-ैत छी

Present Habits and Facts

Level 1Sounds Like ̔aita chī

Add -ैत to the verb and a form of to be for habits, facts and what is true now.

How It Works

To build the present, take the verb stem, add -ैत, and then put the right form of to be after it.

Personपढ़ब (study)
हम, अहाँपढ़ैत छी
तोँपढ़ैत छह
ओ (respected)पढ़ैत छथि
ओ (plain)पढ़ैत अछि

A long vowel in a short stem often gets shorter: आब becomes अबैत, पीब becomes पिबैत, बाज becomes बजैत. Some keep it: नाचैत, चाहैत. A few verbs differ: जाइत, खाइत, दैत, लैत.

The same form covers habits (I drink tea every day) and facts (she lives in Darbhanga). For something happening right now, the progressive is clearer.

To make a negative, put नहि before the verb: हम माछ नहि खाइत छी. A question keeps the same order and uses a rising voice.

Never mix in the Hindi -ता हूँ or -ती है.

Examples (5)

  1. हम मैथिली पढ़ैत छी।

    I study Maithili.

    पढ़ैत plus छी.

  2. ओ भोरे उठैत छथि।

    She gets up early.

    छथि shows respect.

  3. अहाँ चाह पिबैत छी?

    Do you drink tea?

    The same ending as for हम.

  4. बउआ दूध पिबैत अछि।

    The little boy drinks milk.

    अछि is for a child.

  5. हम सभ रोज स्कूल जाइत छी।

    We go to school every day.

    जाइत is the present stem of जाएब.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi present ending.

    हम मैथिली पढ़ता हूँ।
    हम मैथिली पढ़ैत छी।

    Maithili uses -ैत and छी; -ता हूँ is Hindi.

How It Connects

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

-ैत छीLevel 1Present Habits and Facts

Learn This First

This present form ends in a form of to be, so छी, छथि and अछि come first.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

And 2 more in the full list.

Words in This Pattern

छीछहछथिअछि