Polite Imperatives: Tu, Tum, and Aap
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
Hindi imperatives change based on who you are talking to: Tu (intimate), Tum (informal), or Aap (formal/respectful).
- Use 'Tu' + verb root + 'o' for very close friends or God (e.g., 'Tu aa').
- Use 'Tum' + verb root + 'o' for friends and peers (e.g., 'Tum aao').
- Use 'Aap' + verb root + 'iye' for elders, strangers, or superiors (e.g., 'Aap aaiye').
Overview
In Hindi, issuing a command is intrinsically tied to social dynamics and respect. Unlike English, which uses a single pronoun "you" for all contexts, Hindi employs three distinct levels of address for a singular or plural "you": tu (तू), tum (तुम), and aap (आप). Each pronoun carries a specific social weight, dictating the appropriate verb conjugation and reflecting the speaker's perceived relationship with the listener.
Mastering these honorifics is fundamental for effective and culturally sensitive communication.
The choice of imperative form signals respect, intimacy, or even disdain. Correct usage prevents misunderstandings and fosters positive interactions, while incorrect usage can inadvertently cause offense or convey an unintended social message. This system underscores Hindi's emphasis on social hierarchy, relational dynamics, and politeness, which are core aspects of South Asian linguistic and cultural practices.
Understanding these principles enables a more nuanced comprehension of Hindi social communication.
How This Grammar Works
- 1
Tu(तू): This is the most intimate and least formal "you," used exclusively in the singular. Its application in modern Hindi is highly restricted. It is typically reserved for:
- Addressing God, signifying ultimate intimacy without social hierarchy.
- Speaking to very young children or pets.
- Expressing extreme intimacy, such as between spouses in private moments, though
tumis often preferred. - Conveying anger, condescension, or insult when used with adults outside these specific contexts. Employing
tuwith strangers or even acquaintances is profoundly offensive.
- 1
Tum(तुम): This is the familiar and informal "you," functioning for both singular and plural subjects. It represents the default pronoun for friends, younger siblings, classmates, and colleagues with whom you share a casual, informal rapport.
Tumexpresses comfortable familiarity without being overly intimate or disrespectful.- It is generally safe for use with peers once a degree of familiarity has been established.
- Many learners find
tumto be the most commonly used pronoun in informal social settings.
- 1
Aap(आप): This is the formal and polite "you," used for both singular and plural subjects. This form conveys respect and is the default choice for:
- Elders, teachers, parents, or individuals in positions of authority.
- Strangers, particularly in service interactions (e.g., shopkeepers, waiters, drivers).
- Formal professional interactions, business meetings, or official correspondence.
- Anyone to whom you wish to show deference, irrespective of their age, to maintain a polite distance. When uncertain, always default to
aapto avoid causing offense; it is rarely possible to be "too polite" withaap.
Formation Pattern
na (ना) from the verb. For instance, from bolna (बोलना - to speak), the stem is bol (बोल).
bolna (बोलना - to speak) and likhna (लिखना - to write).
bolna, to speak) | Devanagari | Translation |
tu | Intimate/Rough | Zero | bol | बोल | Speak! (to a child)|
tum | Familiar | o (ओ) | bolo | बोलो | Speak. (to a friend)|
aap | Formal/Polite | iye (इये) | boliye | बोलिये | Please speak. |
likhna (लिखना - to write):
tu likh (तू लिख) - "You write!" (e.g., to a child)
tum likho (तुम लिखो) - "You write." (e.g., to a friend)
aap likhiye (आप लिखिये) - "Please write." (e.g., to an elder)
aap ending iye (इये) is sometimes written as ie (इए), especially in older texts; both are correct, but iye is more common in contemporary standard Hindi.
tum and aap conjugations. These are essential for A2 learners to memorize, as they deviate from the standard stem + ending rule. Key irregular verbs include dena (देना - to give), lena (लेना - to take), karna (करना - to do), pina (पीना - to drink), aana (आना - to come), and jaana (जाना - to go).
tu (Intimate) | tum (Familiar) | aap (Formal) |
dena (देना) | de (दे) | de (दे) | do (दो) | dijiye (दीजिये) |
lena (लेना) | le (ले) | le (ले) | lo (लो) | lijiye (लीजिये) |
karna (करना) | kar (कर) | kar (कर) | karo (करो) | kijiye (कीजिये) |
pina (पीना) | pi (पी) | pi (पी) | piyo (पियो) | pijiye (पीजिये) |
aana (आना) | aa (आ) | aa (आ) | aao (आओ) | aaiye (आइये) |
jaana (जाना) | jaa (जा) | jaa (जा) | jaao (जाओ) | jaiye (जाइये) |
dena and lena have vowel changes in their tum forms (do, lo) and unique aap forms (dijiye, lijiye). Pina uses piyo for tum. Aana and jaana maintain their long aa vowel and add slightly modified endings (aao, jaao, aaiye, jaiye).
