The Hindi verb कहना (kahnā) corresponds to the English verb "say" or "to say." It is one of the most fundamental communication verbs in Hindi and is essential for everyday conversation. This verb is used to express speaking, telling, stating, or expressing something verbally.
Definition: कहना (kahnā) means to express in words, to speak, to tell, to state, or to articulate thoughts verbally. It encompasses the act of verbal communication in all its forms.
Question: What does "say" mean in Hindi? Answer: "Say" in Hindi is कहना (kahnā). It is a verb that means to speak, tell, or express something verbally. The word is pronounced "kah-naa" with emphasis on the first syllable.
Course: Hindi Language Learning Level: Beginner Topic: Basic Verbs - Communication Lesson: The verb कहना (kahnā) - to say Type: Language Learning Material Method: Latinum Institute Construed Text Method
In this lesson, you will encounter कहना (kahnā) in various forms and tenses. The examples progress from simple present tense statements to more complex constructions involving past, future, and continuous forms. You'll see how this verb changes according to gender, number, and formality levels in Hindi.
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कहना (kahnā) is the infinitive form meaning "to say" -
The verb changes form based on tense, gender, and number -
Common forms include: कहता है (kahtā hai - says, masculine), कहती है (kahtī hai - says, feminine) -
This verb is essential for reported speech and everyday communication -
Understanding कहना helps build foundation for other communication verbs
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26.1 वह (vah) he/she कहता (kahtā) says है (hai) is कि (ki) that मैं (main) I कल (kal) tomorrow आऊंगा (āūngā) will-come
26.2 मेरी (merī) my माँ (mān) mother हमेशा (hameshā) always कहती (kahtī) says है (hai) is सच (sach) truth बोलो (bolo) speak
26.3 तुम (tum) you क्या (kyā) what कह (kah) say रहे (rahe) -ing हो (ho) are?
26.4 बच्चे (bachche) children ने (ne) [ergative] कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that वे (ve) they खेलना (khelnā) to-play चाहते (chāhte) want हैं (hain) are
26.5 मैं (main) I तुमसे (tumse) to-you कुछ (kuchh) something कहना (kahnā) to-say चाहता (chāhtā) want हूँ (hūn) am
26.6 डॉक्टर (ḍākṭar) doctor ने (ne) [ergative] मरीज़ (marīz) patient से (se) to कहा (kahā) said आराम (ārām) rest करो (karo) do
26.7 वे (ve) they कहते (kahte) say हैं (hain) are कि (ki) that दिल्ली (dillī) Delhi बहुत (bahut) very गर्म (garm) hot है (hai) is
26.8 तुमने (tumne) you-[ergative] यह (yah) this बात (bāt) thing किससे (kisse) to-whom कही (kahī) said?
26.9 अध्यापक (adhyāpak) teacher छात्रों (chhātron) students से (se) to कह (kah) say रहे (rahe) -ing थे (the) were ध्यान (dhyān) attention दो (do) give
26.10 कौन (kaun) who कहता (kahtā) says है (hai) is कि (ki) that यह (yah) this आसान (āsān) easy है (hai) is?
26.11 उसने (usne) he/she-[ergative] मुझसे (mujhse) to-me कहा (kahā) said था (thā) was कि (ki) that वह (vah) he/she आएगी (āegī) will-come
26.12 लोग (log) people कहेंगे (kahenge) will-say क्या (kyā) what?
26.13 मत (mat) don't कहो (kaho) say कि (ki) that तुम (tum) you नहीं (nahīn) not जानते (jānte) know
26.14 दादी (dādī) grandmother जी (jī) [respect] कहानी (kahānī) story कह (kah) say रही (rahī) -ing हैं (hain) are
26.15 पुलिस (pulis) police ने (ne) [ergative] चोर (chor) thief से (se) to कहा (kahā) said हाथ (hāth) hands ऊपर (ūpar) up करो (karo) do
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26.1 वह कहता है कि मैं कल आऊंगा। He says that I will come tomorrow.
