Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to read" in Hindi: पढ़ना

पढ़नाpadhna

Say it: PADH-naaverb/pəɽʱnɑː/

To read in Hindi is पढ़ना (padhna). Habitual main padhta hoon means I read; past padha / padhi covers finished reading.

Library

मैं यह किताब पढ़ रहा हूँ।

main yah kitaab padh raha hoon.

I’m reading this book.
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How to pronounce पढ़ना

Say it

PADH-naa

/pəɽʱnɑː/

Padhna is PADH-naa with retroflex dh. Padhiye keeps the polite -iye ending clear.

"to read" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
पढ़नाpadhnato read; to study

Dictionary form.

पढ़िएpadhiyeplease read

Polite imperative.

पढ़ रहा हूँpadh raha hoonI am reading

Continuous.

पढ़ाईpadhaaistudies

Related noun.

How to use पढ़ना in real life

  1. 1Library

    मैं यह किताब पढ़ रहा हूँ।

    main yah kitaab padh raha hoon.

    I’m reading this book.

    Continuous.

  2. 2Sign on a wall

    कृपया सूचना पढ़िए।

    kripya soochna padhiye.

    Please read the notice.

    Polite padhiye.

  3. 3Habit

    सोने से पहले अख़बार पढ़ता हूँ।

    sone se pehle akhbaar padhta hoon.

    I read the newspaper before sleeping.

    Habitual padhta.

Mistakes English speakers make with पढ़ना

Incorrect: Main read kar raha hoon.

Correct: Main padh raha hoon. / मैं पढ़ रहा हूँ।

Use पढ़ना forms, not English read plus karna.

Incorrect: Drop the nukta always: padna.

Correct: Write padhna / पढ़ना with dh.

पढ़ना has ढ/ढ़-quality dh in romanization as dh.

Good to know

Padhna also covers studying for exams, not only reading for pleasure. Parents still ask padhai kaisi chal rahi hai? as a daily check-in.

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Sharing a news article on the metro

  1. ChatPal

    यह आर्टिकल पढ़िए, दिलचस्प है।

    yah article padhiye, dilchasp hai.

    Please read this article — it’s interesting.

  2. You

    रुको, मैं अभी पढ़ रहा हूँ हेडलाइन।

    ruko, main abhi padh raha hoon headline.

    Wait — I’m reading the headline now.

  3. ChatPal

    पूरा पैराग्राफ़ पढ़ना ज़रूरी है।

    poora paragraph padhna zaroori hai.

    You need to read the whole paragraph.

  4. You

    हाँ, पढ़ लिया, पॉइंट साफ़ है।

    haan, padh liya, point saaf hai.

    Yes, I’ve read it — the point is clear.

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"to read" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to read" in Hindi

Read or study?

पढ़ना covers both; padhaai leans to studies.

Polite please read?

Padhiye.

I have read it?

Padh liya / padh li depending on gender agreement.

Reading right now?

Padh raha hoon / padh rahi hoon.

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