Time to clean up! In this lesson, you'll learn the Hindi words for everyday household chores — sweeping (झाड़ू [jhāṛū]), mopping (पोछा [pochā]), washing dishes (बर्तन धोना [bartan dhonā]), and more. You'll also master the crucial grammar of obligation: how to say 'I have to...' and 'I should...' in Hindi. Whether you're living in a PG or a joint family home, these words are essential!
Learning tips
- In Hindi, chores are often described with compound verbs: झाड़ू लगाना [jhāṛū lagānā] = to sweep (literally: 'apply the broom'), not just झाड़ू करना.
- चाहिए [cāhie] (should) never changes form — it's always चाहिए regardless of who's speaking. But पड़ेगा/होगा [paṛegā/hogā] (will have to) changes with gender.
- In Delhi PGs, chores are often shared between roommates. The phrase काम बाँटना [kām bā̃ṭnā] (dividing work) is very commonly used.
- Indian homes typically use a झाड़ू [jhāṛū] (grass broom) and पोछा [pochā] (wet mop/cloth) rather than vacuum cleaners.
Warm-up & Active Recall
Recap: In Lesson 7.4, you learned kinship terms for non-relatives and invitation constructions with बुलाना [bulānā]. Now let's learn what work needs to be done at home!
| Word | Romanization | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| पड़ोसी [paṛosī] | neighbor | |
| अंकल [ankal] | uncle (address) | |
| आंटी [āṇṭī] | aunty (address) | |
| भैया [bhaiyā] | bhaiya (address) | |
| दीदी [dīdī] | didi (address) | |
| बुलाना [bulānā] | to call / invite | |
| मदद [madad] | help | |
| साथ [sāth] | together | |
| लोग [log] | people | |
| सबको [sabko] | to everyone |
Dialog
It's Sunday morning at Sita's PG — cleaning day! Sita and Ravi tackle the household chores: sweeping, mopping, washing dishes, doing laundry, and organizing the room. Notice the obligation constructions: 'बर्तन धोने हैं' [bartan dhone haĩ] (dishes need to be washed), 'काम बाँटना चाहिए' [kām bā̃ṭnā cāhie] (work should be divided). The dialog ends with Sita planning to divide chores with her roommate — a very real PG life scenario!
🌅 सुबह — सीता का PG, रविवार की सुबह
subah — sītā kā PG, ravivār kī subah
Sita
आज सफ़ाई का दिन है! पहले झाड़ू लगाती हूँ।
āj safāī kā din hai! pahle jhāṛū lagātī hū̃.
(Today cleaning's day is! First broom apply-I.)
Today is cleaning day! First I'll sweep.
Ravi
झाड़ू के बाद पोछा भी लगाओ। फ़र्श चमक जाएगा।
jhāṛū ke bād pochā bhī lagāo. farś camak jāegā.
(Broom's after mop also apply. Floor shine will-go.)
After sweeping, mop too. The floor will shine.
Sita
बर्तन भी धोने हैं। कल से पड़े हैं!
bartan bhī dhone haĩ. kal se paṛe haĩ!
(Dishes also wash-to are. Yesterday since lying are!)
The dishes need washing too. They've been sitting since yesterday!
Ravi
और कपड़े? कपड़े भी धोने हैं?
aur kapṛe? kapṛe bhī dhone haĩ?
(And clothes? Clothes also wash-to are?)
And the clothes? Do the clothes need washing too?
🌞 दोपहर — छत पर, कपड़े सुखा रही है
dopahar — chat par, kapṛe sukhā rahī hai
Sita
कपड़े धो लिए। अब छत पर सुखाना है।
kapṛe dho lie. ab chat par sukhānā hai.
(Clothes washed took. Now roof on dry-to is.)
Washed the clothes. Now need to dry them on the rooftop.
Ravi
सामान भी रखना है। मेज़ पर सब हटाओ, फिर रखो।
sāmān bhī rakhnā hai. mez par sab haṭāo, phir rakho.
(Stuff also put-to is. Table on all remove, then put.)
Things need to be put away too. Remove everything from the table, then organize.
Sita
मुझे बर्तन भी रखने हैं। अलमारी में रखूँगी।
mujhe bartan bhī rakhne haĩ. almārī mẽ rakhū̃gī.
(Me-to dishes also put-to are. Wardrobe in will-put.)
I need to put the utensils away too. I'll keep them in the cupboard.
🌇 शाम — काम ख़त्म, चाय पी रहे हैं
śām — kām xatm, cāy pī rahe haĩ
Ravi
अब काम बाँटना चाहिए। अकेले सब नहीं होगा।
ab kām bā̃ṭnā cāhie. akele sab nahī̃ hogā.
(Now work divide-to should. Alone all not will-be.)
The work should be divided now. It won't all get done alone.
Sita
हाँ, रूममेट से बोलूँगी — झाड़ू तुम, पोछा मैं, बर्तन बाँटेंगे!
hā̃, rūmmeṭ se bolū̃gī — jhāṛū tum, pochā maĩ, bartan bā̃ṭẽge!
