This page in your language

فارسی

العربية

Deutsch

Español

Français

日本語

한국어

Português

中文

हिन्दी

Home
Learn
Hindi
Vocabulary
कॉल

A2 noun #800 most common 8 min read

कॉल

call Top 800

At the A1 level, you only need to know that 'कॉल' means a phone call. It is one of the easiest words to learn because it sounds exactly like the English word. You will mostly use it in very short sentences like 'मुझे कॉल करो' (Call me) or 'एक कॉल' (One call). At this stage, don't worry too much about complex grammar; just focus on the fact that 'कॉल' is a thing you do with a phone. You might see it on your mobile screen in India. Remember that it is a masculine word, so you say 'मेरा कॉल' (my call). It is a great 'bridge word' that helps you feel confident speaking Hindi early on because you already know the pronunciation. Just remember to use it with 'करना' (to do) to make it an action.

At the A2 level, you should start using 'कॉल' in more complete sentences and understand its basic grammar. You should know that to say 'I am calling you', you need the postposition 'को'—'मैं आपको कॉल कर रहा हूँ'. You should also be able to talk about receiving calls using the verb 'आना' (to come), as in 'उसका कॉल आया' (His call came/He called). You will also encounter common variations like 'मिस कॉल' (missed call). At this level, you should be careful not to confuse 'कॉल' (call) with 'कल' (tomorrow/yesterday). One has an 'o' sound, the other has a short 'a' sound. You can now use 'कॉल' to handle basic tasks, like calling a shop to ask about their hours or calling a friend to meet up.

At the B1 level, you can use 'कॉल' in more varied contexts, such as work or social planning. You should be comfortable with phrases like 'कॉल पर बात करना' (to talk on a call) and 'कॉल वेटिंग' (call waiting). You might start using it in the passive voice or with modal verbs, like 'मुझे उसे कॉल करना चाहिए' (I should call him). You also begin to understand the cultural nuance of calling in India, such as the polite ways to end a call or how to handle 'अनजान कॉल' (unknown calls). You can describe problems with calls, such as 'आवाज़ कट रही है' (the voice is breaking) or 'कॉल ड्रॉप हो गया' (the call dropped). Your vocabulary expands to include related terms like 'संपर्क' (contact) for more formal situations.

At the B2 level, you use 'कॉल' fluently in professional and complex social situations. You can participate in a 'कॉन्फ़्रेंस कॉल' (conference call) and use specific terminology like 'कॉल रिकॉर्डिंग' or 'कॉल डाइवर्ट'. You understand the difference between 'कॉल करना' and more formal expressions like 'दूरभाष पर वार्ता करना'. You can use 'कॉल' in idiomatic ways or within complex sentence structures, such as 'जैसे ही मेरा कॉल खत्म हुआ, वह आ गया' (As soon as my call finished, he arrived). You are also aware of the social etiquette regarding when it is appropriate to call someone in India versus sending a message on WhatsApp, reflecting a deeper cultural integration.

At the C1 level, your use of 'कॉल' is indistinguishable from a native speaker. You understand subtle nuances, such as the difference in tone when someone says 'मुझे कॉल करना' (Call me - command/request) versus 'मेरा कॉल उठाना' (Pick up my call - implies urgency or expectation). You can use the word in abstract or metaphorical contexts if they arise in modern Hinglish literature or media. You are familiar with technical jargon related to telecommunications and can discuss topics like 'कॉल टैपिंग' (call tapping) or 'कॉल डेटा रिकॉर्ड' (CDR) in a legal or journalistic context. You can also navigate the nuances of formal vs. informal calling etiquette across different Indian states and social classes.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of the word 'कॉल' and its place within the broader Hindi lexicon. You can analyze the linguistic impact of English loanwords like 'कॉल' on the Hindi language. You can switch effortlessly between the colloquial 'कॉल' and the highly formal Sanskritized 'दूरभाष' or 'संवाद' depending on the audience. You understand the historical evolution of communication in India and can use 'कॉल' in high-level academic or professional discussions about technology, sociology, or linguistics. You are also sensitive to the regional variations in how 'कॉल' might be pronounced or integrated into local dialects across the Hindi-speaking belt.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

कॉल in 30 Seconds

कॉल is the Hindi word for a phone call, borrowed from English.
It is a masculine noun used with verbs like 'करना' (to make) and 'आना' (to receive).
Commonly used in phrases like 'मिस कॉल' (missed call) and 'कॉल उठाना' (to answer).
Essential for daily communication in modern India across all social levels.

