For autodidact students of Hindi, the verb देखना (dekhnā) — "to see, to look at, to watch" — is indispensable from the first day of study. It covers seeing, watching, looking at, examining, and checking: you watch a film (फ़िल्म देखना), see a doctor (डॉक्टर को देखना), look outside (बाहर देखना), and take care (देखना that something is done). As a transitive verb it takes the ergative marker ने in the past perfective, and its past forms must agree in gender and number with the object — a central feature of Hindi grammar that this lesson practises thoroughly.
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FAQ: What does देखना (dekhnā) mean in Hindi? देखना is the infinitive "to see/look/watch." In the past perfective, the subject takes ने and the verb agrees with the object: मैंने फ़िल्म देखी (I watched a film — film is feminine, so देखी). The imperative forms देखो (informal) and देखिए (formal) are among the most common words in everyday speech. The conjunctive participle देखकर (having seen) and the oblique infinitive देखने (for seeing / to see) appear constantly in connected sentences.
In the following 15 examples you will encounter देखना across tenses, aspects, and constructions. The duplex interlinear format gives direct Devanagari-to-meaning access on line (a) and phonetic guidance on line (b).
Educational Note: This material is designed for English speakers learning Hindi through the Latinum Institute's proven interlinear method.
Key Takeaways: - देखना is a regular transitive verb requiring ने in the past perfective - Past perfective agreement: देखा (masc. sg.), देखी (fem. sg.), देखे (masc. pl.) - Progressive: देख रहा/रही हूँ/है — "is watching/looking" - Compound: देख लेना (to take a look / see it through); देख आना (to go and see) - Distinguish देखना (active: to look) from दिखना (dikhnā, passive: to appear/be visible)
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देखना is written in Devanagari as दे-ख-ना. Devanagari is an abugida written left to right: each consonant carries an inherent -a vowel unless a different vowel sign (mātrā) overrides it. The ए (e) mātrā on ख gives खे → but here the दे = द + ए mātrā. The final ना is the infinitive marker common to all Hindi verbs.
Key phonetic notes: - ख (kh): aspirated velar stop — a puff of breath follows the k sound. Hindi distinguishes क (k, unaspirated) and ख (kh, aspirated); confusing them changes meaning - दे (de): the vowel ए is a pure long mid-front vowel [eː] — not the English diphthong in "day" - ना (nā): long ā, the infinitive marker — hold the vowel
Transliteration system: standard academic IAST-based romanisation throughout.
Common learner mistakes: - Interchanging देखा/देखी — gender agreement with the object is obligatory - Omitting ने in the past perfective: तुमने देखा (correct), not *तुम देखा - Confusing देखना (to look/see — active) with दिखना (to appear — passive perspective) - Pronouncing ख as plain k — the aspiration is phonemically significant
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48.1a मैं I फ़िल्म film देख see रहा PROG-MASC हूँ am
48.1b (main) I (film) film (dekh) see (rahā) PROG-MASC (hūm̐) am
48.2a वह she खिड़की window से from बाहर outside देखती looks-FEM-HAB है is
48.2b (vah) she (khiṛkī) window (se) from (bāhar) outside (dekhtī) looks-FEM-HAB (hai) is
48.3a क्या did तुमने you-ERG वह that तस्वीर picture-FEM देखी see-FEM-PERF ؟
48.3b (kyā) did (tumne) you-ERG (vah) that (tasvīr) picture-FEM (dekhī) see-FEM-PERF ?
48.4a बच्चे children रात night को OBL तारे stars देख see रहे PROG-MASC-PL थे were
48.4b (bacce) children (rāt) night (ko) OBL (tāre) stars (dekh) see (rahe) PROG-MASC-PL (the) were
48.5a तुम्हें you-DAT देखकर having-seen [CONV] मैं I बहुत very खुश happy हुआ became-MASC
48.5b (tumhem̐) you-DAT (dekhkar) having-seen [CONV] (main) I (bahut) very (khuś) happy (huā) became-MASC
48.6a वे they रोज़ daily शाम evening को OBL टेलीविज़न television देखते watch-HAB-MASC-PL हैं are
48.6b (ve) they (roz) daily (śām) evening (ko) OBL (ṭelivijan) television (dekhte) watch-HAB-MASC-PL (haim̐) are
48.7a उसने he-ERG अपनी own-FEM आँखों eyes-OBL से with सब everything देखा saw-MASC-PERF
48.7b (usne) he-ERG (apnī) own-FEM (ām̐khom̐) eyes-OBL (se) with (sab) everything (dekhā) saw-MASC-PERF
48.8a देखो look! [IMP] वहाँ there क्या what है is !
