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Emphasis and Relationships

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B1 pronouns 3 min de lecture

Using "Ek Dusre

Marquer comme appris

Use `ek dusre` + postposition to show mutual action between two or more people.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'each other' or 'one another'
  • Always requires a plural subject
  • `Dusra` becomes `dusre` before postpositions
  • Matches the case marker of the verb

Quick Reference

English Relation Hindi Phrase Literal Meaning Common Verbs
To each other Ek dusre ko One to other Dekhna (see), Maarna (hit)
With each other Ek dusre se One from other Baat karna (talk), Ladna (fight)
Of each other Ek dusre ka/ki/ke One's other Madad (help), Ghar (house)
For each other Ek dusre ke liye One for other Jeena (live), Khana pakana (cook)
With (company) Ek dusre ke saath One with other Rehna (live), Ghumna (travel)
In each other Ek dusre mein One in other Vishwas (trust), Kami (fault)

Exemples clés

3 sur 8
1

हम एक दूसरे को पसंद करते हैं।

We like each other.

2

वे एक दूसरे से बात नहीं करते।

They don't talk to each other.

3

बच्चे एक दूसरे के साथ खेल रहे हैं।

The kids are playing with each other.

🎯

The 'Se' vs 'Ko' Trap

The biggest mistake beginners make is using 'ko' for everything. Always check the verb first! If you 'fight with' someone in English, you fight 'se' them in Hindi.

💬

Relationship Status

In India, saying 'Hum ek dusre ko pasand karte hain' (We like each other) is the polite, low-key way of announcing you are dating someone.

The Rule in 30 Seconds

  • Means 'each other' or 'one another'
  • Always requires a plural subject
  • `Dusra` becomes `dusre` before postpositions
  • Matches the case marker of the verb

Overview

Ever had that awkward moment where you want to say "We help each other" but end up saying "I help him and he helps me"? Exhausting, right? Enter ek dusre. This is your shortcut to reciprocity. It’s the Hindi equivalent of "each other" or "one another." It takes two separate actions and ties them into a neat little grammatical knot. If A does it to B, and B does it to A, you need this phrase.

How This Grammar Works

Think of ek dusre as a mirror. The subject must be plural (because you can't be reciprocal by yourself—unless you have a split personality, but that's a different lesson). The phrase acts as the object of the sentence or connects with a preposition. It basically says: "The action is bouncing back and forth."

Formation Pattern

  1. 1The phrase is literally made of ek (one) + dusra (other/second). But here is the catch: because it is almost always followed by a postposition (like ko, se, ke liye), the second word changes form.
  2. 2Start with a Plural Subject (hum, tum, ve, ye).
  3. 3Add ek dusre.
  4. 4Add the Postposition required by the verb (e.g., ko for helping, se for talking).
  5. 5Finish with the Verb.
  6. 6Formula: Subject + ek dusre + [Postposition] + Verb.

When To Use It

Use it whenever the feeling is mutual. Dating? "We love ek dusre." Fighting? "They are hitting ek dusre." Business? "We trust ek dusre." It’s the glue for any relationship in Hindi sentences.

When Not To Use It

Don't use it if the action is only one-way. If you love pizza, but pizza doesn't love you back (tragic, I know), you can't use ek dusre. Also, don't use it if the subject is singular. "I talk to ek dusre" sounds like you need a nap.

Common Mistakes

  • The Grammar rigidness: Learners often forget to change dusra to dusre. It is almost *always* ek dusre because of the oblique case.
  • The "Ko" obsession: Don't just default to ek dusre ko. If the verb takes se (like baat karna - to talk), you must say ek dusre se, not ek dusre ko.
  • The singular slip: Trying to use it with main (I) or vah (he/she). Stop that.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

  • Vs. Apne aap (Reflexive): Apne aap means "myself/himself." If I look in the mirror, I see apne aap (myself). If I look at you and you look at me, we see ek dusre (each other).
  • Vs. Aapas mein: This means "amongst ourselves" or "mutually." It’s very similar and sometimes interchangeable, but aapas mein emphasizes the group dynamic, while ek dusre emphasizes the one-to-one exchange.

Quick FAQ

Q: Can I say ek dusra?

Only if there is no postposition following it, which is rare. 99% of the time, stick to ek dusre.

Q: Does gender matter?

Nope! Unlike everything else in Hindi, ek dusre stays masculine oblique. You don't say ek dusri even for two women.

Reference Table

English Relation Hindi Phrase Literal Meaning Common Verbs
To each other Ek dusre ko One to other Dekhna (see), Maarna (hit)
With each other Ek dusre se One from other Baat karna (talk), Ladna (fight)
Of each other Ek dusre ka/ki/ke One's other Madad (help), Ghar (house)
For each other Ek dusre ke liye One for other Jeena (live), Khana pakana (cook)
With (company) Ek dusre ke saath One with other Rehna (live), Ghumna (travel)
In each other Ek dusre mein One in other Vishwas (trust), Kami (fault)
🎯

The 'Se' vs 'Ko' Trap

The biggest mistake beginners make is using 'ko' for everything. Always check the verb first! If you 'fight with' someone in English, you fight 'se' them in Hindi.

💬

Relationship Status

In India, saying 'Hum ek dusre ko pasand karte hain' (We like each other) is the polite, low-key way of announcing you are dating someone.

⚠️

Don't pluralize 'Dusre'

Even though 'ek dusre' implies multiple people, never say 'ek dusron'. 'Dusre' is already in the oblique form it needs to be in.

💡

The Boomerang Effect

Think of this rule as a boomerang. If you throw a boomerang, it comes back. If you send an action out, and it comes back to you from the same person, that's `ek dusre`.

