# Maithili grammar

This page describes the grammar of Maithili language, which has a complex verbal system, nominal declension with a few inflections, and extensive use of honoroficity. It is an Indo-Aryan language native to the Maithili people and is spoken in the Indian state of Bihar with some speakers in Jharkhand and nearby states.The language has a large number of speakers in Nepal too, which is second in number of speakers after Bihar.
Maithili has the following characteristic morphological features:
* Number is not grammatically marked.
* Gender distinctions are also absent in verbs and pronouns.
* There is a lexical distinction of gender in the third person pronoun.
* Transitive verbs are distinguished from intransitive.

## Phonology
### Vowels

| | | Front | Front | Central | Central | Back | Back |
| | | short | long | short | long | short | long |
| Closed | Script | ɪ ⟨इ⟩ | iː ⟨ई⟩ | | | ʊ ⟨उ⟩ | uː ⟨ऊ⟩ |
| Closed | Rom. | i | ī | | | u | ū |
| Mid | Script | e ⟨ऎ⟩ | eː ⟨ए⟩ | ə~ɐ ⟨अ⟩ | əː ⟨अ꣱/अ२⟩ | o ⟨ऒ⟩ | oː ⟨ओ⟩ |
| Mid | Rom. | e | ē | a | a | o | ō |
| Open | Script | æ~ɛ ⟨ऍ⟩ | æ~ɛ ⟨ऍ⟩ | a ⟨ॴ⟩ | aː ⟨आ⟩ | ɔ ⟨अ꣱⟩ | ɔ ⟨अ꣱⟩ |
| Open | Rom. | æ/ê | æ/ê | ă/ä | ā | å | å |
| Diphthongs | Script | əɪ̯ ⟨ꣾ⟩ | əɪ̯ ⟨ꣾ⟩ | | | əʊ̯ ⟨ॵ⟩ | əʊ̯ ⟨ॵ⟩ |
| Diphthongs | Rom. | ai | ai | | | au | au |
* All vowels have nasal counterparts, represented by "~" in IPA and ँ on the vowels, like आँ [ãː] .
* All vowel sounds are realised as nasal when occurring before or after a nasal consonant.
* Word final अ [a] is always deleted, except in monosyllabic words, non-syllabic (य /e̯/ and /o̯/) final words (if preceded by any non-central vowel) and conjunct final words. In the middle position, it is shortened to [$^a$] /ə̆/, if unstressed. Both extra short vowel and deleted vowel are pronounced in poetry though.
* Ramavatar Yadav ignores the contrast between short and long vowels, as its length is often determined by position. Others maintain the contrast as some of the differences can be explained by position, but not all.
* Sounds [eː] and [oː] are often replaced by diphthongs [əɪ̯] and [əʊ̯] in various dialects.
* [ɔ] is realised as [əː] in northern dialects and o in southernmost dialects.
* There are three extra short vowels that were described by Grierson, अ [ ə̆ ] (Rom. as a ), इ' [ ɪ̆ ] (Rom. as i), उ' [ ʊ̆ ] (Rom. as u), but are not counted by Ramavatar Yadav and other modern grammarians. The first could be understood as syllable break: ( "." in IPA).
* A peculiar type of phonetic change is recently taking place in Maithili by way of epenthesis, i.e. backward transposition of final extra short i and u in all sort of words. Thus:

