ख़ुद (khud)
pronoun/adverb
A single-sense reflexive/emphatic word meaning 'self' -- used both as a reflexive pronoun (myself, yourself, himself, etc.) and as an emphatic adverb meaning 'personally, on one's own.' Closely related in function to अपने आप (apne aap) and स्वयं (svayan).
Sense
1
:
oneself (reflexive, referring back to the subject)
pronoun Invariant -- does not change form for gender, number, or person; it simply agrees in reference with whichever subject is in play. Often paired with the subject for emphasis: मैं ख़ुद (main khud, 'I myself').
Synonyms: अपने आप (apne aap), स्वयं (svayan, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Delhi speakers use ख़ुद (khud) constantly to add a little emphasis or exasperation -- उसने ख़ुद बताया (usne khud bataayaa, 'he told me himself') carries a flavor of 'you'd think I was making this up, but he said it with his own mouth.' It is the everyday word; स्वयं (svayan) is its more formal, slightly bookish twin.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to inflect ख़ुद (khud) like an adjective or add case endings to it -- it stays the same regardless of who or what it refers to. 2) Don't confuse it with अपना (apnaa); ख़ुद (khud) points back to the person, while अपना (apnaa) is the possessive 'one's own' used before a noun.
Sample Sentences:
उसने ख़ुद बताया कि उसे नौकरी मिल गई है।
He told me himself that he got the job.
(usne khud bataayaa ki use naukrii mil gaii hai।)
Listen: F85
मैं ख़ुद को शीशे में देखता रह गया।
I kept looking at myself in the mirror.
(main khud ko shiishe men dekhtaa rah gayaa।)
Listen: F85
वह ख़ुद को बहुत होशियार समझती है।
She thinks herself very clever.
(vah khud ko bahut hoshiyaar samajhtii hai।)
Listen: F85
पहले ख़ुद को समझो, फिर दूसरों को समझाना।
First understand yourself, then go around explaining things to others.
(pahle khud ko samjho, phir doosron ko samjhaanaa।)
Listen: M85
काश वे ख़ुद को थोड़ा माफ़ कर पाते।
I wish they could forgive themselves a little.
(kaash ve khud ko thodaa maaf kar paate।)
Listen: F85
अगर तुम ख़ुद को धोखा देते, तो कभी सफल नहीं होते।
If you had deceived yourself, you would never have succeeded.
(agar tum khud ko dhokhaa dete, to kabhii saphal nahiin hote।)
Listen: M85
बच्चा ख़ुद को आईने में देखकर हँस रहा था।
The child was laughing looking at himself in the mirror.
(bachchaa khud ko aaiine men dekhkar hans rahaa thaa।)
Listen: M85
मुझे उम्मीद है कि तुम ख़ुद को दोष न दो।
I hope you don't blame yourself.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki tum khud ko dosh n do।)
Listen: M85
यह पत्र स्वयं प्रधानमंत्री द्वारा नहीं, बल्कि उनके सचिव द्वारा भेजा गया, फिर भी लोग कहते हैं कि उन्होंने ख़ुद को इस मामले से जोड़ लिया।
This letter was not sent by the Prime Minister himself but by his secretary, yet people say that he associated himself with this matter.
(yah patr svayan pradhaanmantrii dvaaraa nahiin, balki unke sachiv dvaaraa bhejaa gayaa, phir bhii log kahte hain ki unhonne khud ko is maamle se jod liyaa।)
Listen: M85
क्या तुम सच में ख़ुद को इतना कमज़ोर मानते हो?
Do you really consider yourself that weak?
(kyaa tum sach men khud ko itnaa kamzor maante ho?)
Listen: F85
एक दिन तुम ख़ुद को इस हालत में देखकर पछताओगे।
One day you will regret seeing yourself in this condition.
(ek din tum khud ko is haalat men dekhkar pachhtaaoge।)
Listen: F85
Sense
2
:
personally, on one's own, without help
adverb Functions adverbially to stress that an action was done without assistance or without being asked: उसने ख़ुद खाना बनाया (usne khud khaanaa banaayaa, 'she cooked the food herself/on her own').
Synonyms: अपने आप (apne aap), स्वयं (svayan, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the word you'll hear when someone wants credit (or blame) for doing something without help -- मैंने ख़ुद किया (mainne khud kiyaa, 'I did it myself') is a classic bit of Indian pride, whether it's fixing a scooter or acing an exam without tuition classes.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes add से (se) after ख़ुद (khud) thinking it needs a postposition like 'by myself' in English -- ख़ुद (khud) already carries that sense on its own and normally stands unmarked.
Sample Sentences:
वह ख़ुद अपनी स्कूटी ठीक कर लेता है, मैकेनिक के पास नहीं जाता।
He fixes his own scooter by himself, he doesn't go to a mechanic.
(vah khud apnii skootii thiik kar letaa hai, maikenik ke paas nahiin jaataa।)
Listen: F85
उसने बिना ट्यूशन के ख़ुद पढ़कर परीक्षा पास कर ली।
She passed the exam by studying on her own, without tuition classes.
(usne binaa tyooshan ke khud padhkar pariikshaa paas kar lii।)
Listen: M85
तुम ख़ुद यह चिट्ठी लिखो, किसी और से मत लिखवाओ।
Write this letter yourself, don't get someone else to write it.
(tum khud yah chitthii likho, kisii aur se mat likhvaao।)
Listen: F85
अगर वह ख़ुद यह प्रोजेक्ट कर लेता, तो उसे इतनी तारीफ़ नहीं मिलती।
If he had done this project on his own, he wouldn't have gotten so much praise.
(agar vah khud yah projekt kar letaa, to use itnii taariif nahiin miltii।)
Listen: M85
क्या तुम ख़ुद यह फ़ैसला ले सकते हो, या किसी की सलाह चाहिए?
Can you make this decision on your own, or do you need someone's advice?
(kyaa tum khud yah faislaa le sakte ho, yaa kisii kii salaah chaahie?)
Listen: M85
मुझे उम्मीद है कि वह ख़ुद अपनी ग़लती सुधार लेगा।
I hope he will correct his own mistake by himself.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki vah khud apnii ghaltii sudhaar legaa।)
Listen: M85
यह मकान उन्होंने ख़ुद बनवाया, किसी ठेकेदार की मदद के बिना निगरानी की।
He got this house built himself, supervising it without any contractor's help.
(yah makaan unhonne khud banvaayaa, kisii thekedaar kii madad ke binaa nigraanii kii।)
Listen: F85
सर, मैंने रिपोर्ट ख़ुद तैयार की है, इसलिए हर आँकड़े की जानकारी मुझे है।
Sir, I prepared the report myself, so I know every figure in it.
(sar, mainne riport khud taiyaar kii hai, islie har aankde kii jaankaarii mujhe hai।)
Listen: F85
बच्चे को ख़ुद अपने जूते के फीते बाँधने दो, वह सीख जाएगा।
Let the child tie his own shoelaces by himself, he'll learn.
(bachche ko khud apne joote ke phiite baandhne do, vah siikh jaaegaa।)
Listen: M85
अगर सब कुछ ख़ुद करना पड़े, तो टीम की ज़रूरत ही क्या है?
If everything has to be done by oneself, then what's the need for a team?
(agar sab kuchh khud karnaa pade, to tiim kii zaroorat hii kyaa hai?)
Listen: F85