सीखना
sīkhnā/siːkʰ.nɑː/
The Hindi verb for learn is सीखना (sīkhnā). It means to acquire knowledge or a skill, such as learning a language or learning to swim.
सीखना is the everyday verb for picking up any new ability or piece of knowledge. It is the word to use for learning a language, a sport or a craft.
Meaning: to acquire knowledge or ability (verb)
Which one should you use?
सीखना means to learn in the sense of acquiring a skill, while paṛhnā means to study, the act of reading or academic study. Adhyayan karna (अध्ययन करना) is a formal way to say learn that refers specifically to studying.
How does it change in a sentence?
The root is सीख. The past tense is सीखा and the masculine singular future is सीखूँगा. The feminine singular present form is सीखती. The continuous form is built from the root plus रहा है, as in सीख रहा है.
How do you pronounce it?
Say it as sīkhnā, IPA /siːkʰ.nɑː/, in two syllables. The kh is an aspirated k, a k with a strong puff of air after it.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use paṛhnā when you mean learning a skill. It is about studying or reading.
Did you know?
- In Hindi, you can turn the verb 'learn' सीखना into 'cause someone to learn' by adding a single vowel change to create सिखाना ('teach'). There is a further level called the causative where सिखवाना means to arrange for someone else to be taught.
- While सीखना describes the process of learning, the word सीख ('sīkh') as a noun can refer to a moral lesson or a piece of wisdom gained from experience.
- The root of सीखना is the same as the root used in the formal noun शिक्षण, which means 'instruction' or 'education'.
Examples in context
- मुझे लगा तुम्हें नई चीज़ें सीखना पसंद हैं।I thought you liked to learn new things.After पसंद the infinitive सीखना acts like a noun, to learn.Tatoeba #11371253 by Sorcien, translation #1363 by Zifre
- मेरे सारे बच्चे फ़्रेंच में बात करना सीखना चाहते हैं।All of my kids want to learn how to speak French.बात करना सीखना means to learn to speak, two verbs in a row.Tatoeba #8864280 by aboi, translation #2951485 by CK
- टॉम सर्बियाई सीखना चाहता है।Tom wants to learn Serbian.This is the plain pattern, a language followed by सीखना and a form of want.Tatoeba #10060579 by sabretou, translation #9548576 by LinaTamazight
- 13 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Neha and Rahul are talking about their hobbies.
- नेहा Nehaराहुल, क्या तुम गिटार सीखना चाहते हो?Rahul, kya tum guitar seekhna chahte ho?Rahul, do you want to learn guitar?
- राहुल Rahulहाँ, पर मुझे नहीं पता कि कहाँ से सीखना है।Haan, par mujhe nahi pata ki kahan se seekhna hai.Yes, but I don't know where to learn from.
- नेहा Nehaमैं तुम्हें एक अच्छा टीचर बता सकती हूँ।Main tumhe ek accha teacher bata sakti hoon.I can tell you about a good teacher.
- राहुल Rahulधन्यवाद नेहा, मैं कल ही उनसे मिलूँगा।Dhanyavad Neha, main kal hi unse milunga.Thank you Neha, I will meet them tomorrow.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “learn” translations and entries सीखना, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries सीखना, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
