कौन-सी शर्ट पहनूँ?

You can use this phrase with a friend, a partner, or even a shopkeeper. The verb pahun comes from pahanna (to wear). The nasal sound at the end makes it a suggestion or a request for permission. If you are a guy or a girl, the phrase stays the same because shirt is treated as a feminine noun in Hindi. Just point at two options and ask away!

Use it while getting ready for a date. Use it when packing for a trip to Goa. It is perfect for those mornings when you are running late for work. You can also use it while shopping to ask a friend's opinion. It works great in person or over a video call while holding up your hangers. It is a bonding moment for friends who love style.

Don't use this in a super serious business presentation unless you are a fashion designer. It is a bit too personal for a first meeting with a CEO. Avoid using it if you are actually wearing a dress or a suit. For a suit, you would say kaun-sa suit. Using the wrong gender for the clothing item sounds a bit funny. Don't ask a stranger on the street unless you want a very confused look.

In India, getting dressed up for festivals or weddings is a huge deal. Choosing the right outfit is almost a family event. You will often hear siblings arguing over which color looks better. Hindi speakers love giving opinions on clothes. It is a sign of closeness to ask someone for their fashion advice. Even in modern cities, the "look" matters a lot for social status.

You can swap shirt for other items. Try kaun-si jeans for jeans or kaun-sa kurta for a kurta. If you want to be more formal, say mujhe kaun-si shirt pahanni chahiye. For a quick slang version, just hold a shirt and say yeh wali? which means "this one?". You can also add aaj at the start to say "Which shirt should I wear today?"