काहे

Asking Why: काहे

Level 1Sounds Like kāhē

काहे asks why.

How It Works

काहे means why. It goes right before the part that needs explaining.

QuestionMeaning
तुम काहे हँसत हौ?Why are you laughing?
ऊ काहे नाहीं आवा?Why did he not come?
तू काहे रोवत अहस?Why are you crying?

With नाहीं, काहे comes first: काहे नाहीं. A friendly suggestion can use it too: काहे नाहीं चलत हौ? means why don't you come along?

The answer often starts with काहे से कि (because): काहे से कि पानी बरसत रहा (because it was raining).

काहे can sound sharp in a strong voice, so say it gently with friends.

Examples (5)

  1. तुम काहे हँसत हौ?

    Why are you laughing?

    काहे comes before the verb.

  2. ऊ काहे नाहीं आवा?

    Why did he not come?

    काहे comes before नाहीं.

  3. तू काहे रोवत अहस?

    Why are you crying?

    The helper अहस goes with तू.

  4. आप काहे परेसान अहैं?

    Why are you worried?

    The plural helper shows respect.

  5. काहे नाहीं चलत हौ?

    Why don't you come along?

    A friendly invitation.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

काहेLevel 1Asking Why: काहे

Learn This First

काहे usually asks about what someone is doing, as in तुम काहे हँसत हौ?

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

काहे