को लागि

For Someone or Something

Level 1Sounds Like kō lāgi

को लागि names the person or thing something is meant for.

How It Works

को लागि is a two-word postposition that means for. The first word, को, joins to the noun before it. The second word, लागि, is written apart in standard spelling.

ForNepali
for you (polite)तपाईंको लागि
for you (friend)तिम्रो लागि
for meमेरो लागि
for motherआमाको लागि

Use it for who something is meant for: यो चिया तपाईंको लागि हो (this tea is for you). It also names who you work for: उहाँ परिवारको लागि काम गर्नुहुन्छ.

Newspapers often write का लागि instead of को लागि. Both are correct, and this course teaches को लागि first.

Examples (5)

  1. यो चिया तपाईंको लागि हो।

    This tea is for you.

    को joins तपाईं to make तपाईंको, and लागि stays apart.

  2. म आमाको लागि फूल किन्छु।

    I buy flowers for my mother.

    आमाको लागि names who the flowers are for.

  3. यो उपहार मेरो भाइको लागि हो।

    This gift is for my younger brother.

    The noun भाइ takes को, then लागि.

  4. उहाँ परिवारको लागि काम गर्नुहुन्छ।

    She works for her family.

    को joins परिवार to make परिवारको, and लागि stays apart.

  5. हामी बच्चाहरूको लागि दूध किन्छौँ।

    We buy milk for the children.

    को follows the plural हरू and joins to it.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out को.

    यो चिया तपाईं लागि हो।
    यो चिया तपाईंको लागि हो।

    लागि needs the word for your or को before it.

  • Joining लागि to को.

    यो चिया तपाईंकोलागि हो।
    यो चिया तपाईंको लागि हो।

    लागि is its own word and is written apart.

How It Connects

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

को लागिLevel 1For Someone or Something

Learn This First

को लागि means for and is made from the possessive ending.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.