What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of अंग्रेज़ी (English) and the infinitive verb बोलना (to speak).
Which one should you use?
While अंग्रेज़ी बोलना is the standard infinitive form, other variations exist depending on the desired tone and specific meaning. For instance, अंग्रेजी बोलिए and कृपया अंग्रेजी में बात कीजिए are used for polite requests, while अंग्रेजी बोल or अंग्रेजी में बात करो are used in informal settings.
How does it change in a sentence?
To use this phrase in a conjugated sentence in the present tense, change the infinitive बोलना based on the subject's gender: use बोलता है for a masculine subject or बोलती है for a feminine subject. To express the future tense for a masculine subject, change the infinitive to बोलूँगा.
How do you pronounce it?
angrezi bolna /əŋ.ɡɾeː.ziː boːl.nɑː/
Did you know?
- The word अंग्रेज़ी is derived from अंग्रेज़, which comes from the word 'Angrez'. This term originally stems from the French 'anglais' and the Latin 'anglus'.
- In India, saying someone can अंग्रेज़ी बोलना may be used as social shorthand to suggest they attended a 'Convent' or private mission school.
- While अंग्रेज़ी बोलना means to speak the language, Hindi has a distinct distinction between बोलना (to speak) and बात करना (to converse). The latter is more common when describing a two-way conversation in English.
Examples in context
- अंग्रेज़ी बोलना मुश्किल होता है क्या?Is it hard to speak English?This sentence is useful for asking if speaking English is a difficult task using अंग्रेज़ी बोलना.Tatoeba #491567 by minshirui, translation #26189 by CK
- तुम जल्दी ही अच्छी तरह से अंग्रेज़ी बोलना सीख जाओगे।You will soon learn to speak English well.This sentence is useful for expressing that someone will soon learn to speak English well using अंग्रेज़ी बोलना.Tatoeba #3881677 by sabretou, translation #50661 by CN
- कृपया इस साक्षात्कार के दौरान अंग्रेजी में बात कीजिए।Please speak in English during this interview.
- यार, आज हम अंग्रेजी में बात करेंगे।Hey, let's talk in English today.
- क्या आपको अंग्रेज़ी बोलना आता है?Kya aapko angrezi bolna aata hai?Do you know how to speak English?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
At a coffee shop, an international student is asking a local classmate for help.
- आदित्य Adityaक्या आप अंग्रेज़ी बोलना जानते हैं?Kya aap angrezi bolna jaante hain?Do you know how to speak English?
- पूजा Poojaहाँ, मैं थोड़ी अंग्रेज़ी बोल सकती हूँ।Haan, main thodi angrezi bol sakti hoon.Yes, I can speak a little English.
- आदित्य Adityaक्या आप मेरी मदद करेंगी?Kya aap meri madad karengi?Will you help me?
- पूजा Poojaज़रूर, आदित्य, मैं आपकी मदद करूँगी।Zaroor, Aditya, main aapki madad karungi.Sure, Aditya, I will help you.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (अंग्रेज़ी, बोलना) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries अंग्रेज़ी, बोलना, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
