Learning Hindi with AI Flashcards

Language is such a powerful way to connect with your culture, heritage, and history. For me, learning Hindi wasn’t just about picking up another language—it was about rediscovering my roots, understanding my family better, and finding a part of myself that had always been there. Hindi has shaped so many of my family’s conversations, traditions, and memories, but for a long time, I felt like I was missing out because I couldn’t speak it fluently. 

Fun fact: did you know that “Hindi” comes from the Persian word, “Hind” which means “Land of the Indus River”? 

Hindi and Urda are actually considered dialects of the same language, “Hindustani”, with only minor differences in script and vocabulary due to their cultural influences. 

Growing up, English was the main language I used, especially at school and with friends. At home, though, my family always spoke Hindi. I’d hear my parents and grandparents chatting away, effortlessly cracking jokes and sharing stories, while I could only catch bits and pieces. I understood the general idea but missed out on the little details—the humour, the expressions, the cultural references. It felt like I was part of the conversation but not fully involved, and that feeling of being left out made me want to learn Hindi properly. 

One moment really pushed me to take it seriously. During a big family gathering at my grandparents’ house, everyone was laughing at a joke in Hindi—everyone except me. I sat there smiling, pretending I understood, but in reality, I had no idea what was so funny. I didn’t want to keep asking for translations, and I realised that if I truly wanted to feel connected, I had to make the effort to learn the language. 

At first, it felt overwhelming. Hindi has its own script—Devanagari—which was completely different from the English alphabet I was used to. But I started small, learning the letters and practising simple words like paani (water) and khana (food). It was slow at first, and I struggled with pronunciation since Hindi has sounds that don’t exist in English. But I kept going, practising every day, writing words down, and asking my family for help. Over time, I started getting the hang of it. 

One of the best ways I learned was through Bollywood films and music. I’d watch movies with subtitles at first, matching the Hindi words with their English meanings. Slowly, I started recognising phrases without needing to read the subtitles. Listening to Hindi songs also helped—it made learning fun, and before I knew it, I could sing along without looking up the lyrics. Watching movies with my family also became a bonding experience, as I’d ask them about words I didn’t understand, and they’d explain not just the language but the cultural meaning behind it. 

Of course, learning a language isn’t always easy. There were plenty of frustrating moments when I couldn’t remember certain words or got stuck forming sentences. Pronunciation was tricky too—one small mistake could change the entire meaning of a word. But I kept listening to native speakers, repeating words out loud, and even recording myself to check if I was saying things correctly. It was slow progress, but every small improvement made me feel more confident. 

Recently I came across a study showing that active recall was one of the best ways for language learning. Let me consolidate the insights that you might find useful in your language learning journey. 

One of the most effective ways of capitalising on active recall is AI Flashcards. They can take your learning up a notch by enabling you to test yourself and track which vocabulary you have and have not fully grasped. 

Why not start with the simplest of words which you can use in everyday life? Haan - Yes and Nahi - No. Seems simple enough right? Something I found interesting was the fact that “Namaste” which means Good Afternoon in Hindi, also has the exact same meaning of Good Evening. 

The best part of using AI flashcards for learning Hindi or any language for that matter, is that if you do not understand anything, you can simply click on explain and the full context of the vocabulary would be provided to you in an instant. Take Jugaadu for instance. Jugaadu means “resourceful person”. But as a beginner, it’s difficult to understand which context to make use of this term. 

After months of learning, I finally reached a point where I could hold proper conversations in Hindi. It wasn’t perfect, but I could express myself and, most importantly, understand my family’s jokes! Being able to speak Hindi gave me a whole new sense of belonging. I no longer felt like an outsider in my own home. Instead, I felt more connected to my family and culture than ever before.

Looking back, learning Hindi was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. It wasn’t just about learning words and grammar—it was about strengthening my bond with my heritage. In today’s world, it’s easy to drift away from our roots, but language has a way of bringing us back. If you’re thinking about learning a new language—whether it’s your mother tongue or something completely different—go for it! It’s not just about communication; it’s about discovering a whole new side of yourself.