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फ़ैलना

B2 verb 9 min read

फ़ैलना

phailna

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips फ़ैलना in 30 Seconds

Explanation फ़ैलना in your Level:

At the A1 level, you should understand 'फ़ैलना' (Failna) as a basic word for things moving outwards. Think of it like water on the floor. If you drop your water bottle, the water 'failta' (spreads). It is a simple action. You can use it to talk about basic things like 'pani fail gaya' (water spread) or 'rang fail gaya' (color spread). At this stage, don't worry about complex grammar. Just remember that 'failna' means something is getting bigger or moving across a surface. It is often used with 'gaya' or 'gayi' to show it already happened. For example, if you see milk on the table, you say 'Doodh fail gaya'. It is a very common word to describe small accidents at home. You might also hear it when someone talks about the sun coming out: 'Dhoop fail gayi' (The sunshine spread). It is a friendly, easy word to start with.

At the A2 level, you can start using 'फ़ैलना' for more than just liquids. You can use it to describe smells and simple news. For example, if someone is cooking something delicious, you can say 'Khushbu fail rahi hai' (The fragrance is spreading). If a small story is known by everyone in the class, you can say 'Khabar fail gayi' (The news spread). You should also notice the difference between masculine and feminine. If the thing spreading is feminine (like 'khushbu' or 'khabar'), the verb ends in 'i' (faili). If it is masculine (like 'pani' or 'prakash'), it ends in 'a' (faila). You are starting to see that 'failna' is not just about physical things, but also things you can sense, like light and smell. This is a great word to describe your surroundings.

At the B1 level, you should be comfortable using 'फ़ैलना' in more abstract and social contexts. You will hear it often in the news regarding diseases or social trends. For example, 'Bimari tezi se fail rahi hai' (The disease is spreading rapidly). You can also use it to talk about business or work. 'Mera kaam ab shehar mein fail raha hai' (My work is now spreading/expanding in the city). At this level, you should also understand the compound verb form 'fail jaana' (to spread out completely), which adds emphasis to the action. You are moving beyond simple descriptions and starting to explain processes. You might also encounter the word 'failav' (expansion), which is the noun form. Understanding how the verb 'failna' describes a natural or automatic process is key here.

At the B2 level, you must distinguish clearly between 'फ़ैलना' (intransitive) and 'फैलाना' (transitive). You should be able to use 'फ़ैलना' to describe complex phenomena like the expansion of cities (shehrikaran), the spread of ideologies (vichardhara), or the reach of a person's influence (prabhav). You will also encounter idiomatic expressions like 'raita failna' (to create a mess/situation getting out of hand). At this level, you should be able to use the verb in all tenses correctly, including the subjunctive and conditional. For example, 'Agar yeh khabar faili, toh mushkil hogi' (If this news spreads, there will be trouble). You are expected to use it with nuanced adverbs like 'charon taraf' (all around), 'dhire-dhire' (gradually), or 'tezi se' (rapidly) to add detail to your sentences.

At the C1 level, 'फ़ैलना' is used with high precision in literary and professional contexts. You will use it to describe subtle shifts in atmosphere or philosophical concepts. For example, 'Uske chehre par ek muskan fail gayi' (A smile spread across his face) or 'Sannata poore kamre mein pasar gaya' (where 'pasarna' is a sophisticated alternative to 'failna'). You should understand the nuances of synonyms like 'vistar' or 'prasar'. In professional writing, you might use it to describe market penetration or the geographical distribution of resources. You are expected to recognize its use in classical poetry where 'failna' might describe the spreading of 'kirti' (fame) or 'prakash' (enlightenment). Your usage should reflect an understanding of the verb's ability to convey both physical scale and emotional depth.

At the C2 level, you possess a native-like grasp of 'फ़ैलना' and its various connotations. You can use it to navigate complex metaphors and play with the language. You understand the historical etymology (linking it to Sanskrit roots of expansion) and can identify its use in archaic texts. You can use 'failna' to describe the 'spreading' of a silence that speaks volumes, or the 'spreading' of a legacy across generations. You are also adept at using its idiomatic and slang forms in the right cultural context without sounding forced. You can critique the use of the word in literature, noting how an author uses 'failna' to create a sense of inevitability or vastness. Your command allows you to use the verb to describe the most microscopic biological spreads to the most macroscopic cosmic expansions with equal ease and grammatical perfection.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

फ़ैलना in 30 Seconds

Failna is a Hindi verb meaning 'to spread' or 'to expand'.
It is intransitive, meaning it describes what the subject does to itself.
It is used for physical things (water), abstract things (news), and growth (cities).
Grammatically, it never uses the 'ne' particle in the past tense.

