The Hindi Dictionary that Best Fits You

The Hindi Dictionary that Best Fits You:
A discussion on print, online and app Hindi dictionaries

Spending your time reading this somewhat long post will benefit you in the long run. However, you can simply skim through, or use CTRL+F for search.

Dictionaries are one's best friends when one ventures on the learning of a new language. And a good dictionary, like a good friend, guides one through the mysterious world of new and unknown words.

When you decided to learn Hindi as a Second Language (HSL), you might have picked a dictionary which someone recommended or what you found through Google. When you picked a dictionary, you might have wondered whether that was the best option of you. This post does at least two things: one, it details all available good dictionaries for Hindi Language Learners (HLLs), and two, it presents possible options for HLLs at different proficiency levels.

Print Dictionaries1. Hindi Sabdasagara by Syamasundar Das was published by one of the best publishers for Hindi books in India and is a rich resource for HLLs and Hindi teachers. Though now unavailable in print, the dictionary can be accessible online through University of Chicago.

2. A Practical Hindi-English Dictionary by Mahendra Chaturvedi and Bhola Nath Tiwari (at amazon) will suit you well when you learn Hindi as a Language (HAL) on advanced level. This dictionary may especially help you while you are reading an upper intermediate or advanced level general text, or any literary text. This dictionary is also accessible online through University of Chicago but is worth buying in print format.

3. Advanced Learner's English-Hindi Dictionary (at amazon) and Advanced Learner's Hindi-English Dictionary (at amazon) by Hardev Bahri is another resource which is must for any one interested in learning HAL on advanced level. Due to its richness and appropriate and abundant usages in more than 85000 words, phrases and entries, either of the dictionaries is used as a consulting resource by Hindi language and literature teachers in India. The Hindi-English version is accessible online through University of Chicago.

4. The Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary (at amazon) by R. S. McGregor is another important resource. The dictionary covers both conversational and literary Hindi, and gives etymologies of the words. If you love knowing etymologies of words, this dictionary is for you.

5. The Essential Hindi Dictionary (at amazon) by Rupert Snell is also a good resource for HLLs. The dictionary in two (Hindi-English and English-Hindi) sections is a good fit for beginner to lower intermediate levels. Introduction to Hindi, Devnagari script, concise grammar,  and insights in the book are recommended readings.

6. Prabhat Advanced Hindi-English Dictionary (at amazon) and Advanced English-Hindi Dictionary (available in India) by Badrinath Kapoor is the latest comprehensive endeavor at an updated Hindi dictionary. The dictionaries are rich and suit HLLs at the Advanced level. 

Online Dictionaries1. HinKhoj Hindi Dictionary: It is in Hindi-English and English-Hindi formats, and both dictionaries are good. Since word meanings with transliteration and grammatical categories are contributed by people, they have positive and negative sides associated with crowd sourcing. Some words also have detailed usages. Primary Use: Search word meaning

2. Bab.la Dictionary: Bab.la is an English-Hindi dictionary which presents information in a compact way. It provides possible meanings of the searched word with its transliteration and forms in other grammatical categories. You can also listen to the pronunciation of the searched word. There are also crowd-sourced examples for words. Primary Use: Search word meaning with pronunciation

3. Shabdkosh: The dictionary is in both Hindi-English and English-Hindi formats; the result depends on what you type. You can also listen to the pronunciation of the searched word and read the transliteration. The dictionary is richer in conversational words and presentation is clear. However, there are no examples of the word usages in sentences. Primary Use: Search word meaning with pronunciation

4. Raftaar Shabdkosh: The dictionary is in three formats: Hindi-English, English-Hindi and Hindi-Hindi, and, therefore, gives flexibility to the users. The user can search a word in one of the first two formats and see extended examples in the third, Hindi-Hindi, format. The third format is what makes the dictionary invaluable resource. Primary Use: Search word meaning (no pronunciation) and read its use in sentences and common expressions

5. Hamari Web: The dictionary is in Hindi-English and English-Hindi formats, and provides word meanings and transliteration without the usages in sentences. Primary Use: Search select word meanings

6. Universal Word-Hindi Lexicon: This is an English-Hindi corpus/dictionary developed for the purpose of machine translation. However, you can also search word meanings and their grammatical, morphological and semantic attributes. Primary Use: Search word meaning and its linguistic attributes

7. Lexilogos: This works as a search engine and allows the user to search the meaning of Hindi or English word in four dictionaries: A Practical Hindi-English Dictionary by Mahendra Chaturvedi, Shabdkosh, Bab.la and Universal Word-Hindi Lexicon. The same search is also connected to Google Translate, Bing Translate, Wiktionary, Wikipedia, Google Search and Google Books. Primary Use: Search word meaning simultaneously in four dictionaries and at other platforms

