-औँ / -ऊँ

Let's and Shall I

Level 2Sounds Like aum̐ ra -ūm̐

-औँ is for us together. -ऊँ is for me offering.

How It Works

Two short endings cover many everyday suggestions.

IdeaEndingExample
Let us-औँहामी बसौँ।
Shall I?-ऊँम गरूँ?

After a stem that ends in a consonant, the ending is joined: बस्- becomes बसौँ, गर्- becomes गरौँ and खेल्- becomes खेलौँ. After a vowel stem, it is a separate sound: जा- becomes जाऔँ and खा- becomes खाऔँ. A stem that ends in उ drops it first: पिउ- becomes पिऔँ and आउ- becomes आऔँ.

The offer form uses a long ऊ: गरूँ, जाऊँ, ल्याऊँ. It is not the same as the plain present म गर्छु, which says what you do. गरूँ asks if you should.

A friend says जाऔँ, and a shopkeeper says म दिऊँ? (shall I give it to you?).

Examples (5)

  1. हामी जाऔँ।

    Let us go.

    -औँ after a vowel stem makes a suggestion.

  2. हामी यहाँ बसौँ।

    Let us sit here.

    The stem बस- takes -औँ.

  3. म पानी ल्याऊँ?

    Shall I bring water?

    -ऊँ makes an offer.

  4. म ढोका खोलूँ?

    Shall I open the door?

    After a consonant stem the offer ends in -ूँ.

  5. हामी चिया पिऔँ।

    Let us drink tea.

    पिउ- drops its उ and adds -औँ: पिऔँ.

Common Mistakes

  • Using -औँ when you offer to do it yourself.

    म जाऔँ?
    म जाऊँ?

    When you offer to do it yourself, use -ऊँ. -औँ is for us.

How It Connects

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

-औँ / -ऊँLevel 2Let's and Shall I

Learn This First

Let's is a suggestion built on commands.