Which one should you use?
The various forms of this verb are used to indicate different levels of politeness and grammatical gender. For commands or requests, use આવો for politeness, આવ for informality and આવજો for a polite parting. When describing someone who has already arrived in the past tense, the form changes based on the gender of the subject: use આવ્યો for a male, આવી for a female and આવ્યું for a neuter subject.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the imperative mood, you have three main forms: આવો (polite), આવ (informal) and આવજો (polite/parting). In the past tense, the verb must agree with the gender of the subject: આવ્યો for masculine, આવી for feminine and આવ્યું for neuter.
How do you pronounce it?
āvo
When do people say it?
The form આવજો is frequently used as a polite way to say 'come again' or as a way to say 'goodbye' when a person is leaving.
Did you know?
- Gujarati is one of the few languages that uses a specific form of 'come' as a farewell. Using આવજો instead of a literal 'go' is considered more hospitable and warm.
- The verb changes form for objects that are neither male nor female. If a neutral object or concept arrives, you would use the form આવ્યું.
- Using આવ (informal) with a younger sibling is standard, but switching to આવો (polite) can be a subtle way of showing sudden disappointment or creating emotional distance.
Examples in context
- જલદી આવ!Come quickly!
- આપ આવશો.You come (formal)
- તમે અહીં આવો.tame ahi aavo.Please come here.
- જલ્દી અહીં આવો.jaldi ahi aavo.Come here quickly.
Example conversation
Aryan is inviting Nia to enter his home.
- આર્યન Aryanનિયા, અંદર આવો!Nia, andar aavo!Nia, come inside!
- નિયા Niyaઆભાર, આર્યન.Aabhar, Aryan.Thank you, Aryan.
- આર્યન Aryanતમે બેસો.Tame beso.Please sit down.
- નિયા Niyaહા, હું બેસું છું.Ha, hu besu chu.Yes, I am sitting.
