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Learn Hardcore Hindi: ईंधन महँगा है। - Fuel is expensive.

Hardcore Hindi
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/ईंधन महँगा है।

ईंधन महँगा है।

ईंधन महँगा है।

Fuel is expensive.

Breakdown of ईंधन महँगा है।

महँगा

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Questions & Answers about ईंधन महँगा है।

Why does the sentence end with है?

In Hindi, the verb है (is) usually comes at the end of a simple statement.

So the structure is:

ईंधन = fuel
महँगा = expensive
है = is

Hindi often follows a subject + description + verb pattern, so ईंधन महँगा है is literally fuel expensive is.

Why is the word order different from English?

Hindi and English do not use the same default word order.

English says:

Fuel is expensive

Hindi says:

ईंधन महँगा है
literally: fuel expensive is

This is normal in Hindi. The descriptive word comes before है.

What exactly is महँगा here?

महँगा is an adjective meaning expensive.

It changes form depending on the gender and number of the noun in many cases. Here it appears in the masculine singular form महँगा, because ईंधन is treated as masculine singular.

Related forms:

महँगा = masculine singular
महँगी = feminine singular
महँगे = masculine plural / some oblique uses

So with ईंधन, you say महँगा.

Is ईंधन masculine or feminine?

ईंधन is generally treated as masculine in standard Hindi.

That is why the adjective is महँगा, not महँगी.

So:

ईंधन महँगा है = correct
ईंधन महँगी है = not correct in standard usage

Why is there no word for the or a?

Hindi usually does not use articles like English a, an, and the.

So ईंधन महँगा है can mean:

Fuel is expensive
The fuel is expensive

The exact meaning depends on context.

Hindi often leaves this unstated unless something else makes it specific.

Does ईंधन mean one specific fuel, or fuel in general?

It can do either, depending on context.

Most often, a sentence like ईंधन महँगा है is understood as a general statement:

Fuel is expensive

But in the right context, it could also mean:

The fuel is expensive

Hindi often relies on context rather than articles to show whether something is general or specific.

How do you pronounce महँगा?

A helpful pronunciation guide is:

महँगा ≈ ma-HANG-gaa

A few notes:

The ँ shows nasalization.
So the vowel is slightly nasal: महँ...
The final -गा sounds like gaa.

In everyday writing, you may also sometimes see महंगा, but महँगा is the standard spelling.

What does the ँ in महँगा do?

The sign ँ is called chandrabindu. It nasalizes the vowel before it.

So महा... and महँ... are not pronounced the same way. In महँगा, you say the vowel with a nasal sound.

For learners, the main thing is:

महँगा = correct standard pronunciation/spelling for expensive

Could I leave out है and just say ईंधन महँगा?

In standard Hindi, you should keep है in a full sentence like this:

ईंधन महँगा है।

Leaving it out may sound incomplete, although in very casual speech, headlines, or poetry, Hindi sometimes drops forms of to be.

For normal learning and normal conversation, use है.

Why isn’t there a separate word for is expensive as one unit?

Because Hindi usually expresses this idea with:

a noun
an adjective
the verb to be

So instead of one combined verb meaning is expensive, Hindi says:

ईंधन = fuel
महँगा = expensive
है = is

This is very common in Hindi:

घर बड़ा है = The house is big
पानी ठंडा है = The water is cold
ईंधन महँगा है = Fuel is expensive

Can ईंधन be replaced with a more specific word like petrol?

Yes. ईंधन means fuel in a general sense. If you want to be more specific, you can use another noun:

पेट्रोल महँगा है। = Petrol is expensive.
डीज़ल महँगा है। = Diesel is expensive.
गैस महँगी है। = Gas is expensive.

Notice that the adjective changes depending on the gender of the noun. For example, गैस is feminine, so you use महँगी, not महँगा.

How would I make this sentence negative?

You add नहीं before है:

ईंधन महँगा नहीं है।
Fuel is not expensive.

This is a very common pattern in Hindi:

X + adjective + नहीं है

For example:

घर बड़ा नहीं है। = The house is not big.
पानी ठंडा नहीं है। = The water is not cold.

Is this a complete and natural Hindi sentence?

Yes. ईंधन महँगा है। is a complete, natural, grammatically correct Hindi sentence.

It is short, but it follows normal Hindi grammar perfectly:

noun: ईंधन
adjective: महँगा
verb: है

So it is a very good example of a basic Hindi descriptive sentence.

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