   #### Standard Colloquial - Common Pronunciation

       अछि' / ach$^i$ / - अइछ / aich / 'is'
       मधु' / madh$^u$ / - मउध / maudh / 'honey'
       बालु' / bāl$^u$ / - बाउल / bāul / 'sand'
Only extra short i and u have been applicable for this rule, however recently short i and u have started to observe same pattern, though it is very scattered, and non-standard-
       रवि / rabi / - रइब / raib / 'Sunday'
This phenomenon is observed only in northern dialects, in southern dialects it is often maintained or even lengthened.
       ach$^i$→(a)chī
       madh$^u$→madhū
       bāl$^u$→bālū
       rabi→rabī
* ꣾ is a Unicode letter in Devanagari, (IPA /əe̯/) which is not supported currently on several browsers and operating systems, along with its mātrā (vowel sign).
The following diphthongs are present:
    अय़/ꣾ / əe̯ / ~ /ɛː/ - अय़सन/ꣾसन /aisan/ ~ /êsan/ 'like this'
    अव़/ॵ / əo̯ / ~ /ɔː/- चव़मुख/चॏमुख /caumukh/ ~ /cåmukh/ 'four faced'
    अऎ /ꣾ əe̯ / - अऎलाह/ꣾलाह /aelah/ 'came'
    अऒ/ॵ / əo̯ / - अऒताह/ॵताह /aotah/ 'will come'
    आइ / aːi̯ / - आइ /āi/ 'today'
    आउ / aːu̯ / - आउ /āu/ 'come please'
    आऎ / aːe̯ / - आऎल /āel/ 'came'
    आऒ / aːo̯ / - आऒब /āob/ 'will come'
    यु/इउ / iu̯/ - घ्यु/घिउ /ghiu/ 'ghee'
    यॆ/इऎ / ie̯ / - यॆह/इऎह /ieh/ 'only this' (dialectical variation of इहꣿ/यꣿह)
    यॊ/इऒ / io̯ / - कह्यो/कहिऒ /kahio/ 'any day'
    वि/उइ / ui̯ / - द्वि/दुइ /dui/ 'two'
    वॆ/उऎ /ue̯/ - वॆह/उऎह /ue:h/ 'only that' (dialectical variation of उहꣿ/वꣿह)
There are some graphemes, borrowed from Sanskrit, which are written as pronounced in Sanskrit-
| Letter | Sans. Pron. | Rom. | Maithili Pron. |
| ऋ | r̩ | r̥/ṛ | r̩/rɪ |
| ॠ | r̩ː | r̥̄/ṝ | r̩ː/riː |
| ऌ | l̩ | l̥/ḷ | l̩/lɪ |
| ऐ | ae̯ː / aːɪ̯ | various | various |
| औ | ao̯ː / aːʊ̯ | various | various |

