खाना खाना

You use this phrase by conjugating the second खाना. If you want to say 'I am eating', you say मैं खाना खा रहा हूँ. If you want to ask 'Did you eat?', you say क्या आपने खाना खाया?. It is very flexible. You can use it for any time of day. It covers everything from a light snack to a massive wedding feast. Just remember to change the ending based on who is eating and when.

Use this whenever you are talking about the act of sitting down for a meal. It is perfect for inviting someone to dinner. It is also the go-to phrase for checking on someone's well-being. In India, asking if someone has eaten is a way of showing you care. Use it with your friends, your boss, or your landlord. It is universally understood and always appropriate.

Don't use this if you are talking about a specific item. If you are eating an apple, just say सेब खाना (eating an apple). You don't need to say 'food' then. Also, avoid it if you are talking about 'drinking' something like soup. For that, use पीना (to drink). If you are at a very formal religious ceremony, there might be more 'high' Hindi words. But for 99% of life, this phrase is king.

In Indian culture, food is synonymous with love and hospitality. Guests are often treated like gods. Asking खाना खाया? (Did you eat?) is often a greeting. It is more than just a question about hunger. It is a social glue that binds families together. Skipping a meal is often seen as a sign of stress or sadness by Indian mothers. They will likely follow you around until you finally sit down to eat!

You will often hear खाना-वाना (khāna-vāna). This is 'rhyming slang' that means 'food and stuff'. Another common one is खाना-पीना (khāna-pīnā). This means 'eating and drinking', often used to describe a party or a good time. If you want to be very polite, you might hear भोजन करना (bhojan karnā). This is the formal, 'textbook' version of the phrase.