The Hindi verb फ़ैलना (Failna) is a versatile and essential term that primarily translates to 'to spread' or 'to expand' in English. Unlike its transitive counterpart 'फैलाना' (Phailāna), which implies an active agent spreading something (like spreading butter on bread), फ़ैलna is an intransitive verb. This means it describes a process that happens to the subject itself, or a state of being that occurs without a direct object being acted upon. It is used in a wide variety of contexts, ranging from the physical dispersion of liquids and gases to the abstract propagation of news, diseases, and even personal influence. Understanding the nuances of फ़ैलना is crucial for achieving fluency in Hindi, as it appears in everything from daily conversations to formal news reports and classical literature.

Physical Dispersion: This is the most literal use of the word. When a glass of water tips over, the water failta (spreads) across the floor. When light enters a room, it failta to illuminate the corners. It describes the natural movement of substances as they occupy more space. For example, 'तेल पानी पर फ़ैल जाता है' (Oil spreads on water).

कमरे में खुशबू फ़ैल गई। (The fragrance spread in the room.)

Growth and Urbanization: In the context of geography and infrastructure, फ़ैलना describes the expansion of cities, markets, or networks. If a town is growing and new buildings are being constructed on the outskirts, we say the city is fail raha hai. This implies a gradual, often irreversible growth. 'दिल्ली का दायरा बहुत फ़ैल चुका है' (The scope of Delhi has spread a lot).

शहर चारों तरफ फ़ैल रहा है। (The city is spreading in all directions.)

Information and Disease: In modern discourse, this word is frequently used for the 'viral' nature of information. Rumors (afwaah), news (khabar), and secrets (raaz) all failte through a community. Similarly, in medical contexts, it describes the transmission of infections or viruses. 'यह बीमारी छूने से फ़ैलती है' (This disease spreads by touching).

सोशल मीडिया पर अफ़वाहें जल्दी फ़ैलती हैं। (Rumors spread quickly on social media.)

सूरज की रोशनी पूरी घाटी में फ़ैल गई। (The sunlight spread across the entire valley.)

Whether you are describing the way ink bleeds on paper or how a new fashion trend is taking over a country, फ़ैलना is your go-to verb. Its ability to handle both concrete and metaphorical expansion makes it a B2-level staple. As you progress, you will notice it in sophisticated literature describing the 'spreading' of peace, or in political analysis describing the 'spreading' of an ideology.

Using फ़ैलना correctly requires an understanding of its intransitive nature. In Hindi, intransitive verbs do not take the 'ne' (ने) particle in the perfective tenses. This is a common point of confusion for learners who might try to say 'Usne faila' (He spread), which is incorrect. Instead, you would say 'Khabar faili' (The news spread). Let's look at the different ways this verb adapts to various subjects and tenses.

Present Continuous (Ongoing Action): When something is currently in the process of spreading, we use 'रहा/रही/रहे है'. For example, 'प्रदूषण तेज़ी से फ़ैल रहा है' (Pollution is spreading rapidly). Here, the focus is on the active, ongoing expansion.

जंगल की आग तेज़ी से फ़ैल रही है। (The forest fire is spreading fast.)

Past Perfect (Completed Action): To describe something that has already spread, we use 'फ़ैला' (masculine) or 'फ़ैली' (feminine). Note the lack of 'ne'. 'खबर पूरे गाँव में फ़ैल गई' (The news spread throughout the village). Adding 'गया/गई' (from the verb 'jaana') creates a compound verb that emphasizes the completion or suddenness of the event.

उसका व्यापार विदेशों में फ़ैल गया है। (His business has spread to foreign countries.)

Habitual Present (General Truths): Used for scientific facts or general observations. 'अंधेरा होने पर डर फ़ैलता है' (Fear spreads when it gets dark). 'पानी पर तेल फ़ैलता है' (Oil spreads on water).

गंदगी से बीमारियाँ फ़ैलती हैं। (Diseases spread from filth.)

Abstract Expansion: You can use it for influence, fame, or even silence. 'उसकी प्रसिद्धि पूरी दुनिया में फ़ैल गई' (His fame spread across the whole world). 'कमरे में सन्नाटा फ़ैल गया' (Silence spread in the room).

सबके मन में उत्साह फ़ैल गया। (Enthusiasm spread in everyone's hearts.)

By mastering these patterns, you can describe everything from a spilled drink to the rise of a global empire. The key is to match the gender and number of the subject (e.g., khabar is feminine, so it's faili; prakash is masculine, so it's faila).

