टिशू पेपर दीजिए

You use this when you are at a table and the napkins are out of reach. Simply point or look at the person near the tissues and say the phrase. You can also add zara (just/please) at the beginning to sound even smoother. For example: zara tishoo pepar deejiye.

Use it at a restaurant after eating spicy 'gol gappas'. Use it in an office when a colleague has a box on their desk. Use it if you spill a drop of chai on your shirt. It is perfect for any situation where you need a quick cleanup.

Don't use this with very close friends if you want to sound casual; use do instead of deejiye. Avoid saying it too loudly in a quiet library. If you are in a high-end traditional setting, some might use the word rumaal (handkerchief), but tishoo is almost always accepted now.

In India, food is often eaten with hands. This makes tissues or napkins a central part of the dining experience. While traditional homes used cloth towels, urban India has fully embraced the disposable tissue. It is a sign of modern, urban Hindi where English loanwords are used for everyday objects.

You might hear people just say tishoo dena in casual settings. Some might say napkin deejiye interchangeably. If you are in a rush, just saying tishoo? with a rising intonation works too. It is a very flexible phrase that bridges the gap between English and Hindi perfectly.