पो

Surprise and Contrast with पो

Level 4Sounds Like pō

Put पो after the word that carries the surprise or the contrast.

How It Works

The word पो works like the English only now or it is this one that. It sits after one word and puts a spotlight on it.

SentenceSpotlight
अहिले पो थाहा भयो।only now
मलाई चिया पो मन पर्छ।it is tea I like
उसले पो गल्ती गर्‍यो।he is the one who erred

It often carries a little surprise or complaint, so a friendly face and tone help.

Do not mix up पो with त. The word त mostly marks a topic, and पो adds new or contrasting information. In a question, पो often suggests that you expected another answer.

Examples (5)

  1. अहिले पो थाहा भयो।

    I only found out now.

    पो stresses अहिले.

  2. तिमी त आज पो आयौ, हामी त बिहानैदेखि कुरिरहेका थियौँ।

    You only came today, and we have been waiting since morning.

    पो shows the surprise at the late arrival.

  3. मलाई चिया पो मन पर्छ, कफी होइन।

    It is tea that I like, not coffee.

    पो marks चिया against कफी.

  4. यो पो राम्रो छ!

    This one is the nice one!

    पो points at यो.

  5. उसले पो गल्ती गर्‍यो, मैले होइन।

    It was he who made the mistake, not me.

    पो marks उसले.

Common Mistakes

  • Using पो when nothing is new or surprising.

    नमस्ते, मेरो नाम सरिता पो हो।
    नमस्ते, मेरो नाम सरिता हो।

    पो adds surprise or contrast, so in a plain introduction it sounds as if the listener expected another name. Leave it out when you only give plain information.

How It Connects

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

पोLevel 4Surprise and Contrast with पो

Learn This First

पो shows surprise.