Learning a new language can often seem daunting, but understanding the basic question words can provide a solid foundation for conversation and comprehension. Hindi, like many languages, has a set of question words that are used to gather information, clarify doubts, and engage in discussions. Below is a guide to some of the most essential question words in Hindi, their meanings, and examples of their usage.
क्या (Kyā) translates to “What” in English and is used to ask about something specific or to inquire about the nature or identity of something.
आप क्या कर रहे हैं? (Aap kyā kar rahe hain?) – What are you doing?
कौन (Kaun) means “Who” and is used to ask about people.
यह कौन है? (Yah kaun hai?) – Who is this?
कहाँ (Kahāṅ) translates to “Where” and is used to inquire about the location or place.
तुम कहाँ जा रहे हो? (Tum kahāṅ jā rahe ho?) – Where are you going?
कब (Kab) means “When” and is used to ask about time, either specific or general.
हम कब मिलेंगे? (Ham kab milenge?) – When will we meet?
क्यों (Kyūṅ) translates to “Why” and is used to ask about reasons or causes.
तुम देर से क्यों आए? (Tum der se kyūṅ ā’e?) – Why are you late?
कैसे (Kaise) means “How” and is used to ask about the manner or method of doing something.
यह काम कैसे किया जाता है? (Yah kām kaise kiyā jātā hai?) – How is this work done?
किसका (Kiskā), किसकी (Kiskī), and किसके (Kiske) translate to “Whose” and are used to inquire about possession or ownership. These forms change based on the gender and number of the noun they are referring to.
यह किसका पेन है? (Yah kiskā pen hai?) – Whose pen is this?
यह किसकी किताब है? (Yah kiskī kitāb hai?) – Whose book is this?
ये किसके जूते हैं? (Ye kiske jūte hain?) – Whose shoes are these?
कितना (Kitnā), कितनी (Kitnī), and कितने (Kitne) translate to “How much” or “How many” and are used to inquire about quantity or degree. Like the forms of “whose,” these also change depending on the gender and number of the noun.
आपके पास कितना समय है? (Aapke pās kitnā samay hai?) – How much time do you have?
कितनी चीनी चाहिए? (Kitnī chīnī chāhie?) – How much sugar is needed?
तुम्हारे पास कितने पेन हैं? (Tumhāre pās kitne pen hain?) – How many pens do you have?
Understanding these basic question words in Hindi can significantly improve your ability to communicate and understand during conversations. These words are the building blocks for forming questions that can help you gather information, learn more about people, places, and things, and connect with Hindi speakers on a deeper level. As with any language, practice is key, so try using these question words in your daily interactions to become more proficient and comfortable with Hindi.
