Basic Nouns

1. నీళ్లు

   neellu

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water, understood in any eatery or shop

2. ఆహారం

   aahaaram

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food — a way into asking where you can eat

3. డబ్బు

   dabbu

   Money

   Usage

   The base word for anything about paying or changing currency

4. టాయిలెట్

   ṭāyileṭ

   Toilet

   Usage

   Essential when asking directions. The word alone usually does the job

5. టిష్యూ

   tishyoo

   Tissue

   Usage

   Needed at toilets and street stalls that provide no paper

6. మందు

   mandu

   Medicine

   Usage

   Use it at a pharmacy while miming your symptom. In casual speech it can also mean "alcohol", but at a pharmacy the context makes it clear

7. సామాను

   saamaanu

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking, carrying or collecting bags — common at airports and hotels

8. తాళం చెవి

   taalam chevi

   Key

   Usage

   For room keys and locker keys

9. టికెట్

   tiket

   Ticket

   Usage

   Transport or entry tickets. Combine it with a number at the counter

10. పాస్‌పోర్ట్

    paasport

    Passport

    Usage

    Requested at check-in and currency exchange, and the word you need if it goes missing

11. ఫోన్

    phon

    Phone

    Usage

    Usually covers both the device and the act of calling

12. ఛార్జర్

    chaarjar

    Charger

    Usage

    For borrowing or buying one — often needed at a hotel front desk

13. స్టేషన్

    steshan

    Station

    Usage

    A landmark word when asking for directions

14. ఆసుపత్రి

    aasupatri

    Hospital

    Usage

    For when you fall ill — works as a destination in a taxi

15. పోలీస్

    polees

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents. Even the bare word conveys urgency

16. దుకాణం

    dukaanam

    Shop

    Usage

    The base word when asking where to buy something

17. గది

    gadi

    Room

    Usage

    For accommodation — checking vacancies or explaining a room number

18. రోడ్డు

    roddu

    Road

    Usage

    For asking the way, ideally while pointing at a map

19. కుటుంబం

    kutumbam

    Family

    Usage

    A guaranteed small-talk topic. Add a number and the conversation keeps going

20. పేరు

    peru

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

21. తల

    tala

    Head

    Usage

    Body part for showing where it hurts — point at your own head

22. కన్ను

    kannu

    Eye

    Usage

    For reporting an eye problem; both eyes together is kaḷḷu

23. పళ్ళు

    pallu

    Teeth

    Usage

    For reporting toothache; a dentist is danta vaidyuḍu

24. గొంతు

    gontu

    Throat

    Usage

    For a sore throat; the same word also means "voice", so use it where the topic is clearly your health

25. కడుపు

    kadupu

    Stomach

    Usage

    For stomach ache; in idioms the word can imply pregnancy, but pointing at the spot removes any doubt

26. వీపు

    veepu

    Back

    Usage

    For back pain; also useful at a massage shop

27. నడుము

    nadumu

    Lower back / waist

    Usage

    The waist/lower back, below vīpu; point at belt height

28. కాలు

    kaalu

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    Telugu uses one word for both the leg and the foot — point at your own body to show which part you mean

29. చేయి

    cheyi

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    Telugu uses one word for the hand and the arm; the literary bāhuvu (arm) is not used in speech, so point to show which you mean

30. ఛాతీ

    chaatee

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or tightness; this is the anatomical ribcage word and carries no sexual connotation

31. లాడ్జి

    laadji

    Hotel (lodging)

    Usage

    The place you sleep. In Telugu, hōṭal usually means an eatery, so use this word when you are looking for lodging

32. లాండ్రీ

    laandree

    Laundry

    Usage

    A shop that washes clothes for you. Coin-operated self-service laundromats barely exist in India; you use your hotel or an istrī (ironing) shop instead

33. అగ్నిమాపక కేంద్రం

    agnimaapaka kendram

    Fire station

    Usage

    అగ్నిమాపక (fire-extinguishing) plus కేంద్రం (centre); the brigade itself is అగ్నిమాపక దళం, and the English ఫైర్ స్టేషన్ is also understood

34. కాన్సులేట్

    kaansulet

    Consulate

    Usage

    The mission a country keeps in major cities; a consulate-general is కాన్సులేట్ జనరల్

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