26.2 मेरी माँ हमेशा कहती है सच बोलो। My mother always says speak the truth.
26.3 तुम क्या कह रहे हो? What are you saying?
26.4 बच्चों ने कहा कि वे खेलना चाहते हैं। The children said that they want to play.
26.5 मैं तुमसे कुछ कहना चाहता हूँ। I want to say something to you.
26.6 डॉक्टर ने मरीज़ से कहा आराम करो। The doctor said to the patient to rest.
26.7 वे कहते हैं कि दिल्ली बहुत गर्म है। They say that Delhi is very hot.
26.8 तुमने यह बात किससे कही? To whom did you say this?
26.9 अध्यापक छात्रों से कह रहे थे ध्यान दो। The teacher was saying to the students to pay attention.
26.10 कौन कहता है कि यह आसान है? Who says that this is easy?
26.11 उसने मुझसे कहा था कि वह आएगी। She had told me that she would come.
26.12 लोग क्या कहेंगे? What will people say?
26.13 मत कहो कि तुम नहीं जानते। Don't say that you don't know.
26.14 दादी जी कहानी कह रही हैं। Grandmother is telling a story.
26.15 पुलिस ने चोर से कहा हाथ ऊपर करो। The police said to the thief to put hands up.
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26.1 वह कहता है कि मैं कल आऊंगा।
26.2 मेरी माँ हमेशा कहती है सच बोलो।
26.3 तुम क्या कह रहे हो?
26.4 बच्चों ने कहा कि वे खेलना चाहते हैं।
26.5 मैं तुमसे कुछ कहना चाहता हूँ।
26.6 डॉक्टर ने मरीज़ से कहा आराम करो।
26.7 वे कहते हैं कि दिल्ली बहुत गर्म है।
26.8 तुमने यह बात किससे कही?
26.9 अध्यापक छात्रों से कह रहे थे ध्यान दो।
26.10 कौन कहता है कि यह आसान है?
26.11 उसने मुझसे कहा था कि वह आएगी।
26.12 लोग क्या कहेंगे?
26.13 मत कहो कि तुम नहीं जानते।
26.14 दादी जी कहानी कह रही हैं।
26.15 पुलिस ने चोर से कहा हाथ ऊपर करो।
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The verb कहना (kahnā) follows regular conjugation patterns in Hindi. Here's a comprehensive guide to understanding its usage:
Present Tense: -
मैं कहता/कहती हूँ (main kahtā/kahtī hūn) - I say (masculine/feminine) -
तुम कहते/कहती हो (tum kahte/kahtī ho) - You say (masculine/feminine) -
वह कहता/कहती है (vah kahtā/kahtī hai) - He/She says -
हम कहते/कहती हैं (ham kahte/kahtī hain) - We say -
आप कहते/कहती हैं (āp kahte/kahtī hain) - You say (formal) -
वे कहते/कहती हैं (ve kahte/kahtī hain) - They say
Past Tense: -
Simple Past: कहा/कही/कहे (kahā/kahī/kahe) - said (masculine singular/feminine/plural) -
With ergative: मैंने कहा (mainne kahā) - I said -
Continuous Past: कह रहा था/रही थी (kah rahā thā/rahī thī) - was saying
Future Tense: -
मैं कहूँगा/कहूँगी (main kahūngā/kahūngī) - I will say -
तुम कहोगे/कहोगी (tum kahoge/kahogī) - You will say -
वह कहेगा/कहेगी (vah kahegā/kahegī) - He/She will say
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Forgetting the ergative case in past tense -
Wrong: मैं कहा (main kahā) -
Correct: मैंने कहा (mainne kahā) -
Incorrect gender agreement -
Wrong: लड़की कहता है (laṛkī kahtā hai) -
Correct: लड़की कहती है (laṛkī kahtī hai) -
Confusing कहना with बोलना -
कहना (kahnā) = to say (specific content) -
बोलना (bolnā) = to speak (general act of speaking) -
Omitting कि (ki) in reported speech -
Wrong: उसने कहा मैं आऊंगा -
Correct: उसने कहा कि मैं आऊंगा -
Using wrong postposition with indirect object -
Wrong: मैंने उसको कहा -
Correct: मैंने उससे कहा
Unlike English, Hindi requires: -
Gender agreement with the subject -
Ergative case marker (ने) in perfective past tense -
Different word order (SOV instead of SVO) -
Postpositions instead of prepositions -
