खिलाना

The word खिलाना (Khilana) is a beautiful and essential verb in Hindi. At its core, it means to feed. Unlike 'khana' (to eat), which is an action you perform for yourself, 'khilana' is a causative verb. This means you are causing someone else to perform the action of eating.

Think of it as an act of care and love. Whether you are feeding a baby, giving a treat to a dog, or even offering a snack to a guest, you are 'khilana-ing' them. It is a very common word used in daily life, reflecting the culture of hospitality and nurturing found in South Asia.

The word खिलाना traces its roots back to the Sanskrit word khad, which means to eat. Over centuries, as the language evolved into Hindi, the verb form shifted to khana. The suffix -la (or -na) is a classic grammatical marker used in Hindi to turn a simple verb into a causative one.

Historically, in ancient Indian households, feeding others was considered a sacred duty. Because of this, the linguistic evolution of 'khilana' is deeply tied to social customs. It is not just about nutrition; it is about hospitality and the bond between the provider and the receiver.

You will hear खिलाना everywhere in India. Use it when you are the one putting food into someone's mouth or providing the meal. For example, 'Bacche ko khilana' (feeding the child) is a very common daily phrase.

It is also used in a metaphorical sense. You might say 'dawai khilana' (to feed/give medicine) or even 'dhokha khilana' (to deceive someone, literally 'to feed betrayal'). It is a versatile word that fits well in both casual family settings and slightly more descriptive, dramatic contexts.

1. Dhokha khilana: To betray someone. Example: Usne mujhe dhokha khilaya. (He betrayed me.)

2. Dawai khilana: To administer medicine. Example: Maa bacche ko dawai khila rahi hai. (Mom is giving medicine to the child.)

3. Ghas khilana: To ignore someone or treat them as unimportant. Example: Woh mujhe ghas bhi nahi khilata. (He doesn't even care about me.)

4. Kasam khilana: To make someone swear an oath. Example: Maine use kasam khilai. (I made him swear.)

5. Chane ke jhaad par chadhana/khilana: To flatter someone excessively. Example: Woh use chane khila raha hai. (He is flattering him.)

Khilana is a transitive verb. In the past tense, it follows the ne rule (e.g., 'Maine use khilaya'). It is a regular verb that conjugates based on the gender and number of the object being fed.

Pronunciation is straightforward: khi-laa-naa. The 'kh' is an aspirated guttural sound. It rhymes with 'pilana' (to make someone drink) and 'dilana' (to make someone get something). Keep the 'aa' sounds long and clear to sound like a native speaker.