मा

In: मा

Level 1Sounds Like mā

मा comes after a noun and means in.

How It Works

मा is one of the most common small words. It follows the noun, as most postpositions do.

PhraseMeaning
घर माin the house
लखनऊ माin Lucknow
बरखा माin the rain
चाय माin the tea

With my or your, use the form that goes before a postposition: हमरे घर मा (in my house), तुम्हरे फ्लैट मा (in your flat). With a plural noun, add -न: घरन मा (in the houses). After a number the noun stays plain: दस दिन मा.

For at a shop, a stop or a place with a surface, पर is more common: दुकान पर. For at home alone, there is also the short घरे.

You may see the spelling माँ, with a moon over the vowel. It is the same word. Older poems use महँ.

Examples (5)

  1. हम लखनऊ मा रहत अही।

    I live in Lucknow.

    मा follows the place.

  2. चाय मा केतना चीनी?

    How much sugar in the tea?

    मा works for things as well as places.

  3. बरखा मा हम छत पर नाचत रहेन।

    In the rain, I used to dance on the roof.

    बरखा मा means in the rain.

  4. ऊ कैंटीन मा अहै।

    He is in the canteen.

    A place with मा.

  5. हमरे घर मा चार लोग अहैं।

    There are four people in my house.

    हमरे is हमार before a postposition.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi word में.

    हम घर में अही।
    हम घर मा अही।

    Awadhi says मा for in.

How It Connects

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

माLevel 1In: मा

Learn This First

A phrase with मा sits inside the sentence before the verb.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

मा