Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA |
|---|---|---|
| चाहना | cāhnā | /t͡ʃɑːɦ.nɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
| इच्छा | icchā | /ɪt̪.t͡ʃʰɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) |
चाहना is a common and versatile verb for wanting, usually after another verb, as in want to do or want to become. In everyday spoken Hindi, चाहिए (cāhiye) is much more frequent for wanting or needing a thing. Man Karna is an informal expression meaning to feel like.
Which one should you use?
चाहना is a verb for the action of wanting, whereas इच्छा (icchā) is a noun meaning desire or wish. Khwahish Karna is used in formal contexts for a strong desire or wish.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
Using the noun इच्छा often makes the expression sound more formal or poetic than चाहना.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb agrees with the subject's gender and number. A man says चाहता हूँ and a woman says चाहती हूँ for I want. With चाहिए, the person who wants takes the oblique form, so you say मुझे instead of मैं.
How do you pronounce it?
Say it as cāhnā, IPA /tʃɑːɦ.nɑː/, in two syllables, with the ch of English church and a breathy h.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use मैं with चाहिए. The pattern needs मुझे.
Did you know?
- The Hindi verb चाहना shares an ancient root with the Sanskrit word चक्ष॑ते ('cákṣate'), which relates to the act of seeing or observing.
- The phrase मन करना (man karnā) literally means 'the mind does', treating the 'mind' or 'heart' as the actor that desires something rather than the person.
- In very formal or religious contexts, the concept of 'wanting' is often replaced by अभिलाषा (abhilāṣā), a word for intense longing that is rarely used in daily conversation.
Examples in context
- तू क्या करना चाहता है?What do you want to do?करना चाहता है means wants to do.
- मैं बड़ा होके वैज्ञानिक बनना चाहता हूँ।I want to be a scientist when I grow up.बनना चाहता हूँ means I want to become.
- मेरी इच्छा है तुम मेरे विवाह पर आओ.I want you to come to my wedding.Here the noun इच्छा expresses the wish, literally my wish is that you come.Tatoeba #2019340 by RadiumCat, translation #2015218 by CK
- मुझे एक गिटार चाहिए।I want a guitar.
Example conversation
Vikas and Priya are deciding what to eat for dinner.
- विकास Vikasप्रिया, तुम रात के खाने में क्या चाहना?Priya, tum raat ke khane mein kya chahna?Priya, what do you want for dinner?
- प्रिया Priyaमैं कुछ मसालेदार खाना चाहना।Main kuchh masaledar khana chahna.I want to eat something spicy.
- विकास Vikasक्या तुम बाहर जाना चाहना?Kya tum bahar jaana chahna?Do you want to go out?
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, मैं वही चाहना।Haan, main vahi chahna.Yes, that is what I want.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “want” translations and entries चाहना, इच्छा, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries इच्छा, चाहना, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
