In 15 Seconds
- A blend of Hindi and English for 'Very tasty'.
- Perfect for street food, home meals, and casual dining.
- The most common way to compliment a cook today.
Meaning
This is a super common way to say food is delicious. It blends the Hindi word for 'very' with the English word 'tasty' to create a phrase everyone understands.
Key Examples
3 of 6Eating at a friend's house
Aunty, khana bahut tasty hai!
Aunty, the food is very tasty!
At a formal business lunch
Yeh paneer bahut tasty hai.
This paneer is very tasty.
Texting a food photo to a group chat
Look at this chaat! Bahut tasty hai.
Look at this chaat! It's very tasty.
Cultural Background
In Punjab and Delhi, hosts will often force more food onto your plate ('Zabardasti'). Saying 'बहुत टेस्टी है' is your best defense—it shows you love the food, even if you are too full to eat more. When eating at a stall, a quick 'बहुत टेस्टी है' to the cook often results in a 'smile' and sometimes a free sample of another dish. It builds an immediate bond. The use of 'Tasty' over 'Swaadishth' is a marker of the 'Hinglish' generation. It's seen as trendy, casual, and efficient. When receiving food at a temple, one usually doesn't comment on the 'taste' in a casual way. Instead of 'testy', people use 'Kripa' (blessing) or 'Dhanya' (blessed).
The 'Hain' Rule
If you are praising multiple items (like fries or cookies), use 'hain' (plural) instead of 'hai'.
Body Language
A slight head tilt (the Indian head bobble) while saying this makes you look like a pro.
In 15 Seconds
- A blend of Hindi and English for 'Very tasty'.
- Perfect for street food, home meals, and casual dining.
- The most common way to compliment a cook today.
What It Means
Bahut tasty hai is your go-to compliment for food. It is simple, direct, and incredibly common. The word Bahut means 'very' or 'a lot'. Tasty is borrowed directly from English. The final hai just means 'is'. Together, they tell the cook you are loving the meal.
How To Use It
Use it just like you would in English. You can say it while chewing or after finishing. Point at a specific dish and say it. Or say it about the whole spread. It is a complete sentence on its own. You do not need fancy grammar here. Just a big smile and these three words will do the work.
When To Use It
Use it at a friend's house for dinner. Use it at a street food stall in Delhi. It is perfect for casual cafes or family gatherings. If your Indian mother-in-law cooks, say this loudly. It works when texting a photo of your lunch too. It is the ultimate 'low-effort, high-reward' phrase for any meal.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid this in extremely formal royal banquets. In those cases, use the pure Hindi word swadisht. Do not use it for things that are not food. You cannot use it for a 'tasty' outfit or a 'tasty' song. Also, do not say it if the food is actually spicy but not good. Honesty is okay, but maybe just stay quiet then!
Cultural Background
India loves 'Hinglish'. This is the mix of Hindi and English. Most urban Indians use tasty more than the traditional word swadisht. It shows how modern India is comfortable with global influences. Food is the heart of Indian hospitality. Giving a compliment is almost mandatory. It is considered polite and shows you appreciate the effort.
Common Variations
If the food is mind-blowing, say Bahut zyada tasty hai. That adds extra emphasis. If you are talking to an elder, add ji at the end: Bahut tasty hai, ji. You might also hear Swaad aa gaya. That means 'I have received the taste/pleasure'. But for beginners, stick to the 'tasty' version. It is foolproof and always brings a smile.
Usage Notes
This phrase is perfectly neutral. It is safe for almost any situation from a roadside stall to a casual dinner party. Just remember to use 'hai' to keep the grammar correct.
The 'Hain' Rule
If you are praising multiple items (like fries or cookies), use 'hain' (plural) instead of 'hai'.
Body Language
A slight head tilt (the Indian head bobble) while saying this makes you look like a pro.
Don't Overuse
If you say it for every single bite, it might lose its sincerity. Wait for the highlight of the meal.
Examples
6Aunty, khana bahut tasty hai!
Aunty, the food is very tasty!
Adding 'Aunty' makes it warm and respectful.
Yeh paneer bahut tasty hai.
This paneer is very tasty.
Safe for professional settings to show appreciation.
Look at this chaat! Bahut tasty hai.
Look at this chaat! It's very tasty.
Commonly used in digital Hinglish conversations.
Bahut tasty hai, par mera pet bhar gaya!
It's very tasty, but my stomach is full!
A relatable struggle at any Indian dinner table.
Mummy, yeh sach mein bahut tasty hai.
Mummy, this is truly very tasty.
Adding 'sach mein' (truly) adds emotional depth.
Bhaiya, samosa bahut tasty hai!
Brother, the samosa is very tasty!
A great way to get a little extra chutney for free.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing word to say 'The tea is very tasty'.
चाय बहुत ______ है।
'टेस्टी' (Tasty) is the correct adjective for food/drink.
Which sentence means 'The food was very tasty' (Past Tense)?
Choose the correct past tense sentence:
'था' (tha) is the past tense marker for 'was'.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural response.
Host: 'लीजिए, और खीर खाइए।' (Please, have more kheer.) You: 'शुक्रिया, यह ______।'
Praising the food is the polite response when offered more.
Match the Hindi word to its English meaning.
Match the following:
These are the core components of the phrase.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Things that are 'बहुत टेस्टी'
Meals
- • Biryani
- • Dal
- • Paneer
Snacks
- • Samosa
- • Chaat
- • Pakora
Drinks
- • Chai
- • Lassi
- • Coffee
Practice Bank
4 exercisesचाय बहुत ______ है।
'टेस्टी' (Tasty) is the correct adjective for food/drink.
Choose the correct past tense sentence:
'था' (tha) is the past tense marker for 'was'.
Host: 'लीजिए, और खीर खाइए।' (Please, have more kheer.) You: 'शुक्रिया, यह ______।'
Praising the food is the polite response when offered more.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
These are the core components of the phrase.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is a loanword. While not in ancient dictionaries, it is used by 90% of urban Hindi speakers daily.
Yes! It works for tea, coffee, juice, and even water if it's particularly refreshing.
You can say 'बहुत टेस्टी है पर तीखा है' (It's very tasty but spicy).
Yes, it is the standard way to give positive feedback in a restaurant.
No. Unlike 'achha/achhi', 'tasty' stays the same for all nouns.
You could say 'बिलकुल टेस्टी नहीं है' (It's not tasty at all) or 'फीका है' (It's bland).
In Hinglish, people sometimes say 'Very tasty hai', but 'Bahut tasty hai' is more common.
It's not 'better', just more formal. Use it if you want to sound very poetic or educated.
Say 'ज़्यादा टेस्टी नहीं है' (Zyada tasty nahi hai).
No, that would be highly inappropriate and suggestive. Only use it for food.
Related Phrases
स्वादिष्ट
synonymDelicious (Formal)
मज़ेदार
similarFlavorful/Fun
लाजवाब
builds onIncomparable
फीका है
contrastBland/Tasteless
