चलना (chalnaa)
verb
चलना (chalnaa) is Hindi's basic verb of motion, stretching from literal walking to a whole family of extended senses: machines and businesses 'running,' people 'setting off,' events 'being in progress,' things 'being acceptable,' and trends or currency 'staying in circulation.' Its causative partner is चलाना (chalaanaa, 'to drive/operate/run something'), processed as a separate lemma.
Sense
1
:
to walk, to move
verb, intransitive
Synonyms: टहलना (tahalnaa, to stroll), घूमना (ghoomnaa, to wander/move about)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the sense you learn first: टांगों से चलना (taangon se chalnaa, 'to walk on one's legs') for babies learning to walk, or बूढ़ी दादी धीरे-धीरे चलती हैं (boodhii daadii dhiire-dhiire chaltii hain, 'the old grandmother walks slowly') for describing gait and pace.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for चलना (chalnaa) when जाना (jaanaa) is meant -- चलना (chalnaa) describes the act or manner of moving (walking, being in motion), while जाना (jaanaa) is about reaching a destination. 2) पैदल चलना (paidal chalnaa, 'to go on foot') is the natural phrase for 'to walk' rather than a literal word-for-word translation.
Sample Sentences:
बच्चा अभी चलना सीख रहा है।
The baby is learning to walk right now.
(bachchaa abhii chalnaa siikh rahaa hai।)
बूढ़ी दादी धीरे-धीरे चलती हैं।
The old grandmother walks slowly.
(boodhii daadii dhiire-dhiire chaltii hain।)
हम कल पार्क में दो घंटे चले।
We walked in the park for two hours yesterday.
(ham kal paark men do ghante chale।)
ज़रा धीरे चलो, मुझसे तेज़ नहीं चला जाता।
Please walk slowly, I can't walk fast.
(zaraa dhiire chalo, mujhse tez nahiin chalaa jaataa।)
अगर उसकी टांग में इतना दर्द न होता तो वह भी चलता।
If his leg didn't hurt so much, he would walk too.
(agar uskii taang men itnaa dard n hotaa to vah bhii chaltaa।)
डॉक्टर ने कहा है कि मुझे रोज़ सुबह चलना चाहिए।
The doctor has said that I should walk every morning.
(doktar ne kahaa hai ki mujhe roz subah chalnaa chaahie।)
टांगों से चलना बच्चे के लिए एक बड़ी उपलब्धि होती है।
Walking on one's own legs is a big achievement for a baby.
(taangon se chalnaa bachche ke lie ek badii uplabdhi hotii hai।)
वह लंगड़ाते हुए चल रहा था, पर रुका नहीं।
He was walking with a limp, but he didn't stop.
(vah langdaate hue chal rahaa thaa, par rukaa nahiin।)
क्या तुम अपने पैरों से चल सकते हो, या सहारा चाहिए?
Can you walk on your own feet, or do you need support?
(kyaa tum apne pairon se chal sakte ho, yaa sahaaraa chaahie?)
सैनिक कतार में एक साथ चलते हुए आगे बढ़े।
The soldiers moved forward, walking together in a line.
(sainik kataar men ek saath chalte hue aage badhe।)
अगर सब ठीक रहा तो वह अगले हफ़्ते बिना बैसाखी चलेगा।
If all goes well, he will walk without crutches next week.
(agar sab thiik rahaa to vah agle hafte binaa baisaakhii chalegaa।)
Sense
2
:
to function, to run or operate (machines, vehicles, businesses)
verb, intransitive
Synonyms: काम करना (kaam karnaa, to work/function)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Ask about a shop and a Delhi shopkeeper might say दुकान अच्छी चल रही है (dukaan achchhii chal rahii hai, 'business is running well') -- the same word that describes a person's legs now describes an engine, a business, even the internet connection.
Common Mistakes: 1) For engines, vehicles, shops, and systems, चलना (chalnaa) is the natural verb ('गाड़ी नहीं चल रही' (gaadii nahiin chal rahii, 'the car isn't running')) -- learners often default to काम करना (kaam karnaa) here, which sounds stiffer and more literal.
Sample Sentences:
यह गाड़ी बहुत अच्छी चलती है।
This car runs very well.
(yah gaadii bahut achchhii chaltii hai।)
हमारी दुकान आजकल अच्छी चल रही है।
Our shop is running well these days.
(hamaarii dukaan aajkal achchhii chal rahii hai।)
मेरा फोन ठीक से नहीं चल रहा।
My phone is not working properly.
(meraa phon thiik se nahiin chal rahaa।)
पुराना पंखा अब चलता नहीं है।
The old fan doesn't work anymore.