The particle कि (ki) for reported speech
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Identify the subject and its gender -
Choose the correct tense -
Apply gender agreement to the verb -
Use ergative ने if in past tense -
Add postposition से for indirect object -
Include कि for reported speech -
Place the verb at the end of the sentence
Infinitive: कहना (kahnā) Stem: कह- (kah-) Imperative: कहो (kaho) - informal, कहिए (kahie) - formal Participle: कहा हुआ (kahā huā) - said/spoken Gerund: कहना (kahnā) - saying/to say Conjunctive participle: कहकर (kahkar) - having said
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In Hindi-speaking cultures, the act of saying or speaking carries deep cultural significance. The way one says something is often as important as what is said. Hindi speakers pay careful attention to:
Respect Hierarchies: The verb forms of कहना change based on the social relationship between speaker and listener. Elders and authority figures are addressed with respectful forms like कहिए (kahie) rather than the informal कहो (kaho).
Indirect Communication: Hindi culture often favors indirect communication. Rather than saying something directly, speakers may use phrases like "लोग कहते हैं" (log kahte hain - people say) to express opinions without taking direct responsibility.
Proverbs and Sayings: The verb कहना appears in many Hindi proverbs: -
"कहने से कुछ नहीं होता, करने से होता है" (kahne se kuchh nahīn hotā, karne se hotā hai) - Nothing happens by saying, it happens by doing -
"जो कहा सो किया" (jo kahā so kiyā) - What was said was done (keeping one's word)
Storytelling Tradition: The phrase "कहानी कहना" (kahānī kahnā - to tell a story) reflects the rich oral tradition of the Indian subcontinent. Grandparents "saying" stories (कहानी कहना) to children is a cherished cultural practice.
Religious Context: In religious settings, कहना takes on sacred dimensions. Mantras are "said" (कहे जाते हैं), and religious texts often begin with "ऋषि कहते हैं" (ṛishi kahte hain - the sages say).
Gender Considerations: Traditional society sometimes uses phrases like "औरतों का कहना" (auraton kā kahnā - women's saying) or "बड़ों का कहना" (baṛon kā kahnā - elders' saying) to indicate whose words carry weight in different contexts.
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Source: From Premchand's story "ईदगाह" (Īdgāh)
हामिद (Hāmid) Hamid ने (ne) [ergative] कहा (kahā) said, "दादी (dādī) grandmother, मैं (main) I भी (bhī) also मेला (melā) fair जाऊंगा (jāūngā) will-go। वहाँ (vahān) there बहुत (bahut) many खिलौने (khilaune) toys होंगे (honge) will-be। मैं (main) I एक (ek) one खिलौना (khilaunā) toy लाऊंगा (lāūngā) will-bring।" दादी (dādī) grandmother ने (ne) [ergative] प्यार (pyār) love से (se) with कहा (kahā) said, "बेटा (beṭā) son, पैसे (paise) money कहाँ (kahān) where हैं (hain) are? मेले (mele) fair में (men) in सब (sab) everything महंगा (mahangā) expensive होता (hotā) is है (hai) is।"
हामिद ने कहा, "दादी, मैं भी मेला जाऊंगा। वहाँ बहुत खिलौने होंगे। मैं एक खिलौना लाऊंगा।" दादी ने प्यार से कहा, "बेटा, पैसे कहाँ हैं? मेले में सब महंगा होता है।"
Hamid said, "Grandmother, I will also go to the fair. There will be many toys there. I will bring one toy." Grandmother said lovingly, "Son, where is the money? Everything is expensive at the fair."
