संगीत सुनना

You use this phrase just like you would use 'to listen to music' in English. It usually functions as a verbal noun (an infinitive). If you want to say 'I like listening to music,' you would say Mujhe sangeet sunna pasand hai. If you are currently doing it, you change the verb ending: Main sangeet sun raha hoon. It’s very flexible! Just remember that sangeet is treated as a masculine noun, though since it's the object here, you mostly just need to worry about conjugating the verb sunna to match the subject.

This is perfect for small talk. When someone asks Aapke shauk kya hain? (What are your hobbies?), sangeet sunna is a classic answer. Use it when you're at a party and want to talk about the playlist. It’s also great for describing your daily routine, like Main kaam karte waqt sangeet sunta hoon (I listen to music while working). It’s a safe, polite, and friendly phrase that opens doors to deeper conversations about taste and culture.

Don't use sangeet sunna if you are actually 'hearing' a random noise or a conversation you weren't meant to hear; that’s just sunna. Also, if you are specifically talking about a single song, people often switch to gaana sunna (listening to a song). Avoid using sangeet if you are referring to a live performance where you are also 'watching'—in that case, you might say you are 'attending a concert' (concert mein jaana). And definitely don't use it if you are the one making the music; that would be sangeet bajana (playing music).

Music is the soul of Indian culture. From the ancient Vedic chants to the high-octane beats of modern Punjabi pop, India is a land of sound. Traditionally, sangeet referred to the 'Triple Art' of singing, instrumental music, and dance. Today, while Bollywood (filmi) music dominates the airwaves, there is a massive revival of independent indie-folk and electronic music. When you tell an Indian friend you like sangeet, be prepared for a 20-minute lecture on why their favorite 90s playback singer is the greatest of all time!

In casual, everyday Hindi, you will very often hear gaane sunna (listening to songs) instead of sangeet sunna. Gaane is the plural of gaana (song). While sangeet sounds a bit more 'proper' or artistic, gaane is what you'll hear teenagers saying while sharing earbuds. Another variation is shastriya sangeet sunna, which specifically means listening to Indian classical music. If you're feeling poetic, you might hear sangeet ka anand lena (taking joy in music), but keep that for your Instagram captions.