आपका
āpkā/ɑːp.kɑː/
The Hindi phrase for 'yours' is आपका (āpkā).
आपका is the polite/formal version of 'yours', used for elders, strangers or in professional settings.
Meaning: sincerely (pron)
What does it mean word for word?
The word आपका is constructed from आप (you, formal) and the possessive marker का (of).
Which one should you use?
While आपका is the polite version, तुम्हारा is the informal equivalent of 'yours' used with friends or younger people. Another informal version of 'yours' is तेरा/तेरी, used to address friends or people of the same age or younger.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form changes based on the object being possessed. It becomes आपकी if the object is feminine, and changes to आपके if the object is masculine plural or if it is used as a respectful modifier for a person.
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is [ɑːp.kɑː]. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While English speakers use 'yours' regardless of the recipient's age, using the informal तेरा with a stranger in India can be seen as a direct insult or an act of aggression.
- In very formal or traditional Hindi, the word for 'you' used in आपका originates from a word meaning 'self', reflecting a culture of extreme humility where one avoids addressing the other person directly.
- The formal 'you' in आप is actually a plural form used to show respect, a linguistic concept known as the 'honorific plural'.
Examples in context
- लीजिए, यह वाला आपका है।Here, this one's yours.This sentence demonstrates how to use आपका to say 'this one's yours'.Tatoeba #3702138 by sabretou, translation #3168262 by CK
- यह कुत्ता तो आपका है। मेरा कहाँ है?This dog is yours. Where is mine?This sentence shows the use of आपका to identify ownership of a dog.Tatoeba #4107671 by sabretou, translation #674270 by yessoos
- यह पुस्तक आपकी है।The book is yours.
- वह गाड़ी तेरी है।The car is yours.
- क्या यह छाता आपका है?Kya yeh chhata aapka hai?Is this umbrella yours?
Example conversation
Aditya and Neha are looking for their bags at a cafe.
- आदित्य Adityaनेहा, क्या यह बैग आपका है?Neha, kya yeh bag aapka hai?Neha, is this bag yours?
- नेहा Nehaनहीं, यह मेरा नहीं है।Nahi, yeh mera nahi hai.No, it is not mine.
- आदित्य Adityaतो फिर यह किसका है?To phir yeh kiska hai?Then whose is it?
- नेहा Nehaशायद वह बैग आपका हो।Shayad vah bag aapka ho.Maybe that bag is yours.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry आपका, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