48.8b (dekho) look! [IMP] (vahām̐) there (kyā) what (hai) is !
48.9a डॉक्टर doctor ने ERG बच्चे child-OBL को ACC ध्यान care से with देखा examined-MASC-PERF
48.9b (ḍākṭar) doctor (ne) ERG (bacce) child-OBL (ko) ACC (dhyān) care (se) with (dekhā) examined-MASC-PERF
48.10a क्या shall हम we कल tomorrow फ़िल्म film देखने to-see [OBL-INF] जाएंगे will-go ؟
48.10b (kyā) shall (ham) we (kal) tomorrow (film) film (dekhne) to-see [OBL-INF] (jāem̐ge) will-go ?
48.11a माँ mother ने ERG देखा saw-MASC-PERF कि that बच्चा child सो sleep गया went-PERF-MASC
48.11b (mām̐) mother (ne) ERG (dekhā) saw-MASC-PERF (ki) that (baccā) child (so) sleep (gayā) went-PERF-MASC
48.12a हमें we-DAT आगे ahead का GEN रास्ता path देखना to-see होगा will-have-to
48.12b (hamem̐) we-DAT (āge) ahead (kā) GEN (rāstā) path (dekhnā) to-see (hogā) will-have-to
48.13a वह she आईने mirror-OBL में in खुद self को ACC देखती looks-FEM-HAB है is
48.13b (vah) she (āīne) mirror-OBL (mem̐) in (khud) self (ko) ACC (dekhtī) looks-FEM-HAB (hai) is
48.14a लोगों people-OBL ने ERG हैरानी amazement से with उसे him-ACC देखा looked-MASC-PERF
48.14b (logom̐) people-OBL (ne) ERG (hairānī) amazement (se) with (use) him-ACC (dekhā) looked-MASC-PERF
48.15a देखते seeing [CONV] देखते seeing सब everything बदल change गया went-PERF-MASC
48.15b (dekhte) seeing [CONV] (dekhte) seeing (sab) everything (badal) change (gayā) went-PERF-MASC
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48.1 मैं फ़िल्म देख रहा हूँ। "I am watching a film."
48.2 वह खिड़की से बाहर देखती है। "She looks outside through the window."
48.3 क्या तुमने वह तस्वीर देखी? "Did you see that picture?"
48.4 बच्चे रात को तारे देख रहे थे। "The children were looking at the stars at night."
48.5 तुम्हें देखकर मैं बहुत खुश हुआ। "I was very happy seeing you."
48.6 वे रोज़ शाम को टेलीविज़न देखते हैं। "They watch television every evening."
48.7 उसने अपनी आँखों से सब देखा। "He saw everything with his own eyes."
48.8 देखो, वहाँ क्या है! "Look, what is there!"
48.9 डॉक्टर ने बच्चे को ध्यान से देखा। "The doctor examined the child carefully."
48.10 क्या हम कल फ़िल्म देखने जाएंगे? "Shall we go to see a film tomorrow?"
48.11 माँ ने देखा कि बच्चा सो गया। "Mother saw that the child had fallen asleep."
48.12 हमें आगे का रास्ता देखना होगा। "We will have to look at the path ahead."
48.13 वह आईने में खुद को देखती है। "She looks at herself in the mirror."
48.14 लोगों ने हैरानी से उसे देखा। "People looked at him in amazement."
48.15 देखते देखते सब बदल गया। "Everything changed while we were watching."
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48.1 मैं फ़िल्म देख रहा हूँ।
48.2 वह खिड़की से बाहर देखती है।
48.3 क्या तुमने वह तस्वीर देखी?
48.4 बच्चे रात को तारे देख रहे थे।
48.5 तुम्हें देखकर मैं बहुत खुश हुआ।
48.6 वे रोज़ शाम को टेलीविज़न देखते हैं।
48.7 उसने अपनी आँखों से सब देखा।
48.8 देखो, वहाँ क्या है!
48.9 डॉक्टर ने बच्चे को ध्यान से देखा।
48.10 क्या हम कल फ़िल्म देखने जाएंगे?
