अ- / अन- / बे-
Negative Prefixes
अ-, अन- and बे- mean not or without: संभव (possible) → असंभव (impossible), घर → बेघर (homeless).
How It Works
These prefixes make opposites, the way un-, in- and -less do in English.
| Prefix | Usually joins | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| अ- | Sanskrit-based words that start with a consonant | असंभव (impossible), असफल (unsuccessful), अशांत (restless) |
| अन- | words that start with a vowel, and many everyday words | अनुपस्थित (absent), अनपढ़ (unable to read), अनजान (unfamiliar) |
| बे- | Persian-based words, and some everyday Hindi words such as घर | बेकार (useless), बेघर (homeless), बेईमान (dishonest) |
Two more Persian prefixes work the same way: ना- (नापसंद, disliked; नामुमकिन, impossible) and ग़ैर- (ग़ैरक़ानूनी, illegal; ग़ैरज़रूरी, unnecessary). The Sanskrit-based नि- and निर्- mean without: निडर (fearless), निर्दोष (innocent).
The prefix generally matches where the word comes from. That is why Hindi has two words for impossible: Sanskrit-based असंभव, which sounds more formal, and Persian-based नामुमकिन, which is common in speech.
Most of these words are adjectives that do not end in -आ, so they never change: बेकार फ़ोन, बेकार बातें. Some have more than one meaning: बेकार means useless and also out of work.
Examples (5)
- इतने कम समय में यह काम असंभव है।
This job is impossible in so little time.
अ- turns संभव (possible) into असंभव.
- मेरी दादी अनपढ़ थीं, लेकिन बहुत समझदार थीं।
My grandmother couldn't read or write, but she was very wise.
अन- joins the everyday verb पढ़ (read): अनपढ़.
- यह शहर मेरे लिए अनजान है।
This city is unfamiliar to me.
अनजान means unknown or unfamiliar.
- यह पुराना फ़ोन अब बेकार है।
This old phone is useless now.
बेकार takes the Persian prefix बे- and never changes form.
- वह दुकानदार बेईमान निकला।
That shopkeeper turned out to be dishonest.
ईमान (honesty) takes the Persian prefix बे-.
Common Mistakes
Using अ- with a Persian-based word.
वह दुकानदार अईमानदार है।वह दुकानदार बेईमान है।ईमानदार comes from Persian, so its opposite uses बे-: बेईमान.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Negative prefixes depend on a word's source.
Related Patterns
- सुंदरता / बचपन / अच्छाईMaking Abstract Nouns
Suffixes also build new words, and they combine with prefixes: असफल → असफलता (failure).
Level 5 - Compound Words
Compounds are another way formal Hindi builds words from parts.
Level 6 - लाल / सुंदरAdjectives That Do Not Change
Most prefixed adjectives do not end in -आ, so they never change.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice अ- / अन- / बे- in Bubblegum
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