Hindi · Everyday Verbs
"to know (a person or place)" in Hindi: पहचानना
पहचाननाpahchaanna
Note: also: जानना (jaanna)
To know a person in Hindi is पहचानना (pahchaanna). Main unhe pahchaanta hoon means I know/recognize them. Jaanna also appears for people, but this word stresses recognizing or being acquainted.
At a reunion
मैं आपको पहचानता हूँ — हम कॉलेज में मिले थे।main aapko pahchaanta hoon — hum college mein mile the.
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How to pronounce पहचानना
Say it
puh-CHAAN-naa
/pəɦtʃɑːnnɑː/
Pahchaanna is puh-CHAAN-naa. The chh is aspirated — a puff after ch — written chh in our romanization. Long aa before nna.
"to know (a person or place)" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| पहचाननाpahchaanna | to know; to recognize People and faces. | People and faces. |
| पहचानता हूँpahchaanta hoon | I know/recognize (m.) Present. | Present. |
| पहचानpahchaan | identity; recognition Noun form. | Noun form. |
| जान-पहचानjaan-pahchaan | acquaintance Social network talk. | Social network talk. |
How to use पहचानना in real life
- 1At a reunion
मैं आपको पहचानता हूँ — हम कॉलेज में मिले थे।
main aapko pahchaanta hoon — hum college mein mile the.
I know you — we met in college.
Woman: pahchaanti hoon.
- 2Security check
क्या आप इस व्यक्ति को पहचानते हैं?
kya aap is vyakti ko pahchaante hain?
Do you know this person?
Formal.
- 3Can't place a face
चेहरा परिचित है पर नाम नहीं पहचान पा रहा।
chehra parichit hai par naam nahin pahchaan paa raha.
The face is familiar but I can't recognize the name.
Stem पहचान in पहचान.
Mistakes English speakers make with पहचानना
Incorrect: Using only jaanna when you mean recognize a face
Correct: पहचानना (pahchaanna)
Pahchaanna fits recognition; jaanna is broader knowing.
Incorrect: Main pahchaanna hoon
Correct: Main pahchaanta/pahchaanti hoon
Conjugate the verb.
Good to know
India runs on jaan-pahchaan — knowing someone who knows someone. A soft aapko pahchaanta hoon can open help at offices. If you forget a name, admit it with a smile rather than guessing wrong.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Spotting a former teacher in a café
ChatPal
क्या आप उन्हें पहचानते हैं?
kya aap unhen pahchaante hain?
Do you know/recognize them?
You
हाँ, मैं पहचानता हूँ — हमारी टीचर हैं।
haan, main pahchaanta hoon — hamari teacher hain.
Yes, I know them — that's our teacher.
ChatPal
चलकर नमस्ते कहें? शायद वे भी पहचानें।
chalkar namaste kahen? shayad ve bhi pahchaayen.
Shall we go say hello? Maybe they'll recognize us too.
You
हाँ, मुझे लगता है वे हमें पहचानेंगी।
haan, mujhe lagta hai ve hamen pahchaayengi.
Yes, I think they'll know us.
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 know (a person or place)" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to know (a person or place)" in Hindi
Pahchaanna vs jaanna?
Pahchaanna leans to recognize/be acquainted; jaanna is know more broadly.
I don't know them?
Main unhe nahin pahchaanta / meri jaan-pahchaan nahin.
Know a place?
Also pahchaanna or raasta pata hai.
Noun?
Pahchaan — identity.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