The Hindi word कॉल (pronounced as /kɔːl/) is a direct loanword from English, seamlessly integrated into modern Hindi. While traditional Sanskrit-based words like दूरभाष (dūrbhāṣ) exist for 'telephone', they are rarely used in daily conversation. In the contemporary Indian landscape, especially with the explosion of mobile technology, कॉल has become the standard term for a phone call. It is used as a masculine noun. When you want to say 'to call someone', you combine it with the verb करना (karnā - to do), resulting in कॉल करना. Conversely, when you receive a call, you use कॉल आना (kāll ānā).

Grammatical Category: Masculine Noun (Direct Loanword)
Common Usage: Used in both formal and informal settings to refer to telephonic communication.

क्या आपने मुझे कॉल किया था? (Did you call me?)

Understanding the context of कॉल is essential for A2 learners because it appears in almost every social interaction. Whether you are booking a taxi, ordering food, or checking in with a friend, the word कॉल is your primary tool. It is important to distinguish it from the word काल (kāl), which means 'time' or 'tense' in Hindi. While they look similar in the Devanagari script to a beginner, the vowel sound in कॉल is shorter and more rounded, mirroring the English 'call'.

मुझे एक ज़रूरी कॉल करना है। (I have to make an important call.)

Verb Pairing: कॉल करना (To call), कॉल उठाना (To answer a call), कॉल काटना (To disconnect/reject a call).

In the professional world, you will encounter terms like 'कॉन्फ़्रेंस कॉल' (conference call) or 'वीडियो कॉल' (video call). The word is versatile and adapts to the prefix just as it does in English. For a learner, mastering this word provides an immediate bridge between their native English and Hindi, as the phonetics are nearly identical. However, the syntax follows Hindi rules, where the object (the person being called) usually takes the postposition 'को' (ko).

राहुल को कॉल लगाओ। (Place a call to Rahul.)

Using कॉल in a sentence requires an understanding of Hindi's compound verb structure. Since कॉल is a noun, it cannot stand alone as an action. You must pair it with a light verb. The most common pairing is कॉल करना (to make a call). For example, 'मैं तुम्हें कल कॉल करूँगा' (I will call you tomorrow). Notice how the future tense is applied to the verb 'करना', not the word 'कॉल' itself.

Receiving a Call: Use 'आना' (to come). Example: 'उसका कॉल आया था' (His call had come / He called).

माँ का कॉल आ रहा है। (Mom's call is coming / Mom is calling.)

Another important aspect is the use of postpositions. When you call someone, that person is the indirect object. In Hindi, we say 'X को कॉल करना'. For instance, 'डॉक्टर को कॉल करो' (Call the doctor). If you forget the 'को', the sentence might sound incomplete or grammatically incorrect to a native speaker. Furthermore, when referring to a call from someone, we use the possessive 'का/की/के'. Since 'कॉल' is masculine, we use 'का'. Example: 'बॉस का कॉल' (The boss's call).

क्या तुम मेरा कॉल उठा सकते हो? (Can you pick up my call?)

In more advanced usage, you might hear 'कॉल लग जाना' (the call getting connected) or 'कॉल कट जाना' (the call getting disconnected). These passive constructions are very common when discussing network issues, which is a frequent topic of conversation in many parts of India. For example, 'नेटवर्क खराब है, कॉल बार-बार कट रहा है' (The network is bad, the call is repeatedly getting disconnected).

Missed Calls: 'मिस कॉल देना' (To give a missed call) is a specific phrase used to mean 'pinging' someone without wanting them to answer.

पहुँचकर मुझे एक कॉल कर देना। (Give me a call after reaching.)

You will hear the word कॉल everywhere in India—from the bustling streets of Mumbai to quiet villages in Uttar Pradesh. It has completely replaced the more formal Hindi words for telecommunication. In an office environment, you'll hear colleagues saying, 'मैं एक कॉल पर हूँ' (I am on a call). In public transport, it's common to hear people shouting into their phones, 'अभी कॉल मत करो, मैं बस में हूँ' (Don't call right now, I am on the bus).

In Customer Service: 'आपकी कॉल हमारे लिए महत्वपूर्ण है' (Your call is important to us) is a standard recorded message.