(puraanaa pankhaa ab chaltaa nahiin hai।)
बिजली जाने के बाद भी जनरेटर चलता रहा।
The generator kept running even after the power went out.
(bijlii jaane ke baad bhii janretar chaltaa rahaa।)
इंटरनेट कल से नहीं चल रहा है।
The internet hasn't been working since yesterday.
(intarnet kal se nahiin chal rahaa hai।)
अगर मशीन ठीक से चलती तो हम समय पर काम पूरा कर लेते।
If the machine had run properly, we would have finished the work on time.
(agar mashiin thiik se chaltii to ham samay par kaam pooraa kar lete।)
यह फैक्टरी दिन-रात चलती है।
This factory runs day and night.
(yah phaiktrii din-raat chaltii hai।)
मुझे उम्मीद है कि यह व्यापार अच्छी तरह चले।
I hope this business runs well.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki yah vyaapaar achchhii tarah chale।)
एसी बिना मेंटेनेंस के भी सालों चलेगा।
The AC will run for years even without maintenance.
(esii binaa mentenens ke bhii saalon chalegaa।)
जब से नया मैनेजर आया है, दुकान बहुत अच्छी चल रही है।
Ever since the new manager came, the shop has been running very well.
(jab se nayaa mainejar aayaa hai, dukaan bahut achchhii chal rahii hai।)
Sense
3
:
to leave, to set off, to get going
verb, intransitive The imperative चलो (chalo) is used almost as a discourse marker meaning 'come on' or 'alright, let's go,' independent of literal walking.
Synonyms: निकलना (nikalnaa, to head out)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: चलो, फिर मिलते हैं (chalo, phir milte hain, 'alright, see you later') is a classic way to wrap up a visit or phone call in Delhi-NCR -- the softness of चलो (chalo) makes goodbyes feel casual rather than abrupt.
Common Mistakes: 1) चलो (chalo) doesn't always mean 'walk!' -- as a stand-alone utterance it often just means 'come on' or signals the end of a conversation, closer to English 'well, I should get going.' 2) मैं चलता हूँ (main chaltaa hoon, 'I'll get going') is a common, slightly formal way to take leave, not a statement about literally walking somewhere.
Sample Sentences:
चलो, फिर मिलते हैं।
Alright, see you later.
(chalo, phir milte hain।)
मैं अब चलता हूँ, बहुत काम है।
I'll get going now, I have a lot of work.
(main ab chaltaa hoon, bahut kaam hai।)
हम कल सुबह छह बजे चलेंगे।
We'll set off tomorrow at six in the morning.
(ham kal subah chhah baje chalenge।)
वह बिना बताए चल दिया।
He left without telling anyone.
(vah binaa bataae chal diyaa।)
अगर टिकट मिल जाता तो हम आज ही चल पड़ते।
If we had gotten the ticket, we would have set off today itself.
(agar tikat mil jaataa to ham aaj hii chal padte।)
बच्चों, अब चलो, स्कूल की बस आ गई है।
Kids, come on now, let's go, the school bus has arrived.
(bachchon, ab chalo, skool kii bas aa gaii hai।)
क्या हम अभी चलें या थोड़ी देर रुकें?
Should we leave now or wait a while?
(kyaa ham abhii chalen yaa thodii der ruken?)
साहब ने कहा कि जल्दी चलिए, देर हो रही है।
Sir said to please leave quickly, it's getting late.
(saahab ne kahaa ki jaldii chalie, der ho rahii hai।)
जब मैं वहाँ से चला, तो बारिश शुरू हो गई थी।
When I left from there, it had started raining.
(jab main vahaan se chalaa, to baarish shuroo ho gaii thii।)
काफ़िला सुबह होते ही चल दिया।
The caravan set off as soon as morning came.
(kaafilaa subah hote hii chal diyaa।)
मेहमानों के जाते ही घर के सब लोग सोने चल दिए।
As soon as the guests left, everyone in the house went off to sleep.
(mehmaanon ke jaate hii ghar ke sab log sone chal die।)
Sense
4
:
to be going on, to be in progress
verb, intransitive Almost always appears in the progressive: चल रहा है (chal rahaa hai, 'is going on').
Synonyms: होना (honaa, to happen), जारी रहना (jaarii rahnaa, to continue)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Hindi likes to frame ongoing life and events as motion: ज़िंदगी चल रही है (zindgii chal rahii hai, 'life is going on') treats time itself as something that moves forward, a subtly different picture from the more static English 'is happening.'
