Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to hug" in Hindi: गले लगाना

गले लगानाgale lagaana

Say it: ga-LE la-GAA-naverb/ɡəleː ləɡɑːnɑː/

To hug is गले लगाना (gale lagaana). Keep both parts: उसने गले लगाया, माँ गले लगाती हैं — लगाया alone does not teach the hug.

Airport reunion

मिलते ही माँ ने गले लगाया।

milte hi maan ne gale lagaaya.

As soon as we met, Mom hugged me.
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How to pronounce गले लगाना

Say it

ga-LE la-GAA-na

/ɡəleː ləɡɑːnɑː/

Gale la-gaa-na: ga-le, then la-GAA-na with long aa. Soft g.

"to hug" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
गले लगानाgale lagaanato hug

Infinitive — keep both words.

गले लगायाgale lagaayahugged

Past — keep गले.

गले लगाती हैंgale lagaati hainhugs (f., respectful)

Present.

गले लगाइएgale lagaaiyeplease hug

Close aap request.

गले लगते हैंgale lagte hainhug (m./aap)

Present plural/aap.

How to use गले लगाना in real life

  1. 1Airport reunion

    मिलते ही माँ ने गले लगाया।

    milte hi maan ne gale lagaaya.

    As soon as we met, Mom hugged me.

    Past — both parts.

  2. 2Comfort

    दोस्त दुखी था, मैंने गले लगाया।

    dost dukhi tha, maine gale lagaaya.

    My friend was sad — I hugged him.

    Support.

  3. 3Habit talk

    दादी हमेशा बच्चों को गले लगाती हैं।

    daadi hamesha bachchon ko gale lagaati hain.

    Grandma always hugs the kids.

    Present.

Mistakes English speakers make with गले लगाना

Incorrect: Saying only लगाया without गले

Correct: गले लगाया / गले लगाना

Keep both गले and लगाना/लगाया.

Incorrect: Using हग करना as the headword here

Correct: Use गले लगाना

Teach the Hindi verb phrase.

Good to know

Hugs are common in families and among close friends; with elders, some prefer touching feet or a soft गले लगाना. Public hugs vary by city and crowd. Ask before hugging acquaintances.

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Meeting a cousin after years

  1. ChatPal

    आईए, मैं आपको गले लगाऊँ?

    aaiye, main aapko gale lagaaoon?

    Come — may I hug you?

  2. You

    हाँ, ज़रूर गले लगाइए।

    haan, zaroor gale lagaaiye.

    Yes, please do hug.

  3. ChatPal

    बहुत दिनों बाद गले लगाया।

    bahut dinon baad gale lagaaya.

    Hugged after so many days.

  4. You

    मुझे भी अच्छा लगा गले लगाना।

    mujhe bhi achha laga gale lagaana.

    I also liked hugging.

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"to hug" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to hug" in Hindi

To hug?

गले लगाना.

Past line?

गले लगाया.

Can I drop गले?

No — लगाया alone fails this headword.

Present feminine?

गले लगाती हैं / गले लगाती हूँ।

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