Present
वर्तमान काल · now and habits: the -ता forms (जाता हूँ)
| Form | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| मैंI speak | ||
| तुमyou speak | ||
| आपyou speak (politely) | ||
| वहhe/she speaks | ||
| हमwe speak | ||
| वेthey speak |
Conjugation
Tap any form to hear it. The part that changes is in colour.
Continuous
अपूर्ण वर्तमान · happening right now: रहा, रही, रहे (जा रहा हूँ)
| Form | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| मैंI am speaking | ||
| तुमyou are speaking | ||
| आपyou are speaking (politely) | ||
| वहhe/she is speaking | ||
| हमwe are speaking | ||
| वेthey are speaking |
Past
सामान्य भूत · finished actions (गया, गई); a transitive verb puts ने on its subject and agrees with its object
| Form | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| मैंI spoke | ||
| तुमyou spoke | ||
| आपyou spoke (politely) | ||
| वहhe/she spoke | ||
| हमwe spoke | ||
| वेthey spoke |
Imperfect
अपूर्ण भूत · “used to” and “was …ing”: the -ता forms with था (जाता था)
| Form | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| मैंI used to speak | ||
| तुमyou used to speak | ||
| आपyou used to speak (politely) | ||
| वहhe/she used to speak | ||
| हमwe used to speak | ||
| वेthey used to speak |
Future
भविष्यत् काल · plans and promises (जाऊँगा, जाएंगे)
| Form | Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|---|
| मैंI will speak | ||
| तुमyou will speak | ||
| आपyou will speak (politely) | ||
| वहhe/she will speak | ||
| हमwe will speak | ||
| वेthey will speak |
Subjunctive
संभावनार्थ · wishes, “shall I”, “so that”: जाऊँ, जाएं
- मैं (that) I speak
- तुम (that) you speak
- आप (that) you speak (politely)
- वह (that) he/she speak
- हम (that) we speak
- वे (that) they speak
Requests and commands
आज्ञार्थ · तू, तुम, आप, and the very polite -इएगा
- तू speak! (intimate)
- तुम speak! (to a friend)
- आप speak! (politely)
- आप (और भी विनम्र) speak! (very politely)
How to use बोलना
One sentence for each tense, the way people say it.
-
Present
मैं थोड़ी-थोड़ी हिंदी बोलता हूँ.
I speak a little Hindi.
-
Continuous
आप बहुत तेज़ बोल रहे हैं, धीरे बोलिए.
You're speaking very fast, please speak slowly.
-
Past
रोहन कुछ नहीं बोला, बस मुस्कुराया.
Rohan said nothing, he just smiled.
-
Imperfect
दादी जी हमसे हमेशा पंजाबी में बोलती थीं.
Dadi ji always spoke to us in Punjabi.
-
Future
मैं आज से रोज़ हिंदी में बोलूँगा.
From today I'll speak in Hindi every day.
-
Subjunctive
मैं ज़ोर से बोलूँ या धीरे?
Shall I speak loudly or softly?
-
Requests and commands
धीरे बोलो, दादी जी सो रही हैं.
Speak softly, Dadi ji is sleeping.
Good to know
- Usually no ने in the past: वह ज़ोर से बोला. The language you speak is its object: मैं हिंदी बोलता हूँ.
Where you hear बोलना
The lessons that teach a form of it, and how they say it.
Hindi · Beginner Level 1
- मैं थोड़ी हिंदी बोलता हूँ. I speak a little Hindi.
- प्रिया ने कुछ नहीं बोला. Priya didn't say anything.
- मैं पापा जी से बोलूँगा. I'll speak to Papa ji.
Hindi · Beginner Level 3
- मैं थोड़ी हिंदी बोलता हूँ. I speak a little Hindi.
- प्रिया ने कुछ नहीं बोला. Priya didn't say anything.
- मैं पापा जी से बोलूँगा. I'll speak to Papa ji.
7
Milk and Eggs
Needs a subscription
10
Beginner Level 1 · नमस्ते जी! बोलिए.
Forty Rupees
Needs a subscription
16
Beginner Level 1 · राजू भैया बोलिए.
Lost in Connaught Place
Needs a subscription
25
Beginner Level 1 · धीरे बोलिए.
Rice Pudding
Needs a subscription
29
Beginner Level 1 · धीरे-धीरे बोलिए.
You Speak Hindi Now
Needs a subscription
27
Beginner Level 1 · अब आप हिंदी बोलते हैं! · थोड़ी. मैं थोड़ी हिंदी बोल सकता हूँ. · मैं थोड़ी हिंदी बोल सकती हूँ.
The morning steps
Needs a subscription
2
Beginner Level 3 · अब भी गलत बोलता हूँ.
Five Days Off
Free
28
Intermediate Level 3 · हाँ, बोलो.
The Talk with Papa ji
Needs a subscription
19
Intermediate Level 3 · अगर मेरे पिता हिंदी बोलते, तो खुद पूछते.
The dealer's call
Needs a subscription
1
Advanced Level 1 · हैलो, कौन बोल रहा है?
The News
Free
5
Advanced Level 2 · फिर से बोलो, धीरे से.
Asking Papa ji
Needs a subscription
7
Advanced Level 2 · पहले पूरी बात सुन लूँ, फिर बोलूँगा.
The Name on the Form
Needs a subscription
Advanced Level 3 · जैसा बोलते हैं
And 20 more lessons.
Verbs like this one
The same pattern, on other verbs: intransitive verb.