मिलना (milnaa)

verb A dative-subject verb (with को (ko)) covering several related ideas: meeting someone, receiving something, something being available, things matching/fitting together, and -- following an oblique infinitive -- getting the chance to do something.
Sense 1 : to meet (a person)
verb, intransitive Takes a dative subject with को (ko): मुझे उससे मिलना है (mujhe usse milnaa hai, 'I have to meet him/her') -- the person met is marked with से (se).
Synonyms: भेंट होना (bhent honaa, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday Delhi speech, मिलते हैं (milte hain, 'see you' / 'let's meet') is the standard warm sign-off among friends, much like 'catch you later' -- it's used even when no concrete plan exists yet.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often mark the person met with को (ko) instead of से (se) -- say उससे मिलना (usse milnaa), not उसको मिलना (usko milnaa) for 'to meet him/her'. 2) मिलना (milnaa) is intransitive here, so the subject stays in the dative/nominative, never gets ने (ne), even in the past tense.
Sample Sentences:
कल हम बाज़ार में मिले थे। We met at the market yesterday.
(kal ham baazaar men mile the।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
चलो, फिर मिलते हैं। Alright, see you later.
(chalo, phir milte hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
वह हर इतवार अपने दादा जी से मिलता है। He meets his grandfather every Sunday.
(vah har itvaar apne daadaa jii se miltaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मैं अभी उससे मिल रहा हूँ। I am meeting him right now.
(main abhii usse mil rahaa hoon।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम कल मुझसे मिलोगे? Will you meet me tomorrow?
(kyaa tum kal mujhse miloge?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
कृपया आकर मुझसे मिलिए। Please come and meet me.
(kripyaa aakar mujhse milie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वह समय पर आता तो हम उससे मिल पाते। If he had come on time, we would have gotten to meet him.
(agar vah samay par aataa to ham usse mil paate।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
मुझे उम्मीद है कि वह जल्दी मिल जाए। I hope that he shows up to meet soon.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki vah jaldii mil jaae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
मंत्री जी से मिलने के लिए बहुत लोग इंतज़ार कर रहे थे। Many people were waiting to meet the minister.
(mantrii jii se milne ke lie bahut log intzaar kar rahe the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
वर्षों बाद वे दोनों प्रेमी एक दूसरे से मिले। After years, the two lovers met each other.
(varshon baad ve donon premii ek doosre se mile।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
राष्ट्रपति से मिलने वाले सभी अतिथियों की जांच की जाती है। All the guests who are to meet the president are screened.
(raashtrapti se milne vaale sabhii atithiyon kii jaanch kii jaatii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Sense 2 : to get, receive (something)
verb, intransitive The thing received is the grammatical subject and the recipient takes को (ko): उसे इनाम मिला (use inaam milaa, 'he/she got a reward').
Synonyms: प्राप्त होना (praapt honaa, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is the verb behind common phrases like सज़ा मिलना (sazaa milnaa, 'to get punished') and डाँट मिलना (daant milnaa, 'to get scolded') -- Hindi frequently frames receiving even unpleasant things (punishment, a scolding) with this same 'arrives to you' logic rather than an active verb.
Common Mistakes: 1) Because the received item is the real subject, the verb agrees with it, not with the recipient -- उसे किताबें मिलीं (use kitaaben miliin) not मिला (milaa), since किताबें (kitaaben) is feminine plural.
Sample Sentences:
मुझे कल एक चिट्ठी मिली। I got a letter yesterday.
(mujhe kal ek chitthii milii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
हर महीने उसे तनख़्वाह पहली तारीख़ को मिलती है। He gets his salary on the first of every month.
(har mahiine use tanakhvaah pahlii taariikh ko miltii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
झूठ बोलने पर उसे बहुत डाँट मिली। He got a big scolding for lying.
(jhooth bolne par use bahut daant milii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर वह पकड़ा गया, तो उसे कड़ी सज़ा मिलेगी। If he is caught, he will get a harsh punishment.
(agar vah pakdaa gayaa, to use kadii sazaa milegii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश मुझे भी वह छात्रवृत्ति मिलती। I wish I had gotten that scholarship too.
(kaash mujhe bhii vah chhaatrvritti miltii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
उसे इस काम के बदले क्या मिलेगा? What will he get in return for this work?
(use is kaam ke badle kyaa milegaa?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
मुझे उम्मीद है कि तुम्हें अच्छे नंबर मिलें। I hope you get good marks.
(mujhe ummiid hai ki tumhen achchhe nambar milen।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
प्रतियोगिता में विजेता को एक बड़ा इनाम मिला। The winner got a big prize in the competition.
(pratiyogitaa men vijetaa ko ek badaa inaam milaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अच्छे कर्मों का फल अवश्य मिलता है। One certainly receives the fruit of good deeds.
