Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to ask" in Hindi: पूछना

पूछनाpoochhna

Say it: POOCHH-naaverb/puːtʃʰnɑː/

Note: to ask for: माँगना (maangna)

To ask (a question) in Hindi is पूछना (poochhna). Polite पूछिए (poochiye), past पूछा (poocha). To ask for something is माँगना (maangna) — a different verb.

Classroom

अगर समझ आए तो पूछिए।

agar samajh na aaye to poochiye.

If you don't understand, please ask.
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How to pronounce पूछना

Say it

POOCHH-naa

/puːtʃʰnɑː/

Poochhna is POOCHH-naa with aspirated chh. Feel a puff of air on chh.

"to ask" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
पूछनाpoochhnato ask (a question)

Dictionary form.

पूछिएpoochiyeplease ask

Polite.

पूछाpoochaasked

Past: maine poocha.

सवाल पूछनाsavaal poochhnato ask a question

Classrooms.

How to use पूछना in real life

  1. 1Classroom

    अगर समझ आए तो पूछिए।

    agar samajh na aaye to poochiye.

    If you don't understand, please ask.

    Teacher line.

  2. 2Phone help

    मैंने दाम पूछा, बहुत ज़्यादा था।

    maine daam poocha, bahut zyaada tha.

    I asked the price — it was too much.

    Ne + poocha.

  3. 3Curiosity

    वो हमेशा अच्छे सवाल पूछता है।

    vo hamesha achhe savaal poochhta hai.

    He always asks good questions.

    Woman: poochhti.

Mistakes English speakers make with पूछना

Incorrect: Ticket maango when you mean ask a question

Correct: Savaal poochiye / poochhna

Maangna is ask for/request; poochhna is ask a question.

Incorrect: Main poochhna hoon

Correct: Main poochhta / poochhti hoon

Conjugate the verb.

Good to know

Indians often soften questions with ek baat poochhun? before the real ask. With strangers, poochiye plus ji feels respectful. Kids are told freely poocho in class more than in older strict styles.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Checking train details at the counter

  1. ChatPal

    आपने गार्ड से पूछा क्या?

    aapne guard se poocha kya?

    Did you ask the guard?

  2. You

    हाँ, मैंने पूछा ट्रेन लेट है।

    haan, maine poocha — train late hai.

    Yes, I asked — the train is late.

  3. ChatPal

    फिर प्लेटफ़ॉर्म भी पूछ लीजिए।

    phir platform bhi poochh lijiye.

    Then please ask about the platform too.

  4. You

    ठीक है, अभी जाकर पूछता हूँ।

    theek hai, abhi jaakar poochhta hoon.

    Okay, I'll go ask now.

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"to ask" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to ask" in Hindi

Poochhna vs maangna?

Poochhna = ask a question; maangna = ask for / request something.

Please ask?

Poochiye.

I asked?

Maine poocha.

May I ask something?

Ek baat poochhun? / kya main poochh sakta/sakti hoon?

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