हामिद ने कहा, "दादी, मैं भी मेला जाऊंगा। वहाँ बहुत खिलौने होंगे। मैं एक खिलौना लाऊंगा।" दादी ने प्यार से कहा, "बेटा, पैसे कहाँ हैं? मेले में सब महंगा होता है।"
This excerpt from Premchand's famous story "ईदगाह" demonstrates the emotional use of कहना in dialogue. Note the following grammatical features: -
Ergative Construction: Both "हामिद ने कहा" and "दादी ने कहा" use the ergative marker ने because कहना is in the perfective past tense. -
Direct Speech: Unlike English, Hindi doesn't always use quotation marks. The verb कहा introduces direct speech naturally. -
Emotional Modifiers: "प्यार से कहा" (said with love) shows how adverbs and postpositional phrases modify the act of saying to convey emotion. -
Word Order: The verb कहा appears before the quoted speech, unlike English where "said" often follows. -
Cultural Elements: The grandmother's response reflects economic realities and the protective nature of elders in Indian families. Her gentle way of saying (प्यार से कहा) softens the harsh reality she must convey.
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26.16 प्रधानमंत्री (pradhānmantrī) Prime-Minister ने (ne) [ergative] कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that देश (desh) country तेज़ी (tezī) speed से (se) with विकास (vikās) development कर (kar) do रहा (rahā) -ing है (hai) is
26.17 मुख्यमंत्री (mukhyamantrī) Chief-Minister ने (ne) [ergative] पत्रकारों (patrakāron) journalists से (se) to कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that नई (naī) new योजना (yojnā) scheme जल्द (jald) soon शुरू (shurū) start होगी (hogī) will-be
26.18 विपक्ष (vipaksh) opposition के (ke) of नेता (netā) leader कहते (kahte) say हैं (hain) are कि (ki) that सरकार (sarkār) government असफल (asaphal) unsuccessful रही (rahī) remained है (hai) is
26.19 पुलिस (pulis) police अधिकारी (adhikārī) officer ने (ne) [ergative] कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that जांच (jānch) investigation जारी (jārī) ongoing है (hai) is
26.20 स्वास्थ्य (swāsthya) health मंत्री (mantrī) minister ने (ne) [ergative] घोषणा (ghoshaṇā) announcement करते (karte) doing हुए (hue) while कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that नया (nayā) new अस्पताल (aspatāl) hospital खुलेगा (khulegā) will-open
26.21 वैज्ञानिकों (vaijñānikon) scientists ने (ne) [ergative] कहा (kahā) said है (hai) is कि (ki) that जलवायु (jalvāyu) climate परिवर्तन (parivartan) change गंभीर (gambhīr) serious है (hai) is
26.22 शिक्षा (shikshā) education विभाग (vibhāg) department ने (ne) [ergative] कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that परीक्षाएं (parīkshāen) exams समय (samay) time पर (par) on होंगी (hongī) will-be
26.23 अर्थशास्त्री (arthshāstrī) economist कह (kah) say रहे (rahe) -ing हैं (hain) are कि (ki) that मुद्रास्फीति (mudrāsphīti) inflation नियंत्रण (niyaṇtraṇ) control में (men) in है (hai) is
26.24 रक्षा (rakshā) defense मंत्री (mantrī) minister ने (ne) [ergative] संसद (sansad) parliament में (men) in कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that सेना (senā) army तैयार (taiyār) ready है (hai) is
