-वा / -या

The One We Mean: -वा and -या

Level 2Sounds Like vā ā -yā

लइकवा means the boy we both know.

How It Works

NounDefinite
लइका boyलइकवा
घर houseघरवा
लइकी girlलइकिया
बात matterबतिया
गाड़ी vehicleगड़िया
किताब bookकिताबिया

It is not the English the. A plain noun is already fine: लइका कहाँ गइल? is a normal question. The ending adds a friendly, familiar tone and tells the listener that you both know which one you mean.

The ending is also used in songs and in affectionate talk.

Do not add it to a name of a respected person, such as बाबूजी, चाचा जी or मास्टर साहेब. It would sound rude.

Examples (5)

  1. लइकवा कहाँ गइल?

    Where did the boy go?

    लइकवा.

  2. घरवा नीक बा।

    The house is nice.

    घरवा.

  3. लइकिया स्कूल गइली।

    The girl went to school.

    लइकिया.

  4. ई बतिया तू काहे कहलऽ?

    Why did you say this?

    बतिया.

  5. गड़िया कब आई?

    When will the vehicle come?

    गड़िया.

Common Mistakes

  • Using it for a respected person.

    बाबूजीवा आवत बाड़ें।
    बाबूजी आवत बाड़ें।

    Do not add -वा to a respected person.

How It Connects

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

-वा / -याLevel 2The One We Mean: -वा and -या

Learn This First

-वा and -या depend on the noun's gender and can sound rude about people you respect.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.