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There are many reasons to learn Hindi, whether it be to travel, work, or connect with a loved one.
You are reading: Books to learn hindi
As one of the official languages of India, it is used by many Indian states and international communities. in fact, Hindi is the fourth most widely spoken language in the world, with around 342 million native speakers in total!
One way to study this language is through reading—and you’ll be glad to know that there are many Hindi references out there! To get you started, we’ve rounded up the best 12 books to learn Hindi.
Let’s take a closer look, shall we?
1. Master the Hindi Alphabet: A Handwriting Practice Workbook
The Hindi alphabet is unique in itself.
in addition to having more characters (the exact number of these is still debated at this time), it uses the distinctly ornamental Devanagari script. memorizing this will be exciting!
Master the Hindi Alphabet is a dedicated reference that will train your muscle memory and develop your handwriting. This workbook demonstrates the stroke order of 69 Hindi characters for you to learn quickly!
key features:
- contains 69 characters (including base vowels and consonants, common conjunctions, and dotted letters)
- clear, wide pages with stroke order
- discusses font variations
2. meri pratham hindi sulekh varnmala: hindi writing practice book for kids
Mastering the Devanagari script is as simple as it gets with Meri Pratham Hindi Sulekh Varnmala. Easy and efficient, this writing exercise book will teach you the alphabet and its corresponding stroke order.
Although it is advertised primarily for children, its vibrant images and tracking activities are very practical for even adults to refer to. This 56-page booklet is accompanied by dotted lines and arrows to guide your calligraphy.
key features:
- writing practice book
- associates animated pictures with alphabet characters
- instructs entirely in Hindi
3. hindi flash card kit
Unlike traditional learning methods, the Hindi Flashcard Kit features 300 flashcards to help expand your Hindi vocabulary.
Each card shows sample sentences, written in Devanagari, Romanized Hindi and English scripts, allowing you to study different words and phrases with ease!
these cards come with a number of applications, you may want to test yourself (and others) or take them on the road.
While some of their idioms and proverbs may be a bit complex for new students, if you can’t make your own flashcards, these are pretty cool!
key features:
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4. learn hindi in 30 days (national integration language series)
Learning Hindi is known to be difficult for non-native speakers, but this reference is up for the challenge.
Learn Hindi in 30 days is a 5-part Hindi learning book for beginners that mainly uses English for teaching. Inside, you’ll find neat and concise lessons on the alphabet, words, sentences, and grammar, making this a decent choice for new learners!
once you finish this textbook, you will acquire the ability to read, write and speak the language.
key features:
- Uses English to teach Hindi
- Introduction to the alphabet, vocabulary and grammar
- Part five has short stories, lessons on how to write letters and a glossary of words
5. practice makes perfect: basic hindi
Bite-sized and engaging, practice makes perfect: Basic Hindi provides a solid introduction to the language.
In just 25 lessons, this book covers Devanagari script, basic vocabulary, grammar, and conversational structures for new learners.
You will receive instructions in a smooth and leisurely manner, and you will be carefully guided at all times. it also comes with transliterations and online recordings for your convenience.
note: this book has minor translation errors and lacks some grammar lessons, so I advise you to find another resource to go with it.
key features:
- simple and organized introduction to Hindi
- courses for beginners on vocabulary, grammar and dialogue
- online recordings to practice pronunciation
6. full hindi
Both a textbook and a workbook, it teaches complete Hindi which lives up to its name as it is packed with activities!
This reference is comprehensive, slow-paced, and easy to understand, making it perfect for beginners and intermediates. Here you will find extensive tutorials on vocabulary, grammar and real-life conversations.
Each lesson begins with a dialogue and is accompanied by an English translation, grammar points, cultural notes, and exercises. Since it follows a set storyline, you’ll have no trouble staying focused and interested in your lessons!
key features:
- lessons for beginners and intermediates
- structured and highly academic approach to reading, writing, listening and speaking the Hindi language
- has online audio (the cd no longer sold sold)
7. learn hindi in 30 days through english
Learn Hindi in 30 days through English is a book that will gently guide you through your first lessons.
