आप
āprespectful, formal
Hindi has three words for "you". Use आप (āp) for respect, तुम (tum) for friends and younger people, and तू (tū) only for very close people.
Meaning: the person being spoken to (pronoun)
Ways to say it
| Indian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| आप | āp | respectful, formal |
| तुम | tum | familiar |
| तू | tū | very intimate |
When unsure, choose आप. It is safe with elders, strangers, teachers and customers.
How does it change in a sentence?
The verb changes with each word. आप कैसे हैं? (āp kaise haiṁ?) uses हैं, तुम कैसे हो? (tum kaise ho?) uses हो and तू कैसा है? (tū kaisā hai?) uses है.
What mistakes should you avoid?
Using तू with someone you do not know well can sound rude.
Did you know?
- Many Indian families use आप (āp) even for their own parents, while तू (tū) shows closeness with childhood friends.
Examples in context
- आप कहाँ रहते हैं?āp kahāṁ rahte haiṁ?Where do you live?
- तुम कल आओगे?tum kal āoge?Will you come tomorrow?
Example conversation
Two people meet at a wedding in Jaipur and are introduced.
- Vikramआप कहाँ से आए हैं?āp kahāṁ se āe haiṁ?Where have you come from?
- Meenaमैं लखनऊ से आई हूँ। और आप?maiṁ lakhnaū se āī hūṁ. aur āp?I have come from Lucknow. And you?
- Vikramमैं यहीं का हूँ।maiṁ yahīṁ kā hūṁ.I am from here.
