How is संबोधन formed?

None of these implies you are related. Using a kinship word for a stranger is the normal, warm way to speak. There is no everyday equivalent of calling someone by surname alone. And तू is not a friendly informal; use तुम with friends and आप with everyone else.

What are common mistakes with संबोधन?

Reaching for tu as the friendly form, or addressing a stranger with no term at all. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian has only two levels, so tu looks like an ordinary ty; and Russian tolerates addressing a stranger with no term, which in Hindi comes across as abrupt.

संबोधन: rules, examples & exercises | Hindi Grammar A2

संबोधन

A2 — व्यवहार

जी, भैया, दीदी, साहब — किसे कैसे बुलाएँ

I can address a stranger, a shopkeeper and an elder correctly

जी, भैया, दीदी, साहब — किसे कैसे बुलाएँ

Examples

— Excuse me (to a man).
— No, thank you.
— How are you, auntie?

व्यवहारA2

Forms of Address

How to address someone you do not know

Learning Goal

I can address a stranger, a shopkeeper and an elder correctly

Exam Skills:बोलनालिखना

Look at these examples. Can you spot the grammar pattern?

Excuse me (to a man).

No, thank you.

How are you, auntie?

Pay attention to the highlighted parts. What do they have in common?

जी does everything

जी attaches to a name or a title and marks respect: रोहन जी, डॉक्टर जी, माता जी. On its own it means 'yes' politely, and जी हाँ / जी नहीं are the polite yes and no.

Kinship terms for strangers

भैया	a man roughly your age or younger; a shopkeeper, a driver
दीदी	a woman slightly older
आंटी / अंकल	anyone of your parents' generation
बेटा	a much younger person, affectionately

None of these implies you are related. Using a kinship word for a stranger is the normal, warm way to speak.

What not to do

There is no everyday equivalent of calling someone by surname alone. And तू is not a friendly informal; use तुम with friends and आप with everyone else.

Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises

Practice Exercises

Reaching for tu as the friendly form, or addressing a stranger with no term at all.

Common Error Patterns

tu used as an ordinary informal you

tum is the friendly form; tu is intimate or rude.

Addressing a stranger with no term at all

Use bhaiya, didi, aunty or uncle; going without sounds abrupt.

Excuse me (to a man).

The normal way to get a shopkeeper's or driver's attention.

No, thank you.

ji makes the refusal polite.

How are you, auntie?

A kinship term for a stranger of the parents' generation.

Practice in course

Apply this grammar in A2 course exercises

A2 Course

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Frequently asked questions

When is संबोधन used?: जी attaches to a name or a title and marks respect: रोहन जी, डॉक्टर जी, माता जी. On its own it means 'yes' politely, and जी हाँ / जी नहीं are the polite yes and no.
How is संबोधन formed?: None of these implies you are related. Using a kinship word for a stranger is the normal, warm way to speak. There is no everyday equivalent of calling someone by surname alone. And तू is not a friendly informal; use तुम with friends and आप with everyone else.
What are common mistakes with संबोधन?: Reaching for tu as the friendly form, or addressing a stranger with no term at all. 🇷🇺 Russian speakers: Russian has only two levels, so tu looks like an ordinary ty; and Russian tolerates addressing a stranger with no term, which in Hindi comes across as abrupt.

Sources

Hindi (London Oriental and African Language Library 12) — John Benjamins Publishing Company, 2006
Yamuna Kachru's reference grammar; the descriptive account relied on for aspect, valency and clause structure.
Outline of Hindi Grammar — Oxford University Press, 1995
R. S. McGregor's outline, the standard concise academic description of Hindi morphology.