कृपया कॉल पर बने रहें। (Please stay on the call.)

Bollywood movies and TV shows are also great places to observe the usage of कॉल. Characters often use it to drive the plot—receiving a 'धमकी भरा कॉल' (threatening call) or a 'खुशखबरी वाला कॉल' (call with good news). In the news, you might hear about 'स्पैम कॉल' (spam calls) or 'स्कैम कॉल' (scam calls), reflecting the modern challenges of digital communication in India. The word is so integrated that it is often used in Hinglish (a blend of Hindi and English) phrases like 'कॉल बैक करना' (to call back).

मुझे कल रात दस कॉल आए। (I received ten calls last night.)

Public Announcements: In airports: 'This is the final call for flight...' is often translated as 'यह आखिरी कॉल है...'.

Furthermore, the rise of the 'Call Center' industry in India has made this word a household name. Millions of Indians work in 'कॉल सेंटर' (call centers), and the term 'कॉल वेटिंग' (call waiting) is understood by almost everyone who owns a mobile phone. Even in rural areas, where Hindi might be more traditional, 'कॉल' has effectively sidelined 'फ़ोन' in many contexts, though 'फ़ोन' remains a strong synonym.

वेटिंग में दूसरा कॉल है। (There is another call on waiting.)

The most frequent mistake English speakers make when using कॉल in Hindi is related to pronunciation and spelling. Because Hindi is a phonetic language, the way you write 'कॉल' determines how you say it. Many beginners confuse कॉल (Call) with काल (Kāl). काल means 'time', 'era', or 'death'. If you say 'मेरा काल आया' instead of 'मेरा कॉल आया', you are literally saying 'My death has come' instead of 'My call has come'—a mistake that could lead to some very confused or worried looks!

Pronunciation Pitfall: Confusing the 'aw' sound in Call with the long 'aa' sound in Kaal.

Incorrect: मैं तुम्हें काल करूँगा। (I will 'time' you.)
Correct: मैं तुम्हें कॉल करूँगा। (I will call you.)

Another common error is treating कॉल as a verb directly. In English, 'call' is both a noun and a verb. In Hindi, you cannot say 'मैं तुम्हें कॉलूँगा'. You must use the noun-verb combination: 'कॉल करना'. Similarly, learners often forget the postposition 'को'. In English, we say 'Call him'. In Hindi, it must be 'उसको कॉल करो'. Omitting the 'को' makes the sentence sound 'broken'.

Mistake: उसने मुझे कॉल की। (He 'did' call - using feminine verb).
Correct: उसने मुझे कॉल किया। (He 'did' call - using masculine verb).

Lastly, gender confusion is common. Since many English loanwords ending in a consonant are treated as masculine in Hindi, कॉल is masculine. Some learners mistakenly treat it as feminine because the Hindi word for 'talk' (बात - bāt) is feminine. Remember: 'मेरा कॉल' (Masc), not 'मेरी कॉल' (Fem). Even if a woman is calling, the call itself remains masculine.

Gender Rule: कॉल is always masculine. Use 'किया', 'आया', 'मेरा', 'बड़ा'.

While कॉल is the most common word, there are several alternatives depending on the level of formality and the specific context. The most frequent synonym is फ़ोन (Phone). In Hindi, 'फ़ोन करना' and 'कॉल करना' are used interchangeably. If you want to sound more traditional or formal, you might use संपर्क करना (sampark karnā), which means 'to contact'.

कॉल vs. फ़ोन: 'कॉल' refers specifically to the act of calling, while 'फ़ोन' can refer to the device or the act. Both are equally common.
कॉल vs. बातचीत: 'बातचीत' (bāt-cīt) means conversation. You might have a 'बातचीत' during a 'कॉल'.

कृपया मुझसे संपर्क करें। (Please contact me - Formal alternative to 'कॉल करें').

In literary or highly formal contexts, you might see दूरभाष (dūrbhāṣ). This is the official Hindi word for telephone, found on government forms or old signage. However, using it in a casual conversation would make you sound like a textbook from the 1950s. Another related word is संदेश (sandeś), which means 'message'. If someone doesn't answer your कॉल, you might leave a संदेश.

मैंने उसे फ़ोन मिलाया पर उसने उठाया नहीं। (I dialed his phone but he didn't pick up.)

