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In Hindi, the small word से (se) is extremely important and used all the time. It has many different but related meanings, which makes it a difficult part for learners of Hindi as a second language. Learners often get confused because से (se) can mean “from,” “with,” “by,” “than,” or “since” in English, but it doesn’t match up perfectly.

This article gives a clear, in-depth guide to से (se). Instead of just listing meanings, we will group them into three main ideas. This will help learners and teachers understand how this complex word works.

2. Group 1: “From” Meanings (Separation and Starting Point)

The most basic meaning of से (se) is “from.” This core idea is used in several related ways.

2.1. Separation and Leaving This is the most direct “from” meaning. It shows the place from which something moves or is taken away.

पेड़ से पत्ता गिरा। (Peṛ se pattā girā.) “A leaf fell from the tree.”
वह दफ़्तर से निकला। (Vah daftar se niklā.) “He left from the office.”
मेरे दिल से यह डर निकालो। (Mere dil se yah ḍar nikālo.) “Remove this fear from my heart.”

2.2. Source or Material This extends the “from” idea to show where something comes from or what it is made from.

Origin: बीज से पौधा निकलता है। (Bīj se paudhā nikaltā hai.) “A plant grows from a seed.”
Source: मुझे यह ख़बर भाई से मिली। (Mujhe yah khabar bhāī se milī.) “I received this news from (my) brother.”
Material: यह मेज़ लकड़ी से बनी है। (Yah mez lakṛī se banī hai.) “This table is made from wood.”

2.3. Starting Time (Since / For) This is a key function that often confuses learners. से (se) marks the starting point of a time period. If that time continues to the present, it means “for” or “since.”

हम कल से काम करेंगे। (Ham kal se kām kareṅge.) “We will work from (starting) tomorrow.”
वह दो साल से बीमार है। (Vah do sāl se bīmār hai.) “He has been sick for two years.” (The sickness started two years from the past).
सुबह से बारिश हो रही है। (Subah se bāriś ho rahī hai.) “It has been raining since morning.”

3. Group 2: “How” and “Why” Meanings (Tools and Cause)

This group covers how or why an action is done. से (se) shows the tool, cause, or person doing the action.

3.1. Instrument (Tool) This is the “with” meaning, showing the tool used to do something.

चाकू से सब्ज़ी काटो। (Cākū se sabzī kāṭo.) “Cut the vegetables with a knife.”
मैं पेन से लिखता हूँ। (Main pen se likhtā hūṃ.) “I write with a pen.”
हम हाथ से खाना खाते हैं। (Ham hāth se khānā khāte haiṃ.) “We eat with (our) hands.”

3.2. Agent (Person Doing the Action) In passive sentences or sentences about ability, से (se) shows who is (or isn’t) doing the action, like “by.”

मुझसे यह काम नहीं होगा। (Mujhse yah kām nahīṃ hogā.) “This work will not be done by me.” (I can’t do this work).
यह पत्र मुझसे लिखा गया। (Yah patra mujhse likhā gayā.) “This letter was written by me.”

3.3. Cause or Reason से (se) is used to show the reason from which a result comes.

वह बुखार से कमज़ोर हो गया। (Vah bukhār se kamzor ho gayā.) “He became weak from/due to fever.”
लड़का डर से काँप गया। (Laṛkā ḍar se kāṃp gayā.) “The boy trembled from fear.”

3.4. Manner (How Something is Done) This use describes the way in which an action is done. It often turns a noun into an adverb (like “with” or “-ly”).

मेरी बात ध्यान से सुनो। (Merī bāt dhyān se suno.) “Listen to my words with attention (attentively).”
वह तेज़ी से भागा। (Vah tezī se bhāgā.) “He ran with speed (quickly).”
हम कठिनाई से स्टेशन पहुँचे। (Ham kaṭhināī se sṭeśan pahuṃce.) “We reached the station with difficulty.”

4. Group 3: “With” and “Than” Meanings (Relationships)

This group covers how से (se) connects two things, either through interaction or comparison.