8. Lexicool: This also works as a search engine and allows the user to search the meaning of Hindi or English word but in six dictionaries: four dictionaries available at Lexilogos, and Glosbe and Sensagent. Google Translate and Wiktionary are embedded on the site. Primary Use: Search word meaning simultaneously in six dictionaries

9. HindiCube: This dictionary is in Hindi-English and English-Hindi formats but additionally allows the user to search the Hindi word of an English number. Primary Use: Search Hindi words for English numbers from 1 to millions or billions

10. Meaning Hindi: This is a crowd sourced platform, which can help you find Hindi meaning (translation) of a rare word if someone asked the meaning of the word. Primary Use: Post a question

Other online dictionaries namely Utilities Web Duniya and English to Hindi appear to be in developmental phase.  

Dictionaries for Mobile Phones
1. HinKhoj Dictionary: This app on Google Play provides Hindi-English and English-Hindi search and can be accessed in online and offline formats. It also allows the user to save words in a list and listen to the word pronunciation. Other features are word of the day, word guess game and spell checker. Highlights: Online and offline access, word guess game and spell checker

2. Hindi Dictionary iGeniusDev: This app on Google Play provides English-Hindi search only but works offline. It allows the user to configure the font size, mark words as favorite and listen to the word pronunciation. Other features are word of the day and Hindi and English quizzes. Highlights: Offline access, custom font size and quizzes

3. Hindi Dictionary Pocket dictionary: This app on Google Play also works offline. It allows the user to configure the font size and theme and mark words as favorite. Other features are word of the day, automatic history and context word search. Highlights: Offline access, custom font size and theme and context word search

4. English to Hindi Dictionary Burning Passion: This app on Google Play provides English-Hindi search and works offline. It allows the user to mark words as favorite and listen to the word pronunciation. Other features are voice recognition and ability to block ads. Highlights: Offline access and voice recognition

5. English Hindi Dictionary Movin'App: This app on Google Play provides English-Hindi search and works offline but uses Internet to run ads. It allows the user to bookmark words and listen to the word pronunciation. Other feature is the ability to share translations by sms and email. Highlights: Offline access and ability to share translations

6. English to Hindi Dictionary Applicity: This app on Google Play provides limited English-Hindi word search and works offline. It allows the user to share translations by sms and email and has voice recognition feature. Highlights: Offline access, ability to share translations and voice recognition

7. Hindi- English Dictionary Mobifusion: This app on Nokia store provides common Hindi vocabulary and works offline. It allows the user to listen to the word pronunciation. Highlights: Offline access and compatibility with Nokia phones

8. kdictMobile: This app downloadable from the creator's website is English-Hindi dictionary and works on Java supported and android phones. The user can also download add-on for Firefox and Chrome. Highlights:  Availability in multiple formats

9. Hindi English Translator GK Apps: This app is primarily a translator, which translates words and texts from English to Hindi, and from Hindi to English using Google Translate services. Highlights: Ability to translate multiple words

10. Hindi Translator/Dictionary GreenLife: This app works as  a dictionary and a translator. It translates words and texts from English to Hindi, and from Hindi to English and includes offline dictionary. It allows the user to listen to the word & text pronunciation. Other features are word of the day, sentence correction, voice recognition, email or sms the translation, copy to paste in other apps, and use of the same app for other languages. Highlights: Offline dictionary access, ability to translate multiple words in many languages, voice recognition, email and sms the translation, and copy and paste 

Other apps namely English Hindi Dictionary Hindi Apps, English Hindi Dictionary SE Develop, English to Hindi Dictionary Syamu Vellanad, English Hindi Dictionary NDT, Hindi to English Dictionary Khandbahale and English to Hindi Dictionary Hotfunapps are also available, but most of what they offer is available in the above apps.

 

So, which dictionary best suits you? The answer will depend on your proficiency level and purpose/use. But these combinations might help you:

Beginner Level: Buy Snell print dictionary (if you can afford it), bookmark Shabdkosh online dictionary and download one or two of the apps on your phone addressing your needs (possibly Hinkhoj/iGeniusDev and Burning Passion/Pocket Dictionary). Use HindiCube for numbers

Intermediate Level: Buy Bahri or Kapoor print dictionary, bookmark Bab.la and Raftaar Shabdkosh online dictionaries, and download one or two of the apps on your phone addressing your needs (possibly Hinkhoj/iGeniusDev and GreenLife)

Advanced Level: Buy Bahri/Chaturvedi/Kapoor and McGregor print dictionaries, bookmark Lexicool or Lexilogos, and download one or more apps on your phone addressing your needs (possibly Hinkhoj/iGeniusDev, Movin'App and GreenLife)

Traveling Purpose: Buy Snell print dictionary, and download Burning Passion and GreenLife apps

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