A1 noun Neutral

कहानी

kahaani /kə.ɦɑː.niː/

A kahānī is a narrative or story, which can be real or imaginary, told to entertain, educate, or preserve memories. It is a fundamental unit of literature and oral tradition, ranging from simple anecdotes to complex written works.

Examples

3 of 5
1

दादी रोज़ रात को हमें एक कहानी सुनाती हैं।

Grandmother tells us a story every night.

2

प्रसिद्ध लेखक ने अपनी नई कहानी का पाठ किया।

The famous author gave a reading of his new story.

3

अरे, तूने वो वाली कहानी सुनी?

Hey, did you hear that story?

Word Family

Noun
कहानी
Verb
कहना
Adjective
कहानीकार (related to the author)
Related
कहानीकार
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Memory Tip

Remember: You hear (Kahna = to say) a Kahani. It sounds like the English word 'Convey' - you convey a story.

Quick Quiz

बच्चे को _____ बहुत पसंद आई।

Correct!

The correct answer is: कहानी

Examples

1

दादी रोज़ रात को हमें एक कहानी सुनाती हैं।

everyday

Grandmother tells us a story every night.

2

प्रसिद्ध लेखक ने अपनी नई कहानी का पाठ किया।

formal

The famous author gave a reading of his new story.

3

अरे, तूने वो वाली कहानी सुनी?

informal

Hey, did you hear that story?

4

इस कहानी का विश्लेषण विद्यार्थियों को करना होगा।

academic

The students will have to analyze this story.

5

ब्रांड की सफलता की कहानी ग्राहकों के भरोसे पर टिकी है।

business

The story of the brand's success rests on the trust of its customers.

Word Family

Noun
कहानी
Verb
कहना
Adjective
कहानीकार (related to the author)
Related
कहानीकार

Common Collocations

कहानी सुनाना to tell a story
सच्ची कहानी true story
कहानी लिखना to write a story
छोटी कहानी short story
पुरानी कहानी old story

Common Phrases

कहानी खत्म

the end / story over

हर कहानी के दो पहलू होते हैं

every story has two sides

मनगढ़ंत कहानी

a made-up/fabricated story

Often Confused With

कहानी vs कहना

Kahna is the verb 'to say', while kahani is the noun 'story'.

कहानी vs किस्सा

Kissa is often used for a brief anecdote or incident, whereas kahani implies a more structured narrative.

📝

Usage Notes

Kahānī is a feminine noun and should always take feminine verbs and adjectives. It can refer to both written fiction and spoken anecdotes.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners often use masculine possessives, like 'मेरा कहानी' instead of the correct feminine 'मेरी कहानी'.

💡

Memory Tip

Remember: You hear (Kahna = to say) a Kahani. It sounds like the English word 'Convey' - you convey a story.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Sanskrit word 'kathānikā' via Middle Indo-Aryan forms.

Grammar Patterns

Feminine gender Plural form: कहानियाँ (kahāniyān) Oblique plural: कहानियों (kahāniyon)
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Cultural Context

Oral storytelling (Dadi-Nani ki kahaniyan) is a vital part of Indian childhood culture, passing down morals and heritage.

Quick Quiz

बच्चे को _____ बहुत पसंद आई।

Correct!

The correct answer is: कहानी

More literature words

लेखक

A1

A person who writes books, stories, or articles, typically as a profession. It can refer to a writer in general or specifically to a male writer, as opposed to a 'lekhika' (female writer).

साहित्यकार

A1

A person who creates literary works such as novels, poetry, or essays. The term specifically refers to someone who contributes to the field of literature (Sahitya) and is often used as a respectful title for an author.

नज्म

A1

A 'Nazm' is a type of Urdu or Hindi poem that is written with a specific theme or subject in mind. Unlike a ghazal, where each couplet can stand alone, the verses in a nazm are logically connected and tell a continuous story or express a single idea.

शायर

A1

A शायर (shayar) is a poet, particularly one who composes poetry in the Urdu or Hindi ghazal tradition. The term implies someone who expresses deep emotions, philosophical thoughts, or romantic sentiments through rhythmic verses.

ग्रंथ

A1

A 'granth' refers to a large, significant, or classical book, often of a religious or scholarly nature. While 'pustak' is a general word for book, 'granth' implies a work of great volume, importance, or historical value.

शास्त्र

A1

Shastra refers to a sacred scripture, treatise, or a systematic body of knowledge in a specific field. It is commonly used to describe classical Indian texts that provide rules, logic, and ethical guidelines for disciplines like law, art, or science.

किस्सा

A1

A 'kissa' refers to a story, anecdote, or a short narrative about a specific event. It is often used to describe real-life incidents told in a storytelling manner or a brief tale with a moral or entertaining point.

दास्तान

A1

A long, detailed story or narrative, often focusing on adventures, romance, or significant life events. It implies a sense of history or a series of interconnected occurrences rather than a simple short story.

आख्यान

A1

A narrative, legendary story, or a long account of past events. It is typically used in literature to describe mythological or historical tales that convey a moral or lesson.

कथा

A1

A 'katha' refers to a story, tale, or narrative, often implying a traditional, religious, or moral account. In modern Hindi, it is used for literary plots or any structured retelling of events, though it carries a more formal or classical tone than 'kahani'.

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