Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to think" in Hindi: सोचना

सोचनाsochna

Say it: SOCH-naaverb/soːtʃnɑː/

To think in Hindi is सोचना (sochna). Everyday forms include सोचता / सोचती (sochta / sochti) and past सोचा (socha). Polite सोचिए (sochiye).

Decision

मैं सोचता हूँ कि हमें रुकना चाहिए।

main sochta hoon ki hamein rukna chahiye.

I think we should stay.
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How to pronounce सोचना

Say it

SOCH-naa

/soːtʃnɑː/

Sochna is SOCH-naa with a clear ch. Past socha ends on chaa.

"to think" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
सोचनाsochnato think

Dictionary form.

सोचिएsochiyeplease think; consider

Polite.

सोचाsochathought

Past: maine socha.

लगता हैlagta haiit seems; I think (feel)

Soft opinion.

How to use सोचना in real life

  1. 1Decision

    मैं सोचता हूँ कि हमें रुकना चाहिए।

    main sochta hoon ki hamein rukna chahiye.

    I think we should stay.

    Woman: sochti.

  2. 2Past idea

    मैंने सोचा आप चुके होंगे।

    maine socha aap aa chuke honge.

    I thought you would have arrived.

    Ne + socha.

  3. 3Advice

    थोड़ा शांत होकर सोचिए।

    thoda shaant hokar sochiye.

    Calm down a bit and think.

    Polite.

Mistakes English speakers make with सोचना

Incorrect: Main sochna hoon

Correct: Main sochta / sochti hoon

Conjugate.

Incorrect: Using only lagta hai when you need clear sochna

Correct: Main sochta/sochti hoon ki…

Lagta hai is a feeling; sochna is deliberate thinking.

Good to know

Indians soften opinions with aisa sochta hoon or mujhe lagta hai to avoid sounding bossy. Sochte hain can mean let's see. Overthinking jokes use zyada mat socho constantly.

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Choosing a gift

  1. ChatPal

    आप क्या सोचते हैं किताब बेहतर रहेगी?

    aap kya sochte hain — kitaab behtar rahegi?

    What do you think — would a book be better?

  2. You

    मैं सोचता हूँ हाँ, उन्हें पढ़ना पसंद है।

    main sochta hoon haan, unhen padhna pasand hai.

    I think yes — they like reading.

  3. ChatPal

    फिर रंग भी सोच लीजिए कवर का।

    phir rang bhi soch lijiye cover ka.

    Then please also think about the cover color.

  4. You

    नीला सोचता हूँ शांत लगता है।

    neela sochta hoon — shaant lagta hai.

    I'm thinking blue — it feels calm.

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"to think" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to think" in Hindi

I think…?

Main sochta/sochti hoon ki… or mujhe lagta hai…

I thought…?

Maine socha…

Please think about it?

Zara sochiye / soch lijiye.

Don't overthink?

Zyada mat socho / sochiye.

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