Whether you're working at an office or studying at university, you need verbs for intellectual activities! In this lesson, you'll learn four essential 'mind verbs' — reading, writing, understanding, and learning — along with workplace and classroom vocabulary. Ravi takes you through his day at a Gurgaon IT office while Sita shares her Delhi University experience. You'll also learn when to use the object marker को [ko] and when to skip it.
Learning tips
- Hindi has a useful pattern: noun + करना [karnā] = 'to do [noun].' Examples: काम करना [kām karnā] (to work), मीटिंग करना [mīṭiṅg karnā] (to have a meeting).
- The object marker को [ko] is used for SPECIFIC objects: मैं इस किताब को पढ़ता हूँ [maĩ is kitāb ko paṛhtā hū̃] (I read THIS book). For generic statements, skip it: मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ [maĩ kitāb paṛhtā hū̃] (I read books).
- पढ़ना [paṛhnā] means both 'to read' AND 'to study' — context determines which meaning applies.
- Modern Hindi freely borrows English words: कंप्यूटर [kampyūṭar], मीटिंग [mīṭiṅg], प्रोजेक्ट [projeḳṭ]. In IT workplaces, you'll hear a mix of Hindi and English called 'Hinglish.'
Warm-up & Active Recall
| Word | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| सोमवार [somvār] | Monday | |
| मंगलवार [maṅgalvār] | Tuesday | |
| बुधवार [budhvār] | Wednesday | |
| गुरुवार [guruvār] | Thursday | |
| शुक्रवार [śukravār] | Friday | |
| शनिवार [śanivār] | Saturday | |
| रविवार [ravivār] | Sunday | |
| आज [āj] | today | |
| कल [kal] | yesterday/tomorrow | |
| परसों [parsõ] | day before/after |
Dialog
Ravi is at his IT office in Gurgaon while Sita is at Delhi University — both having busy days. Ravi works on his computer, attends meetings, and learns new coding skills. Sita reads economics books, writes a report, and works on a project. Notice the four 'mind verbs': पढ़ना [paṛhnā] (read/study), लिखना [likhnā] (write), समझना [samajhnā] (understand), सीखना [sīkhnā] (learn). Both characters emphasize that learning never stops — whether at the office or in the classroom!
Vocabulary
Active words
| Word | Romanization | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| दफ़्तर | daftar | /d̪əf.t̪ər/ | office | Urdu-origin. Also used: ऑफ़िस [ŏfis] (English loanword, very common in cities) |
| कक्षा | kakṣā | /kək.ʂaː/ | class, classroom | Sanskrit-origin. Used for both the room and the session: कक्षा में [kakṣā mẽ] = in class |
| किताब | kitāb | /ki.t̪aːb/ | book | Urdu/Arabic-origin. One of the most commonly used words in Hindi. |
| कंप्यूटर | kampyūṭar | /kəm.pjuː.ʈər/ | computer | English loanword. Hindi adaptation: कंप्यूटर [kampyūṭar] with retroflex ट [ṭ] |
| मीटिंग | mīṭiṅg | /miː.ʈɪŋɡ/ | meeting | English loanword. मीटिंग करना [mīṭiṅg karnā] = to have a meeting |
| प्रोजेक्ट | projeḳṭ | /pro.d͡ʒekʈ/ | project | English loanword, very common in professional Hindi |
| लिखना | likhnā | /lɪkʰ.naː/ | to write | लिख [likh] is the stem. Note the aspirated ख [kh] — not just 'k' but 'k' + puff of air. |
| पढ़ना | paṛhnā | /pəɽʰ.naː/ | to read, to study | पढ़ [paṛh] is the stem. Contains the retroflex ड़ [ṛ] — tongue flaps against the palate. |
| समझना | samajhnā | /sə.məd͡ʒʰ.naː/ | to understand | समझ [samajh] is the stem. मुझे समझ आया [mujhe samajh āyā] = I understood |
| सीखना | sīkhnā | /siːkʰ.naː/ | to learn | सीख [sīkh] is the stem. Note the long ई [ī] vowel and aspirated ख [kh]. |
Passive words
| Word | Romanization | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| कॉलेज | kŏlej | /kɒː.led͡ʒ/ | college | English loanword — used more commonly than the Hindi विद्यालय [vidyālay] in everyday speech |
| लैपटॉप | laipṭŏp | /lɛːp.ʈɒp/ | laptop | English loanword |
| नोट्स | noṭs | /noːʈs/ | notes | English loanword — नोट्स बनाना [noṭs banānā] = to make notes |
| परीक्षा | parīkṣā | /pə.riːk.ʂaː/ | exam, examination | Sanskrit-origin. More formal than the English loanword 'exam' |
| बॉस | bŏs | /bɒːs/ | boss | English loanword, universally used in Indian workplaces |
| सहकर्मी | sahakarmī | /sə.hə.kər.miː/ | colleague, coworker | Sanskrit-origin compound: सह [sah] (with) + कर्मी [karmī] (worker) |
Useful chunks
| Word | Romanization | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| किताब पढ़ना | kitāb paṛhnā | to read a book |
| कंप्यूटर पर काम करना | kampyūṭar par kām karnā | to work on the computer |
| हिंदी सीखना | hindī sīkhnā | to learn Hindi |