Finally, consider the word बुलावा (bulāvā). While it means 'call' in the sense of an 'invitation' or 'summons' (like 'भगवान का बुलावा' - a call from God), it is never used for a phone call. Distinguishing between a technical 'call' (कॉल) and a metaphorical 'call' (बुलावा) is a key step for reaching B1 proficiency.

Summary of Alternatives: 1. फ़ोन (Common) 2. संपर्क (Formal) 3. दूरभाष (Official/Archaic) 4. बातचीत (Conversation).

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"कृपया मेरे कॉल की प्रतीक्षा करें।"

Neutral

"मुझे एक कॉल करना है।"

Informal

"अरे, कॉल कर यार!"

Child friendly

"दादी को कॉल लगाओ।"

Slang

"उसका कॉल टपका।"

Fun Fact

In India, the phrase 'Missed Call' became so popular that it entered the Oxford English Dictionary as a specific cultural phenomenon from the subcontinent.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /kɔːl/

US /kɑːl/

The stress is on the single syllable 'कॉल'.

Rhymes With

मॉल (Mall) हॉल (Hall) बॉल (Ball) टॉल (Tall) स्टॉल (Stall) फॉल (Fall) कॉल (Call) रोल (Roll - near rhyme)

Common Errors

Pronouncing it as 'Kaal' (long 'aa' like father), which means time/death.
Pronouncing it as 'Kal' (short 'a' like cup), which means tomorrow.
Adding an unnecessary 'i' sound at the end.
Treating it as feminine (Kaali).
Confusing it with 'Coal' (कोयला).

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to read as it uses standard characters and looks like the English word.

Writing 2/5

Requires correct placement of the 'crescent' mark (ॉ) over the 'क'.

Speaking 1/5

Almost identical to English pronunciation.

Listening 2/5

Must distinguish from 'Kaal' and 'Kal'.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

मैं तुम करना आना फ़ोन

Learn Next

बातचीत संदेश संपर्क नंबर आवाज़

Advanced

दूरसंचार नेटवर्किंग उपग्रह तरंगें गोपनीयता

Grammar to Know

Compound Verbs with 'Karna'

कॉल + करना = To call.

Postposition 'Ko'

राहुल को कॉल करो (Call Rahul).

Masculine Gender Agreement

मेरा कॉल (My call).

Past Tense of 'Aana'

कॉल आया (Call came).

Imperative Mood

कॉल कीजिए (Please call).

Examples by Level

मुझे कॉल करो।

Call me.

Imperative form of 'कॉल करना'.

यह मेरा कॉल है।

This is my call.

'मेरा' is masculine to match 'कॉल'.

एक कॉल करो।

Make a call.

'एक' means one/a.

कॉल उठाओ।

Pick up the call.

'उठाना' means to lift/pick up.

कॉल काटो।

Cut the call (Hang up).

'काटना' means to cut/disconnect.

किसका कॉल है?

Whose call is it?

'किसका' is the interrogative possessive.

फ़ोन पर कॉल है।

There is a call on the phone.

Locative 'पर' used with 'फ़ोन'.

नमस्ते, कॉल करें।

Hello, please call.

Polite imperative 'करें'.

मैं आपको कल कॉल करूँगा।

I will call you tomorrow.

Future tense of 'करना'.

क्या आपको मेरा कॉल मिला?

Did you get my call?

Past tense with 'मिलना' (to receive/find).

माँ का कॉल आया था।

Mom's call had come.

Past perfect with 'आना'.

मुझे एक ज़रूरी कॉल करना है।

I have to make an important call.

'verb + है' indicates necessity.

वह कॉल पर बात कर रहा है।

He is talking on a call.

Present continuous tense.

अभी कॉल मत करो।

Don't call right now.

'मत' is used for negative commands.

उसने मुझे मिस कॉल दिया।

He gave me a missed call.

Specific Indian English/Hindi phrase.

क्या यह आपका कॉल है?

Is this your call?

Interrogative sentence.

मैं एक कॉन्फ़्रेंस कॉल में हूँ।

I am in a conference call.

Use of English loanword 'conference'.

इंटरव्यू के लिए कॉल आया है।

A call has come for the interview.

Present perfect tense.

कॉल कट गया क्योंकि नेटवर्क खराब था।

The call got cut because the network was bad.

Passive construction 'कट गया'.

आपको कॉल करने की ज़रूरत नहीं है।

There is no need for you to call.

