The Hindi word for "they" is वे (ve) in formal/written Hindi or वो (vo) in colloquial speech. Both forms are third person plural pronouns used to refer to multiple people, animals, or things. In Hindi, pronouns change based on proximity (near/far) and formality level. वे/वो is the plural form corresponding to वह (vah) "he/she/it" in singular.
FAQ SchemaQuestion: What does "they" mean in Hindi? Answer: "They" in Hindi is वे (ve) in formal contexts or वो (vo) in colloquial speech. It is a third person plural pronoun used to refer to multiple people, animals, or objects that are not present in the immediate conversation.
Educational SchemaCourse: Hindi Language Learning Level: Beginner Topic: Third Person Plural Pronoun (they) Language of Instruction: English Target Language: Hindi Method: Latinum Institute Construed Text Method
In this lesson, we will explore how वे/वो functions in various contexts, from simple statements to complex sentences. You'll learn how Hindi pronouns agree with verbs and how they interact with postpositions and case markers.
Key Takeaways: -
वे (ve) is the formal/written form of "they" -
वो (vo) is the colloquial/spoken form of "they" -
Hindi verbs must agree with the subject in number and gender -
The pronoun can be dropped when context is clear (pro-drop language) -
Position in sentence is more flexible than in English
25.1 वे (ve) they लड़के (laṛke) boys स्कूल (skūl) school जाते (jāte) go हैं (haiṁ) are
25.2 वो (vo) they मेरे (mere) my दोस्त (dost) friends हैं (haiṁ) are
25.3 कल (kal) yesterday वे (ve) they बाज़ार (bāzār) market गए (gae) went थे (the) were
25.4 वे (ve) they किताबें (kitābeṁ) books पढ़ते (paṛhte) read हैं (haiṁ) are
25.5 क्या (kyā) what वो (vo) they आएंगे (āeṁge) will-come कल (kal) tomorrow
25.6 वे (ve) they बहुत (bahut) very अच्छे (acche) good लोग (log) people हैं (haiṁ) are
25.7 वो (vo) they हमारे (hamāre) our साथ (sāth) with खेल (khel) play रहे (rahe) -ing थे (the) were
25.8 जब (jab) when वे (ve) they आए (āe) came तब (tab) then मैं (maiṁ) I घर (ghar) home पर (par) at था (thā) was
25.9 वे (ve) they सब (sab) all हिंदी (hindī) Hindi बोलते (bolte) speak हैं (haiṁ) are
25.10 कहाँ (kahāṁ) where वो (vo) they रहते (rahte) live हैं (haiṁ) are
25.11 वे (ve) they बच्चे (bacce) children बगीचे (bagīce) garden में (meṁ) in खेल (khel) play रहे (rahe) -ing हैं (haiṁ) are
25.12 वो (vo) they लोग (log) people दिल्ली (dillī) Delhi से (se) from आए (āe) came हैं (haiṁ) are
25.13 वे (ve) they अपना (apnā) their काम (kām) work समय (samay) time पर (par) on करते (karte) do हैं (haiṁ) are
25.14 आज (āj) today वो (vo) they फिल्म (film) movie देखने (dekhne) to-watch जा (jā) go रहे (rahe) -ing हैं (haiṁ) are
25.15 वे (ve) they हमेशा (hameśā) always सच (sac) truth बोलते (bolte) speak हैं (haiṁ) are
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25.1 वे लड़के स्कूल जाते हैं। They boys go to school.
25.2 वो मेरे दोस्त हैं। They are my friends.
25.3 कल वे बाज़ार गए थे। Yesterday they went to the market.
25.4 वे किताबें पढ़ते हैं। They read books.
25.5 क्या वो कल आएंगे? Will they come tomorrow?
25.6 वे बहुत अच्छे लोग हैं। They are very good people.
25.7 वो हमारे साथ खेल रहे थे। They were playing with us.
25.8 जब वे आए, तब मैं घर पर था। When they came, I was at home.
25.9 वे सब हिंदी बोलते हैं। They all speak Hindi.
25.10 वो कहाँ रहते हैं? Where do they live?