Common Mistakes: 1) क्या चल रहा है? (kyaa chal rahaa hai?, 'what's going on?') is a very common casual greeting/check-in, not a literal question about movement.
Sample Sentences:
अभी मीटिंग चल रही है।
The meeting is going on right now.
(abhii miiting chal rahii hai।)
पिछले हफ्ते से बारिश चल रही है।
It has been raining continuously since last week.
(pichhle haphte se baarish chal rahii hai।)
जब मैं वहाँ पहुँचा, तब तक बहस चल रही थी।
By the time I got there, the argument was already going on.
(jab main vahaan pahunchaa, tab tak bahas chal rahii thii।)
कल शाम तक काम चलता रहेगा।
The work will keep going on until tomorrow evening.
(kal shaam tak kaam chaltaa rahegaa।)
ज़िंदगी चल रही है, चाहे कुछ भी हो जाए।
Life goes on, no matter what happens.
(zindgii chal rahii hai, chaahe kuchh bhii ho jaae।)
स्कूल में परीक्षाएँ चल रही हैं, इसलिए शोर मत करो।
Exams are underway at school, so don't make noise.
(skool men pariikshaaen chal rahii hain, islie shor mat karo।)
अगर बातचीत ठीक से चलती, तो अब तक समझौता हो गया होता।
If the talks had been going on properly, an agreement would have been reached by now.
(agar baatchiit thiik se chaltii, to ab tak samjhautaa ho gayaa hotaa।)
यह झगड़ा बरसों से चलता आ रहा है।
This feud has been going on for years.
(yah jhagdaa barson se chaltaa aa rahaa hai।)
उम्मीद है कि बातचीत शांति से चलती रहे।
Hopefully the talks continue to go on peacefully.
(ummiid hai ki baatchiit shaanti se chaltii rahe।)
पूरे शहर में यह चर्चा चल रही थी कि नई सड़क कब बनेगी।
This discussion was going on all over the city about when the new road would be built.
(poore shahar men yah charchaa chal rahii thii ki naii sadak kab banegii।)
यह सिलसिला यूँ ही चलता रहा।
This sequence of events just kept going on like that.
(yah silsilaa yoon hii chaltaa rahaa।)
Sense
5
:
to be acceptable, to work out, to pass muster
verb, intransitive
Synonyms: ठीक होना (thiik honaa, to be fine)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly while bargaining in a Delhi market: सौ रुपये चलेगा? (sau rupye chalegaa?, 'will a hundred rupees do?') -- चलना (chalnaa) here carries a sense of mutual give-and-take, not a fixed yes/no.
Common Mistakes: 1) यह चलेगा (yah chalegaa, 'this will do') is a very handy, situational phrase for accepting something as good enough -- learners often reach for ठीक है (thiik hai) instead, which is fine but misses this more negotiable, 'it'll pass' flavor.
Sample Sentences:
सौ रुपये चलेगा?
Will a hundred rupees do?
(sau rupye chalegaa?)
अगर कार्ड नहीं है तो कैश चलेगा।
If you don't have a card, cash will work.
(agar kaard nahiin hai to kaish chalegaa।)
यह पुराना फ़ोन अभी भी चल जाएगा।
This old phone will still do for now.
(yah puraanaa fon abhii bhii chal jaaegaa।)
थोड़ा टूटा हुआ है, पर चल जाएगा।
It's a bit broken, but it'll pass.
(thodaa tootaa huaa hai, par chal jaaegaa।)
क्या यह जवाब परीक्षा में चलेगा?
Will this answer pass muster in the exam?
(kyaa yah javaab pariikshaa men chalegaa?)
उस समय ऐसे बहाने चल जाते थे।
Back then, excuses like that used to pass.
(us samay aise bahaane chal jaate the।)
अगर बॉस को पता चल जाता, तो यह बहाना नहीं चलता।
If the boss found out, this excuse wouldn't have worked.
(agar bos ko pataa chal jaataa, to yah bahaanaa nahiin chaltaa।)
देखते हैं, यह आइडिया चलता है या नहीं।
Let's see whether this idea flies or not.
(dekhte hain, yah aaidiyaa chaltaa hai yaa nahiin।)
शायद यह बहाना चल जाए।
Maybe this excuse will pass muster.
(shaayad yah bahaanaa chal jaae।)
इस ऑफिस में देर से आना नहीं चलेगा।
Coming in late won't be acceptable in this office.
