Hindi · Real conversations

Repairing a conversation: useful Hindi phrases

Check a meaning and leave with something you can use.

Start with the essentials

Start with the essential words and expressions below. Next, learn the five specific phrases in the reference table. Finally, read both sides of the exchange and try the linked rehearsal before revealing its sample replies. This collection connects to the broader vocabulary topic.

I don't understand
मैं समझा नहींmain samjha nahin
I don't understand
Can you repeat that, please?
क्या आप दोहरा सकते हैं?kya aap dohra sakte hain?
Can you repeat that, please?
More slowly, please
थोड़ा धीरे बोलिएthoda dheere boliye
More slowly, please
I have a question
मेरा एक सवाल हैmera ek savaal hai
I have a question

Make the conversation more specific

Useful Hindi expressions for repairing a conversation
What you want to say	Hindi
I don't understand	मैं समझा नहींmain samjha nahin I don't understand
Can you repeat that, please?	क्या आप दोहरा सकते हैं?kya aap dohra sakte hain? Can you repeat that, please?
More slowly, please	थोड़ा धीरे बोलिएthoda dheere boliye More slowly, please
I have a question	मेरा एक सवाल हैmera ek savaal hai I have a question
Could you write it down?	क्या आप इसे लिख सकते हैं?kya aap ise likh sakte hain? Show English translation Could you write it down?
Could you give me an example?	क्या आप मुझे एक उदाहरण दे सकते हैं?kya aap mujhe ek udaaharan de sakte hain? Show English translation Could you give me an example?
Do you mean ...?	क्या आपका मतलब … है?kya aapka matlab ... hai? Show English translation Do you mean …?
Let me check that I understood.	मैं देख लूँ कि मैंने ठीक समझा है।main dekh loon ki maine theek samjha hai. Show English translation Let me check that I understood.
Is this the right word?	क्या यह सही शब्द है?kya yah sahi shabd hai? Show English translation Is this the right word?

Read the other side of the exchange

Partner
यह नाम लिखना थोड़ा मुश्किल है।yah naam likhna thoda mushkil hai.
The name is a little difficult to spell.
You
क्या आप इसे लिख सकते हैं?kya aap ise likh sakte hain?
Could you write it down?
Partner
ज़रूर। यह शब्द नियमित काम को बताता है।zaroor. yah shabd niyamit kaam ko bataata hai.
Of course. This word describes a regular action.
You
क्या आप मुझे एक उदाहरण दे सकते हैं?kya aap mujhe ek udaaharan de sakte hain?
Could you give me an example?

Repairing a conversation in other languages

A note on speaking Hindi

These examples generally use respectful आप (aap). Familiar तुम (tum) changes the verb ending, and तू (tu) can sound too intimate or disrespectful in the wrong relationship. Where gender changes a first-person form, choose the version that describes the speaker.

Read the Devanagari alongside the romanization. Romanization is a reading aid rather than an exact description of every sound. Everyday Hindi can use familiar loanwords, while a literal English word order may sound unnatural.