25.11 वे बच्चे बगीचे में खेल रहे हैं। Those children are playing in the garden.
25.12 वो लोग दिल्ली से आए हैं। Those people have come from Delhi.
25.13 वे अपना काम समय पर करते हैं। They do their work on time.
25.14 आज वो फिल्म देखने जा रहे हैं। Today they are going to watch a movie.
25.15 वे हमेशा सच बोलते हैं। They always speak the truth.
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25.1 वे लड़के स्कूल जाते हैं।
25.2 वो मेरे दोस्त हैं।
25.3 कल वे बाज़ार गए थे।
25.4 वे किताबें पढ़ते हैं।
25.5 क्या वो कल आएंगे?
25.6 वे बहुत अच्छे लोग हैं।
25.7 वो हमारे साथ खेल रहे थे।
25.8 जब वे आए, तब मैं घर पर था।
25.9 वे सब हिंदी बोलते हैं।
25.10 वो कहाँ रहते हैं?
25.11 वे बच्चे बगीचे में खेल रहे हैं।
25.12 वो लोग दिल्ली से आए हैं।
25.13 वे अपना काम समय पर करते हैं।
25.14 आज वो फिल्म देखने जा रहे हैं।
25.15 वे हमेशा सच बोलते हैं।
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Basic Usage: वे/वो is the third person plural pronoun in Hindi. Unlike English, Hindi has two forms: -
वे (ve): formal, written, respectful -
वो (vo): colloquial, spoken, informal
Subject-Verb Agreement: In Hindi, verbs must agree with the subject in both number and gender: -
वे जाते हैं (ve jāte haiṁ) - They go (masculine plural) -
वे जाती हैं (ve jātī haiṁ) - They go (feminine plural)
Common Mistakes: -
Using singular verb forms with plural subjects Wrong: वे जाता है (ve jātā hai) Right: वे जाते हैं (ve jāte haiṁ) -
Forgetting gender agreement Wrong: वे लड़कियाँ जाते हैं (for girls) Right: वे लड़कियाँ जाती हैं (ve laṛkiyāṁ jātī haiṁ) -
Overusing the pronoun Hindi is a pro-drop language - the pronoun can be omitted when context is clear
Step-by-Step Guide: -
Identify if the subject is formal (वे) or informal (वो) context -
Determine the gender of the subject (masculine/feminine/mixed) -
Choose the appropriate verb form matching number and gender -
Place the verb at the end of the sentence (SOV word order)
Comparison with English: -
English: Fixed word order (SVO), no gender agreement -
Hindi: Flexible word order (typically SOV), mandatory gender agreement -
English: Pronoun always required -
Hindi: Pronoun can be dropped when understood from context
Declension Summary: Direct case: वे/वो (ve/vo) Oblique case: उन (un) - used before postpositions Possessive: उनका/उनकी/उनके (unkā/unkī/unke) - their
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In Hindi-speaking cultures, the choice between वे and वो carries social significance. वे is used in formal writing, news broadcasts, and when showing respect to elders or authority figures. वो is the everyday conversational form used among friends and in casual settings.
The plural pronoun can also be used as an honorific for a single person of high status - similar to the "royal we" in English. This respectful plural (आदरसूचक बहुवचन) is deeply embedded in Indian culture's emphasis on hierarchy and respect.
In North Indian society, using वे instead of वो when referring to elders, teachers, or respected community members demonstrates good upbringing (संस्कार). Children are taught from a young age to use appropriate pronouns based on social relationships.
The flexibility of pronoun usage also reflects the collective nature of Indian society. Often, वे/वो includes not just the individuals mentioned but their extended family or group, reflecting the communal mindset prevalent in Indian culture.