tum or aap, use zara (ज़रा - just, a little bit) or kripya (कृपया - please). Kripya is more formal.
tum zara baitho (तुम ज़रा बैठो) - "Just sit down (please)." (to a friend)
aap kripya yahaan aaiye (आप कृपया यहाँ आइये) - "Please come here." (formally)
na (ना) and mat (मत) for Prohibitions:
mat (मत) or the softer na (ना) before the verb. Never use nahi (नहीं) for commands; nahi is solely for general negation.
tu mat jaa (तू मत जा) - "Don't go!" (to a child)
tum der mat karo (तुम देर मत करो) - "Don't be late." (to a friend)
aap shor mat kijiye (आप शोर मत कीजिये) - "Please don't make noise." (formally)
na for a prohibition makes it a milder suggestion:
aaj na jaao (आज न जाओ) - "Don't go today, (please)."
When To Use It
Tu (तू)- Extreme Intimacy: Reserve
tufor deeply personal relationships where social hierarchies are absent, like addressing a spouse in highly intimate moments. - Children and Pets:
Tuis standard for very young children (typically pre-teen) and animals. bacche, yahaan aa!(बच्चे, यहाँ आ!) - "Child, come here!"- Derogatory Use: Be aware that using
tuwith any adult outside of extreme intimacy is profoundly disrespectful, signaling contempt or anger. A2 learners should generally avoid consciously usingtuto prevent inadvertent offense.
Tum (तुम)- Familiar Acquaintances and Peers: This is the primary form for friends, classmates, siblings, and colleagues with whom you have a casual, informal rapport.
dost, meri madad karo!(दोस्त, मेरी मदद करो!) - "Friend, help me!"- Younger Individuals: Generally appropriate for anyone younger than you, provided an informal connection exists.
- Teachers to Students: Often used by teachers to their students, conveying familiarity within an authoritative context.
Aap (आप)- Showing Respect and Politeness:
Aapis the default for expressing respect and politeness, crucial when addressing: - Elders: Parents, grandparents, teachers, or anyone significantly older.
- Authorities: Bosses, officials, police officers.
- Strangers: In nearly any public or private setting where an intimate or familiar relationship is not established. This includes service staff.
sahab, kripya yahaan baithiye.(साहब, कृपया यहाँ बैठिये।) - "Sir, please sit here."- Formal Settings: Use
aapexclusively in professional environments, official communications, or public announcements.
aap is widely used with service personnel (waiters, drivers) to show courtesy and professionalism. Using tu or even tum in these contexts is considered highly impolite, signaling dismissiveness. Always err on the side of aap in such interactions.Common Mistakes
- The "Default
Tu" Fallacy: Influenced by T-V distinctions in European languages, many learners mistakenly assumetuis the standard singular "you." This is arguably the most significant potential offense. In Hindi,tumoraapare the default singular forms;tuis reserved for specific, highly intimate, or derogatory uses. Always default toaapwith strangers andtumwith familiar peers. Never usetusimply because you are addressing one person. - Incorrect:
tu kahaan jaa raha hai?(तू कहाँ जा रहा है?) (to a stranger) - Correct:
aap kahaan jaa rahe hain?(आप कहाँ जा रहे हैं?) (to a stranger)
- Mixing Pronoun and Verb Register: Pairing a formal pronoun with an informal verb ending (e.g.,
aap baitho- आप बैठो) is a grammatical clash. While some dialects permit this, it is not standard Hindi and creates a jarring impression. Always match the pronoun's register to the verb's ending. - Incorrect:
aap yahaan aao.(आप यहाँ आओ।) (formalaapwith familiaraao) - Correct:
aap yahaan aaiye.(आप यहाँ आइये।) (formalaapwith formalaaiye)
- The "Please" Trap with
Tu: Addingkripya(कृपया - please) to atuimperative is redundant and socially awkward. Politeness is inherent in the choice oftumoraapverb endings.Tuis either intimately informal or impolite;kripyacannot rectify this. - Incorrect:
tu kripya yahaan aa.(तू कृपया यहाँ आ।) - Correct:
aap kripya yahaan aaiye.(आप कृपया यहाँ आइये।) ortum zara yahaan aao.(तुम ज़रा यहाँ आओ।)
- Using
Nahi(नहीं) for Prohibitions: A frequent error is to usenahi(नहीं - no/not) for negative commands. Negative commands exclusively usemat(मत) orna(ना) before the verb. - Incorrect:
yahaan nahi baitho.(यहाँ नहीं बैठो।) - Correct:
yahaan mat baitho.(यहाँ मत बैठो।) - "Don't sit here."
