बहुत / तनी

A Lot and a Little

Level 1Sounds Like bahuta ā tanī

बहुत makes something stronger, and तनी makes it smaller or gentler.

How It Works

बहुत and तनी do not change for gender or number.

WordMeaningExample
बहुतveryचाय बहुत गरम बा।
बहुतa lotहमरा बहुत भूख लागल बा।
तनीa littleतनी चीनी दीं।
तनीsoftenerतनी रुकीं।

As a softener, तनी does not tell the listener to do less. It only makes the request kinder. Learners use it often, because plain commands can sound hard.

You can also say तनी-तनी for a little at a time: तनी-तनी खाईं. And तनिके means just a little bit.

Examples (5)

  1. ई चाय बहुत गरम बा।

    This tea is very hot.

    बहुत comes before the adjective.

  2. हमरा बहुत भूख लागल बा।

    I am very hungry.

    बहुत strengthens the feeling.

  3. तनी चीनी दीं।

    Please give a little sugar.

    तनी means a little.

  4. तनी रुकीं।

    Please wait a moment.

    तनी softens the request.

  5. तनी धीरे बोलऽ।

    Speak a little more slowly.

    तनी softens the command.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi word for a little.

    थोड़ा चीनी दीं।
    तनी चीनी दीं।

    Use तनी in Bhojpuri.

How It Connects

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

बहुत / तनीLevel 1A Lot and a Little

Learn This First

बहुत goes before an adjective, and तनी softens a polite request.

Words in This Pattern

बहुततनी