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From Munshi Premchand's "ईदगाह" (Īdgāh):
"वे सब एक-दूसरे के गले मिलते हैं। कितनी खुशी है! कितना उत्साह! वे घरों से निकलकर ईदगाह की तरफ चले। सब लोग नए कपड़े पहने हुए हैं। वे बच्चे सबसे ज्यादा खुश हैं।"
वे (ve) they सब (sab) all एक-दूसरे (ek-dūsre) each-other के (ke) of गले (gale) necks मिलते (milte) meet हैं (haiṁ) are। कितनी (kitnī) how-much खुशी (khuśī) happiness है (hai) is! कितना (kitnā) how-much उत्साह (utsāh) enthusiasm! वे (ve) they घरों (gharoṁ) homes से (se) from निकलकर (nikalkar) having-come-out ईदगाह (īdgāh) Eidgah की (kī) of तरफ (taraf) direction चले (cale) went। सब (sab) all लोग (log) people नए (nae) new कपड़े (kapṛe) clothes पहने (pahne) worn हुए (hue) having हैं (haiṁ) are। वे (ve) those बच्चे (bacce) children सबसे (sabse) most ज्यादा (zyādā) more खुश (khuś) happy हैं (haiṁ) are।
"वे सब एक-दूसरे के गले मिलते हैं। कितनी खुशी है! कितना उत्साह! वे घरों से निकलकर ईदगाह की तरफ चले। सब लोग नए कपड़े पहने हुए हैं। वे बच्चे सबसे ज्यादा खुश हैं।"
"They all embrace each other. What happiness! What enthusiasm! They came out of their homes and went towards the Eidgah. All the people are wearing new clothes. Those children are the happiest."
वे सब एक-दूसरे के गले मिलते हैं। कितनी खुशी है! कितना उत्साह! वे घरों से निकलकर ईदगाह की तरफ चले। सब लोग नए कपड़े पहने हुए हैं। वे बच्चे सबसे ज्यादा खुश हैं।
This passage from Premchand's famous story "Eidgah" demonstrates the communal use of वे. The pronoun appears three times, each serving a different narrative function. The first वे encompasses the entire community celebrating Eid together. The second वे shows collective movement towards the prayer ground. The third वे specifically identifies the children as the focal point of joy. Premchand's repetition of the pronoun emphasizes the collective nature of the celebration while maintaining formal literary Hindi style.
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25.16 वे (ve) they सब (sab) all रिश्तेदार (riśtedār) relatives दिवाली (divālī) Diwali पर (par) on आते (āte) come हैं (haiṁ) are
25.17 नानी-नानाजी (nānī-nānājī) grandparents वे (ve) they हमें (hameṁ) us कहानियाँ (kahāniyāṁ) stories सुनाते (sunāte) tell हैं (haiṁ) are
25.18 वो (vo) they मिठाइयाँ (miṭhāiyāṁ) sweets बनाने (banāne) making में (meṁ) in मदद (madad) help करते (karte) do हैं (haiṁ) are
25.19 जब (jab) when वे (ve) they आते (āte) come हैं (haiṁ) are तो (to) then घर (ghar) house खुशियों (khuśiyoṁ) happiness से (se) with भर (bhar) fill जाता (jātā) goes है (hai) is
25.20 वो (vo) they बच्चे (bacce) children आँगन (āṁgan) courtyard में (meṁ) in पटाखे (paṭākhe) firecrackers जलाते (jalāte) light हैं (haiṁ) are
25.21 वे (ve) they महिलाएं (mahilāeṁ) women रंगोली (raṁgolī) rangoli बना (banā) make रही (rahī) -ing हैं (haiṁ) are
25.22 चाचा-चाची (cācā-cācī) uncle-aunt वे (ve) they बाज़ार (bāzār) market से (se) from उपहार (uphār) gifts लाए (lāe) brought हैं (haiṁ) are
25.23 वो (vo) they सभी (sabhī) all मंदिर (mandir) temple जाने (jāne) going की (kī) of तैयारी (taiyārī) preparation कर (kar) do रहे (rahe) -ing हैं (haiṁ) are
25.24 वे (ve) they पुराने (purāne) old गाने (gāne) songs गा (gā) sing रहे (rahe) -ing थे (the) were
25.25 वो (vo) they लोग (log) people खाना (khānā) food साथ (sāth) together में (meṁ) in खाते (khāte) eat हैं (haiṁ) are
25.26 वे (ve) they बुजुर्ग (buzurg) elders आशीर्वाद (āśīrvād) blessings देते (dete) give हैं (haiṁ) are
25.27 वो (vo) they फोटो (foṭo) photo खिंचवा (khiṁcvā) get-taken रहे (rahe) -ing हैं (haiṁ) are
25.28 वे (ve) they सारी (sārī) whole रात (rāt) night जागते (jāgte) awake रहे (rahe) stayed
25.29 वो (vo) they हंसी-मज़ाक (haṁsī-mazāk) fun कर (kar) do रहे (rahe) -ing थे (the) were
25.30 अगले (agle) next साल (sāl) year वे (ve) they फिर (phir) again मिलेंगे (mileṁge) will-meet
25.16 वे सब रिश्तेदार दिवाली पर आते हैं। All those relatives come on Diwali.
