Nahi, Na, Mat: Three Ways to Say No
Launch library · evergreen read
Hindi has more than one word for negation, each suited to a different situation. नहीं (nahi) is the general, all purpose no or not, used in statements. न (na) appears in certain fixed phrases and more formal or literary contexts. मत (mat) is reserved specifically for negative commands, telling someone not to do something: mat jao, do not go.
Using nahi instead of mat in a command can sound slightly odd, even if the general meaning still comes through. Learners should focus first on nahi, since it covers by far the widest range of everyday negation. Mat can be added once basic commands and requests, discussed elsewhere in this series, are already comfortable.
A useful comparison sentence is voh nahi aaya, he did not come, a statement, against voh mat aaye, please let him not come, a request, showing nahi and mat in clearly contrasting roles. Practising both in similar sentences side by side makes the distinction between them noticeably easier to hold onto.