Greetings
Bagunnara?
bah-GOON-nah-rah
How are you? in Telugu — the state language. English works everywhere in the tech districts, but attempting Telugu is noticed and appreciated.
Kaise hain?
KAI-say hain
How are you? in Hyderabadi Hindi, which has its own distinctive Deccani flavour and is the city's other everyday language.
Food
Biryani
beer-YAH-nee
Hyderabadi biryani is a genuinely distinct dish with a protected geographical indication, cooked dum-style with the meat and rice sealed together. It is the city's identity in a pot.
Irani chai
ee-RAH-nee chai
Strong milky tea served in old Irani cafés with Osmania biscuits. The cafés are a Hyderabad institution and a genuinely different social space from a modern coffee shop.
Daily life
HITEC City
HY-tek SIH-tee
The planned technology district west of the old city, also called Cyberabad. Most tech employment is here or in the adjoining Gachibowli and Financial District.
Cyberabad
SY-ber-ah-bad
The western tech corridor as a whole, with its own police commissionerate. Used interchangeably with HITEC City in conversation.
Gated community
—
The default housing form for professionals in west Hyderabad — a compound with its own security, power backup, water and amenities. Standard rather than luxury.
Culture
Nawabi
nah-WAH-bee
Of the Nizams — the dynasty that ruled Hyderabad until 1948 and left the palaces, the cuisine and a distinctive courtly politeness in the local manner.
Charminar
CHAR-mee-nar
The 1591 four-minaret monument at the heart of the old city, and the symbol of Hyderabad on everything from beer to number plates.
Ramzan
ram-ZAAN
Ramadan, observed intensely in the old city, when the haleem stalls open and the area around Charminar stays awake all night. A genuine highlight of the Hyderabad year.
Transport
ORR
oh-ar-ar
The Outer Ring Road — a 158km eight-lane orbital that genuinely works, and the main reason Hyderabad's traffic is better than Bengaluru's.
Emergency
112 / 100
—
112 is the national emergency number. 100 for police and 101 for fire still work and are more widely known.
Some of this may be out of date. Spotted something inaccurate? Help us keep it right for the next newcomer.