The word फ़ैलना is ubiquitous in Hindi-speaking environments. From the morning news to casual kitchen conversations, it serves as a primary descriptor for any form of expansion or distribution. Understanding its context helps you grasp the tone of a conversation.

News and Media: In news broadcasts, you will hear फ़ैलना constantly. News anchors use it to describe the spread of protests (v विरोध फ़ैल रहा है), the expansion of a political party's influence, or the spread of a virus. During the pandemic, 'कोरोनावायरस का फ़ैलना' was a daily headline. It conveys a sense of scale and movement.

वायरल बुखार शहर में तेज़ी से फ़ैल रहा है। (Viral fever is spreading fast in the city.)

Daily Life and Housekeeping: At home, you might hear a mother telling her child not to let things 'fail' (spread out/mess up). If you leave your toys all over the floor, they have faila hua (are spread out). If you spill milk, it fail gaya. It's often used to describe clutter or spills.

पूरे घर में सामान फ़ैला हुआ है। (The stuff is spread all over the house.)

Nature and Weather: Weather reports use it to describe fog (kohra), clouds (baadal), or sunlight (dhup). If fog is covering the highway, the reporter will say 'Kohra faila hua hai'. It describes the pervasive nature of weather phenomena.

पहाड़ों पर धुंध फ़ैली हुई थी। (Mist was spread over the mountains.)

Literature and Poetry: In Hindi literature, फ़ैलना is used poetically to describe the spreading of moonlight (chandni), the fragrance of flowers (mehak), or even the spreading of a peaceful atmosphere. It adds a sense of grace and inevitability to the description.

रात का सन्नाटा हर तरफ फ़ैल गया। (The silence of the night spread everywhere.)

Ultimately, फ़ैलना is a word that bridges the gap between the mundane and the magnificent. Whether it's spilled ink or a rising empire, the concept of 'spreading' is central to the Hindi experience.

While फ़ैलना is a common word, its usage can be tricky for English speakers due to the transitive/intransitive distinction in Hindi. Here are the most frequent errors and how to avoid them.

Confusing फ़ैलना with फैलाना: The biggest mistake is using फ़ैलना (to spread - intransitive) when you mean फैलाना (to spread - transitive). If you say 'Maine khabar faili' (I spread the news - using the intransitive form), it is grammatically incorrect. You must say 'Maine khabar failayi' (I spread the news - transitive). Remember: फ़ैलना is what the news does; फैलाना is what YOU do to the news.

Incorrect: उसने चादर फ़ैली। (He spread the sheet - wrong verb form).
Correct: चादर बिस्तर पर फ़ैल गई। (The sheet spread on the bed).

Using 'ne' with फ़ैलना: Because फ़ैलना is intransitive, it never takes the 'ne' particle in the past tense. Many learners mistakenly say 'Bimari ne faila' (The disease spread). The correct form is 'Bimari faili'. The 'ne' particle is only for transitive verbs in the perfective aspect.

Incorrect: अफ़वाह ने फ़ैला।
Correct: अफ़वाह फ़ैल गई। (The rumor spread).

Gender Disagreement: Learners often forget to match the verb ending with the gender of the subject. 'Raita' (curd preparation) is masculine, so it is 'Raita faila'. 'Khabar' (news) is feminine, so it is 'Khabar faili'. Mixing these up sounds unnatural to native speakers.

Incorrect: गंध फ़ैला। (Smell is feminine).
Correct: गंध फ़ैली। (The smell spread).

Misunderstanding 'Raita Failna': Sometimes learners take the idiom 'Raita failna' literally. While it does literally mean 'raita spilled/spread', in 99% of modern conversations, it means 'the situation has become a mess' or 'the secret is out and causing trouble'. Using it literally in a formal dinner might cause some confusion!

अब तो रायता फ़ैल चुका है। (Now the mess has already been made / things are out of control.)

Avoiding these mistakes will immediately elevate your Hindi from 'beginner' to 'intermediate/advanced'. The key is focusing on the subject-verb relationship and the lack of an external agent.

Hindi has several words that overlap with फ़ैलना, depending on the register (formal vs. informal) and the specific type of spreading. Knowing these alternatives allows you to be more precise in your speech.

विस्तार होना (Vistār Honā): This is a more formal and academic way to say 'to expand'. It is often used in business, geography, or science. While फ़ैलना sounds natural for a spill, विस्तार होना sounds better for the expansion of a kingdom or a theoretical concept. 'साम्राज्य का विस्तार हुआ' (The empire expanded).

