Basics — the script, sounds and first steps

The starting point: the Devanagari alphabet, your first words, and the honest answer to where to begin.

Guides

The Hindi Alphabet — A Beginner's GuideLearn every Hindi letter with its sound and an English example. Vowels, consonants and matras explained…
How to Write Your Name in HindiWrite any English name in Devanagari, letter by letter. A complete sound-to-letter table, worked examples for…
How to Learn Hindi Online in 2026Apps, YouTube, textbooks or a tutor? A frank comparison of every way to learn Hindi online, what each one is…
Hindi vs Urdu — The Real DifferenceHindi and Urdu speakers understand each other completely, yet the languages are treated as separate. A clear…

Devanagari, letter by letter44 letters, why they are ordered the way they are, and how the vowel marks work. Free, no sign-up.
Learning Hindi from absolutely nothingWhere to start, in what order, and what to ignore for now. Free, no sign-up.
How long Hindi takes to learn — the honest answerWhy nobody can give you an honest single number, and what actually determines it. Free, no sign-up.
Writing a name in DevanagariTransliteration, not translation — and why there is often more than one correct answer. Free, no sign-up.
How to actually remember wordsSpaced repetition, what it is good at, and the point at which it stops helping. Free, no sign-up.
Teaching Hindi to a childWhat works at different ages, and the reason a bilingual child answers you in English. Free, no sign-up.
Hindi and Urdu: one spoken language, two scriptsTwo scripts, two vocabularies, one spoken language. Free, no sign-up.

Hindi Placement Check — Where Should You Start?Twelve quick questions that suggest where to start or continue. A rough guide, not a certified placement test.

Devanagari Vowels & Consonants — Quick ChartOne printable chart of every Devanagari vowel and consonant with its Romanised sound and an English word that…
Reading Devanagari in a Week — A Practical PlanA day-by-day plan to start reading Hindi script in a week: what to learn each day, ten words to sound out,…

Hindi Alphabet Explorer — All 44 LettersClick any Devanagari letter to see its sound, its vowel mark and a real Hindi word that uses it. All 11…
What Level Is My Hindi? — Free Self-AssessmentEight honest questions place your Hindi from absolute beginner to advanced, and tell you what to work on…
Free Hindi Quiz — Ten Questions, Different Every TimeTest your Hindi: phrases, numbers and Devanagari letters, drawn at random. Free, instant, no sign-up and no…

Hindi From ZeroGo from knowing nothing to reading Devanagari and holding a short scripted conversation.

Can I learn Hindi without learning the Devanagari…Yes, and for some goals it is the right choice — if you only want to speak with family or handle a trip,…

Is Hindi hard to learn for English speakers?Moderately. The US Foreign Service Institute rates Hindi Category III — about 1,100 hours to professional…
Do I need to learn the Devanagari script to speak…Strictly no — you can learn to speak using romanised Hindi. But it is a false economy: Devanagari takes about…
How long does it take to learn Hindi?Around 4–6 months of consistent study for simple conversation, and 1–2 years for comfortable everyday…