26.25 न्यायाधीश (nyāyādhīsh) judge ने (ne) [ergative] फैसले (faisale) judgment में (men) in कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that कानून (kānūn) law सबके (sabke) everyone's लिए (lie) for समान (samān) equal है (hai) is
26.26 विशेषज्ञ (visheshajña) expert कहते (kahte) say हैं (hain) are कि (ki) that तकनीक (taknīk) technology भविष्य (bhavishya) future है (hai) is
26.27 किसान (kisān) farmer नेता (netā) leader ने (ne) [ergative] कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that फसल (fasal) crop की (kī) of कीमत (kīmat) price बढ़नी (baṛhnī) increase चाहिए (chāhie) should
26.28 चुनाव (chunāv) election आयोग (āyog) commission ने (ne) [ergative] कहा (kahā) said है (hai) is कि (ki) that मतदान (matdān) voting शांतिपूर्ण (shāntipūrṇ) peaceful रहा (rahā) remained
26.29 विदेश (videsh) foreign मंत्री (mantrī) minister ने (ne) [ergative] कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that बातचीत (bātchīt) talks सफल (saphal) successful रही (rahī) remained
26.30 मौसम (mausam) weather विभाग (vibhāg) department ने (ne) [ergative] चेतावनी (chetāvnī) warning देते (dete) giving हुए (hue) while कहा (kahā) said कि (ki) that बारिश (bārish) rain होगी (hogī) will-be
26.16 प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा कि देश तेज़ी से विकास कर रहा है। The Prime Minister said that the country is developing rapidly.
26.17 मुख्यमंत्री ने पत्रकारों से कहा कि नई योजना जल्द शुरू होगी। The Chief Minister told journalists that the new scheme will start soon.
26.18 विपक्ष के नेता कहते हैं कि सरकार असफल रही है। Opposition leaders say that the government has failed.
26.19 पुलिस अधिकारी ने कहा कि जांच जारी है। The police officer said that the investigation is ongoing.
26.20 स्वास्थ्य मंत्री ने घोषणा करते हुए कहा कि नया अस्पताल खुलेगा। The Health Minister announced that a new hospital will open.
26.21 वैज्ञानिकों ने कहा है कि जलवायु परिवर्तन गंभीर है। Scientists have said that climate change is serious.
26.22 शिक्षा विभाग ने कहा कि परीक्षाएं समय पर होंगी। The Education Department said that exams will be held on time.
26.23 अर्थशास्त्री कह रहे हैं कि मुद्रास्फीति नियंत्रण में है। Economists are saying that inflation is under control.
26.24 रक्षा मंत्री ने संसद में कहा कि सेना तैयार है। The Defense Minister said in Parliament that the army is ready.
26.25 न्यायाधीश ने फैसले में कहा कि कानून सबके लिए समान है। The judge said in the judgment that law is equal for everyone.
26.26 विशेषज्ञ कहते हैं कि तकनीक भविष्य है। Experts say that technology is the future.
26.27 किसान नेता ने कहा कि फसल की कीमत बढ़नी चाहिए। The farmer leader said that crop prices should increase.
26.28 चुनाव आयोग ने कहा है कि मतदान शांतिपूर्ण रहा। The Election Commission has said that voting remained peaceful.
26.29 विदेश मंत्री ने कहा कि बातचीत सफल रही। The Foreign Minister said that the talks were successful.
26.30 मौसम विभाग ने चेतावनी देते हुए कहा कि बारिश होगी। The Weather Department warned that it will rain.
