How to Say "'before'" in Hindi

पहले

pahle/pəɦ.leː/

The English word 'before' is translated into Hindi as पहले (pahle).

पहले is used to indicate that something happened at an earlier time than another event.

Which one should you use?

पहले is the direct temporal opposite of बाद में, which means 'later' or 'afterwards'.

The word पहले can function as both an adverb meaning 'previously' and a postposition meaning 'before [something]'.

The pronunciation is /pəɦ.leː/ (pahle).

While पहले means 'before', Hindi also uses the word पूर्व for 'before' or 'east' in formal or Sanskritized contexts. This reflects an ancient worldview where the direction of the rising sun is linked to the beginning of time.
Hindi distinguishes between पहले used for 'before' in time and phrases used for 'in front of' in space. While पहले handles timing, the word सामने is used for physical positioning, preventing the ambiguity found in the English word 'before'.
In common speech, पहले is often used as a filler to emphasize a priority or a prerequisite. A speaker might start a sentence with पहले तो to say 'First of all' or 'Before anything else'.

मैंने यह पहले देखा है।
I have seen this before.
मैं पहले आ गया था।
main pehle aa gaya tha.
I had arrived before.
खाने से पहले हाथ धो लो।
khaane se pehle haath dho lo.
Wash your hands before eating.
क्या आप यहाँ पहले आए हैं?
kya aap yahan pehle aaye hain?
Have you been here before?

Rahul and Priya are talking about a new restaurant.

राहुल Rahul

क्या आप इस रेस्टोरेंट में पहले आए हैं?
kya aap is restaurant mein pehle aaye hain?
Have you been to this restaurant before?
प्रिया Priya

नहीं, मैं यहाँ पहली बार आई हूँ।
nahi, main yahan pehli baar aayi hoon.
No, I am here for the first time.
राहुल Rahul

ठीक है, चलो पहले खाना ऑर्डर करते हैं।
theek hai, chalo pehle khaana order karte hain.
Okay, let's order food first.
प्रिया Priya

हाँ, मुझे बहुत भूख लगी है।
haan, mujhe bahut bhookh lagi hai.
Yes, I am very hungry.

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