Hindi · Everyday Verbs
"to sleep" in Hindi: सोना
सोनाsona
To sleep in Hindi is सोना (sona). A man says main so raha hoon (I am sleeping) and a woman says main so rahi hoon. For "go to sleep" with friends you hear so jao; with aap, so jaiye.
Telling a flatmate you need rest
मैं अब सो रहा हूँ, कल बात करते हैं।main ab so raha hoon, kal baat karte hain.
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How to pronounce सोना
Say it
SO-naa
/soːnɑː/
Sona is SO-naa. The o is like "so", not "saw". Final naa is light. In so raha the so stays the same short syllable.
"to sleep" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| सोनाsona | to sleep Dictionary form and noun-like "sleep". | Dictionary form and noun-like "sleep". |
| सो रहा हूँso raha hoon | I am sleeping (m.) Present continuous for a man. | Present continuous for a man. |
| सो जाइएso jaiye | please go to sleep Polite with aap. | Polite with aap. |
| नींद आनाneend aana | to feel sleepy Mujhe neend aa rahi hai — I'm getting sleepy. | Mujhe neend aa rahi hai — I'm getting sleepy. |
How to use सोना in real life
- 1Telling a flatmate you need rest
मैं अब सो रहा हूँ, कल बात करते हैं।
main ab so raha hoon, kal baat karte hain.
I'm going to sleep now — we'll talk tomorrow.
A woman says so rahi hoon.
- 2Parents to a child
बत्ती बंद करो और सो जाओ।
batti band karo aur so jao.
Turn off the light and go to sleep.
So jao is the everyday command.
- 3Hotel early checkout worry
रात को जल्दी सोना ज़रूरी है।
raat ko jaldi sona zaruri hai.
It's important to sleep early tonight.
Infinitive sona works in advice sentences.
Mistakes English speakers make with सोना
Incorrect: Main sona hoon
Correct: Main so raha hoon / main sota hoon
Do not stick hoon on the infinitive. Use a conjugated form.
Incorrect: आप के साथ सिर्फ़ सो जाओ
Correct: आप सो जाइए
Jao is casual. With aap, use jaiye.
Good to know
Asking kya aap so rahe the? can feel intimate; with acquaintances prefer kya aap free hain? Afternoon power naps are common in hot months. On trains, people sleep in public without much fuss — keep your bag close and your volume low.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
A late night before an early flight
ChatPal
कल सुबह उड़ना है, जल्दी सोना चाहिए।
kal subah udna hai, jaldi sona chahiye.
We fly early tomorrow — we should sleep soon.
You
हाँ, मैं दस बजे सो जाऊँगा।
haan, main das baje so jaoonga.
Yes, I'll go to sleep at ten.
ChatPal
अच्छा। अलार्म लगा लेना, वरना सोते रहोगे।
achha. alarm laga lena, varna sote rahoge.
Good. Set an alarm or you'll keep sleeping.
You
लग गया। अब सच में सोता हूँ, नमस्ते!
lag gaya. ab sach mein sota hoon, namaste!
Done. Now I'm really going to sleep — bye!
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 sleep" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to sleep" in Hindi
How do I say "I slept well"?
Maine achhi neend li, or main achhe se soya (man) / soyi (woman).
What is the difference between sona and neend?
Sona is the verb to sleep. Neend is the noun sleepiness or sleep.
How do I politely end a call at night?
Main so raha/rahi hoon, kal baat karte hain is gentle and clear.
Is sona also "gold"?
Yes — sona means gold too. Context and tone make the meaning obvious.
Learn a word, then use it out loud
- Step 1: See it in context
- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
