दोनों

Both

Level 2Sounds Like dōnōṁ

दोनों means both: दोनों किताबें (both books), हम दोनों (the two of us).

How It Works

दोनों comes from दो (two) and means both or the two of them.

HindiMeaning
दोनों भाईboth brothers
दोनों बहनेंboth sisters
हम दोनोंboth of us, the two of us
आप दोनोंboth of you
वे दोनोंboth of them

Before a noun, दोनों is followed by the plural form, and the verb is plural: दोनों किताबें मेज़ पर हैं.

After a pronoun, दोनों comes second: हम दोनों, never दोनों हम. It can also stand alone when it is clear who the two are: दोनों यहाँ हैं (Both are here).

Before a postposition, दोनों stays the same but the noun changes: दोनों बच्चों को, दोनों बहनों के साथ. On its own it simply takes the postposition: दोनों को, दोनों के लिए. After a pronoun, the pronoun changes instead: उन दोनों को, इन दोनों के लिए.

Examples (5)

  1. दोनों बच्चे खेल रहे हैं।

    Both children are playing.

    दोनों takes a plural noun and a plural verb.

  2. दोनों किताबें मेज़ पर हैं।

    Both books are on the table.

    With feminine किताब, the plural is किताबें.

  3. हम दोनों दिल्ली में रहते हैं।

    Both of us live in Delhi.

    After a pronoun, दोनों comes second.

  4. आप दोनों कहाँ जा रहे हैं?

    Where are you two going?

    आप दोनों addresses two people politely.

  5. मैंने दोनों को बुलाया।

    I called both of them.

    Alone, दोनों simply takes को.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a singular noun or verb after दोनों.

    दोनों बच्चा खेल रहा है।
    दोनों बच्चे खेल रहे हैं।

    Both means two, so the noun and the verb are plural.

How It Connects

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

दोनोंLevel 2Both

Learn This First

Both is formed from the number two.

Words in This Pattern

दोनों