Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| काम | kām | /kɑːm/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| श्रम | śram | masculine | |
| उद्योग | udyog | /ʊd̪.joːɡ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| वृत्ति | vŕtti | /ʋɾɪt̪.t̪iː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| कार्य | kārya | /kɑːɾ.jᵊ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| कार | kār | /kɑːɾ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| कर्म | karm | /kəɾm/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| वजीफा | vajīphā | feminine |
The term काम is the most general way to refer to work, labor, employment or a job. If you want to use 'work' as a verb, you use the phrase काम करना, which can mean 'to perform a task' or 'to function correctly' (such as a machine working as intended). In many contexts where an English speaker says they are 'going to work', a Hindi speaker might instead use the word दफ्तर (office) to specify their destination.
Which one should you use?
The various forms of 'work' in Hindi serve very different nuances. काम is the standard, everyday term. श्रम is used specifically for physical labor or the exertion of effort, often in formal or economic discussions. कार्य is a formal term used in technical, administrative or official contexts to describe a duty or function. कर्म is used in a spiritual or philosophical sense to refer to one's deeds or actions (karma). वृत्ति is a feminine noun specifically referring to one's profession or occupation.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The noun काम is masculine, so any adjectives or verbs used to describe it must agree with its masculine gender. The noun वृत्ति is feminine, requiring feminine agreement for any associated adjectives or verbs.
How do you pronounce it?
kām (IPA: /kɑːm/)
Did you know?
- Because काम can be written and pronounced identically for different meanings, it can refer to 'work' or 'desire' and 'lust' depending on the context.
- Hindi uses the word वजीफा to mean a 'stipend' or 'allowance', which is a term borrowed from Persian rather than being derived from Sanskrit.
- The philosophical term कर्म refers not just to 'work' but to the law of cause and effect, where every action determines one's future destiny.
Examples in context
- उसे काम नहीं मिला।He didn't find work.This sentence shows the use of काम to mean finding employment.Tatoeba #9928885 by anushka, translation #9928341 by Nylez
- टॉम काम पर नहीं आया।Tom didn't arrive at work.This sentence uses काम to indicate arriving at a place of employment.Tatoeba #11381079 by PrasantaHembram, translation #11255680 by Ergulis
- में रोज कार से दफ्तर जाता हूं.I go to work by car every day.This sentence uses कार in the context of traveling to the office.Tatoeba #884500 by thevikas, translation #261844 by CK
- मैं अपना काम पूरा कर रहा हूँ।I am completing my work.
- हमें अपने कर्तव्य की पूर्ति करनी चाहिए।We should fulfill our work responsibilities.
- कल काम करने के लिए क्या प्लान है?What's the plan for work tomorrow?
- हम लोग मेहनत करके सफलता प्राप्त करेंगे।We will achieve success through hard work.
- मुझे काम करना पसंद है।I like to work.
- तुम कितने घंटे काम करते हो?How many hours do you work?
- आपका काम कैसा चल रहा है?How is your work going?
- 76 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Neha and Aditya are talking about their daily routine at home.
- नेहा Nehaआज बहुत काम है।Aaj bahut kaam hai.There is a lot of work today.
- आदित्य Adityaक्या तुम्हारा काम खत्म हो गया?Kya tumhara kaam khatm ho gaya?Is your work finished?
- नेहा Nehaनहीं, अभी बहुत काम बाकी है।Nahi, abhi bahut kaam baaki hai.No, there is still much work left.
- आदित्य Adityaठीक है, आराम से काम करो।Thik hai, aaram se kaam karo.Okay, do your work calmly.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “work” translations and entries काम, श्रम, उद्योग, वृत्ति, कार्य, कार, कर्म, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