### Consonants

Maithili has four classes of stops, one class of affricate, which is generally treated as a stop series, related nasals, fricatives and approximant.
| | | | | Labial | Dental/ Alveolar | Retroflex | Palatal | Velar | Glottal |
| Nasal | Nasal | unaspirated | Script | m ⟨म⟩ | n ⟨न⟩ | (ɳ) ⟨ण⟩ | (ɲ) ⟨ञ⟩ | ŋ ⟨ङ⟩ | |
| Nasal | Nasal | unaspirated | Rom. | m | n | ṇ | ñ | ṅ | |
| Nasal | Nasal | aspirated | Script | mʱ ⟨म्ह⟩ | nʱ ⟨न्ह⟩ | (ɳʱ) ⟨ण्ह⟩ | (ɲʱ) ⟨ञ्ह⟩ | ŋʱ ⟨ङ्ह⟩ | |
| Nasal | Nasal | aspirated | Rom. | mh | nh | ṇh | ñh | ṅh | |
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiceless | unaspirated | Script | p ⟨प⟩ | t ⟨त⟩ | ʈ ⟨ट⟩ | tɕ ⟨च⟩ | k ⟨क⟩ | |
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiceless | unaspirated | Rom. | p | t | ṭ | c | k | |
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiceless | aspirated | Script | pʰ ⟨फ⟩ | tʰ ⟨थ⟩ | ʈʰ ⟨ठ⟩ | tɕʰ ⟨छ⟩ | kʰ ⟨ख⟩ | |
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiceless | aspirated | Rom. | ph | th | ṭh | ch | kh | |
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiced | unaspirated | Script | b ⟨ब⟩ | d ⟨द⟩ | ɖ ⟨ड⟩ | dʑ ⟨ज⟩ | ɡ ⟨ग⟩ | |
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiced | unaspirated | Rom. | b | d | ḍ | j | g | |
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiced | aspirated | Script | bʱ ⟨भ⟩ | dʱ ⟨ध⟩ | ɖʱ ⟨ढ⟩ | dʑʱ ⟨झ⟩ | ɡʱ ⟨घ⟩ | |
| Plosive/ Affricate | voiced | aspirated | Rom. | bh | dh | ḍh | jh | gh | |
| Fricative | voiceless | voiceless | Script | (ɸ~f) ⟨ः/ष्⟩ | s ⟨स⟩ | (ʂ) ⟨ष⟩ | (ɕ) ⟨श⟩ | (x) ⟨ः/ष्⟩ | -(h)* ⟨ः⟩ |
| Fricative | voiceless | voiceless | Rom. | f | s | ṣ/s | ś/s | x | ḥ |
| Fricative | voiced | voiced | Script | | | | (ʑ) ⟨य⟩ | | ɦ ⟨ह⟩ |
| Fricative | voiced | voiced | Rom. | | | | z | | h |
| Rhotic | unaspirated | unaspirated | Script | | ɾ~r ⟨र⟩ | (ɽ) ⟨ड़⟩ | | | |
| Rhotic | unaspirated | unaspirated | Rom. | | r | ṛ | | | |
| Rhotic | aspirated | aspirated | Script | | rʱ ⟨र्ह⟩ | (ɽʱ) ⟨ढ़⟩ | | | |
| Rhotic | aspirated | aspirated | Rom. | | rh | ṛh | | | |
| Lateral | Lateral | Lateral | Script | | l ⟨ल⟩ | | | | |
| Lateral | Lateral | Lateral | Rom. | | l | | | | |
| Approximant | Approximant | Approximant | Script | (ʋ~w) ⟨व⟩ | | | (j) ⟨य⟩ | | |
| Approximant | Approximant | Approximant | Rom. | v | | | y | | |
* Fricative sounds [ʂ, ɕ] only occur marginally, and are typically pronounced as a dental fricative /s/ in most styles of pronunciation. Both are defective phonemes, occurring intervocalically and word finally only if preceded by a nasal consonant. Word finally and postvocalically, /ɖʱ/ surfaces as [ɽʱ~rʱ].[h] always occurs postvacalically.
* Word finally and postvocalically, /ɖʱ/ surfaces as [ɽʱ~rʱ]. Non-initially, both are interchangeable with [ɽ~ɾ] and [ɽʱ~rʱ] respectively.
* Approximant sounds [ʋ, w, j] and fricative sounds [ɸ, f, z, ɕ, ʃ, ʒ, ʂ, x], mainly occur in words that are borrowed from Sanskrit or in words of Perso-Arabic origin. [v,w] are replaced by [b]. Word initial [ʋ,b] can be replaced by [o] in non-tatsama words. Word initial [j], and [j] between [r/ɾ] and central vowels are replaced by [dʒ] in tatsama words, and in rest [e]. Word initial [j] can be replaced by ['i] in non-tatsama words. Both [j] and [ʋ/w] can occur due to glide formation. Perso-Arabic and fricatives [f, z, ʃ, ʒ, x] are generally replaced by [pʰ, d͡ʒ, s, d͡ʒ, kʰ] respectively, in writing also, whereas Sanskrit [ɕ, ʂ) are replaced by [s], but only in speech, in writing, Sanskrit spelling is often followed. [ɸ~f] and [x] are the occurrences of remnants of Sanskrit jihvamuliya and upadhmaniya. The conjunct [ʂp] is pronounced [ɸp] in Maithili e.g. [pʊɸp(ə)]. The conjunct [ɦj] is pronounced [ɦʑ] as in [graːɦʑə].
These non-syllabic vowels in Maithili- e̯, o̯ written in Devanagari as य़, व़. Most of the times, these are written without nukta.