48.11 माँ ने देखा कि बच्चा सो गया।
48.12 हमें आगे का रास्ता देखना होगा।
48.13 वह आईने में खुद को देखती है।
48.14 लोगों ने हैरानी से उसे देखा।
48.15 देखते देखते सब बदल गया।
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These are the grammar rules for देखना (dekhnā) — "to see/look/watch":
Transitive verb and the ergative construction: देखना is transitive — it takes a direct object. In the past perfective, Hindi requires the ergative marker ने after the subject, and the verb agrees with the object rather than the subject.
Past perfective forms (object agreement): - देखा (dekhā) — masculine singular object: मैंने नाटक देखा (I saw the play — नाटक is masculine) - देखी (dekhī) — feminine singular object: मैंने फ़िल्म देखी (I watched the film — फ़िल्म is feminine) - देखे (dekhe) — masculine plural object: मैंने तारे देखे (I saw the stars — तारे is masc. pl.) - देखीं (dekhīm̐) — feminine plural object: मैंने तस्वीरें देखीं (I saw the pictures — तस्वीरें is fem. pl.)
Present habitual (subject agreement): - देखता हूँ/है (dekhtā) — masculine singular subject - देखती हूँ/है (dekhtī) — feminine singular subject - देखते हैं (dekhte) — masculine plural subject
Progressive aspect: verb stem + रहा/रही/रहे + हूँ/है/हैं - देख रहा हूँ (dekh rahā hūm̐) — I am watching (masc. speaker) - देख रही है (dekh rahī hai) — she is watching
Future tense (subject agreement): - देखूँगा/देखूँगी (dekhūm̐gā/dekhūm̐gī) — I will see (masc./fem.) - देखेगा/देखेगी (dekhegā/dekhegī) — he/she will see - देखेंगे/देखेंगी (dekhem̐ge/dekhem̐gī) — they will see
Imperative: देखो (dekho, informal-तुम), देखिए (dekhie, formal-आप), देख (dekh, intimate-तू)
Oblique infinitive देखने (dekhne): when the infinitive is followed by a postposition or used in certain constructions, it takes the oblique form: फ़िल्म देखने जाना (to go to see a film), देखने में (in seeing / to look at).
Conjunctive participle देखकर (dekhkar): "having seen / after seeing" — used to chain actions: देखकर समझना (to understand by seeing), तुम्हें देखकर खुश होना (to be happy upon seeing you).
Compound देखते देखते: a reduplicated conjunctive participle expressing "while continuously watching / before one's eyes" — a vivid Hindi idiom for things that change imperceptibly over time.
Common Mistakes: - Omitting ने in past perfective with transitive देखना - Mismatching verb gender with object gender - Using देखना where दिखना (dikhnā, to appear) is correct — दिखना has no ने, and the experiencer takes को: मुझे कुछ दिख रहा है (I can see something — lit. something is appearing to me)
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The verb देखना permeates Hindi film culture. Bollywood — हिंदी सिनेमा — has made film-watching (फ़िल्म देखना) a defining social activity across the subcontinent. Entire families go together (साथ में फ़िल्म देखना), colleagues discuss what they have seen (क्या देखा?), and the question "कौन सी फ़िल्म देखी?" (Which film did you see?) is a standard social opener.
Beyond cinema, देखना carries the sense of care and oversight: बच्चों को देखना (to look after the children), घर देखना (to look after the house). The polite command देखिए (please look/see to it) is used constantly in requests and instructions.
The idiom देखते देखते captures a distinctly South Asian sense of impermanence: things change while you are looking, in the blink of an eye. It appears in Hindi poetry and prose as an expression of time's swift passage. The phrase देखो और सीखो (watch and learn) reflects an oral-traditional pedagogy still alive in craft and agricultural communities.
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प्रेमचंद (Premchand), ईदगाह (Idgah), 1933
"Idgah" is one of the most beloved Hindi short stories, taught in schools across India. Young Hamid, given a few coins for the Eid fair, resists the toys and sweets that tempt the other children — and instead buys a pair of tongs for his grandmother who burns her fingers at the stove. The passage below shows देखना as Hamid observes the things of the world with a child's precision and an old soul's priorities.
F-A: Interlinear Construed Text
हामिद (Hāmid) Hamid ने (ne) ERG देखा (dekhā) saw-MASC-PERF कि (ki) that चिमटा (cimaṭā) tongs लोहे (lohe) iron-OBL का (kā) GEN है (hai) is और (aur) and उसकी (uskī) its दादी (dādī) grandmother को (ko) DAT बहुत (bahut) very काम (kām) use आएगा (āegā) will-come-MASC
F-B: Authentic Text with Translation
हामिद ने देखा कि चिमटा लोहे का है और उसकी दादी को बहुत काम आएगा।
"Hamid saw that the tongs were made of iron and would be of great use to his grandmother."
