कहिले

Asking When

Level 1Sounds Like kahilē

कहिले means when.

How It Works

कहिले is the question word for when. It sits before the verb, where the time word would sit in the answer.

QuestionPossible answer
तपाईं कहिले आउनुहुन्छ?म भोलि आउँछु।
बस कहिले जान्छ?बस बिहान जान्छ।
हामी कहिले जान्छौँ?हामी आज जान्छौँ।

The present form often points to the near future. म भोलि आउँछु can mean I come tomorrow or I will come tomorrow, so the time word does the work.

The answers use time words such as आज (today), भोलि (tomorrow), बिहान (morning) and अहिले (now).

कहिले is a different word from कहिल्यै (ever, never), which comes at Level 2. Do not forget the final े in कहिले.

Examples (5)

  1. तपाईं कहिले आउनुहुन्छ?

    When are you coming?

    कहिले asks the time, and the verb is polite.

  2. तिमी कहिले जान्छौ?

    When do you go?

    The friendly form of the question.

  3. बस कहिले जान्छ?

    When does the bus go?

    कहिले asks about a regular time.

  4. सरिता कहिले आउँछे?

    When does Sarita come?

    The ending -छे agrees with Sarita.

  5. हामी कहिले जान्छौँ?

    When do we go?

    The present form asks about a plan.

How It Connects

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

कहिलेLevel 1Asking When

Learn This First

कहिले asks for a time, so the learner needs the time words.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.