Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"must (to have to)" in Hindi: … पड़ना

… पड़ना… padna

Say it: PAD-naaverb/pəɽnɑː/

Note: "I have to go": मुझे जाना है (mujhe jaana hai)

To have to in Hindi often uses … पड़ना (… padna) after an infinitive: मुझे जाना पड़ेगा (mujhe jaana padega) means I will have to go.

Early train

कल सुबह पाँच बजे उठना पड़ेगा।

kal subah paanch baje uthna padega.

Tomorrow I'll have to get up at five.
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How to pronounce … पड़ना

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PAD-naa

/pəɽnɑː/

Padna is PAD-naa with a soft retroflex softish d (ड़ → d in romanization). Padega is pa-DE-gaa.

"must (to have to)" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
पड़नाpadnato have to; to fall (other senses)

Headword after an infinitive for obligation.

पड़ेगाpadegawill have to

Mujhe karna padega.

पड़ता हैpadta haihave to (habit)

Roz uthna padta hai.

पड़ सकती हैpad sakti haimight have to (f. agreement cases)

Situation-dependent.

How to use … पड़ना in real life

  1. 1Early train

    कल सुबह पाँच बजे उठना पड़ेगा।

    kal subah paanch baje uthna padega.

    Tomorrow I'll have to get up at five.

    Padega obligation.

  2. 2Office rule

    आईडी कार्ड दिखाना पड़ता है गेट पर।

    ID card dikhana padta hai gate par.

    You have to show the ID card at the gate.

    Habitual padta.

  3. 3Helping a friend

    अगर ज़रूरत हो तो रुकना पड़ेगा।

    agar zaroorat ho to rukna padega.

    If needed, we'll have to stay.

    Conditional.

Mistakes English speakers make with … पड़ना

Incorrect: Only मुझे जाना है on this page

Correct: मुझे जाना पड़ेगा / पड़ता है

The headword is पड़ना; mujhe jaana hai is a note alternative, not the target alone.

Incorrect: मैं जाना पड़ता हूँ

Correct: मुझे जाना पड़ता है

Obligation with padna usually takes mujhe + infinitive + padta/padega.

Good to know

पड़ना for obligation sounds a bit heavier than hai — more like unavoidable duty. Parents say padhai karni padegi. Soften with shayad or lagta hai when the duty is not certain.

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Realizing a document run is unavoidable

  1. ChatPal

    क्या आज दफ़्तर जाना पड़ेगा?

    kya aaj daftar jaana padega?

    Will you have to go to the office today?

  2. You

    हाँ, फ़ॉर्म जमा करना पड़ेगा।

    haan, form jama karna padega.

    Yes — I'll have to submit the form.

  3. ChatPal

    फिर जल्दी निकलना बेहतर है।

    phir jaldi nikalna behtar hai.

    Then leaving early is better.

  4. You

    सच, नहीं तो फिर कल जाना पड़ेगा।

    sach, nahin to phir kal jaana padega.

    True — otherwise I'll have to go again tomorrow.

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"must (to have to)" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "must (to have to)" in Hindi

How do I say I have to go?

Mujhe jaana padega / padta hai.

Padna vs hai?

Both can mark duty; this page trains पड़ना.

Habitual have to?

… padta hai.

Word order?

Mujhe + infinitive + padega/padta hai.

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