today are very old and prehistoric, and their origins are unknown and obscure. We can only attempt to make an educated guess at their origins. Many people have found this the most interesting part of my blog posts.
Speak to the breeze like a pro . . .
हवा से बातें करना (Hawa se batein karna, literally, talking to the breeze) is a Hindi idiom that means “to go speedily (like the breeze).” I look forward to you going speedily from one idiom to another, improving your Hindi speaking skills, and profiting from the treasure trove of Hindi idioms in English that you will find on the Idiomatic Guru blog.