ई / ओ
This and That, He and She
ई means this or he or she nearby, and ओ means that or he or she farther away.
How It Works
ई points to something near. ओ points to something farther away. Each word also means he or she, so Maithili does not separate the two.
| Word | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|
| ई | this; he or she nearby | ई हमर घर अछि। |
| ओ | that; he or she | ओ हमर संगी छथि। |
The verb tells you how to read ओ and ई. With छथि, the person is respected: ओ छथि. With अछि, the person is a child, a friend you call by तोँ, or a thing: ओ अछि.
The words for his and her also depend on respect: हुनक for a respected person and ओकर for anyone else.
When ई or ओ comes before a noun and a postposition, it becomes एहि or ओहि: एहि घर मे (in this house), ओहि दिन (that day). A later entry covers them.
Hindi यह and वह do not exist in Maithili.
Examples (5)
- ई हमर घर अछि।
This is my house.
ई points to something near.
- ओ हमर संगी छथि।
He is my friend.
छथि shows respect for the friend.
- ई नेहा छथि।
This is Neha.
ई can introduce a person nearby.
- ओ बउआ स्कूल जाइत अछि।
That little boy goes to school.
ओ with अछि refers to a child.
- ई कलम नीक अछि।
This pen is good.
ई before a noun points to a thing.
Common Mistakes
Using the Hindi यह and वह.
यह हमर घर अछि।ई हमर घर अछि।Maithili says ई and ओ.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The same word ओ covers a respected and a plain person, so the idea that the verb shows respect comes first.
Related Patterns
- छी / छथि / अछिBeing in the Present
The verb shows whether the person is respected.
Level 1 - हुनकRespectful His or Her
हुनक is the his or her for a respected person.
Level 1 - एहि / ओहिThis and That Before Postpositions
ई and ओ become एहि and ओहि before a postposition.
Level 2 - हमर / अहाँक / ओकरMy, Your and His or Her
ओकर is his or her for anyone else.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice ई / ओ in Bubblegum
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