(achchhe karmon kaa phal avashy miltaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें मेरा संदेश मिल रहा है? Are you receiving my message?
(kyaa tumhen meraa sandesh mil rahaa hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसे अपनी मेहनत का सही मुआवज़ा नहीं मिला। He did not get proper compensation for his hard work.
(use apnii mehnat kaa sahii muaavzaa nahiin milaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Sense 3 : to be available, obtainable
verb, intransitive Common in market/shop contexts: यहाँ ताज़ी सब्ज़ियाँ मिलती हैं (yahaan taazii sabziyaan miltii hain, 'fresh vegetables are available here').
Synonyms: उपलब्ध होना (uplabdh honaa, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly from shopkeepers and vendors -- यह मिलेगा? (yah milegaa?, 'will this be available?') is the natural way to ask if a shop stocks something, more so than asking if they 'have' it with है (hai).
Sample Sentences:
क्या यहाँ दूध मिलेगा? Will milk be available here?
(kyaa yahaan doodh milegaa?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
यह किताब बाज़ार में आसानी से मिल जाती है। This book is easily available in the market.
(yah kitaab baazaar men aasaanii se mil jaatii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
सर्दियों में ताज़ी सब्ज़ियाँ ज़्यादा मिलती हैं। Fresh vegetables are more available in winter.
(sardiyon men taazii sabziyaan zyaadaa miltii hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिछले हफ़्ते यह ब्रांड कहीं नहीं मिल रहा था। Last week this brand wasn't available anywhere.
(pichhle hafte yah braand kahiin nahiin mil rahaa thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उस दुकान पर हर तरह का मसाला मिल गया। Every kind of spice turned out to be available at that shop.
(us dukaan par har tarah kaa masaalaa mil gayaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश यह दवा हर मेडिकल स्टोर पर मिलती। I wish this medicine were available at every pharmacy.
(kaash yah davaa har medikal stor par miltii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर वह सामान यहाँ मिलता, तो हमें दूर नहीं जाना पड़ता। If that item were available here, we wouldn't have had to go far.
(agar vah saamaan yahaan miltaa, to hamen door nahiin jaanaa padtaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
यह मॉडल अब सिर्फ़ ऑनलाइन ही मिलता है। This model is now available only online.
(yah modal ab sirf onlaain hii miltaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यह पंखा किस दुकान पर मिलता है, ज़रा बताइए। Could you please tell me which shop this fan is available at?
(yah pankhaa kis dukaan par miltaa hai, zaraa bataaie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
यहाँ शुद्ध शाकाहारी भोजन मिलता है। Pure vegetarian food is available here.
(yahaan shuddh shaakaahaarii bhojan miltaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है कि टिकट अभी भी मिल जाए। I hope tickets are still available.
(ummiid hai ki tikat abhii bhii mil jaae।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
Sense 4 : to match, fit, agree (of things, colors, ideas, accounts)
verb, intransitive Used for compatibility between two things: यह रंग उससे मिलता है (yah rang usse miltaa hai, 'this color matches that one'); accounts/figures tallying (हिसाब मिलना (hisaab milnaa)).
Synonyms: मेल खाना (mel khaanaa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: मिलना (milnaa) here overlaps with मेल खाना (mel khaanaa), a compound verb built on the same root मेल (mel, 'harmony, match') -- worth noticing the family resemblance between the two.
Sample Sentences:
यह रंग उस दीवार से नहीं मिलता। This color doesn't match that wall.
(yah rang us diivaar se nahiin miltaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मेरी कहानी उसकी कहानी से बिल्कुल नहीं मिलती। My story doesn't match his story at all.
(merii kahaanii uskii kahaanii se bilkul nahiin miltii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
खाते के आंकड़े नहीं मिल रहे हैं, दोबारा जोड़ो। The account figures aren't matching up, add them again.
(khaate ke aankde nahiin mil rahe hain, dobaaraa jodo।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पिछले महीने भी हिसाब नहीं मिला था। The accounts didn't match last month either.
(pichhle mahiine bhii hisaab nahiin milaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर नाप ठीक से लिया जाता तो कपड़ा शरीर से मिलता। If the measurement had been taken properly, the fabric would have fit the body.
(agar naap thiik se liyaa jaataa to kapdaa shariir se miltaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है नई डिज़ाइन पुरानी थीम से मिल जाएगी। Hopefully the new design will match the old theme.
(ummiid hai naii dizaain puraanii thiim se mil jaaegii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
शायद दोनों की गवाही मिल जाए, फिर मामला साफ़ हो जाएगा। Maybe both testimonies will match, and then the matter will become clear.
(shaayad donon kii gavaahii mil jaae, phir maamlaa saaf ho jaaegaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
इन दोनों टाइलों का रंग बिल्कुल मेल खाता है। The color of these two tiles matches perfectly.
