Language/Hindi/Grammar/Question-Words

◀️ Telling Time — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Negation ▶️

Hindi → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Questions and Negations → Question Words

Introduction

Welcome to the lesson on "Question Words" in Hindi Grammar. In this lesson, we will explore the various question words used in Hindi, such as who, what, where, when, why, and how. We will also learn how to form questions using these question words. Understanding question words is essential for effective communication in Hindi, as they allow us to seek information and engage in conversations. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently use question words and form questions in Hindi. So let's dive in and explore the fascinating world of question words in Hindi!

Importance of Question Words

Question words are an integral part of any language, including Hindi. They enable us to ask questions and gather information about people, places, things, time, and reasons. By learning question words, you will be able to express curiosity, seek clarification, and engage in meaningful conversations in Hindi. Mastering question words will greatly enhance your language skills and make you a more confident and effective communicator. So let's begin by understanding the different question words used in Hindi.

Question Words in Hindi

Hindi question words are used to introduce questions and seek specific information. They are placed at the beginning of a question to indicate the type of information being sought. Let's explore the most commonly used question words in Hindi and their meanings:

कौन (Kaun) - Who

The question word "कौन" (kaun) is used to ask about a person's identity or inquire about someone's name. It is similar to the English word "who." Here are a few examples:

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
कौन हो तुम?	Kaun ho tum?	Who are you?
कौन वह?	Kaun vah?	Who is that?
कौन तुम्हारा दोस्त है?	Kaun tumhara dost hai?	Who is your friend?

क्या (Kya) - What

The question word "क्या" (kya) is used to seek information about things or actions. It is similar to the English word "what." Here are a few examples:

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
तुम क्या करते हो?	Tum kya karte ho?	What do you do?
यह क्या है?	Yah kya hai?	What is this?
तुम्हारी पसंदीदा खाना क्या है?	Tumhari pasandida khana kya hai?	What is your favorite food?

कहाँ (Kahan) - Where

The question word "कहाँ" (kahan) is used to inquire about a location or place. It is similar to the English word "where." Here are a few examples:

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
तुम कहाँ रहते हो?	Tum kahan rehte ho?	Where do you live?
यह किताब कहाँ है?	Yah kitaab kahan hai?	Where is the book?
तुम्हारे दोस्त कहाँ हैं?	Tumhare dost kahan hain?	Where are your friends?

कब (Kab) - When

The question word "कब" (kab) is used to ask about time or inquire about a specific event. It is similar to the English word "when." Here are a few examples:

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
तुम कब आओगे?	Tum kab aaoge?	When will you come?
यहाँ शो आज कब होगा?	Yahan show aaj kab hoga?	When will the show be here today?
तुम्हारी बर्थडे पार्टी कब है?	Tumhari birthday party kab hai?	When is your birthday party?

क्यों (Kyun) - Why

The question word "क्यों" (kyun) is used to ask about the reason or cause behind something. It is similar to the English word "why." Here are a few examples:

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
तुम क्यों रो रहे हो?	Tum kyun ro rahe ho?	Why are you crying?
यहाँ इतनी भीड़ क्यों है?	Yahan itni bheed kyun hai?	Why is there so much crowd here?
तुम्हारे पास पैसे क्यों नहीं हैं?	Tumhare paas paise kyun nahi hai?	Why don't you have money?

कैसे (Kaise) - How

The question word "कैसे" (kaise) is used to inquire about the manner or way of doing something. It is similar to the English word "how." Here are a few examples:

Hindi	Pronunciation	English
तुम कैसे सोते हो?	Tum kaise sote ho?	How do you sleep?
यह काम कैसे करें?	Yah kaam kaise karen?	How should we do this work?
तुम्हारी बाइक कैसी है?	Tumhari bike kaisi hai?	How is your bike?

Cultural Insights

Understanding the cultural context of question words is essential for effective communication in Hindi. It's interesting to note that in Indian culture, people often ask more personal questions compared to Western cultures. Questions about age, marital status, and family are common and considered a way of showing genuine interest and concern. However, it's important to remember that everyone has their own comfort level when it comes to answering personal questions. Always be respectful and considerate while asking questions in Hindi or any other language.

Practice Exercise

Now, let's put our knowledge of question words into practice. Answer the following questions using the appropriate question word:

• __Who__ is your favorite actor?
• __What__ is the capital of India?
• __Where__ were you born?
• __When__ is the next train to Delhi?
• __Why__ did you choose Hindi as your second language?
• __How__ do you make a cup of tea?

Solutions:

• कौन तुम्हारे पसंदीदा अभिनेता है?
• भारत की राजधानी __क्या__ है?
• तुम्हें कहाँ पैदा हुआ था?
• अगली दिल्ली के लिए ट्रेन __कब__ है?
• तुमने दूसरी भाषा के रूप में हिंदी को __क्यों__ चुना?
• एक कप चाय __कैसे__ बनाते हो?

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have successfully learned about question words in Hindi. Question words are powerful tools that allow us to seek information, engage in conversations, and express curiosity. By mastering question words, you have taken a significant step towards becoming a confident Hindi speaker. Keep practicing and using question words in your daily conversations to strengthen your language skills. In the next lesson, we will explore negation in Hindi, which will further enhance your understanding of sentence structure and communication. So keep up the great work and continue your Hindi learning journey with enthusiasm!

Table of Contents - Hindi Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Pronouns and Verbs

• Personal Pronouns
• Basic Verbs

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-20
• Telling Time

  ---

Questions and Negations

• Question Words
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Indian Names and Titles

• Common Indian Names
• Addressing People

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Ordering at a Restaurant

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Adverbs of Manner

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Asking for Directions

  ---

Indian Festivals and Holidays

• Major Festivals
• Public Holidays

Sources

• Vocabulary : Question Words - Learn Hindi @ Mind ur Hindi
• Question Words in Hindi - Learn Hindi through English | Hindi ...
• The Basics of Hindi Sentence Structure & Word Order

Other Lessons

• Personal Pronouns
• Imperative Mood
• Past Tense
• Gender
• How to Use Be
• Adverbs of Manner
• Conditional Mood
• Future Tense
• Descriptive Adjectives
• How to Use Have

◀️ Telling Time — Previous Lesson

Next Lesson — Negation ▶️