आँख
ā̃kh/ɑ̃ːkʰ/feminine
The English word 'eye' is translated into Hindi as आँख (ā̃kh). Wiktionary also lists नैन (nain) and नेत्र (netra).
Meaning: organ (noun)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| आँख | ā̃kh | /ɑ̃ːkʰ/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| नैन | nain | /nɛːn/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| नेत्र | netra | /neːt̪ɾ/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| नयन | nayan | /nə.jən/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| लोचन | locan | /loː.t͡ʃən/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| चक्षु | cakṣu | /t͡ʃək.ʂuː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| अक्षि | akṣi | feminine | |
| चश्म | caśma | /t͡ʃəʃm/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| ऐन | ain | /ɛːn/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
The most common way to refer to the biological organ 'eye' in everyday Hindi is आँख.
Which one should you use?
While आँख is the standard term for daily conversation, other forms are used for specific stylistic purposes. नयन and लोचन are reserved for formal writing or art, and नेत्र is often used in medical, scientific or poetic contexts.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
आँख is the standard, everyday term. नेत्र is a formal or literary term. नयन is a highly poetic and aesthetic term frequently found in literature and songs.
How does it change in a sentence?
When the plural oblique form आँखों is used, it occurs when आँख is followed by a postposition, such as 'in' or 'from'.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is ā̃kh.
Did you know?
- In Hindi, the phrase आँख दिखाना (literally 'to show the eye') is a common idiom used to describe someone acting angrily or threateningly toward another.
- The Hindi word आँख is a linguistic cousin to the English word 'eye', both descending from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root.
- The word चश्म is a term for 'eye' that is actually a loanword from Persian, rather than being derived from Sanskrit like the other forms.
Examples in context
- प्रकाश में मानवीय आँख पर क्या प्रतिक्रिया होती है?How does the human eye react to light?This sentence is useful for discussing how the human आँख reacts to light.
- मेरी आँख सूज गई है।My eye has swollen up.This sentence is useful for describing a swollen आँख.Tatoeba #642488 by minshirui, translation #642489 by minshirui
- 'आँख के बदले आँख' के प्राचीन सिद्धान्त से तो एक दिन सभी अंधे हो जाएंगे।The old law about 'an eye for an eye' leaves everybody blind.This sentence illustrates the idiom 'an आँख for an आँख'.Tatoeba #2655627 by gauravjiii, translation #2655628 by gauravjiii
- कृपया अपनी आँखों को तेज़ रोशनी से बचाएं।Please protect your eyes from bright light.
Example conversation
Rahul and Priya are in a doctor's office.
- राहुल Rahulक्या तुम्हारी आँख लाल है?Kya tumhari aankh laal hai?Is your eye red?
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, मेरी आँख में बहुत दर्द है।Haan, meri aankh mein bahut dard hai.Yes, there is a lot of pain in my eye.
- राहुल Rahulक्या तुम्हें धुंधला दिख रहा है?Kya tumhein dhundhla dikh raha hai?Are you seeing blurry?
- प्रिया Priyaनहीं, लेकिन आँख में खुजली हो रही है।Nahi, lekin aankh mein khujli ho rahi hai.No, but my eye is itching.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “eye” translations and entries आँख, नैन, नेत्र, नयन, लोचन, चक्षु, चश्म, ऐन, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries आँख, नयन, नेत्र, नैन, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