### Stress

Stress is not as strong in Maithili as in English. It is useful for determining the pronunciation of अ [a] though. The stress is not indicated in writing in native scripts, though indicated in this section.
* Final unpronounced अ [a→∅], final extra short इ' [$^i$] and उ' [$^u$] are not considered for counting syllables for determining the position of stress. Conjunct consonants are considered long.
* Monosyllabic words have the accent on the single vowel. As in न ˈna not, ई ˈī this, के ˈkē who, and माछ ˈmāch fish.
* The accent falls on the final vowel, if it is long and closed (i.e. followed by a consonant or consonant cluster). As in किसा॔न kiˈsān farmer, दॆखलिꣾ॔न्हि' dekh$^a$liˈainh$^i$ I saw (object - 3PHon.), and दॆखलहू॔न्हि' dekh$^a$laˈhūnh$^i$ You saw (object - 3PHon.).
* The accent falls on the penultimate (i.e. the word being vowel final), if it is long. As in पा॔नि ˈpāni water, and छॊट॔क्का choˈṭakkā small (adj. long form).
* In non-tatsama words, the accent falls on the antepenultimate in the rest of the cases. As in ह॔मरा ˈham$^a$rā me, and दॆ॔खलहुँ ˈdekh$^a$lahũ I saw.
* In tatsama words, the accent falls on the vowel before the antepenultimate. It may alternatively be on the antepenultimate. कु॔टिलता ˈkuṭilatā or कुटि॔लता kuˈṭil$^a$tā deceitfulness.
* If the initial vowel doesn't have a primary accent (as explained above), it carries a secondary accent. As in कि॓सा॔न ˌkiˈsān, दॆ॓खलिꣾ॔न्हि' ˌdekh$^a$liˈainh$^i$, छॊ॓ट॔क्का ˌchoˈṭakkā, कु॓टि॔लता ˌkuˈṭil$^a$tā.
* Words with a final इ' [$^i$] and उ' [$^u$] always have secondary accent on the preceding vowel, if it doesn't have the primary accent. As in दॆ॔ख॓थि' ˈdēˌkhath$^i$ or ˈdeˌkhaith he/she (Hon.) saw, क॔कर॓हुँ' ˈkak$^a$ˌrah$^ũ$ or kˈak$^a$rˌaũh anyone (acc.), दॆ॔खल॓हुँ' ˈdekh$^a$ˌlah$^ũ$ or ˈdekh$^a$ˌlaũh I saw.
* Causative verbs, whether finite or non-finite, have the primary accent on the final vowel of the root verb, if it has four ir less syllables. If more syllables, then it is optional, it may be stressed if it needs to be stressed. As in ह॓टा॔ऎब ˌhaˈtāeb to remove (infinitive)/ I will remove, but प॓हुँच◌ꣿलथी॔न्हि' ˌpahũcăel$^a$thˈīnh$^i$ or प॓हुँचऻ॔ꣾलथीन्हि' ˌpahũcăˈel$^a$thīnh$^i$ he/she (Hon.) sent.
* अ [a], if unstressed, is always deleted word finally. It is shortened to [$^a$], in other positions, but may be retained if it is not just after the stressed vowel. As in कु॔टिलता ˈkuṭilatā deceitfulness. Here [a] after [l] is retained, even though it is unstressed.

### Rule of the Short Antepenultimate

This peculiar rule was first observed by Hoernle, but properly described by Grierson. It is a very important and essential rule for Maithili and other Bihari languages.
* For this rule the final unpronounced अ [a→∅], final extra short इ' [$^i$] and उ' [$^u$] are not considered for counting syllables, and diphthongs are considered as separate syllables, except for the verbal suffices ꣾ [ai] ॵ [au], which are otherwise considered as अइ and अउ for this rule.
* Any long monophthong, in antepenultimate position is shortened, if it is not followed by the euphonics य or व/अ (pronounced [a]). As in बऻतिया bătiyā (the talk), ॴगिया ăgiyā (the fire), नऻउआ/नॏआ năuā (the barber), मऻरलक măr$^a$lak (he/she/it killed/beaten), सिखलक sikh$^a$lak (he/she/it learned), दॆखलक dekh$^a$lak (he/she/it saw), सुतलन्हि' sut$^a$lanh$^i$ (he/she slept), but सीयलक sīalak (he/she/it sewed), चूअलऻह cualăh (it/he/she dripped).
* ॴ [ā] is often replaced by अ [a], when there is no confusion in meaning. As in बऻतिया/बतिया bătiyā/batiyā, and ॴगिया/अगिया ăgiya/agiyā. In verbs, the difference between the two is very important for the difference in the meaning. As in मऻरलहुँ' măr$^a$lah$^ũ$ (I killed) v/s मरलहुँ mar$^a$lah$^ũ$ (I was killed). In verbs, therefore the difference is always maintained.
* Any long monophthong in a position further removed from antepenultimate position is always shortened, whether followed by euphonic syllable or not. As in चुअलक◌ꣿ cualakai (it/he/she dripped), हॊइꣾ hoiai (I become), दॆखितिॵ dekhitiau (if I had seen you (Non-Hon.)).
* Doubled consonants are shortened to single, and the vowel before nasal conjuncts are nasalised, and the nasal consonant is removed, or alternatively the conjunct is converted to the corresponding nasal consonant, if they are to be shortened. As in छॊटकवा choṭak$^a$vā (small), बँधुआ bãdhuā or बन्हुआ banhuā (bound).

