Explanation at your level:
You use कि to connect two parts of a sentence. If you want to say 'I think that...', you say 'मैं सोचता हूँ कि...'. It is very easy to use once you practice!
At this level, you will use कि to report what others say. 'उसने कहा कि वह बीमार है' (He said that he is sick). It is the most common way to link thoughts.
You will start using कि in more complex sentences involving conditions or reasons. For example, 'मुझे डर है कि बारिश होगी' (I am afraid that it will rain). It helps you express nuances of emotion and expectation.
At the B2 level, कि is used to structure arguments. You might use it in phrases like 'हकीकत यह है कि' (The reality is that...). It is crucial for maintaining flow in longer, more sophisticated speech.
In advanced contexts, कि allows for the embedding of complex clauses. You will see it used in formal reports, literary analysis, and debates to clarify the exact nature of a claim or a hypothesis.
At the mastery level, you recognize कि as the backbone of Hindi syntax. You will use it to create elegant, multi-layered sentences that express subtle shifts in perspective, intention, and reported thought across various registers.
Word in 30 Seconds
- Used to connect clauses.
- Means 'that'.
- Essential for reported speech.
- Invariant word.
The word कि is perhaps one of the most frequently used words in Hindi. Think of it as the glue that holds your sentences together when you are sharing information.
Whenever you want to say something like 'I think that he is coming' or 'He told me that he is happy', you use कि. It is the bridge between the speaker and the message being delivered.
It is essential for reporting speech or expressing opinions. Without it, your sentences would feel disconnected and incomplete.
The word कि has deep roots in the Indo-Aryan language family. It is derived from the Sanskrit interrogative or relative pronoun base, which evolved over centuries into its current role as a conjunction.
In older forms of Hindi and related Prakrit languages, the structure of sentences was slightly different. As the language evolved, कि became the standard marker for subordinate clauses, influenced by the need for clearer communication in complex sentences.
It shares a historical lineage with other relative pronouns in the Indo-European family, though it has specialized into a functional connector rather than a pronoun.
You will use कि every single day. It is used after verbs like कहना (to say), सोचना (to think), and जानना (to know).
In casual conversation, it is almost always present. In very formal writing, it remains a necessity for clarity. You don't need to worry about register too much because it is universally accepted.
Common patterns include: [Subject] + [Verb] + कि + [Clause]. For example, 'उसने कहा कि वह आएगा' (He said that he will come).
While कि is a grammatical tool, it appears in many set phrases. 1. क्या पता कि (Who knows that...): Used when expressing uncertainty. 2. यह है कि (The thing is that...): Used to explain a situation. 3. माना कि (Granted that... / Even if...): Used to concede a point. 4. शर्त यह है कि (The condition is that...): Used to set a rule. 5. न कि (And not / Rather than): Used to contrast two ideas.
Grammatically, कि is invariant; it does not change based on gender, number, or case. It is a simple, short vowel sound.
The IPA pronunciation is /ki/. It rhymes with 'key' in English. The stress is usually light, as it is a functional word rather than a content word.
Be careful not to confuse it with 'की' (the possessive marker), which is longer and indicates belonging. They sound different to native ears!
Fun Fact
It evolved from a pronoun into a universal connector.
Pronunciation Guide
Short, sharp 'ee' sound.
Crisp and quick.
Common Errors
- Pronouncing it too long
- Confusing with 'key'
- Dropping the sound
Rhymes With
Difficulty Rating
Easy to read
Easy to write
Easy to say
Easy to hear
What to Learn Next
Prerequisites
Learn Next
Advanced
Grammar to Know
Subordinate Clauses
उसने कहा कि वह आएगा।
Reported Speech
उसने पूछा कि तुम कहाँ हो।
Conjunction usage
माना कि वह गलत है।
Examples by Level
मैं जानता हूँ कि वह आएगा।
I know that he will come.
Linking verb to clause.
उसने कहा कि वह खुश है।
He said that he is happy.
Reported speech.
मुझे पता है कि यह क्या है।
I know what this is.
Basic identification.
लगता है कि बारिश होगी।
It seems that it will rain.
Expressing probability.
उसने सोचा कि वह घर जाए।
He thought that he should go home.
Subjunctive thought.
सच्चाई यह है कि मैं थका हूँ।
The truth is that I am tired.
Stating a fact.
क्या तुम्हें पता है कि वह कहाँ है?
Do you know where he is?
Interrogative clause.
मुझे लगा कि तुम सो रहे हो।
I thought that you were sleeping.
Past perception.
