नहि तँ

Otherwise

Level 3Sounds Like nahi tam̐

नहि तँ means "otherwise" or "or else".

How It Works

Use नहि तँ in the middle of a sentence, with a comma before it.

First clauseनहि तँResult
जल्दी चलू,नहि तँगाड़ी छूटि जाएत।
पढ़ू,नहि तँपरीक्षा मे फेल होएब।
घर चलू,नहि तँबरखा मे भीजि जाएब।

The first clause often holds a command. It can also be a statement: हम आइ आएब, नहि तँ काल्हि फोन करब (I will come today, or else I will call tomorrow).

It is a short form of "if you do not" and works like जँ नहि, तँ. The longer form is rare. Write नहि and तँ as two words.

Hindi says "नहीं तो". Maithili uses नहि तँ.

Examples (5)

  1. जल्दी चलू, नहि तँ गाड़ी छूटि जाएत।

    Hurry, or we'll miss the train.

    नहि तँ introduces the result.

  2. पढ़ू, नहि तँ परीक्षा मे फेल होएब।

    Study, or you'll fail the exam.

    फेल होएब: the result.

  3. घर चलू, नहि तँ बरखा मे भीजि जाएब।

    Let's go home, or we'll get wet in the rain.

    भीजि जाएब: the result.

  4. भोरे उठू, नहि तँ स्कूल मे देरी भऽ जाएत।

    Get up early, or you will be late for school.

    The result is in the future.

  5. पानि पिबू, नहि तँ थाकि जाएब।

    Drink water, or you'll get tired.

    थाकि जाएब: the result.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the Hindi नहीं तो.

    जल्दी चलू, नहीं तो गाड़ी छूटि जाएत।
    जल्दी चलू, नहि तँ गाड़ी छूटि जाएत।

    नहीं तो is Hindi. Maithili uses नहि तँ.

How It Connects

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

नहि तँLevel 3Otherwise

Learn This First

नहि तँ is made of नहि and the तँ of if sentences.

Words in This Pattern

नहितँजँ