Hindi Question Words in Transliteration: What, Who, and Where
For the demonstrated Hindi set, treat the entries meaning “What,” “Who,” and “Where” as standalone question-word vocabulary. The complete questions meaning “What is this?” and “What is it?” show how “What” appears inside a full question. This is a focused guide to the forms, not a complete list.
Start with these expressions
| English | Transliteration | Native script |
|---|---|---|
| What | kya | क्या |
| Who | kaun | कौन |
| Where | kahaan | कहाँ |
| What is this? | yah kya hai? | यह क्या है? |
| What is it? | kya hai? | क्या है? |
Use the question word differently from the full question
Start by separating a word you are learning from a question you can use as a complete utterance. The standalone entries are glossed as “What,” “Who,” and “Where.” The dictionary evidence supports these meanings directly: the first is a question word for “what,” the second means “who,” and the third means “where” [1] [2] [3].
The two complete examples meaning “What is this?” and “What is it?” are different learning units. They do not merely repeat the English label; they show the “What” item inside a full question. When practising, first identify the information you need—an object, a person, or a place—then choose the matching standalone meaning. If you need to ask about an object, use the complete “What is this?” example rather than saying only “What.” This keeps your practice tied to a usable question while avoiding the unsupported assumption that these examples form a complete list of Hindi question words.
[1] Source: dsal.uchicago.edu.
[2] Source: dsal.uchicago.edu.
[3] Source: dsal.uchicago.edu.
Try it
You are pointing at an unfamiliar object and want to ask, “What is this?” Which demonstrated Hindi transliteration example should you choose?
Choose your answer before reading on.
Check your answer:
Use expression 4 in the table above.
Choose the complete-question example whose English meaning is “What is this?” It fits because you are asking about an object in front of you, rather than naming the standalone question-word meaning “What.”
Practise once by covering the English glosses: decide whether you need a person, place, or object, then reveal the matching entry. For an object, test yourself with the complete question from the exercise.
Practise speaking with Bhol. Learn words and sentences written in English letters.