- Overthinking
Tuin Modern Contexts:Tuis socially perilous. For most A2 learners, it is safest to actively avoid usingtuin spoken interactions. Focus on masteringtumandaap. You will recognizetuwhen others use it, but producing it correctly requires deep cultural intuition developed with significant fluency.
Real Conversations
Observing how tu, tum, and aap imperatives appear in daily Hindi provides practical context.
- Casual Chat (Friends): Kal shaam ko milo. (कल शाम को मिलो।) - "Meet tomorrow evening." (tum imperative, milna - to meet). This reflects casual familiarity.
- Formal Request (Customer Service): Kripya meri madad kijiye. (कृपया मेरी मदद कीजिये।) - "Please help me." (aap imperative, karna - to do). Essential for showing respect to service staff or strangers.
- Parent to Child (Direct): Khana kha! (खाना खा!) - "Eat food!" (tu imperative, khana - to eat). Common with young children.
- Public Announcements/Signage: Line cross mat karo. (लाइन क्रॉस मत करो।) - "Do not cross the line." (tum imperative, often used impersonally for general public guidance).
- Texting Friends: Aaj shaam ko phone karo. (आज शाम को फोन करो।) - "Call me this evening." (tum imperative, karna - to do/make, here 'to call'). Digital communication maintains these register distinctions.
Quick FAQ
- Q: Can I just use
aapfor everyone to be safe? - A: Defaulting to
aapprevents offense but creates formal distance. Usingaapwith close friends or family can make interactions feel stiff. Usetumonce familiarity is established. When unsure,aapis always the safest option. - Q: What about
chalo(चलो)? - A:
Chalo, fromchalna(चलना - to move/walk), functions as a versatile "Let's go," "Come on," or "Okay, let's move." It's syntactically a pluraltumimperative (chal + o), but its usage is often universal and less tied to a specifictumimplication when used collectively. - Q: How do I say "Don't" in Hindi?
- A: Use
mat(मत) before the verb for direct prohibitions (e.g.,mat jaao- मत जाओ - "Don't go"). For a softer, more pleading prohibition, usena(ना) before the verb (e.g.,na jaao- न जाओ - "Please don't go"). Never usenahi(नहीं) for commands. - Q: What if I don't know someone's age or social status?
- A: Always default to
aap. It is impossible to be "too polite" withaapwhen unsure. You can shift totumlater if the person indicates a desire for more familiarity, but starting withaapis the safest and most respectful approach. For example, if a cashier usestumwith you, you can reciprocate withtumif comfortable. - Q: Can I soften
aapcommands? - A: Yes, use
kripya(कृपया - please) orzara(ज़रा - just a little/could you just) before the verb to make a formal command even more polite. E.g.,aap kripya yahaan baithiye(आप कृपया यहाँ बैठिये।) - "Please sit here."
Imperative Conjugation Table
| Pronoun | Register | Suffix | Example (Verb: Aana) |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Tu
|
Intimate
|
None/o
|
Aa/Aao
|
|
Tum
|
Informal
|
o
|
Aao
|
|
Aap
|
Formal
|
iye
|
Aaiye
|
Meanings
The imperative mood is used to give commands, requests, or advice. In Hindi, the verb ending must align with the social distance between the speaker and the listener.
Formal Request
Polite request for elders or strangers.
“आप पानी पीजिए (Aap paani pijiye)”
“आप कल आइए (Aap kal aaiye)”
Informal Command
Direct instruction to peers.
“तुम जल्दी आओ (Tum jaldi aao)”
“तुम यह खाओ (Tum yeh khao)”
Intimate/Abrupt Command
Very informal or poetic/religious address.