Grammar: Verbs of cognition/study in present tense + object marker को [ko]
| Verb | Stem | Example (m.) | Example (f.) |
|---|---|---|---|
| पढ़ना [paṛhnā] (to read/study) | पढ़ [paṛh] | वह किताब पढ़ता है [vah kitāb paṛhtā hai] | वह किताब पढ़ती है [vah kitāb paṛhtī hai] |
| लिखना [likhnā] (to write) | लिख [likh] | मैं रिपोर्ट लिखता हूँ [maĩ riporṭ likhtā hū̃] | मैं रिपोर्ट लिखती हूँ [maĩ riporṭ likhtī hū̃] |
| समझना [samajhnā] (to understand) | समझ [samajh] | वह हिंदी समझता है [vah hindī samajhtā hai] | वह हिंदी समझती है [vah hindī samajhtī hai] |
| सीखना [sīkhnā] (to learn) | सीख [sīkh] | मैं कोडिंग सीखता हूँ [maĩ koḍiṅg sīkhtā hū̃] | मैं कोडिंग सीखती हूँ [maĩ koḍiṅg sīkhtī hū̃] |
| को [ko] usage | Example | Romanization |
|---|---|---|
| Specific object | मैं इस किताब को पढ़ता हूँ [maĩ is kitāb ko paṛhtā hū̃] | maĩ is kitāb ko paṛhtā hū̃ |
| Person as object | सीता को बुलाओ [sītā ko bulāo] | sītā ko bulāo |
| Generic (no को) | मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ [maĩ kitāb paṛhtā hū̃] | maĩ kitāb paṛhtā hū̃ |
Four 'Mind Verbs' in Present Habitual:
The verbs पढ़ना [paṛhnā], लिखना [likhnā], समझना [samajhnā], and सीखना [sīkhnā] follow the same pattern as other verbs in the present habitual tense:
- Stem + ता/ती/ते [-tā/-tī/-te] + हूँ/है/हैं [hū̃/hai/haĩ]
The Object Marker को [ko]:
Hindi uses को [ko] to mark specific, definite objects — similar to how some languages use articles:
- Generic (no को): मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ [maĩ kitāb paṛhtā hū̃] = I read books (in general)
- Specific (with को): मैं इस किताब को पढ़ता हूँ [maĩ is kitāb ko paṛhtā hū̃] = I read this book
Rules of thumb:
1. Specific/definite objects → use को [ko]
2. Generic/indefinite objects → no को [ko]
3. People as objects → almost always use को [ko]: सीता को बुलाओ [sītā ko bulāo] = Call Sita
4. Animate beings → prefer को [ko]
This is one of Hindi's trickier concepts — don't worry about getting it perfect right away!
Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each sentence with the correct Hindi word from this lesson.
- रवि में काम करता है। (office)(workplace)
- सीता में अर्थशास्त्र पढ़ती है। (class)(where students attend lessons)
- मुझे यह पढ़नी है। (book)(something you read)
- वह पर कोड लिखता है। (computer)(electronic device for coding)
- मैं हिंदी हूँ। (learning, f.)(verb: learning — feminine habitual)
Grammar Application
Fill in the correct habitual tense ending or choose the correct sentence.
- सीता किताब पढ़ है। (feminine habitual)(Sita = feminine → -ती)
- रवि नया कोड सीख है। (masculine habitual)(Ravi = masculine → -ता)
- मैं (f.) रिपोर्ट लिख हूँ। (feminine habitual)(feminine speaker → -ती)
- Choose: मैं किताब पढ़ता हूँ / मैं किताब को पढ़ता हूँ — which is correct for a general statement? → (generic statement = no को needed)
- आप हिंदी समझ हैं। (formal habitual)(आप = formal → -ते)
Translation (English → Hindi)
Translate each sentence into Hindi.
- I work at the office. (masculine)
- Sita reads a book in class.
- Ravi writes a project on the computer.
- I am learning Hindi. (feminine)
- There is a meeting today.
Creative Construction
Write 1-2 sentences about your work or study routine using at least 3 words from this lesson.
Writing: Devanagari number symbols (देवनागरी अंक [devnāgrī aṅk])
Practice words
| Word | Romanization |
|---|---|
| १२:३० | 12:30 |
| २०२५ | 2025 |
| ५ किताबें | 5 kitābẽ |
| १० बजे | 10 baje |
Today you'll learn the Devanagari number symbols — Hindi has its own numerals!
| Arabic | Devanagari |
|---|---|
| 0 | ० |
| 1 | १ |
| 2 | २ |
| 3 | ३ |
| 4 | ४ |
| 5 | ५ |
| 6 | ६ |
| 7 | ७ |
| 8 | ८ |
| 9 | ९ |
In modern India, Arabic numerals (0, 1, 2, 3...) are used far more commonly in everyday life — on phones, computers, price tags, etc. However, Devanagari numerals appear in:
- Government documents and Hindi newspapers
- Temple inscriptions and religious texts
- Traditional invitations and certificates
- Railway station signs in Hindi-speaking states
You don't need to write in Devanagari numerals daily, but recognizing them is useful when traveling in India.
Takeaway
Four essential 'mind verbs': पढ़ना [paṛhnā] (read/study), लिखना [likhnā] (write), समझना [samajhnā] (understand), सीखना [sīkhnā] (learn). Use को [ko] for specific objects, skip it for generic ones. You can now describe your work and study activities in Hindi!