(Yes, roommate to will-say — broom you, mop I, dishes will-divide!)
Yes, I'll tell my roommate — sweeping you, mopping me, dishes we'll split!
Ravi
बहुत अच्छा! कपड़े सुखाना और हटाना भी बाँटो।
bahut acchā! kapṛe sukhānā aur haṭānā bhī bā̃ṭo.
(Very good! Clothes drying and removing also divide.)
Great! Divide the clothes drying and removing too.
Vocabulary
Active words
| Word | Romanization | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| सफ़ाई | safāī | /sə.faː.iː/ | cleaning, cleanliness | Appears again from 7.3 as active word. सफ़ाई करना [safāī karnā] = to do the cleaning. |
| झाड़ू | jhāṛū | /d͡ʒʰaː.ɽuː/ | broom | Feminine noun. Indian brooms are made of grass/straw, used while squatting. झाड़ू लगाना [jhāṛū lagānā] = to sweep. |
| पोछा | pochā | /poː.t͡ʃʰaː/ | mop, wet cloth for mopping | Masculine noun. पोछा लगाना [pochā lagānā] = to mop. Done after sweeping. |
| बर्तन | bartan | /bər.t̪ən/ | dishes, utensils | Masculine noun (usually plural: बर्तन [bartan]). बर्तन धोना [bartan dhonā] = to wash dishes. |
| कपड़े | kapṛe | /kəp.ɽe/ | clothes | Masculine plural noun. कपड़े धोना [kapṛe dhonā] = to wash clothes. कपड़े सुखाना = to dry clothes. |
| धोना | dhonā | /d̪ʰoː.naː/ | to wash | Root verb. Used for dishes and clothes: बर्तन धोना, कपड़े धोना. Conjugated: धोता/धोती/धोते. |
| सुखाना | sukhānā | /sʊ.kʰaː.naː/ | to dry (something) | Causative form. सुखाना = to make dry. Intransitive: सूखना [sūkhnā] = to dry (by itself). |
| रखना | rakhnā | /rəkʰ.naː/ | to put, to keep, to place | Very versatile verb. रखना [rakhnā] = to keep/place. Also: रख लो [rakh lo] = keep it (casual imperative). |
| हटाना | haṭānā | /hə.ʈaː.naː/ | to remove, to take away | हटाना [haṭānā] = to remove/move away. Opposite of रखना. मेज़ से हटाओ = remove from the table. |
| बाँटना | bā̃ṭnā | /baːɳ.ʈnaː/ | to divide, to share, to distribute | बाँटना [bā̃ṭnā] = to divide/distribute. काम बाँटना = to divide work. Also used for: मिठाई बाँटना = distribute sweets. |
Passive words
| Word | Romanization | IPA | Translation | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| वॉशिंग मशीन | vŏśiṅg maśīn | /vɔː.ʃɪŋ mə.ʃiːn/ | washing machine | English compound loanword. Becoming common in middle-class Delhi homes. |
| इस्त्री | istrī | /ɪs.t̪riː/ | iron (for pressing clothes) | From English 'istri.' Also: प्रेस [pres]. इस्त्री करना = to iron clothes. |
| कचरा | kacrā | /kə.t͡ʃ.raː/ | garbage, trash | Masculine noun. Similar to कूड़ा [kūṛā] from 7.3 but more colloquial. |
| डस्टबिन | ḍasṭbin | /ɖəs.ʈ.bɪn/ | dustbin, trash can | English loanword. कचरा डस्टबिन में डालो = put trash in the dustbin. |
| झाड़न | jhāṛan | /d͡ʒʰaː.ɽən/ | duster, feather duster | For dusting furniture and surfaces. Less common word. |
| साबुन | sābun | /saː.bʊn/ | soap | Used for both bathing and washing. बर्तन का साबुन = dish soap, कपड़ों का साबुन = laundry soap. |
Useful chunks
| Word | Romanization | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| झाड़ू लगाना | jhāṛū lagānā | To sweep (apply the broom) |
| बर्तन धोना | bartan dhonā | To wash dishes |
| काम बाँटना | kām bā̃ṭnā | To divide/share the work |
Pronunciation: झाड़ू [jhāṛū] starts with the aspirated झ [jha] — like 'j' with a puff of air — followed by the retroflex flap ड़ [ṛa]. This combination is tricky! Practice slowly: jha-a-ṛū. Also: बाँटना [bā̃ṭnā] has a nasalized long 'a' (bā̃) — let the sound resonate through your nose. The ट [ṭa] is retroflex — tongue curls back.
