Khud and Apna: Talking About Yourself
Launch library · evergreen read
खुद (khud), self, and अपना (apna), one's own, are Hindi's reflexive words, used when the subject of a sentence refers back to itself. Main khud jaunga, I will go myself, emphasises that no one else is doing the going. Apna, meanwhile, functions as a reflexive possessive.
Changing form for gender and number like other possessives discussed elsewhere: apna ghar, one's own home, used regardless of who the speaker is, since it always refers back to the subject. Learners should notice how apna differs from simply using uska or mera; it specifically marks that the thing belongs to the sentence's own subject, a small distinction that becomes clearer with focused, deliberate practice.
A useful comparison is apna ghar, one's own house, against uska ghar, his or her house, said about the same building but from two different grammatical perspectives. Practising this contrast with a few familiar nouns helps clarify exactly when apna is required instead of an ordinary possessive.