## Morphology
### Nouns

Nouns in Maithili can be roughly characterized into four genders- Masculine, Feminine, Neuter and Common. Unmarked nouns can be of any gender. Marked nouns are those nouns, which can be distinguished by its suffix. Marked nouns are mostly either Masculine-neuter or Feminine.(Masculine and neuter, and sometimes even common gender are distinguished, if the word is of tatsama origin). There is no grammatical gender however, i.e. nouns can be distinguished by the suffix in the marked nouns, and overall by the origin of the word, but that doesn't affect other parts of speech. (There are some forms, but are optional and obsolete, and are generally ignored in recent times). The only instance, where grammatical agreement occurs are adjectives, which are also optional, and in spoken language, often ignored altogether.
Similarly, grammatical number is also absent. There are some forms of plural present, but there is no grammatical distinction. Periphrastic plural is used, but again there is no grammatical distinction.
Many Maithili nouns usually take forms in weak (ending in a consonant, a short vowel, or an extra short vowel) and strong stem (ending in long vowels). Some take form only in weak stem and some in strong stem.
The following table shows a general view of them. Obsolete and old forms are shown within parentheses, in the stem ending ending section.
Key: M- Masculine, F- Feminine, N- Neuter gender ∅- No addition to the stem, ×- No form exists
| Stem | Gender | Stem Endings | Stem Endings | Examples | Examples | Examples | Comments |
| Stem | Gender | Weak | Strong | Weak | Strong | Translation | Comments |
| ∅/-a | MNF | ∅, (-u) | ×, (-ō) | लोक lok, घर ghar, बात bāt | | people, house, talk | F not original, original ending collapsed. |
| ∅/-a | MN | ∅, (-u) | -ā, (-ō) | घोड़ ghōḍ, लोह lōh | घोड़ा ghōḍā, लोहा lōhā | horse, iron | Formed out of MN suffix -aka. |
| ∅/-a | F | ∅, -$^i$, (-u) | ×,-ī (optional), (+ō) | बाँह bā̃h/बाँहि' bā̃h$^i$, भूल bhūl/‌ भूलि' bhūl$^i$ | बाँही bā̃hī | shoulder, mistake | F not original, overt suffix applied. |
| -ā | F | ×, (-u) | -ā, (+ō) | | सभा sabhā, जनता janatā, माता mātā | assembly, people, mother | Original -ā. Also includes original -r̥(ā). |
| -ā | MN | × | -ā | | पिता pitā, नेता nētā | father, leader | Original r̥ (ā) and ān (ā). |
| -$^i$ | F | -$^i$** | -ī | दूरि' dūr$^i$, माटि' māṭ$^i$, भुइँ bhuĩ | दूरी dūrī, माटी maṭī, भुईँ bhuī̃ | distance, soil, earth | Original F -ī, -i, -ini, -āni, ā, -ikā and iyā. For original -ā, original ending replaced. |
| -i | MN | -i | -ī | नाति nāti, (अभि)मानि (abhi)man$^i$ | नाती nātī, (अभि)मानी (abhi)manī | grandson (through daughter), proud | Original -ī (in) suffix, and some original MN -iya, -ika, -r̥̄(ka) as well as MN -r̥(ā/r̥). |
| -i | MNF | -i | ×* | रवि ravi, पानि pāni | * | sun, water | Original -i, and MN -iya. |
| -ī | MNF | × | -ī | | खरी kharī/खड़ी khaḍī, मोती mōtī | chalk, pearl | Original F -ī, and MNF -ika/ikā, -iya/iyā. |
| -$^u$/ū | MF | -$^u$**/∅ | -ū | मामु' māmu/ माम mām, नाउ nāu, पुतोहु' putōh$^u$/ पुतोह putōh | मामू māmū, नाऊ nāū, पुतोहू putōhū | maternal uncle (mother's brother), barber, daughter-in-law | Original MFN -u and F -ū, as well as MFN -uka/ukā and MN -a (not in the last MFN class -u stem) |
| -$^u$/ū | N | -$^u$**/∅ | ×* | मधु' madh$^u$/ मध madh | * | honey | Original MFN -u and F -ū, as well as MFN -uka/ukā and MN -a (not in the last MFN class -u stem) |
| -u | MNF | -u | ×* | आँसु ā̃su, वसु vasu | * | a tear, the vasus (a class of Vedic deities) | Original MFN -u and F -ū, as well as MFN -uka/ukā and MN -a (not in the last MFN class -u stem) |
| -ū | MNF | × | -ū | | डाकू dakū, उजाड़ू ujāḍū, मॆहरारू mehrārū | dacoit, destroyer, wife | Original MFN -u and F -ū, as well as MFN -uka/ukā and MN -a (not in the last MFN class -u stem) |
| -ē | -ē | × | -ē | | साबे sābē | | Formed out of merging of phonemes. Rare. |
| -ō | -ō | × | -ō | | भादो bhādō | a month name in Hindu calendar | Formed out of merging of phonemes. Rare. |
* *Some stems in "i" and "u" don't have long forms in common sense, but they have a plural in long vowel, such as पानी pānī for पानि pāni (water), and आँसू ā̃sū for आँसु ā̃su (tear). Since Maithili doesn't have a strong distinction of grammatical number, these are treated in various ways. In forms which are less likely to have plural, and most of the tatsama words, like रवि ravi (sun), वसु vasu (the vasus) don't use the strong stem, whereas things which are mostly plural like आँसू ā̃sū (tears) and दाढ़ी dāḍhī (beard) tend to use the strong stem. Some use both such पानि pāni and पानी pānī (water), दहि dahi and दही dahī (curd).
* **इ' -i and उ' -u are postvacalically इ -i and उ -u respectively.

