Lots of people have asked me, “what’s the difference between aap kaise ho vs. aap kaise hai”? First, let me say they are both accepted in everyday conversational Hindi. Even though, aap kaise ho is more common, I teach my students, aap kaise hai”.
Why?
Because “aap kaise hai?” is the formal, respectful form. I teach Hindi to children. Therefore, if they’re speaking Hindi, it’s most likely with someone older than them. So it’s better to be safe, using the respectful form.
The other reason I do this is because not only do I teach children…but desi kids growing up outside India — in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand. And let me tell you, the “hai”, “ho” and “hoo” in Hindi gets confusing! So, I only teach the informal forms using “ho” to my older and/or advanced students.
Formal vs. Informal = Foreign Concept
This whole concept of formal vs. informal, aka the respectful form is foreign to desi kids growing up in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc.
Did you know that technically using the words “aap” and “ho” together in one sentence is like saying the Lakers and the Clippers are the same? It’s wrong.
Aap = formal Ho = informal Hai = formal
Therefore:
Aap goes with hai
Tum goes with ho
Ergo: “aap kaise hai?”
“tum kaise ho?”
Don’t even get me started tu vs. tum. I don’t go there in my classes, except with my most advanced students.
But again, “aap kaise ho?” is what most people say and it’s a totally accepted form in conversational Hindi. But since I’m teaching, I stick to “aap kaise hai?” But if you’re really interested understanding more about the pronoun, “you” in Hindi check out this article I wrote about it.
Pronunciation. Notice also, that I removed the “n” that I normally put on “hain”. That’s because again, I’m teaching kids growing up outside India. When I put the “n” in they pronounced it as exactly the way I expected them to …not with the nasal “n” sound that is common in Hindi.
Every teacher has to pick and choose their battles. That’s a battle I’ve chosen not to confront.
Aap Kaise Ho and Aap Kaise Hai Meaning
It’s a question, “how are you?”
Aap = you
Kaise = how
ho/hai = are
Translated word-for-word, it’s “you, how are?”. Like pretty much every language, the order of the words in Hindi and English are not the same.
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