नहि

Saying Not

Level 1Sounds Like nahi

नहि comes before the verb and makes the sentence negative.

How It Works

To say not, put नहि right before the verb.

PositiveNegative
ओ घर मे छथि।ओ घर मे नहि छथि।
हम माछ खाइत छी।हम माछ नहि खाइत छी।
हम जाएब।हम नहि जाएब।

In a sentence with two verbs, such as खाइत छी, नहि usually goes before the whole group. It can also sit before the last verb: डेराइत नहि अछि, सुति नहि सकलहुँ.

नै is the everyday spoken form, as in नै छै (it isn't there). Write नहि in careful writing and use नै only when a speaker would really say it.

You may also see the older spelling नञि in books, but do not write it.

For "nobody" and "nothing", use नहि with a question word: किछु नहि (nothing), कियो नहि (nobody). Those come later.

Examples (5)

  1. ओ घर मे नहि छथि।

    She is not at home.

    नहि comes before छथि.

  2. हम माछ नहि खाइत छी।

    I do not eat fish.

    नहि comes before the verb group.

  3. बउआ स्कूल नहि जाइत अछि।

    The little boy does not go to school.

    नहि is before the main verb.

  4. हम काल्हि नहि आएब।

    I will not come tomorrow.

    नहि comes before the future verb.

  5. ई चाह मीठ नहि अछि।

    This tea is not sweet.

    नहि is before अछि.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi नहीं.

    ओ घर मे नहीं छथि।
    ओ घर मे नहि छथि।

    Maithili writes नहि.

How It Connects

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

नहिLevel 1Saying Not

Learn This First

नहि is placed before a verb, and the forms of to be are the first verbs a learner has.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

नहिनैकिछुकियो