Hindi · Everyday Verbs
"to do / to make" in Hindi: करना
करनाkarna
Note: to make: बनाना (banaana)
To do in Hindi is करना (karna). In the present, a man says main karta hoon and a woman says main karti hoon. In the past, kiya is the default completed form, and kii agrees with feminine objects: maine kaam kiya, maine taiyaari kii.
Asking about plans
आज शाम को क्या करना है?aaj shaam ko kya karna hai?
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How to pronounce करना
Say it
KAR-naa
/kər.nɑː/
Karna is KAR-naa with a clear rolled r and long aa at the end. The r is tapped, not the English r. Keep both syllables even.
"to do / to make" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| करनाkarna | to do The base verb paired with nouns: kaam karna, taiyaari karna. | The base verb paired with nouns: kaam karna, taiyaari karna. |
| करता हूँkarta hoon | I do (masculine) Present habitual: main roz subah yoga karta hoon. | Present habitual: main roz subah yoga karta hoon. |
| करती हूँkarti hoon | I do (feminine) A woman: main roz subah yoga karti hoon. | A woman: main roz subah yoga karti hoon. |
| कियाkiya | did (masculine object) Maine yah kaam kiya. | Maine yah kaam kiya. |
| कीkii | did (feminine object) Maine taiyaari kii, maine safaai kii. | Maine taiyaari kii, maine safaai kii. |
How to use करना in real life
- 1Asking about plans
आज शाम को क्या करना है?
aaj shaam ko kya karna hai?
What is there to do this evening?
Kya karna hai is a very common planning question.
- 2Describing a habit
मैं रोज़ सुबह व्यायाम करता हूँ।
main roz subah vyaayaam karta hoon.
I do exercise every morning.
A woman says karti hoon.
- 3Reporting finished work
मैंने सारा काम किया, अब आराम करूँगा।
maine saara kaam kiya, ab aaraam karoonga.
I did all the work, now I'll rest.
Kaam is masculine, so kiya. Use maine with ne in past tense.
Mistakes English speakers make with करना
Incorrect: Main kaam kiya.
Correct: Maine kaam kiya.
Transitive past tense needs ne: main becomes maine.
Incorrect: Maine safaai kiya.
Correct: Maine safaai kii.
Safaai is feminine, so the verb ends in kii, not kiya.
Good to know
Karna pairs with hundreds of nouns: baat karna (to talk), khyaal karna (to take care), madad karna (to help). Indians often ask kya kar rahe hain? as a casual hello, meaning what are you up to?
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Planning chores with a flatmate on Saturday
ChatPal
आज हमें क्या-क्या करना है?
aaj hamen kya-kya karna hai?
What all do we need to do today?
You
पहले बाज़ार जाना है, फिर खाना बनाना है।
pehle baazaar jaana hai, phir khaana banaana hai.
First we need to go to the market, then cook food.
ChatPal
ठीक, मैं सफ़ाई करता हूँ, आप सब्ज़ी ले आइए।
theek, main safaai karta hoon, aap sabzi le aaiye.
Fine, I'll do the cleaning, you bring the vegetables.
You
हाँ, शाम तक सब काम कर लेंगे।
haan, shaam tak sab kaam kar lenge.
Yes, we'll get all the work done by evening.
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 do / to make" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to do / to make" in Hindi
How does karna change for men and women?
Present tense: karta hoon (man), karti hoon (woman). With aap, use karte hain.
When do I use kiya vs kii?
After maine, kiya agrees with masculine objects and kii with feminine ones.
What is kya kar rahe hain?
A casual what are you doing?, often used as a greeting among friends.
Can karna mean to make?
Yes. Khana banana and khana karna both appear; karna often means to do or carry out an action.
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