26.16 प्रधानमंत्री ने कहा कि देश तेज़ी से विकास कर रहा है।
26.17 मुख्यमंत्री ने पत्रकारों से कहा कि नई योजना जल्द शुरू होगी।
26.18 विपक्ष के नेता कहते हैं कि सरकार असफल रही है।
26.19 पुलिस अधिकारी ने कहा कि जांच जारी है।
26.20 स्वास्थ्य मंत्री ने घोषणा करते हुए कहा कि नया अस्पताल खुलेगा।
26.21 वैज्ञानिकों ने कहा है कि जलवायु परिवर्तन गंभीर है।
26.22 शिक्षा विभाग ने कहा कि परीक्षाएं समय पर होंगी।
26.23 अर्थशास्त्री कह रहे हैं कि मुद्रास्फीति नियंत्रण में है।
26.24 रक्षा मंत्री ने संसद में कहा कि सेना तैयार है।
26.25 न्यायाधीश ने फैसले में कहा कि कानून सबके लिए समान है।
26.26 विशेषज्ञ कहते हैं कि तकनीक भविष्य है।
26.27 किसान नेता ने कहा कि फसल की कीमत बढ़नी चाहिए।
26.28 चुनाव आयोग ने कहा है कि मतदान शांतिपूर्ण रहा।
26.29 विदेश मंत्री ने कहा कि बातचीत सफल रही।
26.30 मौसम विभाग ने चेतावनी देते हुए कहा कि बारिश होगी।
Special Features of कहना in News Reporting: -
Formal Register: News reporting uses formal forms like "कहा है" (kahā hai) instead of simple "कहा" (kahā) to indicate reported speech that remains relevant. -
Attribution Patterns: -
Authority + ने कहा कि... (Authority said that...) -
Always uses ergative ने with past tense -
कि (ki) is never omitted in formal news language -
Continuous Forms: "कह रहे हैं" (kah rahe hain) indicates ongoing statements or positions, common for expert opinions. -
Participial Constructions: "घोषणा करते हुए कहा" (announcing while said) shows simultaneous actions, typical in news language. -
Institutional Subjects: Government departments, commissions, and official bodies are treated as singular entities taking singular verb forms. -
Tense Usage: -
ने कहा (ne kahā) - for specific past statements -
कहते हैं (kahte hain) - for general positions or repeated statements -
ने कहा है (ne kahā hai) - for recent statements with continuing relevance -
Common News Phrases: -
के अनुसार (ke anusār) - according to -
की रिपोर्ट में कहा गया है (kī riporṭ men kahā gayā hai) - it has been said in the report -
सूत्रों ने कहा (sūtron ne kahā) - sources said
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The Latinum Institute Modern Language Courses use the innovative construed text method, developed by curator Evan der Millner BA MA (Cantab. NZ, London), who has been creating online language learning materials since 2006. This method, adapted from classical language pedagogy, makes modern language learning more accessible to autodidacts.
The construed text approach, detailed at latinum.substack.com and latinum.org.uk, breaks down the traditional barriers between languages by: -
Granular Glossing: Each word is individually translated, allowing learners to build vocabulary systematically -
Syntactic Bridging: Section A rearranges words to follow English syntax patterns while teaching target language vocabulary -
Progressive Difficulty: Moving from construed text (Section A) to natural syntax (Sections B and C) -
Cultural Integration: Embedding language learning within cultural and literary contexts
Self-directed learners benefit from: -
Complete transparency in translation -
No assumed prior knowledge -
Systematic progression from simple to complex -
Cultural and literary enrichment -
Immediate practical application
Each lesson includes: -
15 primary examples progressing in complexity -
Detailed grammatical explanations written for English speakers -
Cultural context sections -
Authentic literary excerpts with full analysis -
Genre-specific sections for practical application -
Complete lessons without truncation for immediate study use
Evan der Millner has dedicated over 18 years to developing online language learning resources. His work combines traditional philological methods with modern pedagogical insights, making classical learning techniques accessible to contemporary autodidacts.
The Latinum Institute's innovative approach has received positive feedback from learners worldwide. See reviews at: https://uk.trustpilot.com/review/latinum.org.uk
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Method explanation: latinum.substack.com/method -
Additional lessons: latinum.org.uk -
Community: latinum.substack.com
The Latinum Institute continues to expand its offerings, bringing the proven construed text method to modern language learners seeking a structured, self-directed approach to language acquisition.
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