Directions

1. చార్మినార్ ఎక్కడ ఉంది?

   Cārminār ekkaḍa undi?

   Where is Charminar?

   Usage

   Used to find the iconic Charminar monument in Hyderabad's old city

   Grammar Note

   "Ekkada" = "where". Charminar (built 1591) is the symbol of Hyderabad. The surrounding Laad Bazaar is famous for bangles.

2. గోల్కొండ కోట దారి చెప్పగలరా?

   Golkonḍa kōṭa dāri ceppagalarā?

   Can you tell me the way to Golconda Fort?

   Usage

   Used to ask for directions to Golconda Fort, the historic fort near Hyderabad

   Grammar Note

   "-galara" marks polite ability question. Golconda was the capital of Qutb Shahi dynasty (16th-17th c.). Famous for its acoustic system.

3. ఆటో రిక్షా స్టాండ్ ఎక్కడ ఉంది?

   Āṭo rikṣā stānḍ ekkaḍa undi?

   Where is the auto-rickshaw stand?

   Usage

   Used to find the auto-rickshaw stand in Telugu-speaking cities

   Grammar Note

   "Auto" and "stand" are English loanwords. In Hyderabad, app-based rides (Ola, Uber) are common alternatives to auto-rickshaws.

4. నేరుగా వెళ్ళండి

   Nērugā veḷḷanḍi

   Please go straight ahead

   Usage

   Used to give or receive direction instructions to go straight

   Grammar Note

   "-nḍi" is the polite imperative suffix. Also learn: "kuḍi vaipu" (to the right) and "eḍama vaipu" (to the left).

5. ఎంత దూరం ఉంది?

   Enta dūraṃ undi?

   How far is it?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the distance to a destination

   Grammar Note

   "Enta" asks about quantity/extent. More specific: "kilomeetarlu enta undi?" (how many kilometres?).

6. మ్యాప్ లో చూపించగలరా?

   Myāp lō cūpiñcagalarā?

   Can you show me on the map?

   Usage

   Used to ask someone to point out a location on a map

   Grammar Note

   "Myāp" is the English loanword "map". Pointing at your phone, "ikkada cūpiñcanḍi" (point here) also works well.

7. దగ్గరలో బస్ స్టాప్ ఉందా?

   Daggaralō bas stāp undā?

   Is there a bus stop nearby?

   Usage

   Used to find a bus stop when using public transport

   Grammar Note

   "-dā" suffix marks questions. TGSRTC buses are the main public transport in Hyderabad. Metro (HMRL) also serves central areas.

8. సెక్యూరిటీ చెక్ పాయింట్ ఎక్కడ?

   Sekyuriṭī cek pāint ekkaḍa?

   Where is the security checkpoint?

   Usage

   Used to find security checkpoints at airports or major tourist sites

   Grammar Note

   All three words are English loanwords. In casual questions, the "undi" (is it) at the end is often dropped.

9. నేను తప్పిపోయాను

   Nēnu tappipōyānu

   I am lost

   Usage

   Used when lost and asking a local for help

   Grammar Note

   "Tappipōyānu" is the completed action (past) of "to get lost". Follow with "nāku sahāyam ceyaṇḍi" (please help me).

10. ఇక్కడ నుండి రైల్వే స్టేషన్ ఎంత దూరం?

    Ikkada nuṇḍi reilwē stēṣan enta dūraṃ?

    How far is the railway station from here?

    Usage

    Used to ask about the distance from current location to the railway station

    Grammar Note

    "Nuṇḍi" is the ablative postposition (from). Main stations in Hyderabad: Kacheguda and Secunderabad. Vizag is the key eastern city.

11. కుడి

    kuḍi

    Right

    Usage

    Show it to a taxi or auto driver — a single word stays readable while the vehicle is moving

12. ఎడమ

    eḍama

    Left

    Usage

    Show it to a taxi or auto driver

13. నేరుగా

    nērugā

    Straight ahead

    Usage

    Show it when you want the driver to keep going straight

14. వెనక్కి

    venakki

    Go back

    Usage

    Show it when you have overshot and need the driver to turn back

15. ఆగండి

    āgaṇḍi

    Stop here

    Usage

    Show it where you want to get out; the polite imperative form keeps it courteous

16. ఉత్తరం

    uttaraṃ

    North

    Usage

    For checking a compass direction against a map or a road sign

17. దక్షిణం

    dakṣiṇaṃ

    South

    Usage

    For checking a compass direction

18. తూర్పు

    tūrpu

    East

    Usage

    For checking a compass direction; it also turns up in place names such as East Godavari

19. పడమర

    paḍamara

    West

    Usage

    For checking a compass direction

20. విమానాశ్రయం

    vimānāśrayaṃ

    Airport

    Usage

    The Telugu wording used on road signs; in speech the English "airport" works just as well

21. బస్ స్టాప్

    bas sṭāp

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where the bus stop is; a long-distance bus terminus is a different word, bas sṭāṇḍ

22. మెట్రో స్టేషన్

    meṭrō sṭēṣan

    Metro station

    Usage

    Hyderabad is the only Telugu-speaking city with a metro, and most of it is elevated rather than underground; elsewhere this word gets you nowhere

23. రాయబార కార్యాలయం

    rāyabāra kāryālayaṃ

    Embassy

    Usage

    All embassies are in Delhi; Hyderabad has consulates (kānsulēṭ), which is where you go if you lose your passport

24. ATM

    ATM

    Usage

    ATM signage is written only in Latin letters as "ATM", even in Telugu-speaking areas, so you can point at this to ask for one

25. డబ్బు మార్పిడి

    dabbu mārpiḍi

    Money exchange

    Usage

    For asking where currency can be changed; the shop boards themselves read "MONEY EXCHANGE" or "FOREX" in English

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