व्यापार का विस्तार हो रहा है। (The business is expanding.)

पसरना (Pasarnā): This word specifically implies 'to stretch out' or 'to sprawl'. It is often used for humans or animals lying down comfortably, or for silence/darkness spreading in a heavy, lingering way. 'वह सोफे पर पसर गया' (He sprawled out on the sofa). 'गाँव में सन्नाटा पसर गया' (Silence sprawled across the village).

चारों ओर शांति पसर गई। (Peace spread/sprawled all around.)

बढ़ना (Baṛhnā): While 'Baṛhnā' primarily means 'to grow' or 'to increase', it is sometimes used interchangeably with फ़ैलना when talking about size. However, फ़ैलना implies horizontal expansion, while बढ़ना can be vertical or numerical. 'आबादी बढ़ रही है' (Population is increasing/growing).

उसका प्रभाव बढ़ रहा है। (His influence is growing/spreading.)

बिखरना (Bikharnā): This means 'to scatter'. While spreading is often uniform, scattering is disorganized. If you drop a bag of beads, they bikharte. If you pour water, it failta. 'कांच के टुकड़े फर्श पर बिखर गए' (The glass pieces scattered on the floor).

बाल कंधों पर बिखरे हुए थे। (Hair was scattered over the shoulders.)

By choosing the right word, you convey a much clearer picture. For example, 'khabar faili' suggests the news reached everyone, while 'khabar bikhri' might suggest the news is fragmented or inconsistent. Practice using these synonyms to sound more like a native speaker.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

The word is a cognate with the English concept of 'expansion' but shares a deeper linguistic history with words meaning 'to bloom' or 'to burst' in ancient Indo-European languages.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /fɛːl.nɑː/

US /feɪl.nɑː/

The primary stress is on the first syllable 'Fail'.

Rhymes With

खेलना (Khelna - to play) झेलना (Jhelna - to endure) पेलना (Pelna - to crush/press) बेलना (Belna - to roll out dough) मेलना (Melna - to mix/join) ठेलना (Thelna - to push) रेलना (Relna - to rush) सेलना (Selna - to sew/rarely used)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'f' as 'ph' (aspirated p). While common in some dialects, 'f' is the standard for words of Persian/Arabic influence.
Shortening the 'ai' sound to 'e'.
Using a retroflex 'n' instead of a dental 'n'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

Easy to recognize in text, but needs context to distinguish from 'phailana'.

Writing 4/5

Requires correct gender matching and avoiding 'ne' particle.

Speaking 4/5

Using the correct intransitive form in fast speech can be tricky for learners.

Listening 3/5

Clearly audible, but can be confused with its transitive counterpart.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

पानी खबर जाना रहा गया

Learn Next

फैलाना विस्तार प्रसार सिमटना सिकुड़ना

Advanced

व्याप्ति सर्वव्यापी प्रसारण विस्तृत विस्तारवाद

Grammar to Know

Intransitive Verbs in Past Tense

In 'Khabar faili', no 'ne' is used because 'failna' is intransitive.

Gender Agreement

Masculine: Prakash faila. Feminine: Roshni faili.

Compound Verbs with 'Jaana'

Fail + Gaya/Gayi emphasizes the completion of the action.

Causative Verbs

Failna (Intransitive) -> Phailana (Transitive) -> Phailvana (Causative).

Present Continuous for Trends

Use 'fail raha hai' for ongoing social or physical trends.

Examples by Level

पानी फर्श पर फ़ैल गया।

Water spread on the floor.

Past tense, masculine singular subject (pani).

दूध मेज़ पर फ़ैल रहा है।

Milk is spreading on the table.

Present continuous, masculine singular.

रंग कागज़ पर फ़ैल गया।

The color spread on the paper.

Past tense, masculine singular (rang).

धूप कमरे में फ़ैल गई।

Sunshine spread in the room.

Past tense, feminine singular (dhoop).

तेल पानी पर फ़ैलता है।

Oil spreads on water.

Simple present, habitual fact.

स्याही हाथ पर फ़ैल गई।

Ink spread on the hand.

Past tense, feminine singular (syahi).

चाय गिरकर फ़ैल गई।

The tea fell and spread.

Feminine singular subject (chai).

यहाँ कचरा फ़ैल गया है।

Garbage has spread here.

Present perfect tense.

फूलों की खुशबू बगीचे में फ़ैल गई।

The fragrance of flowers spread in the garden.

Feminine subject (khushbu).

यह खबर बहुत जल्दी फ़ैल गई।

This news spread very quickly.

