Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to cook" in Hindi: खाना बनाना

खाना बनानाkhaana banaana

Say it: KHAA-naa ba-NAA-naaverb/kʰɑːnɑː bənɑːnɑː/

Note: also: पकाना (pakaana)

खाना बनाना (khaana banaana) means to cook food. Keep both parts: मैं खाना बनाता हूँ, आप खाना बनाइए. पकाना is a related note word, not the headword alone.

Weeknight plan

आज मैं दाल-चावल खाना बनाता हूँ।

aaj main daal-chaaval khaana banata hoon.

Today I'm cooking dal and rice.
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How to pronounce खाना बनाना

Say it

KHAA-naa ba-NAA-naa

/kʰɑːnɑː bənɑːnɑː/

Khaana banaana is KHAA-naa ba-NAA-naa. Long aa in khaa and naa; soft ba, stress on naa.

"to cook" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
खाना बनानाkhaana banaanato cook

Infinitive / dictionary form.

खाना बनाता हूँkhaana banata hoonI cook (m.)

Habit.

खाना बनाती हूँkhaana banati hoonI cook (f.)

Habit, feminine.

खाना बनाइएkhaana banaiyeplease cook

Polite aap request.

खाना बना रहा हूँkhaana bana raha hoonI'm cooking

Right now.

How to use खाना बनाना in real life

  1. 1Weeknight plan

    आज मैं दाल-चावल खाना बनाता हूँ।

    aaj main daal-chaaval khaana banata hoon.

    Today I'm cooking dal and rice.

    Banata + khaana.

  2. 2Guest night

    आप उनके लिए खाना बनाइए धीरे से।

    aap unke liye khaana banaiye dheere se.

    Please cook for them slowly.

    Banaiye.

  3. 3Phone update

    अभी खाना बना रही हूँ, पाँच मिनट।

    abhi khaana bana rahi hoon, paanch minute.

    I'm cooking right now — five minutes.

    Bana rahi.

Mistakes English speakers make with खाना बनाना

Incorrect: Saying only खाता हूँ for cooking

Correct: खाना बनाता हूँ

खाता is to eat. Cooking needs खाना बनाना together.

Incorrect: Using only पकाना as if it were the entry

Correct: Entry headword is खाना बनाना

पकाना exists, but your page teaches खाना बनाना.

Good to know

Home talk almost always says खाना बनाना, not a fancy chef verb. Guests praise with बड़ा स्वादिष्ट खाना बनाया. Shared kitchens still ask आप खाना बनाएँगे? with soft aap.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Deciding who cooks dinner

  1. ChatPal

    आज आप खाना बनाएँगे?

    aaj aap khaana banaayenge?

    Will you cook today?

  2. You

    हाँ, सब्ज़ी वाला खाना बनाता हूँ।

    haan, sabzi vaala khaana banata hoon.

    Yes — I'll cook a vegetable meal.

  3. ChatPal

    बढ़िया, मैं प्लेटें निकालती हूँ।

    badhiya, main platein nikaalti hoon.

    Great — I'll put out the plates.

  4. You

    ठीक, जल्दी खाना बना लेता हूँ।

    theek, jaldi khaana bana leta hoon.

    Okay — I'll finish cooking quickly.

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"to cook" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to cook" in Hindi

Must I say both खाना and बनाना?

Yes in clear speech: खाना बनाता हूँ keeps the headword.

Polite request?

आप खाना बनाइए।

Does पकाना count here?

It is a note synonym; teach खाना बनाना on this page.

I cook (feminine)?

मैं खाना बनाती हूँ।

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