In 15 Seconds
- A friendly way to say 'Put on your jacket'.
- Uses the helpful 'lo' ending for a natural sound.
- Commonly used by family and friends during winter.
- Can be easily adapted for sweaters or coats.
Meaning
This is a direct and friendly way to tell someone to put on their jacket. It is used when the weather gets chilly or before heading outside.
Key Examples
3 of 6Leaving for a walk with a friend
बाहर ठंड है, जैकेट पहन लो।
It is cold outside, wear a jacket.
A mother talking to her child
बेटा, जल्दी से जैकेट पहन लो!
Son, wear your jacket quickly!
Texting a friend who is coming over
आते समय जैकेट पहन लेना।
Wear a jacket while coming.
Cultural Background
In regions like Delhi and Punjab, winter is a distinct season where 'pahan lo' becomes a daily mantra. It's often associated with eating seasonal foods like 'Gajar ka Halwa'. Indian parents are famously protective. Telling a child to wear a jacket is often the first thing said when the temperature drops even slightly. The 'hero giving his jacket to the heroine' is a classic romantic trope in Indian cinema, usually accompanied by this phrase. In modern Indian offices, the 'AC culture' is strong. People often keep a 'desk jacket' and colleagues might say this to each other when the cooling is too high.
The 'Lena' Secret
Whenever you do something for yourself (like wearing clothes, eating, or buying for yourself), use 'lo' (from lena) as the helper verb.
Respect Matters
Never say 'pahan lo' to your teacher or boss. It's too casual. Always use 'pahan lijiye'.
In 15 Seconds
- A friendly way to say 'Put on your jacket'.
- Uses the helpful 'lo' ending for a natural sound.
- Commonly used by family and friends during winter.
- Can be easily adapted for sweaters or coats.
What It Means
जैकेट पहन लो (Jacket pahan lo) is a simple command or suggestion. The word पहन (pahan) means 'wear' and लो (lo) comes from the verb 'to take'. In Hindi, adding लो after a verb makes it sound like a complete, helpful action. It is the go-to phrase when you see someone shivering or preparing for the cold. It sounds natural, warm, and very common in daily life.
How To Use It
You use this phrase just like you would in English. Place the item of clothing first, then the action. If you want to be more polite to an elder, you would say पहन लीजिए (pahan lijiye). For a close friend or a child, पहन लो is perfect. It’s short, punchy, and gets the job done without any fluff. Don't worry about complex grammar here; it's a fixed expression that works every time.
When To Use It
Use it when you are leaving the house with friends. Use it when you notice your younger sibling is underdressed for the winter. It’s great for texting a partner before they leave work. You’ll hear this constantly in North India during the months of November to February. It’s also a classic 'mom' phrase when she thinks you’ll catch a cold. Even in a casual office setting, a colleague might say this to you before a commute.
When NOT To Use It
Avoid using लो (lo) with your boss or a high-ranking official. It might sound a bit too casual or bossy. In very formal settings, use the 'ji' version instead. Also, don't use it for accessories like watches or glasses; those use different verbs. If it’s 45 degrees Celsius in Delhi, saying this might get you some very confused looks. Unless, of course, you are being incredibly sarcastic about the air conditioning.
Cultural Background
In Indian culture, caring for someone's health is a way of showing love. Telling someone to wear a jacket isn't just about fashion. It’s a sign of 'apnapan' or belonging. Moms and grandmothers are the undisputed champions of this phrase. They will insist you wear a jacket even if it's barely breezy. It reflects the collective nature of Indian society where everyone looks out for each other's well-being.
Common Variations
If it’s a sweater, say स्वेटर पहन लो (Sweater pahan lo). If you want to say 'put it on quickly', add जल्दी (jaldi) at the start. You might also hear जैकेट पहनना मत भूलना (Jacket pahn-na mat bhulna), which means 'don't forget to wear your jacket'. In some regions, people might just say जैकेट डाल लो (Jacket daal lo), which literally means 'throw on a jacket'. All of these convey the same warm, protective sentiment.
