Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| नया | nayā | /nə.jɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| नवीन | navīn | [n̪əˈvi(ː)n̪] (narrow) |
| नव | nav | /nəʋ/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| नूतन | nūtan | /nuː.t̪ən/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| नव्य | navya | |
| नवा | navā | |
| ताज़ा | tāzā | /t̪ɑː.zɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) /t̪ɑː.d͡ʒɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
The most common and versatile word for 'new' in everyday spoken Hindi is नया. While it generally means recently made or created, you should use ताज़ा if you specifically mean 'fresh', such as when referring to news, air or food.
Which one should you use?
While नया is the standard everyday term, other forms exist for specific contexts. नवीन (navīn) is a more formal version often used in news headlines or announcements, and नूतन (nūtan) is a highly formal or poetic term found in classical literature. The form ताज़ा (tāzā) is used for 'fresh' rather than 'recently created'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
नवीन is used in formal announcements and literature, while नूतन is reserved for very formal or poetic contexts.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form of the word changes based on the gender and number of the noun it describes. The default masculine singular form is नया. Use नई when modifying a feminine noun. For masculine plural nouns, or when using the oblique case (such as before a postposition), use नए. To refer to a feminine singular noun, you may see नयी used.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization for नया is nayā. It is pronounced with two syllables as /nə.jɑː/.
Did you know?
- In Hindi, the word नव (nav) is a homonym that can mean both 'new' and 'nine'. The meaning is determined by the context of the sentence.
- The Hindi word नया and the English word 'new' are actually distant cousins. Both descend from the same ancient Proto-Indo-European root, *néwyos.
- The word ताज़ा (tāzā), used for 'fresh', is not originally from Sanskrit but was borrowed into Hindi from Persian.
Examples in context
- टॉम ने एक नया घर खरीदा।Tom bought a new house.This sentence shows how to use नया with a masculine singular noun like 'house'.Tatoeba #11370672 by Sorcien, translation #2998838 by CK
- आज मैंने एक नया दोस्त बनाया।I made a new friend today.This sentence demonstrates using नया with a masculine singular noun like 'friend'.Tatoeba #11371328 by Sorcien, translation #11268576 by CK
- हमने एक नया माली लगाया है।We have employed a new gardener.This sentence shows नया being used to describe a masculine singular noun like 'gardener'.
- मेरे पास नया कंप्यूटर है।I have a new computer.
- आजकल मेरे पास कोई नयी चीज़ नहीं है।Nowadays, I don't have any new things with me.
- 16 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Amit and Priya are looking at a shop window.
- अमित Amitयह एक नया फोन है।Yah ek naya phone hai.This is a new phone.
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, यह बहुत सुंदर है।Haan, yah bahut sundar hai.Yes, it is very beautiful.
- अमित Amitक्या तुम इसे खरीदना चाहती हो?Kya tum ise kharidna chahti ho?Do you want to buy it?
- प्रिया Priyaनहीं, अभी नहीं।Nahin, abhi nahin.No, not right now.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “new” translations and entries नया, नवीन, नव, नूतन, ताज़ा, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries नया, नव, नवीन, नूतन, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR, Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