Feminine subject (khabar).

गाँव में बीमारी फ़ैल रही है।

Disease is spreading in the village.

Present continuous, feminine subject.

अँधेरा धीरे-धीरे फ़ैल गया।

Darkness spread slowly.

Masculine subject (andhera).

उसकी मुस्कान पूरे चेहरे पर फ़ैल गई।

Her smile spread across her whole face.

Feminine subject (muskan).

धुआँ आसमान में फ़ैल रहा है।

Smoke is spreading in the sky.

Masculine subject (dhuan).

बाज़ार में अफ़वाह फ़ैल गई।

A rumor spread in the market.

Feminine subject (afwah).

ठंड पूरे उत्तर भारत में फ़ैल गई है।

Cold has spread across all of North India.

Feminine subject (thand).

शहर का दायरा अब जंगलों तक फ़ैल गया है।

The city's boundary has now spread to the forests.

Masculine subject (dayra).

इंटरनेट के कारण जानकारी तेज़ी से फ़ैलती है।

Information spreads quickly because of the internet.

Habitual present, feminine subject (jankari).

उनका व्यापार अब कई देशों में फ़ैल चुका है।

Their business has already spread to many countries.

Perfective aspect (chukka).

गंदगी की वजह से संक्रमण फ़ैल सकता है।

Infection can spread because of filth.

Modal verb (sakta hai).

शांति का संदेश पूरी दुनिया में फ़ैलना चाहिए।

The message of peace should spread throughout the world.

Infinitive with 'chahiye'.

आग की लपटें तेज़ी से फ़ैलने लगीं।

The flames of fire started spreading rapidly.

Inceptive aspect (lagne lagi).

नए फैशन का चलन युवाओं में फ़ैल रहा है।

The trend of new fashion is spreading among the youth.

Masculine subject (chalan).

उसकी शोहरत हर तरफ फ़ैल गई।

His fame spread everywhere.

Feminine subject (shohrat).

गलत जानकारी सोशल मीडिया पर आग की तरह फ़ैलती है।

Misinformation spreads like fire on social media.

Simile use (aag ki tarah).

अचानक हुई बारिश से कीचड़ हर तरफ फ़ैल गया।

Mud spread everywhere due to the sudden rain.

Masculine subject (kichad).

कंपनी का नेटवर्क ग्रामीण क्षेत्रों में भी फ़ैल रहा है।

The company's network is spreading in rural areas too.

Business context.

सच्चाई को फ़ैलने में समय लगता है।

It takes time for the truth to spread.

Infinitive as subject.

उसकी बातों से समाज में नकारात्मकता फ़ैल गई।

Negativity spread in society because of his words.

Abstract noun subject (nakaratmakta).

प्रदूषण का असर अब हिमालय तक फ़ैल चुका है।

The impact of pollution has already spread to the Himalayas.

Masculine subject (asar).

त्योहारों की रौनक बाज़ारों में फ़ैलने लगी है।

The vibrance of festivals has started spreading in the markets.

Feminine subject (raunak).

जैसे ही उसने बोलना शुरू किया, सन्नाटा फ़ैल गया।

As soon as he started speaking, silence spread.

Temporal clause.

लोकतंत्र की जड़ें अब गहरे तक फ़ैल गई हैं।

The roots of democracy have now spread deep.

Metaphorical use.

साहित्यिक चर्चाओं का दायरा अब डिजिटल मंचों तक फ़ैल गया है।

The scope of literary discussions has now spread to digital platforms.

Formal register.

उसकी विचारधारा धीरे-धीरे युवाओं के मन में फ़ैलती गई।

His ideology kept spreading gradually in the minds of the youth.

Continuative aspect (failti gayi).

आर्थिक मंदी का प्रभाव वैश्विक स्तर पर फ़ैल रहा है।

The impact of the economic recession is spreading on a global level.

Academic/Economic context.

कला और संस्कृति की कोई सीमा नहीं होती, वे स्वतः फ़ैलती हैं।

Art and culture have no boundaries; they spread spontaneously.

Adverbial use (svatah).

शांति की तलाश में वह जहाँ भी गया, वहाँ सकारात्मकता फ़ैलती गई।

Wherever he went in search of peace, positivity kept spreading.

Complex sentence structure.

महामारी के दौरान अफ़वाहों का फ़ैलना एक गंभीर चुनौती थी।

The spreading of rumors during the pandemic was a serious challenge.

Gerundial use.

जैसे-जैसे सूरज ढला, अंधेरा पूरी घाटी में फ़ैलने लगा।

As the sun set, darkness began to spread throughout the valley.

