Masculine and feminine speech
What you will learn
- Understand why Hindi words change with gender
- Use the correct endings when you speak about yourself
- Match adjectives to masculine and feminine nouns
- Use the correct form when addressing a man or a woman
English explanation
Section titled “English explanation”This is the biggest difference from Tamil and English. In Hindi, verbs and adjectives change depending on gender. The pattern is simple:
| Masculine | Feminine |
|---|---|
| ends in -a | ends in -i |
| bhookha | bhookhi |
| bada | badi |
| jaata hoon | jaati hoon |
| peeta hoon | peeti hoon |
1. When you speak about yourself, your own gender decides: a man says Main bhookha hoon, a woman says Main bhookhi hoon. This is not a mistake of the listener; it is how the language works.
2. When you describe a thing, the thing’s gender decides: ghar (house) is masculine, so ghar bada hai. Gaadi (car) is feminine, so gaadi badi hai. Every Hindi noun is masculine or feminine, so learn each new noun with its adjective. Many feminine nouns end in -i or -ee (chai, gaadi, kitaab).
3. When you talk to someone, the listener’s gender decides the ending: Kya aap bhookhe hain? to a man and Kya aap bhookhi hain? to a woman.
Words that do not change: theek, chahiye, garam and most “to be” forms (hoon, hai, hain).
இந்தியில் வினைச்சொற்களும் பெயரடைகளும் பாலுக்கு ஏற்ப மாறும். ஆண்பாலில் பொதுவாக -a என்றும், பெண்பாலில் -i என்றும் முடியும். எடுத்துக்காட்டு: ஆண் Main bhookha hoon என்பார், பெண் Main bhookhi hoon என்பார். இது தமிழில் இல்லாத ஒன்று, எனவே கவனமாகக் கேளுங்கள். பொருளைப் பற்றிப் பேசும்போது அந்தப் பொருளின் பால் முடிவு செய்யும்: ghar bada hai (வீடு ஆண்பால்), gaadi badi hai (வண்டி பெண்பால்). theek, chahiye போன்றவை மாறுவதில்லை.
Vocabulary
| Hindi | Say it | English | Tamil | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| bhookha M: bhookha F: bhookhi | BHOOK-haa | hungry | பசியுள்ள | |
| pyaasa M: pyaasa F: pyaasi | PYAA-saa | thirsty | தாகமுள்ள | |
| jaata hoon M: jaata hoon F: jaati hoon | JAA-taa hoon | I go (usually) | நான் போகிறேன் | |
| peeta hoon M: peeta hoon F: peeti hoon | PEE-taa hoon | I drink (usually) | நான் குடிக்கிறேன் | |
| khaata hoon M: khaata hoon F: khaati hoon | KHAA-taa hoon | I eat (usually) | நான் சாப்பிடுகிறேன் | |
| chai | CHAI | tea (a feminine word) | தேநீர் | |
| gaadi | GAA-dee | car, vehicle (a feminine word) | வண்டி, கார் | |
| bada M: bada F: badi | ba-DAA | big | பெரிய | |
| achha M: achha F: achhi | ach-CHHA | good, okay | நல்ல, சரி | |
| chalo | CHA-lo | come on, let's go | வா, போகலாம் |
Example sentences
Real-life dialogue
Let us eat
Exercises
A woman says 'I go to the office'.
Show answer
Main office jaati hoon.
A man says 'I am thirsty'.
Show answer
Main pyaasa hoon.
Say 'This car is big.' (gaadi is feminine)
Show answer
Yeh gaadi badi hai.
Ask a woman 'Are you hungry?' politely.
Show answer
Kya aap bhookhi hain?
Quiz
Quick quiz
1. A man says 'I am hungry'.
2. A woman says 'I drink tea'.
3. Chai is a feminine word. Which is right?
4. To whom does the gender in 'Main ... hoon' refer?
Lesson summary
- Many words end in -a for masculine and -i for feminine.
- With main, the ending shows the gender of the speaker.
- Adjectives match the noun: bada ghar, badi gaadi.
- Greetings and words like theek and chahiye do not change.