“तू जा (Tu ja)”
“तू खा (Tu kha)”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Root + Suffix
|
Aap aaiye
|
|
Negative
|
Mat + Root + Suffix
|
Aap mat aaiye
|
|
Polite Request
|
Kripya + Verb
|
Kripya aaiye
|
|
Intimate
|
Root
|
Tu aa
|
|
Informal
|
Root + o
|
Tum aao
|
|
Formal
|
Root + iye
|
Aap aaiye
|
Formality Spectrum
आप बैठिए (General)
तुम बैठो (General)
तू बैठ (General)
बैठ जा (General)
Hindi Imperative Hierarchy
Formal
- Aap Respectful
Informal
- Tum Peer
Intimate
- Tu Close
Examples by Level
आप आइए
Please come
तुम खाओ
You eat
तू जा
You go
आप बैठिए
Please sit
आप पानी मत पीजिए
Please do not drink water
तुम यहाँ मत आओ
Do not come here
आप कल आइए
Please come tomorrow
तुम पढ़ो
You study
आप कृपया मेरी बात सुनिए
Please listen to me
तुम अपना काम करो
Do your work
आप आराम कीजिए
Please rest
तू चुप रह
You stay quiet
आप इस दस्तावेज़ पर हस्ताक्षर कीजिए
Please sign this document
तुम मुझे परेशान मत करो
Don't bother me
आप यहाँ से जा सकते हैं
You may leave from here
तूने यह क्या किया
What did you do
आप कृपया इस विषय पर विचार कीजिए
Please consider this topic
तुम अपनी सीमाओं को समझो
Understand your limits
आपकी आज्ञा हो तो मैं जाऊँ
If you permit, I shall leave
तू ही मेरा सहारा है
You are my only support
आपसे निवेदन है कि आप समय पर पधारें
It is requested that you arrive on time
तुम अपनी कार्यक्षमता बढ़ाओ
Increase your efficiency
तू ही सर्वशक्तिमान है
You are the almighty
आप कृपया इस पर गौर फरमाएं
Please pay attention to this
Easily Confused
Learners often use Tum for strangers.
Learners use Tu for friends.
Learners use present tense for commands.
Common Mistakes
Tu aaiye
Tu aa
Aap aao
Aap aaiye
Tum aaiye
Tum aao
Aap mat aao
Aap mat aaiye
Tum mat aaiye
Tum mat aao
Tu aao
Tu aa
Aap mat aao
Aap mat aaiye
Aap kripya aao
Aap kripya aaiye
Tum kripya aao
Tum aao
Tu mat aao
Tu mat aa
Aap aaiye-o
Aap aaiye
Tum aaiyega
Tum aao
Tu aaiye
Tu aa
Sentence Patterns
आप ___ कीजिए
तुम ___ आओ
तू ___ जा
आप ___ मत कीजिए
Real World Usage
Tum aao
Aap baithiye
Aap ticket dijiye
Aap jaldi aaiye
Tum dekho
Tum padho
The 'Na' Softener
Don't 'Tu' the Driver
The Infinite Request
Smart Tips
Always use Aap.
Use Tum.
Use Tu or Aap.
Use Aap for respect.
Pronunciation
Aap suffix
The 'iye' is pronounced as 'ee-yeh'.
Tum suffix
The 'o' is a long 'oh' sound.
Request
Aap aaiye ↑
Rising intonation for politeness.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Aap is for the Map (Respectful), Tum is for the Chum (Friend), Tu is for the You (Close).
Visual Association
Imagine a pyramid: Aap is at the top (respect), Tum is in the middle (friends), Tu is at the base (intimacy).
Rhyme
Aap for the boss, Tum for the friend, Tu for the close one, until the end.
Story
You walk into a shop and say 'Aap aaiye' to the owner. You see your friend and say 'Tum aao'. You see your brother and say 'Tu aa'.
Word Web
Challenge
Write three sentences using the same verb for all three registers.
Cultural Notes
Aap is used even for shopkeepers.
Tu is used in prayers to God.
Tum is standard for friends.
Derived from Sanskrit imperatives.
Conversation Starters
आप क्या खाना चाहेंगे?
तुम कल क्या करोगे?
आप कहाँ से आए हैं?
तुम कब आओगे?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
आप यहाँ ___ (come).
Which is formal?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tu aaiye.
Arrange the words in the correct order:
All words placed
Click words above to build the sentence
Please sit.
Answer starts with: b...
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Kha (eat) for Aap.
Aap + mat + jana
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesआप यहाँ ___ (come).
Which is formal?
Find and fix the mistake:
Tu aaiye.
aaiye / Aap / yahan
Please sit.
Tu/Tum/Aap
Kha (eat) for Aap.
Aap + mat + jana
Score: /8
Practice Bank
12 exercisesEk photo ___ (lena).
Doodh ___ (pina).
Match the pairs:
Grandma, yahan baith.
Kaam ___.
phone / dijiye / ye
Please eat.
Gaadi dheere ___.
Rukiye aur ___ (wait - intezaar karna).
Chai piiye.
Match verb to polite form:
Ruk! Yahin ___!
Score: /12
FAQ (8)
To show respect levels.
Only if very close.
Yes, it is the standard.
It might sound rude.
Use mat.
Mostly, yes.
Yes, it is common.
Some verbs are irregular.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Imperativo
Spanish has more complex conjugation.
Impératif
French is less hierarchical.
Imperativ
German is more rigid.
Meireikei
Japanese is more indirect.
Amr
Arabic is highly gendered.
Imperative
Chinese has no conjugation.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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