4.1. Association and Interaction से (se) is required for verbs like “to talk,” “to ask,” “to meet,” or “to quarrel.” It shows the person with whom you are interacting.

मैं उससे बात करता हूँ। (Main us-se bāt kartā hūṃ.) “I talk with/to him.”
शिक्षक ने छात्रों से पूछा। (Śikṣak ne chātroṃ se pūchā.) “The teacher asked the students.”
मुझसे झूठ न बोलो। (Mujhse jhūṭh na bolo.) “Don’t lie to me.”

4.2. Comparison से (se) is the standard word for “than” in comparisons. It sets the baseline from which you are comparing.

राम श्याम से लंबा है। (Rām Śyām se lambā hai.) “Ram is taller than Shyam.”
यह किताब उस किताब से बेहतर है। (Yah kitāb us kitāb se behtar hai.) “This book is better than that book.”
वहाँ से यहाँ अधिक गर्मी है। (Vahāṃ se yahāṃ adhik garmī hai.) “It is hotter here than there.”

5. Tips for Learners and Sample Exercises

For learners, the biggest problem is trying to match से (se) one-to-one with a word in their native language. For example, an English speaker might mix up the “with” for tools (चम्मच से — cammac se) and the “with” for people (दोस्त से — dost se).

It’s best to learn the meanings in groups, as shown in this article. First, master the main “from” idea (Group 1). Then, see how it connects to “by means of” (Group 2) and “in relation to” (Group 3).

Sample Exercises

Exercise 1: Identify the Function Instructions: What is the job of से (se) in these sentences? (e.g., Tool, Cause, Comparison, Separation, Manner, Association, Time).

मैं चम्मच से खाता हूँ। (Main cammac se khātā hūṃ.)

Function: _________________

वह कल से यहाँ है। (Vah kal se yahāṃ hai.)

Function: _________________

कमरा ध्यान से साफ़ करो। (Kamrā dhyān se sāf karo.)

Function: _________________

दिल्ली मुंबई से दूर है। (Dillī Mumbaī se dūr hai.)

Function: _________________

वह डर से रोने लगा। (Vah ḍar se rone lagā.)

Function: _________________

क्या आप मुझसे मिलेंगे? (Kyā āp mujhse mileṅge?)

Function: _________________

(Answers: 1. Tool, 2. Time, 3. Manner, 4. Comparison, 5. Cause, 6. Association)

Exercise 2: Simple Translation (Fill-in-the-Blank) Instructions: Complete the Hindi sentences using से (se) and the given noun.

He is weak _____ fever. (fever = बुखार bukhār)

वह ________ कमज़ोर है।

I will talk _____ you. (you = आप āp)

मैं ________ बात करूँगा।

Cut the apple _____ a knife. (knife = चाकू cākū)

सेब को ________ काटो।

He came _____ Delhi. (Delhi = दिल्ली Dillī)

वह ________ आया।

(Answers: 1. बुखार से, 2. आपसे, 3. चाकू से, 4. दिल्ली से)

Conclusion

The word से (se) is a key part of Hindi grammar. To speak fluently, you must master it. Its meanings are not random. They are all connected, starting from the main idea of “from” or “separation.”

By learning से (se) in logical groups (Separation, How/Why, and Relationships), learners can understand it better than just memorizing translations. This guide helps build a strong foundation for understanding one of Hindi’s most important words.

References:

Bhatia, Tej K. Colloquial Hindi: The Complete Course for Beginners. Routledge, 2006.
Guru, Kamta Prasad. Hindī Vyākaraṇ (Hindi Grammar). Lokbharti Prakashan, 1990.
Jain, Usha R. Advanced Hindi Grammar. University of California Press, 2007.
— -. Introduction to Hindi Grammar. University of California Press, 1995.
Koul, Omkar N. Modern Hindi Grammar. Dunwoody Press, 2008.
McGregor, R. S. Outline of Hindi Grammar: With Exercises. Oxford University Press, 1995.
Patel, Manish. Basic Practical Hindi. Independently published, 2025.
Snell, Rupert. The T&F Consecutive Hindi Course. Routledge, 2021.