Language/Kashmiri/Grammar/Pronouns
Hi Kashmiri learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will cover the use of pronouns in the Kashmiri language. Pronouns are one of the most important parts of speech in any language, and mastering them is essential to becoming fluent. We'll provide cultural information and interesting facts to make the lesson more enjoyable, and we'll use a simple and informal tone, along with analogies to illustrate complex concepts. Grab a cup of tea and let's get started!
Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: How to Use "Have", Alphabet and Pronunciation, How to Use Be & Plurals.
What are pronouns?[edit | edit source]
Pronouns are words that are used in place of a noun to avoid repetition of the same noun in the sentence. For example, if we were to write a sentence like "Mary went to the store. Mary bought groceries. Mary went home." it would be cumbersome and repetitive. Instead, we could use pronouns to write "Mary went to the store. She bought groceries. Then, she went home."
Kashmiri pronouns are used in much the same way as English pronouns, but there are some differences. For example, in English we use the pronouns "he" and "she" to refer to specific people, depending on their gender, while in Kashmiri there is only one gender-neutral pronoun.
Types of pronouns in Kashmiri[edit | edit source]
There are six types of pronouns in Kashmiri:
1. Personal Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Personal pronouns are pronouns that indicate to whom or to what the action of the sentence refers. In Kashmiri, there are three persons: first, second, and third. There is only one gender-neutral pronoun, "shi."
| Kashmiri | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| mei | /mei/ | I, me |
| tuh | /tuh/ | You (singular) |
| wy'h | /wy'h/ | He/she/it |
| aasaan | /aasaan/ | We, us (inclusive) |
| asin | /asin/ | We, us (exclusive) |
| tuwaan | /tuwaan/ | You (plural) |
| karaan | /karaan/ | They/them |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: mei kyah karith haan? (What am I doing?)
- Person 2: tuh kah chaan karhye? (What are you doing?)
- Person 1: aasaan chuy hatyaar chaan karhye (We are making weapons)
- Person 2: wy'h sary toor chaan becksun (He/She/It is ploughing the fields)
2. Demonstrative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Demonstrative pronouns are pronouns that demonstrate or point to something specific. In Kashmiri, the demonstrative pronouns are "asi" and "os."
| Kashmiri | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| asi | /asi/ | This/these |
| os | /os/ | That/those |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: hyundyi manzil kyah aaz? (What is this building?)
- Person 2: asi razdaan hund (This is a library)
- Person 1: ath maamas kyah? (What is that?)
- Person 2: os hanjyun (That is a market)
3. Interrogative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Interrogative pronouns are pronouns that are used to ask questions. In Kashmiri, the interrogative pronouns are "kyah" and "kas."
| Kashmiri | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kyah | /kyah/ | What |
| kas | /kas/ | Who |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: kyah manzil aaz? (What is this building?)
- Person 2: asi razdaan hund (This is a library)
- Person 1: kyah rass kyah taaan kyah chyan? (What is the way? What is the time? What is the colour?)
- Person 2: kas yemis? (Who is this?)
4. Relative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Relative pronouns are pronouns that are used to introduce relative clauses, which describe or provide additional information about the subject of the sentence. In Kashmiri, the relative pronoun is "zyy."
| Kashmiri | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| zyy | /zyy/ | That/which/who |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: wy'hus zan hyut'h chuk hunds? (Where is the house where he/she lives?)
- Person 2: zyy as kunz hyut'h shoud (That is the house where he/she lives)
5. Indefinite Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Indefinite pronouns are pronouns that do not refer to any specific person, thing, or amount. In Kashmiri, the indefinite pronouns are "gyath" and "kyahny."
| Kashmiri | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| gyath | /gyath/ | Something |
| kyahny | /kyahny/ | Anything |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: chanas lagan su karaan shoor chaan kathi? (Did they see something during the battle?)
- Person 2: na, chaai gyath chaan bucuun (No, they didn't see anything)
- Person 1: tyemuz chuy houwun chaan chum panuny os karith hyumar (I haven't done anything wrong)
6. Reflexive Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Reflexive pronouns are pronouns that refer back to the subject of the sentence. In Kashmiri, reflexive pronouns are formed by adding "-tas" to the personal pronoun.
| Kashmiri | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| meitas | /meitas/ | Myself |
| tuhtas | /tuhtas/ | Yourself |
| wy'htas | /wy'htas/ | Himself/herself/itself |
| aasaantas | /aasaantas/ | Ourselves (inclusive) |
| asintas | /asintas/ | Ourselves (exclusive) |
| tuwaantas | /tuwaantas/ | Yourselves |
| karaantas | /karaantas/ | Themselves |
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: tuh kyah karith hyomut? (What are you doing?)
- Person 2: mei tse ki myonas baerdik, ba darmiyan baeran chum tuhtas hyumar (I am looking at myself in the mirror, while standing between two mirrors)
How to use pronouns[edit | edit source]
Using pronouns in Kashmiri is similar to using them in English. Here are some examples to help you understand how pronouns are used:
| Kashmiri | English |
|---|---|
| wy'h soaryi chaan syontis | He is drinking tea |
| mei chuw chaan laran | I want to learn |
| tuh kah aabivyual chaan hyut'h pagah? | Where did you receive the education? |
| aasaan chuy naslooj chaan karith hyomut (inclusive) | We are creating art |
| asin golbuff chaan karrun (exclusive) | We are playing football
Cultural information[edit | edit source]In Kashmiri culture, it is customary to use respectful language when speaking to elders or people who are respected in the community. This includes using formal pronouns to address them. In addition, Kashmiris tend to use a lot of idiomatic expressions and colloquialisms in their daily speech. Some of these expressions have become a part of the Kashmiri language and are an important part of its cultural identity. Interesting facts[edit | edit source]- The Kashmiri language has its own unique script, called sharada or śāradā script, which is related to other Indic scripts like Devanagari and Gurmukhi. - Kashmiri is spoken by around 7 million people in India, Pakistan, and other parts of the world. - The Kashmiri language has a rich literary tradition, with works dating back to the 13th century. Kashmiri literature includes poetry, novels, and religious texts. To improve your Kashmiri Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Sources[edit | edit source]Videos[edit | edit source]Kashmiri Grammar proNoun types(اِشارِ ناوت )(اسم) part 1 for all ...[edit | edit source]Pronouns in Kashmiri - YouTube[edit | edit source]Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
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