... तक नहीं

Not Even

Level 4Sounds Like ... taka nahīṁ

तक नहीं means not even: उसने किताब तक नहीं खोली (She didn't even open the book).

How It Works

After a word, तक can mean even. With नहीं it gives not even, and it shows surprise that something so small or basic did not happen: उसने मुझे फ़ोन तक नहीं किया (He didn't even call me).

Put तक right after the word it stresses, and नहीं before the verb as usual. When तक stresses the action itself, it comes right after the verb and नहीं follows it: उसने मेरी तरफ़ देखा तक नहीं (She didn't even look at me). The verb agrees just as it would without तक: in उसने किताब तक नहीं खोली, खोली still matches किताब.

भी नहीं can also mean not even, but it can mean not either as well. तक नहीं only means not even, and it sounds stronger.

HindiMeaning
शाम तकuntil evening
स्टेशन तकas far as the station
पानी तक नहींnot even water

To tell the meanings apart, look at the word before तक. After a time or a place, it usually means until or as far as. After a thing, a person or an action, it usually means even.

Without नहीं, तक can also mean even in a positive sentence: छोटे बच्चे तक यह गाना जानते हैं (Even little kids know this song).

Examples (5)

  1. उसने मुझे फ़ोन तक नहीं किया।

    He didn't even call me.

    तक stresses फ़ोन: not even a call.

  2. मैंने उसका नाम तक नहीं सुना।

    I haven't even heard her name.

    तक comes right after the word it stresses.

  3. उसने किताब तक नहीं खोली।

    She didn't even open the book.

    खोली still agrees with किताब.

  4. मेरे पास बस का किराया तक नहीं था।

    I didn't even have the bus fare.

    Even something this small was missing.

  5. छोटे बच्चे तक यह गाना जानते हैं।

    Even little kids know this song.

    Without नहीं, तक means even in a positive sentence.

How It Connects

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

... तक नहींLevel 4Not Even

Learn This First

Not even uses तक after a word, usually with नहीं.

Words in This Pattern

तक