Hindi · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "आपका" in Hindi?

Q: How do you pronounce आपका in Hindi?

आपका is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /aːp.kaː/. It means “your (polite).” AAP-kaa, two long aa vowels bracketing a completely dry, unaspirated k.

AAP-kaa, two long aa vowels bracketing a completely dry, unaspirated k.

आपका /aːp.kaː/

aapkaa

Neither syllable outweighs the other, since both carry long aa vowels, so keep the word flat rather than front-loading it the way English would. The p-k cluster in the middle gives the first syllable a closed, clipped feel without shortening its vowel.

Listen: आपका

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Sound it out

aap A long open आ closed by an unaspirated p; the p is unreleased or very lightly released, never popped.

kaa क with no puff, then a second long aa. The two aa vowels should sound identical in length and quality.

Hear it in a sentence

क्या यह आपका बैग है?

Kyaa yeh aapkaa baig hai?

Is this your bag?

Listen: क्या यह आपका बैग है?

Free browser voice. Hear it read by a real native speaker inside the LingoDrop app.

"Kyaa yeh aapkaa baig hai?" opens with kyaa as a yes-no question marker, which is a different job from the kyaa that means "what." Aapkaa takes its masculine -aa from baig, so the possessive is tuned to the bag, not to the person addressed.

Where English speakers slip

The middle cluster invites an English-style aspirated k, and English rhythm invites reducing the final vowel to a schwa: "AAP-kuh." Both are audible errors, and the second one is grammatical as well, since -aa marks masculine agreement. Hold both vowels long and keep the k silent on release.