हाँ
hāṁstandard, informal
In Hindi "yes" is हाँ (hāṁ). To be polite, say जी (jī) or जी हाँ (jī hāṁ).
Meaning: word of agreement (interjection)
Ways to say it
| Indian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| हाँ | hāṁ | standard, informal |
| जी | jī | polite |
| जी हाँ | jī hāṁ | polite, emphatic |
हाँ is fine with friends and family. जी is the respectful answer for elders, teachers and strangers.
Which one should you use?
जी can also mean "yes, I am listening" when someone calls your name.
How do you pronounce it?
The nasal mark in हाँ means the vowel is spoken through the nose, so it sounds like "haan".
Did you know?
- Shaking the head from side to side in a gentle wobble is a common way to show agreement in India.
Examples in context
- हाँ, मैं आ रहा हूँ।hāṁ, maiṁ ā rahā hūṁ.Yes, I am coming.
- जी हाँ, यह मेरा है।jī hāṁ, yah merā hai.Yes sir, this is mine.
Example conversation
A shopkeeper checks an order with a customer.
- Dukandarआपको दो किलो चाहिए?āpko do kilo cāhie?Do you want two kilos?
- Grahakजी हाँ, दो किलो।jī hāṁ, do kilo.Yes, two kilos.
- Dukandarठीक है।ṭhīk hai.All right.
