Negation with नहीं (not)

In English, we use "do not" or "is not." Hindi is much simpler than that. You just need the word नहीं. It usually sits right before the main verb. It acts like a shield for the verb. If the verb is "to eat," नहीं goes first. It sounds like "not eat" instead of "do not eat." This is a very common pattern in many languages. However, Hindi has one special trick. In the present tense, we often drop the helper verb. Words like है (is) or हैं (are) often disappear. This happens because नहीं already carries the weight. It tells the listener the sentence is negative. It makes your speech sound faster and more natural. Native speakers do this every single day. It might feel weird at first to drop words. But don't worry, you will get used to it. Even native speakers mess this up when they are tired! Just remember the "before the verb" rule. That is your golden ticket to being understood.

1. 1Creating a negative sentence follows a clear path. Follow these steps for success:
2. 2Identify your subject (like मैं for "I").
3. 3Add your object if you have one (like पानी for "water").
4. 4Place the word नहीं right after the object.
5. 5Add your main verb (like पीता for "drink").
6. 6Remove the auxiliary verb है or हूँ if it is present tense.
7. 7Example: मैं पानी नहीं पीता (I do not drink water).
8. 8Notice how हूँ is missing at the end? That is the secret sauce. If you are using the past tense, keep the auxiliary. But for basic A1 conversations, dropping it is key. It makes you sound like a local, not a textbook. Think of it like a shortcut on a map.

Use नहीं for almost every general negative statement. Use it when you are stating a fact. "I am not a doctor" uses नहीं. Use it for your daily habits. "I don't drink coffee" is a perfect use case. It works great for current actions too. "I am not going to the park" needs नहीं. Use it when someone asks you a yes/no question. You can simply say नहीं as a standalone answer. It is very versatile and reliable. Use it in restaurants to refuse specific ingredients. "I don't eat meat" is a vital phrase for vegetarians. Use it in taxis to say "not here." It is the "Swiss Army Knife" of Hindi negation. You will find a use for it in every conversation.

There are a few times when नहीं stays home. Do not use it for strong commands. If you want to say "Don't go!", use मत. नहीं is too soft for a direct order. It sounds like a description, not a command. Do not use it for "neither/nor" sentences. Those usually prefer the shorter word न. Avoid using it when you want to be extremely formal. In very poetic Hindi, न is often preferred. But for 99% of your life, नहीं is the winner. Don't use it to mean "nothing." That requires a different word called कुछ नहीं. Think of नहीं as the word for "not," not "none." It is a subtle difference but an important one. Like using a fork when you really need a spoon.

The most common mistake is the "English Trap." Many people put नहीं at the very end. They say मैं जाता नहीं. While understandable, it sounds very poetic or strange. Always try to put it before the verb. Another mistake is keeping the है or हूँ. Beginners often say मैं नहीं हूँ. This isn't strictly wrong, but it sounds heavy. It’s like wearing a winter coat in the summer. It works, but it’s not quite right. Another mistake is using नहीं for "Don't!" to a child. Use मत for that instead. If you use नहीं, the child might think you are just chatting. Be firm with मत and descriptive with नहीं. Yes, even native speakers get lazy with these sometimes. But you want to build great habits now!

Let's compare नहीं with its cousins मत and न. नहीं is your standard "not" for facts. मत is your "don't" for orders and advice. Think of मत as a stop sign. Think of नहीं as a "No Entry" sign on a map. Then there is न. It is like a light breeze. It is used for "or not" or in very soft requests. If नहीं is a shout, न is a whisper. Most learners overthink this at the start. Just stick with नहीं for statements. Stick with मत for telling people what to do. You will rarely need न in your first month. It’s like learning to drive. Focus on the gas and brakes first. The fancy parallel parking comes later.