Usage Notes
The phrase is neutral-to-informal. Use 'lijiye' instead of 'lo' to show respect to elders or in professional settings.
The 'Lena' Secret
Whenever you do something for yourself (like wearing clothes, eating, or buying for yourself), use 'lo' (from lena) as the helper verb.
Respect Matters
Never say 'pahan lo' to your teacher or boss. It's too casual. Always use 'pahan lijiye'.
Gender Agreement
In the past tense, 'Jaiket' is feminine. So you say 'Maine jaiket pahan LEE' (not 'pahan liya').
Examples
6बाहर ठंड है, जैकेट पहन लो।
It is cold outside, wear a jacket.
A very common, everyday observation and suggestion.
बेटा, जल्दी से जैकेट पहन लो!
Son, wear your jacket quickly!
Adding 'jaldi se' adds a sense of urgency and care.
आते समय जैकेट पहन लेना।
Wear a jacket while coming.
The 'lena' ending makes it a gentle reminder for the future.
आप अपनी जैकेट पहन लीजिए, ओस गिर रही है।
Please wear your jacket, the dew is falling.
Uses 'lijiye' for a polite, formal tone.
भाई, हीरो मत बनो, जैकेट पहन लो।
Brother, don't try to be a hero, wear a jacket.
A humorous way to tell someone they are being stubborn about the cold.
काफी रात हो गई है, जैकेट पहन लो।
It's quite late, wear a jacket.
Shows professional camaraderie and care.
Test Yourself
Fill in the correct auxiliary verb for a neutral/informal command.
बाहर ठंड है, जैकेट पहन ____।
'Lo' is the correct auxiliary for an action done for oneself in an informal context.
Choose the most polite version of the phrase.
Which one would you say to your grandfather?
'Lijiye' is the formal/respectful imperative used with elders.
Complete the dialogue.
A: मुझे बहुत ठंड लग रही है। B: तो फिर देर क्यों कर रहे हो? ________।
If someone is cold, the logical advice is to put on a jacket.
Match the phrase to the situation.
Situation: You are a boss speaking to an employee in a cold office.
In a professional setting, the formal 'lijiye' is most appropriate.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesबाहर ठंड है, जैकेट पहन ____।
'Lo' is the correct auxiliary for an action done for oneself in an informal context.
Which one would you say to your grandfather?
'Lijiye' is the formal/respectful imperative used with elders.
A: मुझे बहुत ठंड लग रही है। B: तो फिर देर क्यों कर रहे हो? ________।
If someone is cold, the logical advice is to put on a jacket.
Situation: You are a boss speaking to an employee in a cold office.
In a professional setting, the formal 'lijiye' is most appropriate.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIt is an English loanword that is now fully integrated into Hindi. Most people use it instead of traditional terms.
Technically no, you should say 'Sweater pahan lo', but in very casual speech, some might use 'Jaiket' for any warm top.
'Pahano' is a direct command (Wear!). 'Pahan lo' is more natural and implies 'Go ahead and put it on'.
You say 'जैकेट मत पहनो' (Jaiket mat pahano).
'Le' is the 'tu' form, used for very close friends or children. It's more intimate but can be rude.
It is generally treated as feminine in standard Hindi.
Yes! 'Joote pahan lo' is perfectly correct.
You can say 'यह जैकेट पहनकर देखो' (Yeh jaiket pahankar dekho).
Yes, 'जैकेट पहन लीजिए' (Jaiket pahan lijiye).
In this context, it doesn't mean 'take' literally. It's a helper verb that adds a sense of completion.
Related Phrases
स्वेटर पहन लो
similarPut on your sweater
जैकेट उतार दो
contrastTake off your jacket
जूते पहन लो
builds onPut on your shoes
तैयार हो जाओ
similarGet ready
