शादी करना

You will mostly use this with the postposition से. In English, you marry someone. In Hindi, you marry 'with' someone. For example, मैं तुमसे शादी करना चाहता हूँ means 'I want to marry you.' Remember to conjugate करना based on the tense. Use की or करूँगा depending on if you already did it or plan to. It is a very flexible phrase. It fits into almost any sentence structure easily.

Use this when discussing your future life goals with friends. It is perfect for asking a partner the big question. You can use it when talking about celebrities or relatives too. Use it at a dinner party when the nosy aunties ask about your plans. It is also common in professional settings when discussing leave for a wedding. It is the most natural way to bring up the topic. If you are texting a friend about a cousin, this is the phrase.

Do not use this if you are just attending a wedding. For that, use शादी में जाना (to go to a wedding). Also, avoid it if you are the one organizing someone else's wedding. In that case, use शादी कराना (to cause a marriage to happen). If you are talking about the state of being married, use शादीशुदा. Don't confuse the act with the status. Also, in very religious Hindu contexts, you might hear विवाह, but शादी is much more common.

Weddings in India are not just events; they are festivals. The 'Big Fat Indian Wedding' is a real cultural phenomenon. It involves hundreds of guests and days of dancing. When you say शादी करना, you aren't just talking about a legal document. You are talking about joining two entire families together. It is a massive milestone in Indian society. People often save for decades just for this one event. It is a time of heavy jewelry, bright silks, and endless food.

You will often hear ब्याह करना in rural areas or folk songs. It sounds a bit more traditional and old-fashioned. For Muslim weddings, the specific term is निकाह करना. If you want to sound very formal or literary, you can use विवाह करना. However, in 99% of daily life, शादी करना is the winner. It is modern, understood everywhere, and perfectly acceptable in any social circle.