Hindi · Travel & Getting Around
"Where is…?" in Hindi: … कहाँ है?
… कहाँ है?… kahaan hai?
To ask "Where is…?" in Hindi, say the place first and end with कहाँ है? (kahaan hai?). For example, स्टेशन कहाँ है? (steshan kahaan hai?) means "Where is the station?" Start with suniye (excuse me) to sound polite to a stranger.
At a railway station
सुनिए, प्लेटफ़ॉर्म नंबर तीन कहाँ है?suniye, pletform nambar teen kahaan hai?
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How to pronounce … कहाँ है?
Say it
kuh-HAAN heh
/kə.ɦɑ̃ː ɦɛː/
Kahaan has two syllables, kuh-HAAN, and the long aa is said through the nose. The ँ only nasalizes the vowel, so don't close it with a full English n. Hai sounds more like "heh" than like English "high".
"Where is…?" in Hindi: quick reference
| Hindi | English | When to use |
|---|---|---|
| … कहाँ है?… kahaan hai? | Where is…? For one place or thing: hotal kahaan hai? | For one place or thing: hotal kahaan hai? |
| … कहाँ हैं?… kahaan hain? | Where are…? For plural things, or to ask about a person you respect: mummy kahaan hain? | For plural things, or to ask about a person you respect: mummy kahaan hain? |
| सुनिए, … कहाँ है?suniye, … kahaan hai? | Excuse me, where is…? The polite way to stop a stranger. Suniye literally means "please listen". | The polite way to stop a stranger. Suniye literally means "please listen". |
| … किधर है?… kidhar hai? | Where's…? Casual and very common in everyday speech, especially in Mumbai and Delhi. | Casual and very common in everyday speech, especially in Mumbai and Delhi. |
| यहाँ से … कितनी दूर है?yahaan se … kitni door hai? | How far is … from here? The natural follow-up question once you know the direction. | The natural follow-up question once you know the direction. |
How to use … कहाँ है? in real life
- 1At a railway station
सुनिए, प्लेटफ़ॉर्म नंबर तीन कहाँ है?
suniye, pletform nambar teen kahaan hai?
Excuse me, where is platform number three?
Big Indian stations have many platforms, and people usually just say the number: teen nambar.
- 2In a shopping mall
भैया, यहाँ टॉयलेट कहाँ है?
bhaiya, yahaan toilet kahaan hai?
Excuse me, where is the restroom here?
Toilet and washroom, in English, are the everyday words. Bhaiya is a friendly way to address a young man working there.
- 3At home, looking for your phone
मेरा फ़ोन कहाँ है? अभी तो यहीं था!
mera fon kahaan hai? abhi to yahin tha!
Where's my phone? It was right here a minute ago!
Yahin is yahaan (here) plus hi (just), so it means "right here".
Mistakes English speakers make with … कहाँ है?
Incorrect: Kahaan hai steshan?
Correct: Steshan kahaan hai?
Hindi puts the place first and the question word just before the verb. Kahaan hai steshan? is understood, but it sounds like a translation from English.
Incorrect: Mere dost kahaan hai?
Correct: Mere dost kahaan hain?
For more than one thing or person, hai becomes hain. You also use hain for one person you respect, like an elder.
Good to know
When you ask for directions in India, the answer often uses landmarks instead of street names: "go past the temple, then turn left at the sweet shop". People are usually happy to help, and some will walk you part of the way. If the directions sound vague, asking a second person, such as a shopkeeper or a rickshaw driver, is completely normal.
Try it in a ChatPal conversation
Asking for the metro station in Delhi
ChatPal
नमस्ते! आपको कहाँ जाना है?
namaste! aapko kahaan jaana hai?
Hello! Where do you need to go?
You
जी, राजीव चौक मेट्रो स्टेशन कहाँ है?
ji, Rajiv Chowk metro steshan kahaan hai?
Hi, where is Rajiv Chowk metro station?
ChatPal
सीधे जाइए, फिर बाएँ मुड़िए। पाँच मिनट लगेंगे।
seedhe jaaiye, phir baayen mudiye. paanch minat lagenge.
Go straight, then turn left. It'll take five minutes.
You
धन्यवाद! और यहाँ पास में एटीएम कहाँ है?
dhanyavaad! aur yahaan paas mein etiem kahaan hai?
Thanks! And where is an ATM nearby?
This is a sample. In ChatPal you have this conversation out loud and get feedback on what you say.
Practice this conversation in ChatPal"Where is…?" in other languages
FAQ
Common questions about "Where is…?" in Hindi
Why does kahaan come at the end of the sentence?
Hindi word order is usually subject, then object, then verb. The place you are looking for comes first, kahaan (where) sits just before the verb, and hai (is) comes last.
When do I say kahaan hain instead of kahaan hai?
Use hain for plural things, like chaabiyaan kahaan hain? (where are the keys?). It is also the respectful form for one person: papa kahaan hain?
What is the difference between kahaan and kidhar?
Both mean "where". Kahaan is standard and works everywhere. Kidhar is more casual and very common in spoken Hindi, especially in big cities.
How do I ask for directions politely?
Start with suniye (excuse me) or bhaiya / didi (brother / sister) for someone your age, and use aap. Adding zara bataaiye (could you tell me) makes it softer: zara bataaiye, bas stop kahaan hai?
Learn a word, then use it out loud
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- Step 2: Say it out loud
- Step 3: Get feedback
- Step 4: Use it in real scenarios
