Hindi Prepositions: Complete Guide with Examples
Introduction to Hindi Prepositions
In Hindi, what English speakers call "prepositions" are actually postpositions because they come after the noun or pronoun they modify, rather than before. These words indicate relationships between nouns, pronouns, and other elements in a sentence—expressing location, direction, time, manner, and other connections.
Understanding Hindi prepositions examples is essential for constructing grammatically correct sentences. Unlike English where you say "in the house," Hindi places the postposition after: "घर में" (ghar mein).
Hindi postpositions can be divided into two categories: simple postpositions (single words) and compound postpositions (phrases that include a simple postposition).
Formation of Hindi Postpositions
When a postposition follows a noun or pronoun, the noun often changes to its oblique case form. This is a crucial grammatical rule that affects how words appear before postpositions.
Simple Postpositions
| Hindi | Transliteration | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| में | mein | in, inside |
| पर | par | on, at |
| को | ko | to (dative/accusative marker) |
| से | se | from, by, with (instrument) |
| का/के/की | kā/ke/kī | of (possessive, agrees with possessed noun) |
| तक | tak | until, up to |
| बिना | binā | without |
| लिए | lie | for (used with के) |
Oblique Case Transformations
Nouns must change to their oblique form before postpositions:
| Direct Form | Oblique Form | With Postposition |
|---|---|---|
| लड़का (laṛkā) - boy | लड़के (laṛke) | लड़के को (to the boy) |
| घर (ghar) - house | घर (ghar)* | घर में (in the house) |
| कमरा (kamrā) - room | कमरे (kamre) | कमरे में (in the room) |
| लड़की (laṛkī) - girl | लड़की (laṛkī)* | लड़की को (to the girl) |
*Some nouns don't change in the oblique case, particularly those ending in consonants or ई (ī).
Compound Postpositions
| Hindi | Transliteration | English Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| के पास | ke pās | near, with (possession) |
| के सामने | ke sāmne | in front of |
| के पीछे | ke pīche | behind |
| के ऊपर | ke ūpar | above, on top of |
| के नीचे | ke nīche | below, under |
| के बाद | ke bād | after |
| के पहले | ke pahle | before |
| के बारे में | ke bāre mein | about |
| की तरफ़ | kī taraf | towards |
| की वजह से | kī vajah se | because of |
Usage of Hindi Postpositions
Location: में (mein) and पर (par)
Use में for enclosed spaces or being inside something. Use पर for surfaces or specific points.
- में (mein): rooms, cities, countries, containers, books
- पर (par): tables, floors, stations, stops, specific times
Direction and Recipients: को (ko)
The postposition को serves multiple functions:
- Indicates the indirect object (to whom something is given)
- Marks definite or specific direct objects
- Used with time expressions for "at" (specific times)
Origin, Instrument, and Agent: से (se)
The versatile से indicates:
- Origin or starting point (from a place)
- Instrument or means (by/with a tool)
- Comparison (than)
- Agent in certain constructions
Possession: का/के/की (kā/ke/kī)
These possessive postpositions agree with the possessed noun, not the possessor:
- का (kā): before masculine singular nouns
- के (ke): before masculine plural or oblique nouns
- की (kī): before feminine nouns (singular or plural)
Examples of Hindi Prepositions in Sentences
Here are practical Hindi prepositions examples showing common postpositions in context:
मेरी किताब मेज़ पर है।
Merī kitāb mez par hai.
My book is on the table.
वह दिल्ली में रहता है।
Vah Dillī mein rahtā hai.
He lives in Delhi.
मैंने उसको एक पत्र लिखा।
Maine usko ek patr likhā.
I wrote a letter to him/her.
वह स्कूल से आ रही है।
Vah skūl se ā rahī hai.
She is coming from school.
यह राम की गाड़ी है।
Yah Rām kī gāṛī hai.
This is Ram's car.
बच्चे पेड़ के नीचे खेल रहे हैं।
Bacche peṛ ke nīche khel rahe haiṅ.
The children are playing under the tree.
हम फ़िल्म के बारे में बात कर रहे थे।
Ham film ke bāre mein bāt kar rahe the.
We were talking about the movie.
मैं अपने दोस्त के साथ जाऊँगा।
Main apne dost ke sāth jāūṅgā.
I will go with my friend.
Common Mistakes
1. Placing Postpositions Before the Noun
English speakers often try to put the postposition before the noun as they would in English.
- Incorrect: में घर (mein ghar)
- Correct: घर में (ghar mein) — in the house
2. Forgetting the Oblique Case
Learners frequently forget to change nouns to their oblique form before postpositions.
- Incorrect: लड़का को (laṛkā ko)
- Correct: लड़के को (laṛke ko) — to the boy
3. Confusing में (mein) and पर (par)
While both can translate to "at," they're not interchangeable.
- Incorrect: मेज़ में (mez mein) — for "on the table"
- Correct: मेज़ पर (mez par) — on the table
4. Wrong Gender Agreement with का/के/की
These must agree with the possessed noun, not the possessor.
- Incorrect: लड़की का किताब (laṛkī kā kitāb)
- Correct: लड़की की किताब (laṛkī kī kitāb) — the girl's book (किताब is feminine)
5. Omitting के (ke) in Compound Postpositions
Compound postpositions require के or की before the main word.
- Incorrect: घर पास (ghar pās)
- Correct: घर के पास (ghar ke pās) — near the house
6. Using को (ko) Unnecessarily
को is not always needed for direct objects—only for definite, specific, or animate objects.
- Unnecessary: मैंने पानी को पिया (maine pānī ko piyā)
- Better: मैंने पानी पिया (maine pānī piyā) — I drank water