Hindi · Everyday Verbs
"can (to be able to)" in Hindi: सकना
सकनाsakna
Note: after a verb: कर सकता हूँ (kar sakta hoon)
To be able to in Hindi is सकना (sakna), used after another verb: कर सकता हूँ (kar sakta hoon) means I can do it. A woman says सकती (sakti).
Language ability
मैं थोड़ी हिंदी बोल सकता हूँ।main thodi hindi bol sakta hoon.
Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free
How to pronounce सकना
Say it
SAK-naa
/səknɑː/
Sakna is SAK-naa. In sakta, keep sak clear and ta light. Soft dental t in sakta.
"can (to be able to)" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| सकनाsakna | to be able to Infinitive / dictionary form. | Infinitive / dictionary form. |
| सकता हूँsakta hoon | I can (m.) After a verb stem: kar sakta hoon. | After a verb stem: kar sakta hoon. |
| सकती हूँsakti hoon | I can (f.) Feminine agreement. | Feminine agreement. |
| सकते हैंsakte hain | can (aap / plural) Polite and plural. | Polite and plural. |
How to use सकना in real life
- 1Language ability
मैं थोड़ी हिंदी बोल सकता हूँ।
main thodi hindi bol sakta hoon.
I can speak a little Hindi.
Sakta after bol.
- 2Polite inability
आज नहीं आ सकता, माफ़ कीजिए।
aaj nahin aa sakta, maaf kijiye.
I can't come today, sorry.
Negation before sakta.
- 3Asking ability
क्या आप यह खिड़की खोल सकते हैं?
kya aap yah khidki khol sakte hain?
Can you open this window?
Sakte with aap.
Mistakes English speakers make with सकना
Incorrect: मैं सकता बोलना
Correct: मैं बोल सकता हूँ
Put सकना after the main verb stem, not before: bol sakta hoon.
Incorrect: मैं सकती हूँ (said by a man about himself)
Correct: मैं सकता हूँ
Match gender: sakta / sakti.
Good to know
Requests soften with क्या आप … सकते हैं? instead of blunt commands. Saying nahin aa sakta is honest and polite with maaf kijiye. Learners hear sakta constantly in travel Hindi for can and can't.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Checking who can carry a suitcase upstairs
ChatPal
क्या आप यह बैग उठा सकते हैं?
kya aap yah bag utha sakte hain?
Can you lift this bag?
You
हाँ, उठा सकता हूँ।
haan, utha sakta hoon.
Yes, I can lift it.
ChatPal
और सीढ़ियाँ भी चढ़ सकते हैं?
aur seedhiyaan bhi chadh sakte hain?
And can you climb the stairs too?
You
धीरे-धीरे चढ़ सकता हूँ।
dheere-dheere chadh sakta hoon.
I can climb slowly.
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"can (to be able to)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "can (to be able to)" in Hindi
Where does sakna go?
After the verb stem: jaa sakta, bol sakti, kar sakte.
How do women say I can?
… sakti hoon.
With aap?
… sakte hain.
I cannot?
Nahin … sakta / sakti.
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