(is ophis men der se aanaa nahiin chalegaa।)
Sense
6
:
to circulate, to be current or in vogue
verb, intransitive
Synonyms: प्रचलित होना (prachlit honaa, to be prevalent)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: बाज़ार में यह अफ़वाह चल रही है (baazaar men yah afvaah chal rahii hai, 'this rumor is going around the market') shows the same verb extended to gossip and fashion -- whatever is 'moving' through a community, whether coin, rumor, or trend, चलता (chaltaa) है.
Common Mistakes: 1) With money, rumors, or trends, चलना (chalnaa) means 'to be in active use/circulation' -- यह नोट नहीं चलता (yah not nahiin chaltaa, 'this note isn't accepted/in circulation') is not about the note physically moving.
Sample Sentences:
आजकल बाज़ार में यह अफ़वाह चल रही है कि कंपनी बंद हो जाएगी।
These days a rumor is going around the market that the company will shut down.
(aajkal baazaar men yah afvaah chal rahii hai ki kampnii band ho jaaegii।)
पुराने ज़माने में सोने के सिक्के चलते थे।
In the old days, gold coins were in circulation.
(puraane zamaane men sone ke sikke chalte the।)
यह नोट अब बाज़ार में नहीं चलता।
This banknote is no longer in circulation now.
(yah not ab baazaar men nahiin chaltaa।)
पिछले साल यह फैशन बहुत चला था।
This fashion was very much in vogue last year.
(pichhle saal yah phaishan bahut chalaa thaa।)
कहते हैं इस गाँव में एक पुरानी कहावत चलती आई है।
They say an old saying has been current in this village for generations.
(kahte hain is gaanv men ek puraanii kahaavat chaltii aaii hai।)
क्या यह सिक्का अभी भी चलता है?
Is this coin still in circulation?
(kyaa yah sikkaa abhii bhii chaltaa hai?)
अगर सरकार नया नोट जारी करे, तो पुराना नोट चलना बंद हो जाएगा।
If the government issues a new note, the old one will stop being in circulation.
(agar sarkaar nayaa not jaarii kare, to puraanaa not chalnaa band ho jaaegaa।)
अगर वह अफ़वाह न फैली होती, तो यह बात बाज़ार में इतनी न चलती।
If that rumor hadn't spread, this story wouldn't have been so current in the market.
(agar vah afvaah n phailii hotii, to yah baat baazaar men itnii n chaltii।)
बताया जाता है कि यह प्रथा सदियों से चली आ रही है।
It is said that this custom has been current for centuries.
(bataayaa jaataa hai ki yah prathaa sadiyon se chalii aa rahii hai।)
इस समय बॉलीवुड में यही गाना सबसे ज़्यादा चल रहा है।
Right now this very song is the most in vogue in Bollywood.
(is samay boliivud men yahii gaanaa sabse zyaadaa chal rahaa hai।)
Morphology
Verb
infinitive:
चलना
(chalnaa)
infinitive oblique:
चलने
(chalne)
habitual/simple (sg.m):
चलता
(chaltaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m):
चलते
(chalte)
habitual/simple (sg.f):
चलती
(chaltii)
habitual/simple (pl.f):
चलतीं
(chaltiin)
continuous (sg.m):
चल रहा
(chal rahaa)
continuous (pl.m):
चल रहे
(chal rahe)
continuous (sg.f):
चल रही
(chal rahii)
continuous (pl.f):
चल रहीं
(chal rahiin)
perfective (sg.m):
चला
(chalaa)
perfective (pl.m):
चले
(chale)
perfective (sg.f):
चली
(chalii)
perfective (pl.f):
चलीं
(chaliin)
imperative (informal):
चल
(chal)
imperative (neutral):
चलो
(chalo)
imperative (formal):
चलिए
(chalie)
future (1sg.m):
चलूँगा
(chaloongaa)
future (1sg.f):
चलूँगी
(chaloongii)
future (1pl.m):
चलेंगे
(chalenge)
future (1pl.f):
चलेंगी
(chalengii)
future (2sg.m):
चलेगा
(chalegaa)
future (2sg.f):
चलेगी
(chalegii)
future (2pl.m):
चलोगे
(chaloge)
future (2pl.f):
चलोगी
(chalogii)
future (3sg.m):
चलेगा
(chalegaa)
future (3sg.f):
चलेगी
(chalegii)
future (3pl.m):
चलेंगे
(chalenge)
future (3pl.f):
चलेंगी
(chalengii)
subjunctive (1sg):
चलूँ
(chaloon)
subjunctive (1pl):
चलें
(chalen)
subjunctive (2sg):
चले
(chale)
subjunctive (2pl):
चलो
(chalo)
subjunctive (3sg):
चले
(chale)
subjunctive (3pl):
चलें
(chalen)