25.17 नानी-नानाजी वे हमें कहानियाँ सुनाते हैं। Grandparents, they tell us stories.
25.18 वो मिठाइयाँ बनाने में मदद करते हैं। They help in making sweets.
25.19 जब वे आते हैं तो घर खुशियों से भर जाता है। When they come, the house fills with happiness.
25.20 वो बच्चे आँगन में पटाखे जलाते हैं। Those children light firecrackers in the courtyard.
25.21 वे महिलाएं रंगोली बना रही हैं। Those women are making rangoli.
25.22 चाचा-चाची वे बाज़ार से उपहार लाए हैं। Uncle and aunt, they have brought gifts from the market.
25.23 वो सभी मंदिर जाने की तैयारी कर रहे हैं। They all are preparing to go to the temple.
25.24 वे पुराने गाने गा रहे थे। They were singing old songs.
25.25 वो लोग साथ में खाना खाते हैं। Those people eat food together.
25.26 वे बुजुर्ग आशीर्वाद देते हैं। Those elders give blessings.
25.27 वो फोटो खिंचवा रहे हैं। They are getting photos taken.
25.28 वे सारी रात जागते रहे। They stayed awake all night.
25.29 वो हंसी-मज़ाक कर रहे थे। They were joking around.
25.30 अगले साल वे फिर मिलेंगे। Next year they will meet again.
25.16 वे सब रिश्तेदार दिवाली पर आते हैं।
25.17 नानी-नानाजी वे हमें कहानियाँ सुनाते हैं।
25.18 वो मिठाइयाँ बनाने में मदद करते हैं।
25.19 जब वे आते हैं तो घर खुशियों से भर जाता है।
25.20 वो बच्चे आँगन में पटाखे जलाते हैं।
25.21 वे महिलाएं रंगोली बना रही हैं।
25.22 चाचा-चाची वे बाज़ार से उपहार लाए हैं।
25.23 वो सभी मंदिर जाने की तैयारी कर रहे हैं।
25.24 वे पुराने गाने गा रहे थे।
25.25 वो लोग साथ में खाना खाते हैं।
25.26 वे बुजुर्ग आशीर्वाद देते हैं।
25.27 वो फोटो खिंचवा रहे हैं।
25.28 वे सारी रात जागते रहे।
25.29 वो हंसी-मज़ाक कर रहे थे।
25.30 अगले साल वे फिर मिलेंगे।
Special Usage in Family Contexts:
In family settings, वे/वो takes on additional nuances: -
Respectful Reference: When referring to elders (नानी-नानाजी वे), the pronoun adds respect even when redundant -
Collective Identity: वे सब रिश्तेदार emphasizes family unity -
Gender Agreement in Groups: -
Mixed groups default to masculine: वे आते हैं -
All-female groups use feminine: वे महिलाएं बना रही हैं -
Demonstrative Usage: वो बच्चे (those children) distinguishes specific groups within the gathering
Common Family-Context Patterns: -
वे + kinship term + verb (formal respect) -
वो लोग (those people) for extended family -
वे सब/सभी (they all) for inclusivity
Verb Tense Variations: -
Present habitual: वे आते हैं (they come - regularly) -
Present continuous: वे आ रहे हैं (they are coming) -
Past: वे आए थे (they had come) -
Future: वे आएंगे (they will come)
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