Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to find" in Hindi: ढूँढ लेना

ढूँढ लेनाdhoondh lena

Say it: DHOONDH LE-naaverb/ɖʱũːɖʱ leːnɑː/

Note: "to be found": मिलना (milna)

ढूँढ लेना (dhoondh lena) means to find something after looking. Say मैंने चाबी ढूँढ ली, आपने फोन ढूँढ लिया? Keep ढूँढ plus लेना — मिलना is "to be found".

Keys

मैंने चाबी ढूँढ ली आख़िर।

maine chaabi dhoondh li aakhir.

I finally found the key.
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How to pronounce ढूँढ लेना

Say it

DHOONDH LE-naa

/ɖʱũːɖʱ leːnɑː/

Dhoondh lena: DHOONDH with chandrabindu ँ on ूँ, then LE-naa. Soft dh, not English d.

"to find" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
ढूँढ लेनाdhoondh lenato find

Infinitive pair.

ढूँढ लियाdhoondh liyafound (m.)

Past success.

ढूँढ लीdhoondh lifound (f.)

Feminine object.

ढूँढ लेता हूँdhoondh leta hoonI find / I'll find

Habit or promise.

How to use ढूँढ लेना in real life

  1. 1Keys

    मैंने चाबी ढूँढ ली आख़िर।

    maine chaabi dhoondh li aakhir.

    I finally found the key.

    Dhoondh li.

  2. 2Phone

    आपने मोबाइल ढूँढ लिया क्या?

    aapne mobile dhoondh liya kya?

    Did you find your phone?

    Aap ask.

  3. 3Market

    हम सस्ता होटल ढूँढ लेते हैं।

    hum sasta hotel dhoondh lete hain.

    We'll find a cheap hotel.

    Dhoondh lete.

Mistakes English speakers make with ढूँढ लेना

Incorrect: Using only मिलना for "I found it"

Correct: मैंने ढूँढ लिया

मिलना is passive/be found; ढूँढ लेना keeps the finding action.

Incorrect: Writing ढूंढ with anusvaar ं

Correct: ढूँढ with chandrabindu ँ

Copy ूँ exactly.

Good to know

Lost-and-found desks still hear चाबी ढूँढ ली? Autowalas help tourists ढूँढ लेना an address. Families split rooms: तुम ऊपर ढूँढो, मैं नीचे।

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Looking for a lost wallet

  1. ChatPal

    आपने पर्स ढूँढ लिया?

    aapne purse dhoondh liya?

    Did you find the purse?

  2. You

    अभी नहीं, बैग में ढूँढ लेता हूँ।

    abhi nahin, bag mein dhoondh leta hoon.

    Not yet — I'll find it in the bag.

  3. ChatPal

    सोफ़े के नीचे भी देखिए।

    sofe ke neeche bhi dekhiye.

    Please check under the sofa too.

  4. You

    मिला! आख़िर ढूँढ ली।

    mila! aakhir dhoondh li.

    Got it! Finally found it.

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"to find" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to find" in Hindi

Keep both parts?

Yes — ढूँढ लेना / ढूँढ लिया.

Chandrabindu?

Write ढूँढ with ँ, not ढूंढ.

मिलना instead?

मिलना means be found; use ढूँढ लेना to find.

I found it?

मैंने ढूँढ लिया / ली।

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