'ज़रूरत' means need.

वह बार-बार कॉल कर रहा है।

He is calling repeatedly.

'बार-बार' means again and again.

कृपया कॉल पर बने रहें।

Please stay on the call.

Formal request 'बने रहें'.

क्या आप मुझे कॉल बैक कर सकते हैं?

Can you call me back?

Use of 'सकना' for ability/possibility.

मुझे अनजान नंबर से कॉल आया।

I got a call from an unknown number.

'अनजान' means unknown.

हम इस बारे में कॉल पर चर्चा करेंगे।

We will discuss this on a call.

'चर्चा करना' means to discuss.

कॉल वेटिंग की सुविधा चालू है।

The call waiting facility is active.

'सुविधा' means facility/feature.

उसने मेरा कॉल जानबूझकर नहीं उठाया।

He deliberately did not pick up my call.

'जानबूझकर' means deliberately.

कॉल रिकॉर्डिंग करना गैरकानूनी हो सकता है।

Recording a call can be illegal.

'गैरकानूनी' means illegal.

वीडियो कॉल के ज़रिए मीटिंग हुई।

The meeting happened via video call.

'के ज़रिए' means via/through.

कॉल सेंटर में काम करना चुनौतीपूर्ण है।

Working in a call center is challenging.

'चुनौतीपूर्ण' means challenging.

आपका कॉल डाइवर्ट कर दिया गया है।

Your call has been diverted.

Passive voice 'कर दिया गया है'.

इंटरनेशनल कॉल बहुत महंगे होते हैं।

International calls are very expensive.

'महंगे' is plural masculine adjective.

अचानक आए उस कॉल ने मेरी दुनिया बदल दी।

That sudden call changed my world.

Relative clause structure.

कॉल की गुणवत्ता नेटवर्क पर निर्भर करती है।

The quality of the call depends on the network.

'गुणवत्ता' means quality.

उसने कॉल पर अपनी गलती स्वीकार की।

He admitted his mistake over the call.

'स्वीकार करना' means to accept/admit.

क्या आपने कॉल लॉग्स चेक किए?

Did you check the call logs?

Plural object 'logs'.

कॉल के दौरान शोर बहुत था।

There was a lot of noise during the call.

'के दौरान' means during.

धमकी भरे कॉल की रिपोर्ट दर्ज की गई।

A report of the threatening call was filed.

'धमकी भरा' means threatening.

कॉल ड्राप की समस्या आम हो गई है।

The problem of call drops has become common.

'आम' means common.

बिना अनुमति के कॉल सुनना गलत है।

Listening to calls without permission is wrong.

'अनुमति' means permission.

कूटनीतिक स्तर पर कॉल का आदान-प्रदान हुआ।

There was an exchange of calls at the diplomatic level.

'आदान-प्रदान' means exchange.

कॉल की गोपनीयता बनाए रखना अनिवार्य है।

Maintaining the privacy of the call is mandatory.

'गोपनीयता' means privacy/confidentiality.

दूरसंचार क्रांति ने कॉल की लागत कम कर दी।

The telecom revolution reduced the cost of calls.

'दूरसंचार' means telecommunications.

कॉल के माध्यम से साक्ष्य जुटाए गए।

Evidence was gathered through the call.

'साक्ष्य' means evidence.

यह कॉल ऐतिहासिक महत्व का था।

This call was of historical importance.

'ऐतिहासिक' means historical.

कॉल की अवधि को लेकर विवाद हुआ।

There was a dispute regarding the duration of the call.

'अवधि' means duration.

स्पैम कॉल को रोकने के लिए कड़े कानून चाहिए।

Strict laws are needed to stop spam calls.

'कड़े' means strict.

कॉल के अंत में उसने एक रहस्य उजागर किया।

At the end of the call, he revealed a secret.

'उजागर करना' means to reveal.

Common Collocations

कॉल करना

कॉल आना

कॉल उठाना

कॉल काटना

मिस कॉल

कॉन्फ़्रेंस कॉल

ज़रूरी कॉल

अनजान कॉल

कॉल वेटिंग

कॉल बैक

Common Phrases

कॉल पर रहना

कॉल मिलाना

कॉल लग जाना

कॉल होल्ड पर रखना

कॉल हिस्ट्री

कॉल रिकॉर्ड करना

कॉल ड्रॉप होना

कॉल डाइवर्ट करना

कॉल सेंटर

वीडियो कॉल

Often Confused With

कॉल vs काल (Kāl)

Means time, era, or death. Pronounced with a long 'aa'.