Descriptive/Literary style.

ब्रह्मांड का निरंतर फ़ैलना वैज्ञानिकों के लिए एक रहस्य है।

The continuous expansion of the universe is a mystery for scientists.

Scientific/Cosmological use.

उसकी कविताओं में वेदना इस कदर फ़ैली है कि पाठक भावुक हो जाता है।

Pain is spread in his poems in such a way that the reader becomes emotional.

Literary analysis.

भ्रष्टाचार की बेल पूरे तंत्र में फ़ैल चुकी है।

The vine of corruption has spread throughout the entire system.

Advanced metaphor (corruption as a vine).

मानवीय संवेदनाओं का फ़ैलना ही सभ्यता का असली विकास है।

The spreading of human sensitivities is the real development of civilization.

Philosophical register.

इतिहास के पन्नों पर साम्राज्यों के फ़ैलने और सिमटने की कहानियाँ दर्ज हैं।

The stories of empires spreading and shrinking are recorded on the pages of history.

Contrasting verbs (failna vs simatna).

डिजिटल युग में निजता का उल्लंघन एक कैंसर की तरह फ़ैल रहा है।

In the digital age, the violation of privacy is spreading like a cancer.

Strong social commentary.

उसकी ख्याति की सुगंध सात समुद्र पार तक फ़ैल गई।

The fragrance of his fame spread across the seven seas.

Idiomatic/Epic style.

चेतना का फ़ैलना ही आध्यात्मिक जागृति का आधार है।

The expansion of consciousness is the basis of spiritual awakening.

Spiritual/Metaphysical context.

Common Collocations

खबर फ़ैलना

बीमारी फ़ैलना

रायता फ़ैलना

खुशबू फ़ैलना

अँधेरा फ़ैलना

व्यापार फ़ैलना

अफ़वाह फ़ैलना

प्रदूषण फ़ैलना

सन्नाटा फ़ैलना

प्रभाव फ़ैलना

Common Phrases

चारों तरफ फ़ैलना

— To spread in all directions.

धुआँ चारों तरफ फ़ैल गया।

जंगल की आग की तरह फ़ैलना

— To spread like wildfire (very fast).

यह बात जंगल की आग की तरह फ़ैल गई।

तेज़ी से फ़ैलना

— To spread rapidly.

वायरस तेज़ी से फ़ैल रहा है।

धीरे-धीरे फ़ैलना

— To spread gradually.

नया विचार धीरे-धीरे फ़ैलता है।

पूरी दुनिया में फ़ैलना

— To spread across the whole world.

उसकी शोहरत पूरी दुनिया में फ़ैल गई।

अंदर तक फ़ैलना

— To spread deep inside.

ज़हर शरीर में अंदर तक फ़ैल गया।

हाथ-पाँव फ़ैलना

— To stretch one's limbs; also to expand one's influence/reach.

थकान के बाद उसने हाथ-पाँव फ़ैलाए।

बाहर फ़ैलना

— To spread outwards.

शहर अब सीमा से बाहर फ़ैल रहा है।

मन में फ़ैलना

— To spread in the mind (feelings).

उसके मन में डर फ़ैल गया।

गली-गली फ़ैलना

— To spread in every street/corner.

यह गाना अब गली-गली फ़ैल गया है।

Often Confused With

फ़ैलना vs फैलाना (Phailāna)

Transitive: You spread something. Failna: Something spreads itself.

फ़ैलना vs पसरना (Pasarnā)

Pasarna implies a more lazy, heavy, or sprawl-like spread.

फ़ैलना vs बिखरना (Bikharnā)

Bikharna is for scattering (like beads), while failna is for covering an area (like water).

Idioms & Expressions

"रायता फ़ैलना"

— To create a mess or for a situation to get out of control.

उसने सच बोलकर सारा रायता फ़ैला दिया।

Colloquial

"पैर फ़ैलना"

— To expand one's influence or to become too comfortable/arrogant.

अब उसके पैर फ़ैलने लगे हैं, उसे रोकना होगा।

Informal

"हाथ फ़ैलना"

— To beg or ask for help (usually financial).

मैं किसी के आगे हाथ नहीं फ़ैलाऊँगा।

General

"चादर देखकर पैर फ़ैलना"

— To live within one's means (literally: stretch legs according to the sheet).

हमेशा अपनी चादर देखकर पैर फ़ैलाने चाहिए।

Proverb

"आँखें फ़ैलना"

— To be wide-eyed with surprise or shock.