Mostly translated into English, it teaches the alphabet, words, and sentences using both the Devanagari script and Romanized text.
some reviewers commented that his lessons are more appropriate for those familiar with Hindi; so, just as a precaution, I suggest you treat this as a learning plugin.
key features:
- teaches in English
- addresses the alphabet and basic vocabulary
- practical and easy-to-use reference
8. elementary hindi
Take your studies to the next level with Elementary Hindi, a comprehensive guide that’s perfect for intensive revision. this series contains a textbook and a workbook.
The comprehensive and systematic textbook develops your understanding of the alphabet, vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and dialogue, and is best used with accompanying CD. is ideal for those who want a full academic breakdown of Devanagari writing, grammar, and pronunciation.
Meanwhile, the workbook has reading comprehension, vocabulary and grammar, and translation exercises, each increasing in difficulty as you go.
Since this is a very structured course, you should combine it with more colloquial lessons, whether from a book, tutor or app, to balance your studies.
key features:
- divided introductory lessons
- academic and structured teaching method
- has an accompanying cd
9. introduction to hindi grammar
The Introduction to Hindi Grammar is as promising as it sounds. Showcasing an in-depth examination of the subject, this book is best for intermediate students who are proficient in Devanagari script.
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Written by a native speaker, his lessons replace jargon with structured tutorials to teach Hindi grammar comprehensively. Through various examples and practice exercises, you will cover the topics of nouns, verbs, and the like in a detailed and reliable manner. Did I mention it also has a cd?
(and hey, if you want to take your studies to the next level, the author also has an advanced Hindi grammar book!)
key features:
- concentrate on grammatical concepts
- introduction to Hindi by a native speaker
- requires proficiency in Devanagari script before reading
10. colloquial Hindi
Known for its clear, user-friendly format and comprehensive explanations, Colloquial Hindi is another stellar installment of Routledge Colloquials, a series aimed at independent learners.
This is one of the best Hindi books for beginners! Structured around reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills, plus exercises and bilingual glossaries, her lessons are packed with introductory guides and basic fundamentals.
also contains an extensive library of Hindi dialogues (with an English translation) as well as online audio to accompany your lessons.
fully loaded and widely applicable, overall this textbook is the key to progress!
key features:
- detailed lessons on reading, writing, speaking and listening skills
- includes vocabulary lists, a grammar summary and exercises (with full answer key)
- uses an online audio accompaniment
11. say it in hindi
Essentially a phrasebook, Say It in Hindi will allow you to speak in various social situations. if you are doing tourism, working abroad or studying the language itself, you have nothing to fear!
This reference has many useful sentences and phrases that can help with everyday life. transliterations and English translations are also seen inside.
Short but sweet, this book is sure to have you reading and pronouncing Hindi words by the end! use it as a travel companion or study guide.
key features:
- short but widely applicable lessons
- contains 1000 Hindi phrases and sentences
- handy phrasebook for study and travel
12. intermediate Hindi reader
intermediate hindi reader is a much appreciated and well-reviewed textbook, and for many good reasons! With various short stories, poems, folk tales, articles, and essays, this compilation of Hindi literature will teach you to read more effectively.
This intermediate level reader is perfect for practicing your reading comprehension skills. Each story is narrated in English and Hindi and has a vocabulary list for easy reference.
To summarize, this book will delightfully encourage you to read works in Hindi.
key features:
- reading comprehension book
- displays a wide variety of Hindi literature
- each story comes with a vocabulary list
conclusion
And there you have it: our 12 favorite books for learning Hindi!
Hindi is an amazing language surrounded by historical, cultural, artistic and religious influences that you might discover once you start studying it.
And, whether you’re a beginner or intermediate learner, a native speaker, or someone completely new to Hindi, you’re sure not to be short of material, let alone the right books, to help you study.
Combine any of these twelve references with a Hindi learning app, media, games, and more, and you’ll be on your way to gaining competition!
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