कॉल vs कल (Kal)

Means yesterday or tomorrow. Pronounced with a short 'a'.

कॉल vs खाल (Khāl)

Means skin or hide. Starts with a different consonant 'Kh'.

Idioms & Expressions

"कॉल का इंतज़ार करना"

To wait anxiously for a call.

मैं सुबह से तुम्हारे कॉल का इंतज़ार कर रहा हूँ।

Informal

"कॉल पर जान निकलना"

To be terrified by a specific call (metaphorical).

बॉस का कॉल देखकर मेरी जान निकल गई।

Slang

"कॉल की घंटी बजना"

Literally 'the bell ringing', but often used to mean someone is reaching out.

किस्मत की घंटी बजी और उसका कॉल आया।

Literary

"कॉल से जुड़ना"

To connect via call.

हम कॉल से जुड़े हुए हैं।

Neutral

"कॉल में खो जाना"

To be deeply engrossed in a phone conversation.

वह कॉल में इतना खो गया कि रास्ता भूल गया।

Informal

"कॉल का जवाब देना"

To answer a call or respond to one.

उसने मेरे कॉल का जवाब नहीं दिया।

Neutral

"कॉल पर लड़ना"

To have an argument over the phone.

वे कॉल पर लड़ रहे थे।

Informal

"कॉल का ताँता लगना"

To receive a continuous stream of calls.

आज तो कॉल्स का ताँता लगा हुआ है।

Informal

"कॉल हवा में होना"

When a call is made but not yet answered (rare).

मेरा कॉल अभी हवा में है।

Slang

"कॉल की दुनिया"

The world of telecommunication.

कॉल की दुनिया बदल गई है।

Poetic

Easily Confused

कॉल vs काल

Visual similarity in Devanagari.

कॉल is a phone call; काल is time/death. The vowel sounds are different.

मेरा कॉल आया (My call came) vs मेरा काल आया (My death came).

कॉल vs कल

Phonetic similarity for beginners.

कल means tomorrow/yesterday; कॉल is a phone call.

कल कॉल करना (Call tomorrow).

कॉल vs कुल

Similar looking.

कुल means total or family lineage.

कुल मिलाकर (In total).

कॉल vs खोल

Rhyming sound.

खोल means to open.

दरवाज़ा खोल (Open the door).

कॉल vs गोल

Rhyming sound.

गोल means round or a goal in sports.

बॉल गोल है (The ball is round).

Sentence Patterns

[Subject] [Object] को कॉल करो।

तुम माँ को कॉल करो।

[Subject] का कॉल आया।

दोस्त का कॉल आया।

मैं [Time] को कॉल करूँगा।

मैं शाम को कॉल करूँगा।

क्या मैं [Topic] के लिए कॉल कर सकता हूँ?

क्या मैं मदद के लिए कॉल कर सकता हूँ?

कॉल के दौरान [Event] हुआ।

कॉल के दौरान झगड़ा हुआ।

कॉल की [Property] [Adjective] है।

कॉल की गुणवत्ता खराब है।

मुझे [Adjective] कॉल करना है।

मुझे ज़रूरी कॉल करना है।

[Subject] कॉल पर है।

पापा कॉल पर हैं।

Word Family

Nouns

Verbs

Adjectives

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in urban areas, high in rural areas.

Common Mistakes

Using 'कॉल' as a verb (e.g., मैं तुम्हें कॉलूँगा). → मैं तुम्हें कॉल करूँगा।
In Hindi, nouns like 'कॉल' require a helper verb like 'करना' to become an action.
Saying 'मेरी कॉल' (feminine). → मेरा कॉल (masculine).
The word 'कॉल' is masculine in Hindi, regardless of who is calling.
Confusing 'कॉल' with 'काल'. → कॉल (Call) vs काल (Time).
The vowel sound in 'कॉल' is rounded, while 'काल' has a flat 'aa' sound.
Omitting 'को' (e.g., उसे कॉल करो vs वह कॉल करो). → उसको कॉल करो।
The person being called needs the postposition 'को'.
Using 'बुलावा' for a phone call. → कॉल
'बुलावा' means a summons or invitation, not a telephonic call.

