Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to hear" in Hindi: सुनना

सुननाsunna

Say it: SUN-naaverb/sʊnnɑː/

To hear in Hindi is सुनना (sunna). Past suna / suni covers heard, and sunai diya means something was audible. Polite suniye also asks someone to listen.

Noisy street

आवाज़ सुनाई नहीं दे रही।

aavaaz sunaai nahin de rahi.

I can’t hear the sound.
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How to pronounce सुनना

Say it

SUN-naa

/sʊnnɑː/

Sunna is SUN-naa with a doubled n feel. Suna is SOO-naa in careful speech, often shortened.

"to hear" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
सुननाsunnato hear; to listen

Dictionary form.

सुनाsunaheard (m.)

Past participle.

सुनिएsuniyeplease hear / listen

Polite imperative.

सुनाई देनाsunaai denato be audible

Sound reaches you.

How to use सुनना in real life

  1. 1Noisy street

    आवाज़ सुनाई नहीं दे रही।

    aavaaz sunaai nahin de rahi.

    I can’t hear the sound.

    Sunaai dena for audibility.

  2. 2Gossip check

    क्या आपने वह ख़बर सुनी?

    kya aapne vah khabar suni?

    Did you hear that news?

    Suni agrees with feminine khabar.

  3. 3Phone line

    मैं आपकी बात सुन रहा हूँ, साफ़ बोलिए।

    main aapki baat sun raha hoon, saaf boliye.

    I can hear you — please speak clearly.

    Continuous sun raha hoon.

Mistakes English speakers make with सुनना

Incorrect: Main hear kar raha hoon.

Correct: Main sun raha hoon. / मैं सुन रहा हूँ।

Use सुनना forms (सुन रहा हूँ), not English hear plus karna.

Incorrect: Maine suna with feminine news always as suna.

Correct: Khabar सुनी (suni) / gaana सुना (suna).

Past participle gender often matches the thing heard: सुनी / सुना from सुनना.

Good to know

Sunna covers both hear and listen; adding dhyaan se marks careful listening. Phone etiquette still opens with sunai de raha hai kya?

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Fixing a bad phone connection

  1. ChatPal

    क्या मेरी आवाज़ सुन रहे हैं आप?

    kya meri aavaaz sun rahe hain aap?

    Can you hear my voice?

  2. You

    हल्की-हल्की सुन रहा हूँ, दोबारा बोलिए।

    halki-halki sun raha hoon, dobara boliye.

    I can barely hear — please say it again.

  3. ChatPal

    ठीक है, अब सुनाई दे रहा होगा।

    theek hai, ab sunaai de raha hoga.

    Okay, it should be audible now.

  4. You

    हाँ, अब साफ़ सुन रहा हूँ।

    haan, ab saaf sun raha hoon.

    Yes, now I hear clearly.

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"to hear" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to hear" in Hindi

Hear vs listen?

Both often use सुनना (sunna). Dhyaan se sunna stresses listening.

How do I say I heard?

Maine suna / maine suni depending on gender agreement.

Polite please hear me?

Suniye, ek baat hai.

Can’t hear you?

Aapki aavaaz sunai nahin de rahi.

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