Hindi · Everyday Verbs
"to take" in Hindi: लेना
लेनाlena
To take in Hindi is लेना (lena). Past forms include लिया (liya); polite aap imperative is लीजिए (lijiye). With friends, लो (lo) is the casual take-it.
Passing a menu
यह मेनू लीजिए।yah menu lijiye.
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How to pronounce लेना
Say it
LE-na
/leːnɑː/
Lena is LE-na. The e is like the e in let, not lay. Keep na light.
"to take" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| लेनाlena | to take Infinitive / need-to form. | Infinitive / need-to form. |
| लीजिएlijiye | please take Polite with aap. | Polite with aap. |
| लोlo | take (it) Casual with friends. | Casual with friends. |
| ले लियाle liya | have taken; took already Completed taking. | Completed taking. |
How to use लेना in real life
- 1Passing a menu
यह मेनू लीजिए।
yah menu lijiye.
Please take this menu.
Polite offer.
- 2Pharmacy counter
मैंने दवा ले ली।
maine dawa le li.
I've taken the medicine (picked it up).
Feminine li with dawa in some regions; le liya also common.
- 3Taxi seat
आप आगे वाली सीट ले सकते हैं।
aap aage wali seat le sakte hain.
You can take the front seat.
Le + sakte ability.
Mistakes English speakers make with लेना
Incorrect: Main lena hoon the ticket
Correct: Main ticket leta hoon / maine ticket liya
Conjugate: leta/leti or past liya, don't park the bare infinitive as I take.
Incorrect: Using only le inside another word
Correct: Liya / lo / lijiye / lena
A real conjugation of लेना must appear, not a random le syllable.
Good to know
Hosts push food and gifts with लीजिए and expect a polite refusal then acceptance. In shops, le lo means take it / go ahead and buy. Learners hear lena in tickets, change, and selfies: photo le lo.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Sharing snacks on a train
ChatPal
कृपया यह समोसा लीजिए।
kripaya yah samosa lijiye.
Please take this samosa.
You
धन्यवाद, एक ले लेता हूँ।
dhanyavaad, ek le leta hoon.
Thanks — I'll take one.
ChatPal
और चाय भी लो।
aur chai bhi lo.
Take tea too.
You
बस, इतना काफी है।
bas, itna kaafi hai.
That's enough for me.
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Practice this conversation in ChatPal"to take" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "to take" in Hindi
Polite take?
Lijiye with aap.
Casual take?
Lo with friends.
I took it?
Maine liya (or le liya).
I need to take…?
Mujhe…lena hai.
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
