चलना
calnā/t͡ʃəl.nɑː/
The general Hindi verb for walk is चलना (calnā). For a leisurely stroll people say टहलना (ṭahalnā). If unsure, use चलना. Wiktionary also lists जाना (jānā).
Meaning: to move on the feet (verb)
Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| चलना | calnā | /t͡ʃəl.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| टहलना | ṭahalnā | /ʈə.ɦəl.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| जाना | jānā | /d͡ʒɑː.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
Use चलना for the general, functional act of walking or moving on your feet. To make it clear that you mean on foot rather than by car or bike, use पैदल चलना. चलना is also used for a machine, a plan or a process that is running or working.
Which one should you use?
चलना is the neutral word. टहलना means to stroll or take a walk for pleasure. जाना means to go and does not stress how you move. A walk taken as an outing is the noun सैर.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
For the continuous form, add रहा है to the root, giving चल रहा है, is walking.
How do you pronounce it?
Say it as calnā, IPA /tʃəl.nɑː/, in two syllables, starting with the ch of English church.
Did you know?
Examples in context
- बुढ़ापे के कारण अब उससे ज़्यादा चला नहीं जाता।Due to old age, she is no longer able to walk much. [lit. "it is not walked by her"]चला नहीं जाता is a passive pattern with जाता, literally it is not walked by her.
- मुझे चलना नहीं है।I don't want to walk.चलना नहीं है means I do not want to walk, or I do not have to walk.Tatoeba #13691254 by sabretou, translation #6666958 by CK
- मुझे यहाँ से वहाँ चलना है।I need to walk from here to there.
- चल, हम पार्क में चलें।Let's walk in the park.
- आज रात को चाय के बाद हम घूमने चलेंगे।After tea tonight, we will go for a walk.
- आजकल लोग शाम को गांधी मैदान में टहलने जाते हैं।Nowadays, people go for an evening walk in Gandhi Maidan.
- हम इस बारिश में सैर करने चलें।Let's go for a walk in this rain.
- धीरे चलना शुरू करो।dheere chalna shuru karo.Start walking slowly.
- 2 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Pooja and Aditya are discussing how to reach a nearby park.
- पूजा Poojaक्या हम पार्क तक पैदल चलना चाहेंगे?Kya hum park tak paidal chalna chahenge?Would we like to walk to the park?
- आदित्य Adityaहाँ, चलो चलते हैं।Haan, chalo chalte hain.Yes, let's walk.
- पूजा Poojaरास्ते में हम बातें भी कर सकते हैं।Raaste mein hum baatein bhi kar sakte hain.We can also talk on the way.
- आदित्य Adityaयह एक अच्छा विचार है, पूजा।Yeh ek achha vichaar hai, Pooja.That is a good idea, Pooja.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “walk” translations and entries चलना, टहलना, जाना, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries चलना, जाना, टहलना, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
