कम से कम (kam se kam)

adverb A fixed comparative phrase built from कम (kam, 'less') repeated with से (se) -- it has two everyday senses: 'at least' (a minimum quantity/expectation) and 'at the very least' (a minimum concession in an argument).

Sense 1 : at least (minimum quantity)

adverb

Synonyms: न्यूनतम (nyoontam, formal)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in markets and while planning: दस रुपये कम से कम लगेंगे (das rupye kam se kam lagenge, 'it will cost at least ten rupees'). It pairs naturally with numbers, time, and quantities the way English 'at least' does.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to translate 'at least' word-for-word with अधिकतम (adhiktam, 'at most') logic reversed -- remember कम से कम (kam se kam) always marks a floor, not a ceiling; ज़्यादा से ज़्यादा (zyaadaa se zyaadaa) is its 'at most' counterpart.

Sample Sentences:

इस काम में कम से कम दो घंटे लगेंगे। This work will take at least two hours.

(is kaam men kam se kam do ghante lagenge।)

टिकट कम से कम पाँच सौ रुपये का होगा। The ticket will cost at least five hundred rupees.

(tikat kam se kam paanch sau rupye kaa hogaa।)

यहाँ से स्टेशन कम से कम दस किलोमीटर दूर है। The station is at least ten kilometers from here.

(yahaan se steshan kam se kam das kilomiitar door hai।)

पार्टी में कम से कम पचास लोग आए थे। At least fifty people had come to the party.

(paartii men kam se kam pachaas log aae the।)

इस भर्ती के लिए कम से कम बारहवीं पास होना चाहिए। For this recruitment, one must have passed at least twelfth grade.

(is bhartii ke lie kam se kam baarahviin paas honaa chaahie।)

अगर वह कम से कम दस मिनट पहले निकलता, तो ट्रेन नहीं छूटती। If he had left at least ten minutes earlier, he wouldn't have missed the train.

(agar vah kam se kam das minat pahle nikaltaa, to tren nahiin chhoottii।)

कम से कम दो सौ ग्राम पनीर ले आओ। Bring at least two hundred grams of paneer.

(kam se kam do sau graam paniir le aao।)

इस प्रोजेक्ट में कम से कम पाँच लोगों की ज़रूरत पड़ेगी। This project will need at least five people.

(is projekt men kam se kam paanch logon kii zaroorat padegii।)

मंडी में सेब कम से कम अस्सी रुपये किलो बिकते हैं। Apples sell for at least eighty rupees a kilo in the market.

(mandii men seb kam se kam assii rupye kilo bikte hain।)

इस इमारत को बनाने में कम से कम दस साल लगे। It took at least ten years to build this building.

(is imaarat ko banaane men kam se kam das saal lage।)

उम्मीदवार के पास कम से कम तीन साल का अनुभव होना अनिवार्य है। The candidate must have at least three years of experience.

(ummiidvaar ke paas kam se kam tiin saal kaa anubhav honaa anivaary hai।)

Sense 2 : at the very least (concession/minimal expectation)

adverb Used to introduce the smallest acceptable option in a sentence, often at the start of a clause, when other possibilities have been ruled out.

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the sense behind a scolding parent's line like कम से कम फ़ोन तो कर देते (kam se kam fon to kar dete, 'you could have at least called') -- it carries a note of mild reproach or resignation, pointing to the bare minimum someone should have done.

Sample Sentences:

कम से कम फ़ोन तो कर देते। You could have at least called.

(kam se kam fon to kar dete।)

कम से कम एक बार मुझे बता देता। He could have at least told me once.

(kam se kam ek baar mujhe bataa detaa।)

कम से कम दरवाज़ा तो बंद कर दो। At least close the door, will you.

(kam se kam darvaazaa to band kar do।)

कम से कम इतना तो सोचो कि मेहमान क्या कहेंगे। At the very least, think about what the guests will say.

(kam se kam itnaa to socho ki mehmaan kyaa kahenge।)

काम पूरा नहीं हुआ, कम से कम कोशिश तो की होगी उसने। The work didn't get finished, but he must have at least tried.

(kaam pooraa nahiin huaa, kam se kam koshish to kii hogii usne।)

अगर तुम आ नहीं सकते थे तो कम से कम फ़ोन ही कर लेते। If you couldn't come, you could have at least made a phone call.

(agar tum aa nahiin sakte the to kam se kam fon hii kar lete।)

उसने कम से कम माफ़ी तो माँगी। At least she apologized.

(usne kam se kam maafii to maangii।)

बच्चों को कम से कम इतनी तमीज़ तो सिखाई जानी चाहिए। Children should at least be taught this much manners.

(bachchon ko kam se kam itnii tamiiz to sikhaaii jaanii chaahie।)

पता नहीं क्यों नहीं आया, कम से कम एक संदेश भेज देता। Who knows why he didn't come, he could have at least sent a message.

(pataa nahiin kyon nahiin aayaa, kam se kam ek sandesh bhej detaa।)

अध्यक्ष महोदय, कम से कम इस मुद्दे पर तो चर्चा होनी चाहिए थी। Mr. Chairman, at the very least, this issue should have been discussed.

(adhyaksh mahoday, kam se kam is mudde par to charchaa honii chaahie thii।)