… को
… ko
In Hindi, the phrase 'to' is expressed by the postposition … को (… ko).
The particle … को is used to indicate direction or to mark the recipient of an action. It is specifically used with animate objects, such as people or animals, to show who is receiving something. Inanimate objects often use different markers or may require no marker at all.
Meaning: in the direction of, and arriving at (prep)
Which one should you use?
It is important to distinguish between different uses of 'to' in English. While … को expresses 'to' in the sense of a direction or a recipient, the suffix -ना is used to express 'to' when it functions as an infinitive marker, such as in 'to do' or 'to eat'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The particle को marks the direct object of a verb, often acting as 'to' when indicating the person receiving an action.
How do you pronounce it?
… ko
Did you know?
- The word को evolved from an ancient term meaning 'armpit'. Over centuries, the meaning shifted from 'in the armpit' to 'at the side' and finally to 'to'.
- Because को is used for animate recipients, using it for an inanimate object like 'to the table' can actually sound grammatically strange to a native speaker.
Examples in context
- वह अपने दोस्त को उपहार देता है।He gives a gift to his friend.
- मैं उसके पास जाता हूँ ।I go to his/her place.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “to” translations, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries को, CC BY-SA 4.0.