F-C: Authentic Text Only
हामिद ने देखा कि चिमटा लोहे का है और उसकी दादी को बहुत काम आएगा।
F-D: Grammar and Vocabulary Notes
हामिद ने देखा: past perfective of देखना — subject हामिद takes ने; the verb is देखा (masculine, agreeing with the clause object). When the object of देखना is a full कि-clause (a that-clause), the verb defaults to masculine singular: देखा, not *देखी.
कि (ki): the subordinating conjunction "that" — introduces reported perception, thought, or speech after verbs of seeing, knowing, and saying. It corresponds to English "that" in "saw that...".
लोहे का: लोहा (iron) + OBL + का (GEN) = "made of iron." The genitive का/के/की (kā/ke/kī) expresses material composition as well as possession.
काम आना: an idiomatic compound meaning "to be of use, to come in handy" — literally "to come to work." काम आएगा = "will come in handy / will be useful."
F-E: Literary Commentary
This sentence is the pivot of Idgah. Everything Hamid has seen at the fair — the toys, the sweets, the games — he has evaluated through one lens: what will be useful? देखा here is not passive observation but active moral vision. Premchand's genius is to make the verb of perception simultaneously the verb of judgment: Hamid saw and assessed. The ergative ने marks Hamid as fully the agent of this seeing — he is not just a child at whom things happen, but someone who looks and chooses. The story is, at its heart, about the difference between देखना and not seeing what is important.
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A family — parents, a teenage daughter, and a younger son — decide what film to see. The dialogue is built around देखना in all its everyday registers: planning to see, wanting to see, having seen, disagreeing about what to watch.
48.16a आज today हम we कौन which सी FEM फ़िल्म film देखेंगे will-watch ؟
48.16b (āj) today (ham) we (kaun) which (sī) FEM (film) film (dekhem̐ge) will-watch ?
48.17a पिताजी father-HON ने ERG कहा said-MASC मैंने I-ERG वह that नई new फ़िल्म film नहीं not देखी seen-FEM है have
48.17b (pitājī) father-HON (ne) ERG (kahā) said-MASC (maim̐ne) I-ERG (vah) that (naī) new (film) film (nahīm̐) not (dekhī) seen-FEM (hai) have
48.18a बेटी daughter बोली said-FEM मैं I वह that फ़िल्म film देख see चुकी already-done-FEM हूँ am
48.18b (beṭī) daughter (bolī) said-FEM (main) I (vah) that (film) film (dekh) see (cukī) already-done-FEM (hūm̐) am
48.19a बेटे son-OBL ने ERG पूछा asked-MASC क्या what हम we एक्शन action फ़िल्म film देख see सकते can-MASC-PL हैं are ؟
48.19b (beṭe) son-OBL (ne) ERG (pūchā) asked-MASC (kyā) can (ham) we (ekśan) action (film) film (dekh) see (sakte) can-MASC-PL (haim̐) are ?
