no
The word "no" in Hindi is primarily expressed as "नहीं" (nahin). It serves as the standard negation for verbs, adjectives, and nouns, functioning as the direct opposite of "yes." It is the most essential tool for declining an offer, denying an action, or indicating that something is not the case. In casual conversation, "nahin" is often shortened to "na" (ना) when asking for confirmation or expressing light disagreement. When used to deny a verb, it usually precedes the verb, but when used to negate a state of being, it follows the subject-predicate structure. It is a versatile word that carries different levels of politeness depending on the tone of voice used.
In conversation
Declining an invitation
क्या तुम आज पार्टी में आ रहे हो?
Are you coming to the party today?
नहीं, मैं आज बहुत व्यस्त हूँ।
No, I am very busy today.
Using 'nahin' clearly sets a boundary when you cannot attend an event.
Correcting a mistake
क्या यह तुम्हारी किताब है?
Is this your book?
नहीं, यह मेरी नहीं है।
No, this is not mine.
The word is repeated here for emphasis and to clarify ownership.
Examples
नहीं, मुझे यह पसंद नहीं है।
No, I do not like this.
क्या तुम चलोगे? नहीं, अभी नहीं।
Will you come? No, not right now.
मैंने उसे नहीं देखा, वह वहाँ नहीं था।
I did not see him, he was not there.
