Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to listen" in Hindi: सुनना

सुननाsunna

Say it: SUN-naaverb/sʊnnɑː/

Note: carefully: ध्यान से सुनना (dhyaan se sunna)

To listen in Hindi is सुनना (sunna), the same root as to hear. Careful listening is often ध्यान से सुनना (dhyaan se sunna). Polite suniye asks someone to listen.

Classroom

कृपया ध्यान से सुनिए।

kripya dhyaan se suniye.

Please listen carefully.
Practice Hindi out loud

Speak with an AI partner · 7 days free

How to pronounce सुनना

Say it

SUN-naa

/sʊnnɑː/

Sunna is SUN-naa. Dhyaan se sunna adds a clear dhyaan before the verb.

"to listen" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
सुननाsunnato listen; to hear

Core verb.

ध्यान से सुननाdhyaan se sunnato listen carefully

Classroom and meetings.

सुनिएsuniyeplease listen

Polite imperative.

सुन रहा हूँsun raha hoonI am listening

On a call.

How to use सुनना in real life

  1. 1Classroom

    कृपया ध्यान से सुनिए।

    kripya dhyaan se suniye.

    Please listen carefully.

    Teacher line.

  2. 2Podcast habit

    मैं सुबह पॉडकास्ट सुनता हूँ।

    main subah podcast sunta hoon.

    I listen to podcasts in the morning.

    Habitual sunta hoon.

  3. 3Counseling

    पहले मेरी बात सुन लो, फिर जवाब देना।

    pehle meri baat sun lo, phir javaab dena.

    Listen to me first, then answer.

    Sun lo as soft command.

Mistakes English speakers make with सुनना

Incorrect: Main listen kar raha hoon.

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

Use सुनना forms, not English listen plus karna.

Incorrect: Only hear verb is different forever.

Correct: Hindi often uses the same सुनना.

Add ध्यान से to mark careful listening on the to-listen page.

Good to know

Meetings open with ek minute suniye more often than a long preface. Good listeners get praised as dhyaan se sunte hain, a social compliment.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

A soft conflict where both want to be heard

  1. ChatPal

    एक मिनट सुनिए, मेरी तरफ़ से बात है।

    ek minute suniye, meri taraf se baat hai.

    Please listen a minute — I have something to say.

  2. You

    हाँ, मैं सुन रहा हूँ, बोलिए।

    haan, main sun raha hoon, boliye.

    Yes, I’m listening — go ahead.

  3. ChatPal

    धन्यवाद। अब आप भी ध्यान से सुनना।

    dhanyavaad. ab aap bhi dhyaan se sunna.

    Thanks. Now you listen carefully too.

  4. You

    ज़रूर, मैं भी सुनूँगा पूरा।

    zaroor, main bhi sunoonga poora.

    Of course — I’ll listen to all of it too.

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 listen" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to listen" in Hindi

Same as to-hear?

Same verb सुनना. Context and dhyaan se mark listening.

Polite please listen?

Suniye / dhyaan se suniye.

I am listening on a call?

Main sun raha hoon / sun rahi hoon.

Music listening?

Still सुनना: gaane sunna.

Learn a word, then use it out loud

  1. Step 1: See it in context
  2. Step 2: Say it out loud
  3. Step 3: Get feedback
  4. Step 4: Use it in real scenarios

Keep reading

Ready to say it out loud?

ChatPal is a voice-first app for practicing real conversations in Hindi. Try real scenarios and get personalized feedback on your speaking.

Start with 7 days free.