Hindi · Home, Clothes & Daily Life

"Book" in Hindi: किताब

किताबkitaab

Say it: ki-TAABfeminine noun/kɪt̪ɑːb/

Book in Hindi is किताब (kitaab), feminine. You read ek kitaab and borrow books at the library. Pustak is a more formal twin.

Library desk

यह किताब दो हफ़्ते के लिए है।

yah kitaab do hafte ke liye hai.

This book is for two weeks.
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How to pronounce किताब

Say it

ki-TAAB

/kɪt̪ɑːb/

Kitaab is ki-TAAB with a long aa in the second syllable. Keep the t dental, tongue on the teeth.

"Book" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
किताबkitaabbook

Everyday noun.

किताबेंkitaabenbooks

Plural.

पुस्तकpustakbook (formal)

School forms and literary talk.

किताब पढ़नाkitaab padhnato read a book

Common verb phrase.

How to use किताब in real life

  1. 1Library desk

    यह किताब दो हफ़्ते के लिए है।

    yah kitaab do hafte ke liye hai.

    This book is for two weeks.

    Loan period with kitaab.

  2. 2Gift

    मैंने उसे एक किताब दी।

    maine use ek kitaab di.

    I gave her a book.

    Ek kitaab as a gift.

  3. 3Bedtime

    सोने से पहले किताब पढ़ता हूँ।

    sone se pehle kitaab padhta hoon.

    I read a book before sleeping.

    Habit with padhta.

Mistakes English speakers make with किताब

Incorrect: Kitaab masculine: mera kitaab.

Correct: Feminine: meri kitaab / मेरी किताब।

किताब (kitaab) is feminine, so meri not mera.

Incorrect: Only pustak in casual chat.

Correct: Use kitaab / किताब with friends; pustak sounds formal.

Pustak is fine in school language, but kitaab is the daily word.

Good to know

Kitaab covers novels, textbooks, and religious books. Bookshops and railway stalls still sell cheap paperback kitaaben for long trips.

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Choosing a novel in a bookstore

  1. ChatPal

    आपको कौन सी किताब चाहिए?

    aapko kaun si kitaab chahiye?

    Which book do you want?

  2. You

    कोई आसान हिंदी किताब सुझाइए।

    koi aasaan hindi kitaab sujhaiye.

    Please suggest an easy Hindi book.

  3. ChatPal

    यह किताब छोटे अध्यायों में है।

    yah kitaab chhote adhyayon mein hai.

    This book has short chapters.

  4. You

    ठीक है, यही किताब लेता हूँ।

    theek hai, yahi kitaab leta hoon.

    Okay, I’ll take this book.

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"Book" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Book" in Hindi

Is kitaab feminine?

Yes. Say meri kitaab and ye kitaab achhi hai.

What is the plural?

Kitaaben. Many books is kai kitaaben.

When do people say pustak?

In school forms, exams, and formal writing. Spoken Hindi prefers kitaab.

How do I say I’m reading a book?

Main kitaab padh raha hoon (male) or padh rahi hoon (female).

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