(in donon taailon kaa rang bilkul mel khaataa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसके बयान और पुलिस रिपोर्ट में कई जगह बातें नहीं मिलतीं। His statement and the police report don't match up in several places.
(uske bayaan aur pulis riport men kaii jagah baaten nahiin miltiin।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Sense 5 : to get the chance/opportunity to do (something) -- auxiliary after an oblique infinitive
verb, intransitive Follows a verb stem plus the oblique infinitive ending -ने (ne): V-ने + मिलना, with the person marked by को (ko) -- बच्चों को खेलने नहीं मिलता (bachchon ko khelne nahiin miltaa, 'the children don't get to play'). This is structurally distinct from the 'get/receive' sense, which takes a plain noun object rather than an infinitive.
Synonyms: पाना (paanaa, parallel V-ने पाना construction)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This mirrors पाना (paanaa) in its own V-ने पाना (V-ne paanaa) auxiliary use -- both frame getting to do something as an external grant rather than a personal achievement, fitting Hindi's broader habit of using dative subjects (को (ko)) for things that happen 'to' you rather than things you actively cause.
Common Mistakes: 1) Don't confuse this with सकना (saknaa, 'to be able to') -- सकना (saknaa) is about ability, while V-ने मिलना (milnaa) is about being granted permission or opportunity by circumstance. 2) The infinitive before मिलना (milnaa) must be in its oblique form ending in -ने (ne), not the dictionary form -- जाने मिला (jaane milaa), not जाना मिला (jaanaa milaa).
Sample Sentences:
मुझे कल छुट्टी लेने का मौका मिला। I got to take a day off yesterday.
(mujhe kal chhuttii lene kaa maukaa milaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उसे विदेश जाकर पढ़ने को मिला। He got to go abroad and study.
(use videsh jaakar padhne ko milaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें कभी उनसे बात करने को मिलेगा? Will you ever get the chance to talk to them?
(kyaa tumhen kabhii unse baat karne ko milegaa?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
हमें रोज़ सुबह टहलने को मिलता है। We get to go for a walk every morning.
(hamen roz subah tahalne ko miltaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश मुझे भी अपनी मर्ज़ी से काम करने को मिलता। I wish I also got to work as I please.
(kaash mujhe bhii apnii marzii se kaam karne ko miltaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
अगर समय होता तो हमें घूमने को मिलता। If there had been time, we would have gotten to go sightseeing.
(agar samay hotaa to hamen ghoomne ko miltaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
बच्चों को स्कूल में नाटक करने को मिला था। The children had gotten the chance to perform a play at school.
(bachchon ko skool men naatak karne ko milaa thaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उम्मीद है इस बार हमें मंच पर गाने को मिलेगा। Hopefully we'll get to sing on stage this time.
(ummiid hai is baar hamen manch par gaane ko milegaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
आजकल सबको अपनी बात रखने को मिल जाता है। These days everyone gets to voice their opinion.
(aajkal sabko apnii baat rakhne ko mil jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Verb
infinitive: मिलना (milnaa)
infinitive oblique: मिलने (milne)
habitual/simple (sg.m): मिलता (miltaa)
habitual/simple (pl.m): मिलते (milte)
habitual/simple (sg.f): मिलती (miltii)
habitual/simple (pl.f): मिलतीं (miltiin)
continuous (sg.m): मिल रहा (mil rahaa)
continuous (pl.m): मिल रहे (mil rahe)
continuous (sg.f): मिल रही (mil rahii)
continuous (pl.f): मिल रहीं (mil rahiin)
perfective (sg.m): मिला (milaa)
perfective (pl.m): मिले (mile)
perfective (sg.f): मिली (milii)
perfective (pl.f): मिलीं (miliin)
imperative (informal): मिल (mil)
imperative (neutral): मिलो (milo)
imperative (formal): मिलिए (milie)
future (1sg.m): मिलूँगा (miloongaa)
future (1sg.f): मिलूँगी (miloongii)
future (1pl.m): मिलेंगे (milenge)
future (1pl.f): मिलेंगी (milengii)
future (2sg.m): मिलेगा (milegaa)
future (2sg.f): मिलेगी (milegii)
future (2pl.m): मिलोगे (miloge)
future (2pl.f): मिलोगी (milogii)
future (3sg.m): मिलेगा (milegaa)
future (3sg.f): मिलेगी (milegii)
future (3pl.m): मिलेंगे (milenge)
future (3pl.f): मिलेंगी (milengii)
subjunctive (1sg): मिलूँ (miloon)
subjunctive (1pl): मिलें (milen)
subjunctive (2sg): मिले (mile)
subjunctive (2pl): मिलो (milo)
subjunctive (3sg): मिले (mile)
subjunctive (3pl): मिलें (milen)