Hindi · Pronunciation Guide

How do you pronounce "क्योंकि" in Hindi?

Q: How do you pronounce क्योंकि in Hindi?

क्योंकि is pronounced with the stress described below. In IPA it is written /kjõː.kɪ/. It means “because.” KYOHN-ki with the n dissolved — a k-y cluster, a long nasalized o, then a quick short i.

KYOHN-ki with the n dissolved — a k-y cluster, a long nasalized o, then a quick short i.

क्योंकि /kjõː.kɪ/

kyonki

A superheavy first syllable followed by a very light one, so the word falls away at the end. That is unusual in Hindi and easy to get wrong, since English speakers instinctively give a final syllable more time than this one wants.

Listen: क्योंकि

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Sound it out

kyoṁ The same cluster and nasalized vowel as the question word kyoṁ: k and y released together, then a long ओ with the soft palate lowered throughout.

ki Unaspirated क with a short lax इ — the conjunction ki tacked on, and it must stay short.

Hear it in a sentence

आज दुकान बंद है, क्योंकि छुट्टी है।

Aaj dukaan band hai, kyonki chhuṭṭee hai.

The shop is closed today because it is a holiday.

Listen: आज दुकान बंद है, क्योंकि छुट्टी है।

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"Aaj dukaan band hai, kyonki chhuṭṭee hai" reverses the clause order of the isliye example, so the two entries together show how Hindi handles cause and consequence. Band before the conjunction has an all-dental cluster, which contrasts with kyonki's very back articulation.

Where English speakers slip

The cluster gets broken into "ki-yon," the nasalization becomes a full -ng, and the final i gets lengthened to "kee." That last one matters most, because kee with a long vowel is the feminine possessive — a different word entirely. Keep it short and light.