Grammar: Obligation — मुझे...ना होगा/पड़ेगा [mujhe...nā hogā/paṛegā] and ...ना चाहिए [...nā cāhie]
| Hindi | IAST | English | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| मुझे झाड़ू लगानी है | mujhe jhāṛū lagānī hai | I have to sweep | Present obligation |
| मुझे बर्तन धोने पड़ेंगे | mujhe bartan dhone paṛẽge | I will have to wash dishes | Future compulsion |
| कपड़े सुखाने चाहिए | kapṛe sukhāne cāhie | (One) should dry the clothes | Advice/should |
| हमें काम बाँटना चाहिए | hamẽ kām bā̃ṭnā cāhie | We should divide the work | Suggestion |
| तुम्हें सामान हटाना होगा | tumhẽ sāmān haṭānā hogā | You will have to remove stuff | Future necessity |
Hindi has several ways to express obligation ('have to,' 'should,' 'must'). Here are the key patterns:
1. Present obligation — मुझे...ना है [mujhe...nā hai]
- मुझे झाड़ू लगानी है [mujhe jhāṛū lagānī hai] = I have to sweep
- (The verb ending agrees with the OBJECT's gender: झाड़ू is feminine → लगानी)
2. Future compulsion — मुझे...ना पड़ेगा/होगा [mujhe...nā paṛegā/hogā]
- मुझे बर्तन धोने पड़ेंगे [mujhe bartan dhone paṛẽge] = I'll have to wash dishes
- पड़ेगा implies external compulsion; होगा implies necessity
3. Advice/should — ...ना चाहिए [...nā cāhie]
- काम बाँटना चाहिए [kām bā̃ṭnā cāhie] = Work should be divided
- चाहिए NEVER changes form — it's always the same
Key difference:
- है [hai] = present obligation (I have to now)
- पड़ेगा/होगा [paṛegā/hogā] = future/forced obligation (I'll have to)
- चाहिए [cāhie] = should/ought to (advice, softer)
Exercises
Fill in the Blanks
Complete each sentence with the missing Hindi word.
- पहले लगाओ, फिर पोछा।(a cleaning tool made of grass)
- धोने हैं, कल से पड़े हैं।(cooking/eating vessels)
- छत पर है।(fabric items / rooftop action)
- मेज़ से सामान ।(to move away from a surface)
- काम चाहिए।(to share/split)
Grammar Application
Choose the correct obligation form based on the meaning.
- I have to sweep → मुझे झाड़ू (लगानी है/लगाना चाहिए)(present obligation = have to now)
- You should wash the dishes → तुम्हें बर्तन (धोने चाहिए/धोने हैं)(advice = should)
- We will have to divide → हमें बाँटना (होगा/चाहिए)(future necessity = will have to)
- She should dry the clothes → उसे कपड़े (सुखाने चाहिए/सुखाने हैं)(advice = should)
- I have to put things away → मुझे सामान (रखना है/रखना चाहिए)(present obligation = have to now)
Translation (English → Hindi)
Translate each sentence into Hindi.
- I have to sweep.
- Wash the dishes.
- Dry the clothes on the rooftop.
- The work should be divided.
- Remove the things, then organize.
Creative Construction
Describe your Sunday cleaning routine using at least 4 chore words from this lesson. Try using चाहिए [cāhie] or होगा [hogā]!
Writing: Visarga (ः) and Avagraha (ऽ) — rare but important marks
ः
ḥ
ऽ
'
दुःख
duḥkh
प्रातः
prātaḥ
Practice words
| Word | Romanization |
|---|---|
| धोना | dhonā |
| बाँटना | bā̃ṭnā |
| हटाना | haṭānā |
विसर्ग (ः) दो बिंदुओं जैसा दिखता है — यह 'h' जैसी ध्वनि है, संस्कृत शब्दों में मिलता है। रोज़मर्रा के हिंदी में कम दिखता है, पर 'दुःख' [duḥkh] और 'प्रातः' [prātaḥ] में है।
visarg (ḥ) do binduõ jaisā dikhtā hai — yah 'h' jaisī dhvani hai, sanskṛt śabdõ mẽ miltā hai. rozmarra ke hindī mẽ kam dikhtā hai, par 'duḥkh' aur 'prātaḥ' mẽ hai.
Today we briefly encounter two rare but important Devanagari marks:
विसर्ग (visarga) — ः: Two dots stacked vertically after a letter. It represents a voiceless 'h' sound at the end of a syllable. Found mainly in Sanskrit-origin words:
- दुःख [duḥkh] = sorrow
- प्रातः [prātaḥ] = morning (formal)
In everyday Hindi, the visarga is rare — most words have been simplified. But you'll see it in formal/literary text.
अवग्रह (avagraha) — ऽ: A rare mark showing a dropped vowel, mainly in Vedic/Sanskrit text. You almost never see it in modern Hindi.
For practical purposes: recognize the visarga (ः) when you see it, but don't worry about the avagraha. Focus your writing practice on the everyday conjuncts and nasal marks from previous lessons.
Takeaway
चाहिए [cāhie] = should (advice, gentle), होगा/पड़ेगा [hogā/paṛegā] = will have to (necessity, stronger). Remember the difference!
Culture note: In India, having a 'bai' (domestic help) is extremely common — in most middle-class homes, a बाई [bāī] comes daily to sweep, mop, wash dishes, and do laundry. In PGs and hostels, students do their own chores or share them. The phrase 'बाई नहीं आई' [bāī nahī̃ āī] (the maid didn't come) can cause minor domestic crises! In Delhi, running a household without a काम वाली बाई [kām vālī bāī] (domestic worker) is considered quite difficult.
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