Hindi Words for Time: Complete Vocabulary Guide
Understanding Hindi words for time is essential for everyday conversations, from making appointments to discussing schedules. This guide will help you learn Hindi time vocabulary systematically, covering everything from basic units to common expressions.
Essential Time Vocabulary
These core words form the foundation for discussing time in Hindi. Master these first before moving on to more complex expressions.
| Word | Pronunciation | English | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| समय | samay | time | समय बहुत कीमती है। (Samay bahut keemti hai.) – Time is very precious. |
| घंटा | ghanta | hour | एक घंटा बाकी है। (Ek ghanta baaki hai.) – One hour is remaining. |
| मिनट | minat | minute | पाँच मिनट रुको। (Paanch minat ruko.) – Wait five minutes. |
| सेकंड | sekand | second | बस कुछ सेकंड लगेंगे। (Bas kuch sekand lagenge.) – It will take just a few seconds. |
| बजे | baje | o'clock | अभी तीन बजे हैं। (Abhi teen baje hain.) – It's three o'clock now. |
| सुबह | subah | morning | मैं सुबह जल्दी उठता हूँ। (Main subah jaldi uthta hoon.) – I wake up early in the morning. |
| दोपहर | dopahar | afternoon | दोपहर को गर्मी होती है। (Dopahar ko garmi hoti hai.) – It gets hot in the afternoon. |
| शाम | shaam | evening | शाम को चाय पीते हैं। (Shaam ko chai peete hain.) – We drink tea in the evening. |
| रात | raat | night | रात को तारे दिखते हैं। (Raat ko taare dikhte hain.) – Stars are visible at night. |
| आज | aaj | today | आज मौसम अच्छा है। (Aaj mausam achha hai.) – The weather is nice today. |
| कल | kal | yesterday/tomorrow | कल मैं बाज़ार गया था। (Kal main bazaar gaya tha.) – I went to the market yesterday. |
| परसों | parson | day before yesterday / day after tomorrow | परसों छुट्टी है। (Parson chutti hai.) – There's a holiday the day after tomorrow. |
| हफ्ता | hafta | week | एक हफ्ते में सात दिन होते हैं। (Ek hafte mein saat din hote hain.) – There are seven days in a week. |
| महीना | maheena | month | यह महीना बहुत व्यस्त है। (Yeh maheena bahut vyast hai.) – This month is very busy. |
| साल | saal | year | नया साल मुबारक! (Naya saal mubarak!) – Happy New Year! |
| अभी | abhi | now | अभी क्या कर रहे हो? (Abhi kya kar rahe ho?) – What are you doing now? |
| बाद में | baad mein | later | बाद में बात करते हैं। (Baad mein baat karte hain.) – Let's talk later. |
| पहले | pehle | before/earlier | खाने से पहले हाथ धोओ। (Khaane se pehle haath dho.) – Wash hands before eating. |
Common Time Phrases
When you learn Hindi time expressions, these phrases will help you communicate naturally in daily situations.
- कितने बज रहे हैं? (Kitne baj rahe hain?) – What time is it?
- साढ़े चार बजे (Saadhe chaar baje) – Half past four (4:30)
- पौने तीन बजे (Paune teen baje) – Quarter to three (2:45)
- सवा दो बजे (Sawa do baje) – Quarter past two (2:15)
- समय पर आना (Samay par aana) – Come on time
- देर हो गई (Der ho gayi) – It got late / I'm late
- जल्दी करो (Jaldi karo) – Hurry up
- थोड़ी देर में (Thodi der mein) – In a little while
- हर रोज़ (Har roz) – Every day
- कभी-कभी (Kabhi-kabhi) – Sometimes
- हमेशा (Hamesha) – Always
- अभी-अभी (Abhi-abhi) – Just now
Usage Notes
There are several important cultural and grammatical points to keep in mind when using Hindi words for time:
- कल (kal) has dual meaning: This word means both "yesterday" and "tomorrow." Context and verb tense determine which meaning applies. Past tense verbs indicate yesterday; future tense indicates tomorrow.
- परसों (parson) also has dual meaning: Similarly, this word means both "day before yesterday" and "day after tomorrow," depending on the verb tense used.
- Quarter and half hours: Hindi uses special prefixes for telling time. सवा (sawa) means quarter past, साढ़े (saadhe) means half past, and पौने (paune) means quarter to.
- 12-hour system is common: In everyday speech, Indians typically use the 12-hour clock with context words like सुबह (morning), दोपहर (afternoon), शाम (evening), and रात (night) to clarify.
- Flexible time culture: In casual settings, phrases like अभी आता हूँ (I'm coming now) may not mean immediately. Be prepared for flexibility in informal time references.
- बजे (baje) is essential: This word is required after numbers when telling time. Saying तीन बजे (three o'clock) is correct; saying just तीन for time would be incomplete.
Practice Sentences
Use these example sentences to practice the Hindi time vocabulary you've learned. Try reading them aloud and creating your own variations.
- मेरी ट्रेन सुबह छह बजे है। (Meri train subah chheh baje hai.) – My train is at six in the morning.
- कल रात मैंने एक फिल्म देखी। (Kal raat maine ek film dekhi.) – Last night I watched a movie.
- दोपहर साढ़े बारह बजे खाना खाते हैं। (Dopahar saadhe baarah baje khaana khaate hain.) – We eat lunch at half past twelve in the afternoon.
- मीटिंग कितने बजे शुरू होगी? (Meeting kitne baje shuru hogi?) – What time will the meeting start?
- थोड़ी देर में वापस आता हूँ। (Thodi der mein wapas aata hoon.) – I'll be back in a little while.
- वह हमेशा समय पर आती है। (Woh hamesha samay par aati hai.) – She always comes on time.
- परसों हम घूमने जाएँगे। (Parson hum ghoomne jaayenge.) – We will go for an outing the day after tomorrow.
- पिछले साल मैं भारत गया था। (Pichle saal main Bharat gaya tha.) – I went to India last year.
- अगले हफ्ते मेरी परीक्षा है। (Agle hafte meri pareeksha hai.) – I have an exam next week.
- शाम पौने पाँच बजे चाय पीते हैं। (Shaam paune paanch baje chai peete hain.) – We drink tea at quarter to five in the evening.