पे (pe)
postposition
A short, casual spoken variant of the postposition पर (par, 'on/at/upon'); very common in everyday speech and texting.
Sense
1
:
on, at, upon (locative)
postposition
Synonyms: पर (par)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear पे (pe) constantly in Delhi-NCR chatter -- 'मेज़ पे रखो' (mez pe rakho, 'put it on the table') -- while the same sentence written formally would use पर (par). Think of पे (pe) as the relaxed, spoken-only cousin of पर (par).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often think पे (pe) is a separate word with its own rules, but it simply substitutes for पर (par) in casual speech -- same case-marking behavior applies. 2) पे (pe) is rarely used in formal writing or news Hindi; पर (par) is preferred there, so switching to पे (pe) in a written application or essay can feel too casual.
Sample Sentences:
अपना बैग सोफे पे मत फेंको।
Don't throw your bag on the sofa.
(apnaa baig sophe pe mat phenko।)
Listen: M85
हम कल पार्क वाली बेंच पे मिलेंगे।
We'll meet on that bench in the park tomorrow.
(ham kal paark vaalii bench pe milenge।)
Listen: F85
अगर मेरा नाम लिस्ट पे होता, तो मुझे बुलाया जाता।
If my name had been on the list, I would have been called.
(agar meraa naam list pe hotaa, to mujhe bulaayaa jaataa।)
Listen: F85
बच्चे धूप में छत पे खेल रहे हैं।
The kids are playing on the roof in the sun.
(bachche dhoop men chhat pe khel rahe hain।)
Listen: M85
यह सामान ज़मीन पे रखा जाता है, दीवार से टिका के नहीं।
This stuff is kept on the ground, not leaned against the wall.
(yah saamaan zamiin pe rakhaa jaataa hai, diivaar se tikaa ke nahiin।)
Listen: M85
शायद वो चीज़ें ऊपर वाली शेल्फ़ पे हों।
Maybe those things are on the top shelf.
(shaayad vo chiizen oopar vaalii shelf pe hon।)
Listen: F85
वो हमेशा अपना फ़ोन तकिए पे रखकर सोता है।
He always sleeps with his phone kept on the pillow.
(vo hameshaa apnaa fon takie pe rakhkar sotaa hai।)
Listen: F85
Sense
2
:
about, concerning (topic marker)
postposition Marks the topic or subject of discussion, e.g. 'इस बात पे बहस' (is baat pe bahas, 'argument about this matter').
Synonyms: पर (par)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the same पे/पर (pe/par) doing extra duty -- once you've internalized the locative sense, the 'about/concerning' use follows the identical pattern, just with an abstract topic instead of a physical location.
Sample Sentences:
वो हमेशा पैसों पे बहस करता है।
He always argues about money.
(vo hameshaa paison pe bahas kartaa hai।)
Listen: F85
उसने इस टॉपिक पे कुछ नहीं कहा।
He didn't say anything about this topic.
(usne is topik pe kuchh nahiin kahaa।)
Listen: M85
क्या तुम इस बात पे यकीन करते हो?
Do you believe in this matter?
(kyaa tum is baat pe yakiin karte ho?)
Listen: M85
इस सवाल पे कल चर्चा होगी।
There will be a discussion about this question tomorrow.
(is savaal pe kal charchaa hogii।)
Listen: M85
अगर वो इस विषय पे बोलता, तो सब सुनते।
If he had spoken about this subject, everyone would have listened.
(agar vo is vishay pe boltaa, to sab sunte।)
Listen: M85
उसकी नई किताब पे बहुत तारीफ हो रही है।
There's a lot of praise happening about his new book.
(uskii naii kitaab pe bahut taariiph ho rahii hai।)
Listen: M85
इस मामले पे ध्यान दो, प्लीज़।
Please pay attention to this matter.
(is maamle pe dhyaan do, pliiz।)
Listen: F85
शायद वो इस राय पे कायम न रहे।
Maybe he won't stick to this opinion.
(shaayad vo is raay pe kaayam n rahe।)
Listen: F85
उस फिल्म पे लोग तरह-तरह की बातें कर रहे हैं।
People are saying all sorts of things about that movie.
(us philm pe log tarah-tarah kii baaten kar rahe hain।)
Listen: F85
मीटिंग में सैलरी पे बात हुई थी।
There was talk about salary in the meeting.
(miiting men sailrii pe baat huii thii।)
Listen: M85