V + सकना (Can / Able to)

Shows ability — 'can do', 'able to do'

Examples

masculine (सकता)

मैं हिंदी बोल सकता हूँ

I can speak Hindi (male speaker)

feminine (सकती)

मैं हिंदी बोल सकती हूँ

I can speak Hindi (female speaker)

Works like English "can" — expresses ability or possibility. For "could" (past ability), use सकता था: मैं बोल सकता था (I could speak).

Negate with नहीं: मैं नहीं जा सकता (I can't go). This is how you say "can't" in Hindi.

Automatically detected by the Desi Lingo browser extension when you click Hindi words on any webpage.

Adds a sense of 'completely' or 'gone' — the action is fully finished

The action benefits the doer themselves — 'ate it up (for myself)', 'took it'

The action is done for someone else's benefit — 'told (them)', 'gave (away)'

Something happened suddenly or unexpectedly — 'burst out laughing', 'fell asleep'

A sudden burst of action — 'burst into tears', 'suddenly started'