मुझे खाना चाहिए
mujhe khaana chaahiye/mʊ.d͡ʒʱeː kʰɑː.nɑː t͡ʃɑː.ɦɪ.eː/word by word
In Hindi, "I want food" is expressed as मुझे खाना चाहिए (mujhe khaana chaahiye).
This phrase is used to express a desire or a need for something to eat. It is a direct statement of need rather than a polite way to order in a restaurant. If you are ordering in a restaurant, it is more common to name the specific dish, such as Mujhe [dish name] chahiye or Ek [dish name] laaiye.
What does it mean word for word?
Literally, the phrase translates to "to me food is needed".
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase मुझे खाना चाहिए, the subject "I" is expressed using the oblique form mujhe (to me) because the verb chaahiye (to want/need) requires the dative case.
How do you pronounce it?
The IPA is /mʊ.dʒʱeː kʰɑː.nɑː tʃɑː.ɦɪ.eː/.
Did you know?
- In Hindi, the word khāna can also mean 'a room' or 'a compartment' in a building or train.
- The verb khānā is part of a causative chain where khilānā means 'to feed someone' and khilvānā means 'to have someone else feed someone'.
- In many Indian households, instead of saying 'I want food', it is common to ask Khāna ban gaya? meaning 'Is the food made?'
Examples in context
- यार, मुझे खाना चाहिए।Buddy, I want food.
- कृपया मुझे खाना दीजिए।Please give me food.
- अभी मुझे खाना चाहिए।abhi mujhe khana chahiye.I want food right now.
Example conversation
Vikas and Neha are at home after a long day.
- विकास Vikasनेहा, मुझे खाना चाहिए।Neha, mujhe khaana chaahie.Neha, I want food.
- नेहा Nehaक्या आप बाहर जाना चाहते हैं?Kya aap baahar jaana chaahte hain?Do you want to go out?
- विकास Vikasनहीं, घर पर ही कुछ बना लो।Nahi, ghar par hi kuch bana lo.No, just make something at home.
- नेहा Nehaठीक है, मैं अभी बनाती हूँ।Theek hai, main abhi banaati hoon.Okay, I will make it now.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (मुझे, खाना, चाहिए) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries खाना, CC BY-SA 4.0.