Tips

Verb Pairing

Always pair 'कॉल' with 'करना' for the active voice and 'आना' for the passive/receiving voice.

The 'O' Sound

Ensure you use the rounded 'o' sound (ॉ) to avoid saying 'Kaal' (death).

Missed Call Culture

Don't be surprised if someone gives you a 'missed call'; it's often just a way to say 'I'm here'.

Loanwords

Hindi uses many English tech words. 'कॉल', 'मैसेज', and 'इंटरनेट' are all standard.

Politeness

Use 'कॉल कीजिए' instead of 'कॉल करो' when speaking to elders or in a professional setting.

Network Issues

Learn the phrase 'आवाज़ कट रही है' (voice is breaking) for when the call quality is bad.

Spelling

The dot-less crescent (ॉ) is crucial for writing 'कॉल' correctly in Devanagari.

Context Clues

If you hear 'कॉल' followed by 'सेंटर', it refers to the workplace, not a specific phone call.

Rhyme Time

Rhyme 'कॉल' with 'मॉल' (Mall) to remember the correct vowel sound.

Daily Use

Next time you pick up your phone, say 'मुझे कॉल करना है' to yourself to practice.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Call' as a 'Ball' of sound rolling through the phone lines. Call rhymes with Ball.

Visual Association

Imagine a giant telephone with the word 'कॉल' written on the screen in bright neon lights.

Word Web

Phone Talk Mobile Number Dial Answer Hang up Voice

Challenge

Try to use 'कॉल' in three different sentences today: one for making a call, one for receiving, and one for a missed call.

Word Origin

Borrowed from English 'call'.

Original meaning: To cry out, to summon, or to communicate by telephone.

Indo-European (via Germanic/English).

Cultural Context

Be aware that calling late at night is generally considered rude in India unless it's an emergency.

English speakers will find this word very easy as it is a direct loan. The main hurdle is the Hindi grammar surrounding it.

The movie 'Hello' (based on a call center) The song 'Ring Ring Ringa' Common TV tropes of 'wrong calls'

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Office

कॉल पर हूँ
कॉन्फ़्रेंस कॉल
कॉल ट्रांसफर करें
क्लाइंट का कॉल

Home

माँ का कॉल
कॉल उठाओ
किसका कॉल है?
खाना खाते समय कॉल मत करो

Travel

नेटवर्क नहीं है
कॉल कट गया
रोमिंग कॉल
पहुँचकर कॉल करना

Emergency

पुलिस को कॉल करो
एम्बुलेंस को कॉल करो
इमरजेंसी कॉल
मदद के लिए कॉल

Social

कल कॉल करूँगा
मिस कॉल देना
वीडियो कॉल करें?
कॉल पर बात हुई

Conversation Starters

"क्या मैं आपको बाद में कॉल कर सकता हूँ?"

"आपका कॉल क्यों नहीं लग रहा था?"

"क्या आपने मेरा मिस कॉल देखा?"

"हमें इस बारे में कॉल पर बात करनी चाहिए।"

"कल रात आपको किसका कॉल आया था?"

Journal Prompts

आज आपको कितने कॉल आए और वे किसके थे?

क्या आपको फोन पर बात करना पसंद है या मैसेज करना?

एक ऐसे कॉल के बारे में लिखें जिसने आपको बहुत खुश कर दिया।

अगर आपको किसी मशहूर हस्ती को कॉल करना हो, तो आप किसे करेंगे?

कॉल सेंटर में काम करने के क्या फायदे और नुकसान हो सकते हैं?

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is masculine. You should say 'मेरा कॉल' and 'कॉल आया'.

No, you must use it with 'करना' (karnā). For example, 'कॉल करो' (Make a call).

They are mostly interchangeable, but 'कॉल' refers specifically to the act of calling, while 'फ़ोन' can also mean the device itself.

You can say 'मैंने आपका कॉल मिस कर दिया' or 'मुझे आपका कॉल नहीं मिला'.

It refers to a call that is disconnected by the caller before it is answered, often used as a signal.

Only in very formal or official government contexts. It is not used in daily conversation.

You can say 'मुझे वापस कॉल करो' or 'मुझे कॉल बैक करो'.

You can say 'कॉल कट गया' or 'कॉल ड्रॉप हो गया'.

Yes, but usually specified as 'वीडियो कॉल'.

You say 'किसका कॉल है?'