48.20a माँ mother ने ERG कहा said डरावनी scary-FEM फ़िल्में films मत don't देखो watch [IMP] रात night को OBL
48.20b (mām̐) mother (ne) ERG (kahā) said (ḍarāvanī) scary-FEM (filmem̐) films (mat) don't (dekho) watch [IMP] (rāt) night (ko) OBL
48.21a पिताजी father-HON ने ERG टिकट tickets खिड़की window पर at जाकर having-gone [CONV] देखा checked-MASC
48.21b (pitājī) father-HON (ne) ERG (ṭikaṭ) tickets (khiṛkī) window (par) at (jākar) having-gone [CONV] (dekhā) checked-MASC
48.22a तीन three बजे o'clock-OBL वाला RELATING शो show बिक sold चुका already-done-MASC था was देखने to-see लायक worth
48.22b (tīn) three (baje) o'clock-OBL (vālā) RELATING (śo) show (bik) sold (cukā) already-done-MASC (thā) was (dekhne) to-see (lāyak) worth
48.23a बेटी daughter ने ERG मोबाइल mobile पर on समीक्षाएँ reviews देखीं looked-at-FEM-PL और and बोली said-FEM यह this फ़िल्म film ज़रूर definitely देखनी to-see-FEM चाहिए should
48.23b (beṭī) daughter (ne) ERG (mobāil) mobile (par) on (samīkṣāem̐) reviews (dekhīm̐) looked-at-FEM-PL (aur) and (bolī) said-FEM (yah) this (film) film (zarūr) definitely (dekhnī) to-see-FEM (cāhie) should
48.24a सबने everyone-ERG मिलकर together [CONV] छह six बजे o'clock-OBL का GEN शो show देखने to-see का GEN फ़ैसला decision किया did-MASC
48.24b (sabne) everyone-ERG (milkar) together [CONV] (chah) six (baje) o'clock-OBL (kā) GEN (śo) show (dekhne) to-see (kā) GEN (faislā) decision (kiyā) did-MASC
48.25a सिनेमाघर cinema-hall में in अँधेरा darkness देखकर seeing [CONV] बच्चा child डर fear गया went-PERF-MASC
48.25b (sinemāghar) cinema-hall (mem̐) in (am̐dhera) darkness (dekhkar) seeing [CONV] (baccā) child (ḍar) fear (gayā) went-PERF-MASC
48.26a फ़िल्म film शुरू start होते happening [CONV] ही only सबने everyone-ERG स्क्रीन screen को ACC ध्यान attention से with देखा watched-MASC
48.26b (film) film (śurū) start (hote) happening [CONV] (hī) only (sabne) everyone-ERG (skriīn) screen (ko) ACC (dhyān) attention (se) with (dekhā) watched-MASC
48.27a बेटे son ने ERG हीरो hero का GEN एक one दृश्य scene-MASC देखकर having-seen [CONV] तालियाँ claps बजाईं clapped-FEM-PL
48.27b (beṭe) son (ne) ERG (hīro) hero (kā) GEN (ek) one (dṛśya) scene-MASC (dekhkar) having-seen [CONV] (tāliyām̐) claps (bajāīm̐) clapped-FEM-PL
48.28a माँ mother ने ERG भावुक emotional दृश्य scene देखा saw-MASC और and आँखें eyes पोंछीं wiped-FEM-PL
48.28b (mām̐) mother (ne) ERG (bhāvuk) emotional (dṛśya) scene (dekhā) saw-MASC (aur) and (ām̐khem̐) eyes (pom̐chīm̐) wiped-FEM-PL
48.29a फ़िल्म film देखने seeing-OBL के GEN बाद after सबने everyone-ERG उसे it-ACC बहुत very अच्छी good-FEM बताया told-MASC
48.29b (film) film (dekhne) seeing-OBL (ke) GEN (bād) after (sabne) everyone-ERG (use) it-ACC (bahut) very (acchī) good-FEM (batāyā) told-MASC
48.30a घर home लौटते returning [CONV] वक्त time बेटे son ने ERG कहा said-MASC अगली next-FEM बार time भी also ऐसी such-FEM फ़िल्म film देखनी to-see-FEM है is
48.30b (ghar) home (lauṭte) returning [CONV] (vakt) time (beṭe) son (ne) ERG (kahā) said-MASC (aglī) next-FEM (bār) time (bhī) also (aisī) such-FEM (film) film (dekhnī) to-see-FEM (hai) is
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48.16 आज हम कौन सी फ़िल्म देखेंगे? "Which film shall we watch today?"
48.17 पिताजी ने कहा — मैंने वह नई फ़िल्म नहीं देखी है। "Father said: I haven't seen that new film."
48.18 बेटी बोली — मैं वह फ़िल्म देख चुकी हूँ। "The daughter said: I have already seen that film."
48.19 बेटे ने पूछा — क्या हम एक्शन फ़िल्म देख सकते हैं? "The son asked: Can we watch an action film?"
48.20 माँ ने कहा — डरावनी फ़िल्में रात को मत देखो। "Mother said: Don't watch scary films at night."
48.21 पिताजी ने टिकट खिड़की पर जाकर देखा। "Father went to the ticket window and checked."
48.22 तीन बजे वाला शो बिक चुका था — देखने लायक। "The three o'clock show was already sold out — worth seeing."
48.23 बेटी ने मोबाइल पर समीक्षाएँ देखीं और बोली — यह फ़िल्म ज़रूर देखनी चाहिए। "The daughter looked at reviews on her phone and said: This film must definitely be seen."