नतीजा देखकर उसकी आँखें फ़ैल गईं।

Descriptive

"मुँह फ़ैलना"

— To gape or to be greedy for more.

इतना पैसा देखकर उसका मुँह फ़ैल गया।

Informal

"नाम फ़ैलना"

— To become famous.

पूरी दुनिया में उसका नाम फ़ैल गया है।

General

"बात फ़ैलना"

— For a secret or news to become public.

अब तो बात फ़ैल चुकी है, छुपाने से क्या होगा?

General

"ज़हर फ़ैलना"

— For hatred or literal poison to spread.

समाज में नफरत का ज़हर फ़ैल रहा है।

Metaphorical

"अँधियारा फ़ैलना"

— For gloom or hopelessness to spread.

निराशा का अँधियारा हर तरफ फ़ैल गया।

Literary

Easily Confused

फ़ैलना vs फैलाना

Sounds almost identical.

Failna is intransitive (it happens). Phailana is transitive (you do it).

मैंने चादर फैलाई (I spread the sheet). चादर फ़ैल गई (The sheet spread).

फ़ैलना vs पसरना

Both mean to spread out.

Pasarna is often used for people lying down or silence/darkness.

वह बिस्तर पर पसर गया।

फ़ैलना vs बढ़ना

Both imply getting bigger.

Badhna is general growth; Failna is specifically spreading over an area.

बच्चा बढ़ रहा है (The child is growing). पानी फ़ैल रहा है (The water is spreading).

फ़ैलना vs निकलना

Sometimes news 'comes out' or 'spreads'.

Nikalna is to emerge; Failna is to go everywhere after emerging.

खबर निकली और फिर फ़ैल गई।

फ़ैलना vs उड़ना

Afwah (rumors) are said to 'fly' or 'spread'.

Udna is to fly; Failna is to spread.

अफ़वाह उड़ रही है / अफ़वाह फ़ैल रही है।

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] [Place] में फ़ैल गया।

पानी फर्श पर फ़ैल गया।

[Subject] तेज़ी से फ़ैल रही है।

बीमारी तेज़ी से फ़ैल रही है।

[Subject] का फ़ैलना [Reason] की वजह से है।

अफ़वाह का फ़ैलना डर की वजह से है।

जैसे ही [Action], वैसे ही [Subject] फ़ैल गया।

जैसे ही उसने गाना गाया, जादू फ़ैल गया।

[Subject] का दायरा अब [New Place] तक फ़ैल चुका है।

व्यापार का दायरा अब चीन तक फ़ैल चुका है।

[Subject] की जड़ें समाज में गहरे तक फ़ैल गई हैं।

भ्रष्टाचार की जड़ें समाज में गहरे तक फ़ैल गई हैं।

अगर [Action], तो [Subject] फ़ैल जाएगा।

अगर गंदगी रही, तो बीमारी फ़ैल जाएगी।

क्या [Subject] फ़ैल गया?

क्या तेल फ़ैल गया?

Word Family

Nouns

फैलाव Expansion/Spread

विस्तार Expansion (Sanskrit root)

Verbs

फैलाना To spread something (transitive)

फैलवाना To have something spread by someone else (causative)

Adjectives

फैला हुआ Spread out/Scattered

विस्तृत Extensive/Detailed

पसरना

बिखरना

बढ़ना

प्रसार

व्याप्ति

How to Use It

frequency

Very high in both spoken and written Hindi.

Common Mistakes

Maine khabar faili. → Maine khabar phailayi.
You used the intransitive verb for a transitive action.
Bimari ne faila. → Bimari faili.
You used the 'ne' particle with an intransitive verb.
Pani fail gayi. → Pani fail gaya.
Pani is masculine, so the verb must be masculine.
Dukan fail rahi hai. → Karobar/Vyapar fail raha hai.
While 'dukan' can spread, it's more natural to say the business (vyapar) is spreading.
Main exam mein fail gaya. → Main exam mein fail ho gaya.
Failna means to spread, not to fail a test.

Tips

No 'Ne' Particle

Never use 'ne' with failna. Say 'Khabar faili', not 'Khabar ne faila'.

Gender Matters

Match the verb to the subject. Pani (M) -> Faila. Khabar (F) -> Faili.

Transitive Pair

Always remember the pair: Failna (it spreads) / Phailana (you spread it).

Raita Failna

Use this to describe a messy situation among friends. It's very idiomatic!

Urban Growth

Use failna to describe how cities are expanding into rural areas.

Medical

In medical contexts, failna is the standard word for contagion.

Failna vs Badhna

Use failna for area/surface and badhna for height/quantity.

