Hindi · Time, Numbers & Colors

"Never" in Hindi: कभी नहीं

कभी नहींkabhi nahin

Say it: kab-HI na-HEENadverb/kəbʱiː nəɦĩː/

Never in Hindi is कभी नहीं (kabhi nahin). Keep both words. Kabhi alone can mean sometime; with nahin it means never.

Food preference

मैं मछली कभी नहीं खाता।

main machhli kabhi nahin khaata.

I never eat fish.
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How to pronounce कभी नहीं

Say it

kab-HI na-HEEN

/kəbʱiː nəɦĩː/

Kabhi nahin is kab-HI na-HEEN. Stress hi and the long een in nahin.

"Never" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
कभी नहींkabhi nahinnever

Default adverb phrase.

मैं कभी नहींmain kabhi nahinI never…

Start of a habit denial.

बिल्कुल कभी नहींbilkul kabhi nahinnever ever

Stronger.

कभी भी नहींkabhi bhi nahinnever at all

Emphatic twin.

How to use कभी नहीं in real life

  1. 1Food preference

    मैं मछली कभी नहीं खाता।

    main machhli kabhi nahin khaata.

    I never eat fish.

    Full kabhi nahin.

  2. 2Promise

    ऐसा झूठ कभी नहीं बोलूँगा।

    aisa jhooth kabhi nahin bolunga.

    I’ll never tell that kind of lie.

    Strong vow.

  3. 3Travel habit

    रात की ट्रेन कभी नहीं लेता।

    raat ki train kabhi nahin leta.

    I never take the night train.

    Habit refusal.

Mistakes English speakers make with कभी नहीं

Incorrect: Only kabhi for never.

Correct: Never is kabhi nahin / कभी नहीं।

कभी alone is not never; add नहीं.

Incorrect: Kabhi nahin with double negative English style confusion.

Correct: One negation: kabhi nahin / कभी नहीं plus the verb.

Do not stack extra nahi without need.

Good to know

Parents use kabhi nahin for safety rules. Friends soften with almost never using shayad kabhi, but the headword stays firm.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Talking about food habits at lunch

  1. ChatPal

    क्या आप मिठाई कभी नहीं खाते?

    kya aap mithai kabhi nahin khaate?

    Do you never eat sweets?

  2. You

    लगभग कभी नहीं, हाँ।

    lagbhag kabhi nahin, haan.

    Almost never, yes.

  3. ChatPal

    मैं भी देर रात कॉफ़ी कभी नहीं पीता।

    main bhi der raat coffee kabhi nahin peeta.

    I never drink coffee late at night either.

  4. You

    अच्छा नियम है, मैं भी कभी नहीं लूँगा।

    achha niyam hai, main bhi kabhi nahin lunga.

    Good rule — I’ll never take it either.

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"Never" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "Never" in Hindi

Why two words?

Kabhi is ever/sometime; nahin negates it into never.

Can I say kabhi bhi nahin?

Yes for a stronger never at all.

Where does it sit in the sentence?

Usually before the verb: kabhi nahin jaata.

Is bilkul kabhi nahin okay?

Yes for never ever.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
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  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

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