Hindi · Everyday Verbs
"to be" in Hindi: होना
होनाhona
होना (hona) is the infinitive to be. In the present you mostly use हूँ (hoon), है (hai), and हैं (hain). Main student hoon means I am a student. Hona also builds future and other forms as you grow.
Introducing yourself
मुझे अभी घर होना ज़रूरी नहीं, मैं बाहर हूँ।mujhe abhi ghar hona zarooni nahin, main baahar hoon.
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How to pronounce होना
Say it
HO-naa
/ɦoːnɑː/
Hona is HO-naa with a clear long o and long final aa. The h is light. Think of English "ho" plus "naa".
"to be" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| होनाhona | to be; to happen The dictionary infinitive and a verb for events happening. | The dictionary infinitive and a verb for events happening. |
| हूँhoon | am With main: main theek hoon. | With main: main theek hoon. |
| हैhai | is With votu/yeh/singular: yah ghar hai. | With votu/yeh/singular: yah ghar hai. |
| हैंhain | are; is (respectful) Plural, and polite aap or elders. | Plural, and polite aap or elders. |
| था / थीtha / thi | was Past of be; thi for feminine subjects. | Past of be; thi for feminine subjects. |
How to use होना in real life
- 1Introducing yourself
मुझे अभी घर होना ज़रूरी नहीं, मैं बाहर हूँ।
mujhe abhi ghar hona zarooni nahin, main baahar hoon.
I don't need to be home right now; I'm out.
Hona here means to be in a place as a need or plan.
- 2Describing a place
परीक्षा कब होनी है, पता है क्या?
pariksha kab honi hai, pata hai kya?
Do you know when the exam is to be?
Honi hai asks when an event will take place.
- 3Talking about plans
पार्टी कब होनी है?
party kab honi hai?
When is the party supposed to be?
Hona can mean to take place.
Mistakes English speakers make with होना
Incorrect: मुझे घर हूँ ज़रूरी।
Correct: मुझे घर होना ज़रूरी है।
Need or plan uses होना: mujhe…hona zarooni hai. Put the adjective before hoon when you simply are something: main khush hoon.
Incorrect: आपको विनम्र होना भूलकर आप है कहना।
Correct: विनम्र होना में आप हैं आता है।
Aap always takes hain, even for one person. The infinitive होना is the dictionary form behind those present forms.
Good to know
Hindi often drops English-style constant linking in fast speech, but hai/hoon/hain are still everywhere. Politeness lives in hain with aap. Master those three forms before chasing every tense of hona.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Meeting a language partner for the first time
ChatPal
क्या आप नए छात्र हैं?
kya aap naye chhaatr hain?
Are you a new student?
You
हाँ, मैं नया हूँ। आप शिक्षक हैं?
haan, main naya hoon. aap shikshak hain?
Yes, I am new. Are you the teacher?
ChatPal
मैं सहाय्यक हूँ। कक्षा कहाँ होनी है?
main sahaayak hoon. kaksha kahaan honi hai?
I am an assistant. Where is the class to be?
You
मुझे भी नहीं पता कक्षा कहाँ होनी है।
mujhe bhi nahin pata kaksha kahaan honi hai.
I also don't know where the class is to be.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to be" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to be" in Hindi
Do I always need hona?
You need present forms like hoon and hai constantly. The infinitive hona appears in dictionaries and some future or "to happen" uses.
What is the difference between hai and hain?
Hai is singular informal. Hain is plural or respectful, including aap.
How do I say I was?
A man says main tha; a woman says main thi.
Can hona mean to happen?
Yes. Kya hua? means what happened?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