उसने मुझे बताया कि कल छुट्टी है।
मुझे उम्मीद है कि तुम आओगे।
क्या तुम मानते हो कि यह सच है?
उसने साबित किया कि वह सही था।
मुझे खुशी है कि तुम यहाँ हो।
उसने पूछा कि खाना तैयार है या नहीं।
यह जरूरी है कि हम समय पर पहुँचें।
मुझे याद है कि उसने क्या कहा था।
उसने इस तरह बात की कि सब दंग रह गए।
शर्त यह है कि तुम्हें मेहनत करनी होगी।
उसने इतनी जोर से चिल्लाया कि सब सुन सकें।
यह कहना गलत होगा कि वह आलसी है।
मुझे लगा कि शायद वह भूल गया होगा।
उसने फैसला किया कि वह इस्तीफा देगा।
यह बात अलग है कि वह मानती नहीं।
उसने सुझाव दिया कि हमें चलना चाहिए।
हकीकत यह है कि हमें और प्रयास करने होंगे।
उसने इस तरह से समझाया कि बच्चा भी समझ जाए।
यह सुनिश्चित करना कि काम पूरा हो, तुम्हारी जिम्मेदारी है।
उसने जोर देकर कहा कि उसे न्याय चाहिए।
माना कि वह गलती पर था, पर उसने माफी मांगी।
उसने ऐसी स्थिति पैदा कर दी कि कोई विकल्प न बचा।
यह स्पष्ट है कि वह झूठ बोल रहा है।
उसने संकेत दिया कि वह पद छोड़ने वाला है।
इस बात से इनकार नहीं किया जा सकता कि परिणाम गंभीर होंगे।
उसने ऐसी दलीलें दीं कि न्यायाधीश को भी सोचना पड़ा।
यह विचार कि तकनीक सब कुछ हल कर देगी, भ्रामक है।
उसने इस कदर मेहनत की कि सफलता उसके कदम चूमने लगी।
यह आवश्यक है कि हम अपनी प्राथमिकताओं पर पुनर्विचार करें।
उसने इस तरह से अपनी बात रखी कि किसी को बुरा न लगे।
यह धारणा कि वह निर्दोष है, अभी भी कायम है।
उसने ऐसी योजना बनाई कि विफलता की कोई गुंजाइश न रहे।
यह सर्वविदित है कि परिवर्तन ही प्रकृति का नियम है।
उसने अपने भाषण में यह प्रतिपादित किया कि नैतिकता ही सर्वोपरि है।
यह विडंबना ही है कि जो रक्षक था, वही भक्षक बन गया।
उसने ऐसी भाषा का प्रयोग किया कि श्रोता मंत्रमुग्ध हो गए।
यह अनुभूत सत्य है कि समय ही सबसे बड़ा मरहम है।
उसने इस सूक्ष्मता से विश्लेषण किया कि कोई भी पहलू अछूता न रहा।
यह तर्क कि परंपराएं बोझ हैं, पूर्णतः निराधार है।
उसने ऐसी परिस्थिति उत्पन्न की कि सबको झुकना पड़ा।
Common Collocations
Idioms & Expressions
"माना कि"
Granted that / Even if
माना कि वह अमीर है, पर वह खुश नहीं है।
neutral"क्या पता कि"
Who knows that
क्या पता कि कल क्या हो जाए?
casual"न कि"
And not / Rather than
वह पढ़ रहा है, न कि खेल रहा है।
neutral"इतना... कि"
So... that
वह इतना दुखी है कि रो रहा है।
neutral"यह है कि"
The thing is that
बात यह है कि मुझे जाना होगा।
casual"सच्चाई यह है कि"
The truth is that
सच्चाई यह है कि हम हार गए।
neutralEasily Confused
Similar spelling
Possessive vs Conjunction
राम की किताब (Ram's book) vs उसने कहा कि (He said that).
Both are conjunctions
Reason vs Clause
मैं नहीं आया क्योंकि मैं बीमार था (I didn't come because I was sick).
Both are conjunctions
Purpose vs Clause
मैं पढ़ रहा हूँ ताकि पास हो सकूँ (I am studying so that I can pass).
Both are short
Question vs Conjunction
क्या तुम आओगे? (Will you come?) vs उसने कहा कि (He said that).
Sentence Patterns
Subject + Verb + कि + Clause
मैंने देखा कि वह सो रहा था।
Adjective + कि + Clause
यह जरूरी है कि तुम आओ।
Noun + कि + Clause
सच्चाई यह है कि वह गलत है।
Condition + कि + Clause
शर्त यह है कि तुम काम करोगे।
Emphasis + कि + Clause
इतना शोर था कि कुछ सुनाई न दिया।
Word Family
Related
How to Use It
10/10
Formality Scale
Common Mistakes
की is a possessive marker, कि is a conjunction.
