English · Greetings & essentials
Kya? in English: What? (क्या?)
What?
Hindi (Devanagari)
क्या?
Hindi (English letters)
kya?
क्या? (kya?) can be expressed as “What?” in English. For example: “What? This dish is new.”
“kya?” kehna ho, to English mein “What?” use karein. Neeche poore sentences aur Hindi meanings saath diye hain. Context dekhkar apna sentence chunein.
Pointing at a dish
What? This dish is new.
क्या? यह पकवान नया है।
kya? yah pakvaan naya hai.
How to pronounce “What?”
Say it in English
wuht
This is a sound guide for English, using a common American pronunciation. CAPITAL letters mark the stronger syllable in a longer word. Say the example sentence at a comfortable pace; Hindi spelling does not map sound for sound to English.
What?: Hindi meaning and useful expressions
| English | Hindi meaning | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| What? | क्या? kya? The basic pronoun form; compare the complete expressions below. | The basic pronoun form; compare the complete expressions below. |
| What? This dish is new. | क्या? यह पकवान नया है। kya? yah pakvaan naya hai. Pointing at a dish | Pointing at a dish |
| What? You spoke softly. | क्या? आपने धीरे कहा। kya? aapne dheere kaha. Mishearing | Mishearing |
“What?” stands in for a person or thing. Check whether the example uses it as the subject, object, or owner before replacing a name with it.
English keeps these roles distinct: I/me/my and he/him/his are different forms. Use the form needed by the English sentence rather than copying the Hindi word order.
How to use “What?” in English sentences
1. Pointing at a dish
What? This dish is new.
क्या? यह पकवान नया है।
kya? yah pakvaan naya hai.
2. Mishearing
What? You spoke softly.
क्या? आपने धीरे कहा।
kya? aapne dheere kaha.
3. Surprise
What? We have to leave so soon?
क्या? इतनी जल्दी निकलना है?
kya? itni jaldi nikalna hai?
Common mistakes with “What?”
Instead of
What? This dish are new.
Say this
What? This dish is new.
Keep is with the singular subject in this sentence. Check the complete subject before choosing is or are.
Instead of
What? What are on this plate?
Say this
What? What is on this plate?
Keep is with the singular subject in this sentence. Check the complete subject before choosing is or are.
Asking about an unfamiliar snack
Read both roles. Say the English lines out loud before checking the Hindi meaning.
Partner
What? What is on this plate?
Show Hindi meaning
क्या? यह प्लेट में क्या है?
kya? yah plate mein kya hai?
You
What? I don't know the name.
Show Hindi meaning
क्या? मुझे नाम नहीं पता।
kya? mujhe naam nahi pata.
Partner
It's a samosa — will you take one?
Show Hindi meaning
समोसा है, क्या आप लेंगे?
samosa hai, kya aap lenge?
You
Yes. What? It isn't a bit spicy, is it?
Show Hindi meaning
हाँ। क्या? थोड़ा तीखा तो नहीं?
haan. kya? thoda teekha to nahi?
Your turn: use “What?”
Say this in English: क्या? आपने धीरे कहा। (kya? aapne dheere kaha.)
Reveal sample answer
What? You spoke softly.
क्या? आपने धीरे कहा।
kya? aapne dheere kaha.
Compare your word order with “What? You spoke softly.” Then use the same pattern to say something about your own day.
Questions about “What?” in English
Kya? ko English mein kya kehte hain?
क्या? (kya?) can be expressed as “What?” in English. For example: “What? This dish is new.”
What does “What?” mean in Hindi?
In the sense taught here, “What?” means क्या? (kya?). The sentence “What? This dish is new.” shows it in context.
How do I use “What?” in a sentence?
What? You spoke softly. Hindi meaning: क्या? आपने धीरे कहा। (kya? aapne dheere kaha.). “What?” stands in for a person or thing. Check whether the example uses it as the subject, object, or owner before replacing a name with it.
What should I watch for when using “What?”?
English keeps these roles distinct: I/me/my and he/him/his are different forms. Use the form needed by the English sentence rather than copying the Hindi word order.