48.24 सबने मिलकर छह बजे का शो देखने का फ़ैसला किया। "Everyone together decided to watch the six o'clock show."
48.25 सिनेमाघर में अँधेरा देखकर बच्चा डर गया। "The child got scared seeing the darkness in the cinema hall."
48.26 फ़िल्म शुरू होते ही सबने स्क्रीन को ध्यान से देखा। "As soon as the film started, everyone watched the screen attentively."
48.27 बेटे ने हीरो का एक दृश्य देखकर तालियाँ बजाईं। "The son clapped his hands having seen a scene of the hero."
48.28 माँ ने भावुक दृश्य देखा और आँखें पोंछीं। "Mother saw the emotional scene and wiped her eyes."
48.29 फ़िल्म देखने के बाद सबने उसे बहुत अच्छी बताया। "After seeing the film everyone called it very good."
48.30 घर लौटते वक्त बेटे ने कहा — अगली बार भी ऐसी फ़िल्म देखनी है। "On the way home the son said: Next time too we must see such a film."
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48.16 आज हम कौन सी फ़िल्म देखेंगे?
48.17 पिताजी ने कहा — मैंने वह नई फ़िल्म नहीं देखी है।
48.18 बेटी बोली — मैं वह फ़िल्म देख चुकी हूँ।
48.19 बेटे ने पूछा — क्या हम एक्शन फ़िल्म देख सकते हैं?
48.20 माँ ने कहा — डरावनी फ़िल्में रात को मत देखो।
48.21 पिताजी ने टिकट खिड़की पर जाकर देखा।
48.22 तीन बजे वाला शो बिक चुका था।
48.23 बेटी ने मोबाइल पर समीक्षाएँ देखीं और बोली — यह फ़िल्म ज़रूर देखनी चाहिए।
48.24 सबने मिलकर छह बजे का शो देखने का फ़ैसला किया।
48.25 सिनेमाघर में अँधेरा देखकर बच्चा डर गया।
48.26 फ़िल्म शुरू होते ही सबने स्क्रीन को ध्यान से देखा।
48.27 बेटे ने हीरो का एक दृश्य देखकर तालियाँ बजाईं।
48.28 माँ ने भावुक दृश्य देखा और आँखें पोंछीं।
48.29 फ़िल्म देखने के बाद सबने उसे बहुत अच्छी बताया।
48.30 घर लौटते वक्त बेटे ने कहा — अगली बार भी ऐसी फ़िल्म देखनी है।
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देख चुकी हूँ — the completive aspect: verb stem + चुकना (cuknā) expresses completed action with present relevance: "I have already seen (and therefore it is done)." It differs from the simple past: मैंने देखा (I saw) vs. मैं देख चुकी हूँ (I have already seen / it's done). चुकना inflects for gender and number of the subject.
देखनी है / देखनी चाहिए — the deontic infinitive: oblique infinitive (feminine, agreeing with फ़िल्म) + है/चाहिए expresses necessity or desirability. यह फ़िल्म देखनी चाहिए = "This film ought to be seen." The infinitive takes feminine oblique form देखनी because the subject of the modal is the feminine noun फ़िल्म.
मत देखो — negative imperative: मत (mat) + imperative verb is the standard way to prohibit in Hindi. Contrasts with नहीं (nahīm̐) which negates statements. मत देखो = "don't watch" (prohibition); नहीं देखता (statement: "doesn't watch").
होते ही — the temporal construction: verb conjunctive + ही = "as soon as": शुरू होते ही = "as soon as it started." ही adds immediacy, collapsing the gap between the condition and the consequence.
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देखना (dekhnā) — IPA: /d̪eːkʰnaː/
- द (d): dental voiced stop — the tongue tip touches the back of the upper teeth, not the alveolar ridge as in English d. This dental quality gives Hindi its characteristic sound. - े (e mātrā): pure long mid-front vowel [eː] — held steady, no diphthong glide - ख (kh): aspirated velar stop [kʰ] — a puff of breath follows the k closure. To practise: say "k-hat" with a clear h after the k - ना (nā): long ā [naː] — the infinitive marker, held longer than a short a
Past forms: देखा [d̪eːkʰaː] — देखी [d̪eːkʰiː] — देखे [d̪eːkʰeː]
Common errors: - Producing ख as plain k (losing aspiration) — changes meaning - Diphthongizing the ए vowel to [eɪ] as in English "day" - Shortening the ā in the infinitive ending
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