यौ / यै

Calling Out to Someone

Level 3Sounds Like yau ā yai

यौ calls a man politely and यै calls a woman politely.

How It Works

These are short calling words.

WordWhoExample
यौa man, politelyसुनू यौ!
यैa woman, politelyसुनू यै!
रौa boy or man, closeरौ बउआ, एतय आ!
गैa girl or woman, closeगै, पानि दे!

यौ and यै also keep a conversation going. यौ भाइ, एकर दाम कतेक अछि? (Brother, how much is this?). हँ यै, अहाँ कखन अएलहुँ? (Yes, when did you come?, said between women friends).

Use the polite pair with अहाँ and the polite commands: सुनू, आउ, बैसू. Use the close pair with तोँ and the close commands: आ, दे, जो.

Do not use रौ or गै with a stranger or an elder. They sound rude.

यौ is also a friendly interjection that adds surprise: मानि गेलहुँ यौ! (I give in, wow!).

Examples (5)

  1. सुनू यौ!

    Excuse me, sir!

    यौ calls a man politely.

  2. सुनू यै!

    Excuse me, ma'am!

    यै calls a woman politely.

  3. यौ भाइ, एकर दाम कतेक अछि?

    Brother, how much is this?

    यौ with a relation word.

  4. रौ बउआ, एतय आ!

    Hey, little one, come here!

    रौ: a close call to a boy.

  5. गै, पानि दे!

    Hey, give me water!

    गै: a close call to a girl.

How It Connects

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

यौ / यैLevel 3Calling Out to Someone

Learn This First

These calls are usually heard with a polite command, as in सुनू यौ!

Words in This Pattern

यौयैरौगै