Hindi requires the conjunction to link clauses.
कि only introduces clauses, it doesn't replace nouns.
It must follow the reporting verb.
कि connects clauses, क्योंकि explains reasons.
Tips
The Key Trick
Remember 'ki' = 'key'. It unlocks the rest of the sentence.
Reporting Speech
Always use 'ki' when saying what someone said.
Natural Flow
Native speakers use it to pause slightly before the clause.
Invariant Rule
Don't try to change it for gender or number.
Short and Sweet
Keep the 'i' sound short.
The 'ki' vs 'ki' trap
Always check if you mean 'that' or 'of'.
Universal Connector
You can't speak fluent Hindi without it!
Sentence Building
Practice adding 'ki' to simple sentences.
Clause Marker
It marks the start of a subordinate clause.
Listen Carefully
Listen to Hindi news to hear how it's used.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
Think of 'ki' as a 'key' that unlocks the second part of the sentence.
Visual Association
A bridge connecting two islands.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences using 'ki' today.
Word Origin
Sanskrit
Original meaning: Relative marker
Cultural Context
None.
Similar to the English 'that'.
Practice in Real Life
Real-World Contexts
At work
- उसने कहा कि काम हो गया
- मुझे पता है कि डेडलाइन क्या है
- जरूरी है कि हम मिलें
At school
- शिक्षक ने कहा कि कल छुट्टी है
- मुझे लगा कि आज परीक्षा है
- पता है कि होमवर्क क्या है
Travel
- मुझे लगा कि ट्रेन आ गई
- उसने बताया कि होटल यहाँ है
- सच्चाई यह है कि मैं खो गया हूँ
Daily life
- मुझे लगा कि तुम सो रहे हो
- उसने कहा कि वह खुश है
- क्या तुम्हें पता है कि वह कहाँ है
Conversation Starters
"क्या तुम्हें पता है कि कल क्या होगा?"
"क्या तुम मानते हो कि मेहनत का फल मिलता है?"
"उसने क्या कहा कि तुम इतने परेशान हो?"
"क्या तुम्हें लगता है कि यह सही है?"
"सच्चाई यह है कि..."
Journal Prompts
Write about a time someone told you something important using 'ki'.
Describe your day using 'ki' to connect your thoughts.
Explain a belief you have using 'ki'.
Write a short story where a character realizes something using 'ki'.
Frequently Asked Questions
8 questionsNo, 'कि' is a conjunction, 'की' is a possessive marker.
In very casual speech, sometimes, but it is better to include it.
No, it is invariant.
It is equivalent to 'that'.
Yes, to introduce indirect questions.
Like 'key'.
After the main verb or thought-verb.
No, use 'क्योंकि' for reasons.
Test Yourself
उसने कहा ___ वह आएगा।
कि is the conjunction.
Which word means 'that' in Hindi?
कि is the standard conjunction.
Is 'कि' a noun?
It is a conjunction.
Word
Meaning
Common phrases.
Subject + Verb + कि + Clause.
मुझे लगा ___ तुम सो रहे हो।
Linking verb to thought.
What does 'न कि' imply?
It means 'and not'.
Can 'कि' be used at the end of a sentence?
It must connect two clauses.
शर्त यह है ___ तुम मेहनत करोगे।
Introducing a condition.
How does 'कि' function in complex sentences?
It is a subordinating conjunction.
Score: /10
Summary
The word 'कि' is the essential bridge that connects your thoughts to your words in Hindi.
- Used to connect clauses.
- Means 'that'.
- Essential for reported speech.
- Invariant word.
The Key Trick
Remember 'ki' = 'key'. It unlocks the rest of the sentence.
Reporting Speech
Always use 'ki' when saying what someone said.
Natural Flow
Native speakers use it to pause slightly before the clause.
Invariant Rule
Don't try to change it for gender or number.
Related Content
This Word in Other Languages
Related Phrases
More general words
आभार व्यक्त करना
B1To express gratitude or thankfulness.
आचरण करना
C1To conduct oneself; behave in a particular way.
आगे
A1Forward; ahead.
आगे बढ़ना
A2To move forward or progress.
आगामी
B1Happening in the near future; upcoming or next.
आह्वान करना
B1To call, to summon, to request someone's presence.
आजमाना
A2To make an attempt or effort to do something; to test.
आज रात
A2The night of the present day; tonight.
आक्रमण करना
B2To begin military operations against a country or group.
आखिरी
A2Last, final.