Exemples

8
#1 Hum ek dusre ko pasand karte hain.

हम एक दूसरे को पसंद करते हैं।

Focus: ek dusre ko

We like each other.

Standard usage with 'ko' (implied or explicit for people).

#2 Ve ek dusre se baat nahi karte.

वे एक दूसरे से बात नहीं करते।

Focus: ek dusre se

They don't talk to each other.

Negative sentence. Note 'se' is used because of 'baat karna'.

#3 Bacche ek dusre ke saath khel rahe hain.

बच्चे एक दूसरे के साथ खेल रहे हैं।

Focus: ek dusre ke saath

The kids are playing with each other.

Using the compound postposition 'ke saath'.

#4 Tum log ek dusre ki madad karo.

तुम लोग एक दूसरे की मदद करो।

Focus: ek dusre ki

You guys, help each other.

Imperative (Command). 'Madad' is feminine, so we use 'ki'.

#5 ✗ Hum ek dusra se pyaar karte hain.

हम एक दूसरा से प्यार करते हैं।

Focus: ek dusra

We love each other. (Incorrect grammar)

Mistake: Failed to change 'dusra' to oblique 'dusre'.

#6 ✓ Hum ek dusre se pyaar karte hain.

हम एक दूसरे से प्यार करते हैं।

Focus: ek dusre se

We love each other. (Correct)

Correction: 'Pyaar karna' takes 'se' in this context of reciprocity.

#7 Kya hum ek dusre ko jante hain?

क्या हम एक दूसरे को जानते हैं?

Focus: ek dusre ko

Do we know each other?

Question form. Useful for awkward social encounters.

#8 Colleagues ko ek dusre par bharosa hona chahiye.

कलीग्स को एक दूसरे पर भरोसा होना चाहिए।

Focus: ek dusre par

Colleagues should have trust in each other.

Advanced: Using 'par' (on) for trust (bharosa).

Teste-toi

Choose the correct postposition based on the verb 'baat karna' (to talk).

Hum aksar ek dusre ___ baat karte hain.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : se

The verb 'baat karna' (to talk) always requires 'se' (with) when speaking to someone.

Select the correct form of the phrase.

Ve ___ gifts de rahe hain.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : ek dusre ko

'Ek dusre' is the correct oblique form. 'Ek dusra' is incorrect before a postposition.

Complete the sentence implying possession/relationship.

Yeh dono ek dusre ___ bhai hain.

✓ Correct ! ✗ Pas tout à fait. Rponse correcte : ke

We are describing 'bhai' (brothers), which is masculine plural, so we use the genitive marker 'ke'.

🎉 Score : /3

Aides visuelles

Reciprocal vs. Reflexive

Ek Dusre (Reciprocal)
A ↔️ B Mutual Action
Hum ek dusre ko dekhte hain We look at each other
Khud / Apne aap (Reflexive)
A ↩️ A Self Action
Main khud ko dekhta hoon I look at myself

Do I use Ek Dusre?

1

Is the subject plural (We/They/You all)?

YES ↓
NO
Don't use. Use singular pronouns.
2

Are they doing the action to each other?

YES ↓
NO
Use regular object pronouns.
3

Does the verb need 'se' (talk/fight)?

YES ↓
NO
Use 'ek dusre ko' or 'ke liye'.
4

Final Result

NO
Use 'ek dusre se'.

Common Postposition Pairs

🗣️

Verbs using 'Se'

  • • Baat karna (Talk)
  • • Ladna (Fight)
  • • Milna (Meet)
👀

Verbs using 'Ko'

  • • Dekhna (See)
  • • Jaan-na (Know)
  • • Maarna (Hit)
🤝

Verbs using 'Ke saath'

  • • Khelna (Play)
  • • Rehna (Live)
  • • Kaam karna (Work)

Questions fréquentes

20 questions

Yes, absolutely! For example, Yeh kamre ek dusre se jude hain (These rooms are connected to each other). It’s not just for humans.

Paraspar is the Sanskritized, formal version of ek dusre. You'll see it in textbooks or news, but rarely in casual conversation.

Because of the oblique case! In Hindi, when a noun/pronoun is followed by a postposition (like ko or se), it changes shape. Dusra becomes dusre.

No, that means 'We are each other,' which is physically impossible and confusing. You usually need a verb or a relationship marker.

You would say Hum ek dusre ke liye bane hain. Note the use of ke liye (for).

It's treated as a singular unit grammatically regarding the postposition, but the subject of the sentence MUST be plural.

Yes. Whether it's two people or a crowd of fifty, if the action is mutual among the group, use ek dusre.

No. Ek dusre is a fixed phrase in the masculine oblique. Even a group of girls will say Hum ek dusre ki madad karti hain.

Then don't use it. If I hit you, and you just cry, we are not hitting ek dusre. I am hitting you.

You can say Hum ek dusre ke paas rehte hain or kareeb rehte hain.

Very rarely. It's almost always the object. You wouldn't say 'Each other went to the market'.

Close, but aapas mein is more like 'amongst ourselves'. Ek dusre implies a direct 1-to-1 reciprocity.

It is written as एक दूसरे.

No, the verb agrees with the Subject (Hum/Tum/Ve). Ek dusre is just the object.

Of course. Humne ek dusre ki madad ki (We helped each other).

It is ek dusre ka, ke, or ki, depending on the object possessed. Ek dusre ka ghar (Each other's house).

Not really. You have to say the full phrase.

Yes. Kutte ek dusre par bhauk rahe hain (The dogs are barking at each other).

Ab hum ek dusre se baat nahi karte.

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.

C'tait utile ?
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