Compound Verbs

Use 'fail gaya' for sudden events like a spill.

The 'Ai' sound

Ensure the 'ai' is long and open, like 'fair' but without the 'r'.

Bollywood

Listen for 'failna' in songs describing love or fragrance.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of the English word 'FAIL'. If you 'fail' to keep your water in the glass, it will 'FAIL-na' (spread) on the floor.

Visual Association

Imagine a drop of ink hitting a bowl of water and slowly expanding into a cloud. That slow, natural expansion is 'failna'.

Word Web

Spread Expand Disease Rumor Light Smell City Influence

Challenge

Try to use 'failna' to describe three different things you see today: one liquid, one smell, and one piece of information.

Word Origin

Derived from the Sanskrit root 'sphuṭ' (to burst open, to expand) or related to 'pṛth' (wide/broad). It evolved through Prakrit and Apabhramsha into modern Hindi.

Original meaning: To become wide or to open up.

Indo-Aryan

Cultural Context

Be careful when using 'failna' to describe diseases or negative social trends, as it can sound alarming.

English speakers often use 'spread' for both transitive and intransitive actions. In Hindi, you must separate them into 'failna' and 'phailana'.

The idiom 'Raita Failna' was popularized by the movie 'Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani'. Many Bollywood songs use 'khushbu faili' to describe romantic settings. News headlines often use 'Aatank faila' (Terror spread) in political contexts.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Accidents/Spills

पानी फ़ैल गया
दूध फ़ैल गया
तेल फ़ैल गया
चाय फ़ैल गई

Information/Social

खबर फ़ैल गई
अफ़वाह फ़ैल गई
बात फ़ैल गई
नाम फ़ैल गया

Health/Science

बीमारी फ़ैल रही है
संक्रमण फ़ैल गया
वायरस फ़ैलना
ज़हर फ़ैलना

Nature/Weather

धूप फ़ैल गई
अँधेरा फ़ैल गया
खुशबू फ़ैल रही है
धुंध फ़ैल गई

Business/Growth

व्यापार फ़ैल गया
काम फ़ैल रहा है
नेटवर्क फ़ैलना
शाखाएं फ़ैलना

Conversation Starters

"क्या आपको लगता है कि सोशल मीडिया पर झूठ जल्दी फ़ैलता है?"

"अगर घर में रायता फ़ैल जाए, तो आप क्या करेंगे?"

"क्या आपके शहर का दायरा पिछले दस सालों में बहुत फ़ैल गया है?"

"जब सुबह की धूप कमरे में फ़ैलती है, तो आपको कैसा लगता है?"

"बीमारियों को फ़ैलने से रोकने के लिए हमें क्या करना चाहिए?"

Journal Prompts

लिखिए कि कैसे एक छोटी सी खबर आपके स्कूल या दफ्तर में फ़ैल गई।

वर्णन कीजिए कि सूरज ढलने के बाद अँधेरा कैसे फ़ैलता है।

क्या आपने कभी कोई ऐसा काम किया जिससे आपका 'नाम फ़ैल' गया?

एक ऐसी स्थिति के बारे में लिखिए जब किसी की गलती से 'रायता फ़ैल' गया था।

इंटरनेट के कारण दुनिया कैसे एक दूसरे से जुड़कर 'फ़ैल' रही है?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is intransitive. This means it does not take an object and never uses the 'ne' particle in the past tense. For example, 'Khabar faili' (The news spread).

Failna means 'to spread' (intransitive), like water spreading on the floor. Phailana means 'to spread something' (transitive), like you spreading a map on a table.

Yes, but usually in the sense of spreading out (like a crowd) or in the idiom 'raita failna' (messing up). To say someone is lying down spread out, 'pasarna' is better.

It is a popular idiom meaning a situation has become messy, chaotic, or out of control. It's used when a secret is out or a plan fails badly.

You say 'Bimari fail rahi hai'. Since 'bimari' is feminine, use 'rahi' and 'fail'.

Yes, 'Vyapar failna' is a very common way to say a business is expanding its reach or opening new branches.

For masculine subjects: 'Faila' or 'Fail gaya'. For feminine subjects: 'Faili' or 'Fail gayi'.

Yes, 'Prakash failna' or 'Roshni failna' is the standard way to describe light filling a space.

It is neutral. It can be used in daily conversation, news reports, and literature. For very formal academic contexts, 'Vistar' or 'Prasar' might be used.

No! That is a common confusion for English speakers. 'To fail' in an exam is 'Fail hona'. 'Failna' only means to spread.