#### Forms of nouns

Nouns in Maithili also have a peculiar long form. This long form denotes several meanings-
* It denotes diminutive or often low honour meaning.
* It also denotes definite nature of the noun.
* For proper nouns, neuter and inanimate, it signifies familiarity and definiteness (like definite article), it doesn't have a strong diminutive meaning, but is still considered unfit for use outside a narrative, such as in title, as a definite article does.
* For personal names, it signifies both familiarity and diminutive.
This Long form is formed by adding the आ -ā suffix to the ending.
* Glides य [y] and व [w] often occur between the stem and the suffix.
* Stems in इ' -$^i$ and उ' -$^u$ are taken as इ -i and उ -u.
* All the stem endings in ई -ī, ऊ -ū, ए -ē and ओ -ō are shortened to इ -i, उ -u, ऎ -e and ऒ -o, when the suffix is added.
* The stems in अ -a/∅, ओ -ō and उ/उ' -u/$^u$ take the suffix (अ)वा -(a)wā (optional in ओ -o and उ/उ' -u/$^u$ ending stem) when masculine-neuter and इया -iyā when feminine. Stems in आ -ā take the suffix as (अ)वा -(a)wā, irrespective of gender.
* Stem endings in अ/∅ -a/∅ are made अ -$^a$ when the suffix is added.
* These long forms can be made extra long by adding the आ -ā suffix again to the long form. In this process stems in अ -a/∅ form the extra long form as अववा -aw$^a$wā, which is always contracted to ॵवा -auwā. Stems in इ -i and उ -u, of any length, form the long form as इयवा -iyawā and उअवा uawā respectively, which are optionally contracted to ईया -īyā and ऊआ ūā respectively.
This is a table along with examples-
| Stem | Word | Long form | Extra long form | Translation |
| ∅/-a | घर ghar, घोड़ ghōḍ, लोह lōh | घरवा ghar$^a$wā, घॊड़वा ghoḍ$^a$wā, लॊहवा loh$^a$wā | घरॏवा gharauwā, घॊड़ॏवा ghōḍauwā, लॊहॏवा lōhauwā | house, horse, iron |
| ∅/-a | बात bāt, बाँह bā̃h/बाँहि' bā̃hi | बऻतिया bătiyā, बऻँहिया bẵhiyā | बऻतियवा/बऻतीवा bătiyā/bătīwā, बऻँहियवा/बऻँहीवा bẵhiyā/bẵhīwā | talk, shoulder |
| -ā | सभा sabhā, बूना/बुन्दा būnā/bundā, नेता nētā | सभवा sabh$^a$wā, बुनवा/बुँदवा bunawā/bũdawā, नेतवा net$^a$wā | सभॏवा sabhauwā, बुनॏवा/बुँदॏवा bunauwā/bũdauwā, नेतॏवा netauwā | assembly, drop/zero, leader |
| -$^i$/i/ī | भुइँ bhuĩ, माटि' māṭi, नाति nāti, रवि ravi, पानि pāni, मोती mōtī | भुइँया bhuĩyā, मऻटिया măṭiyā, नऻतिया nătiyā, रविया raviyā, पऻनिया păniyā, मॊतिया motiya | भुइँअवा/भुईँवा bhuĩyawā/bhuī̃wā, मऻटियवा/मऻटीवा măṭiyawā/măṭīwā, नऻतियवा/नऻतीवा nătiyawā/nătīwā, रवियवा/रवीवा raviyawā/ravīwā, पऻनियवा/पऻनीवा păniyawā/pănīwā, मॊतिया/मॊतीवा motiyawā/motīwā | earth, soil, grandson( through daughter), sun, pearl |
| -$^u$/u/ū | मामु' māmu, नाउ nāu, पुतोहु' putōhu, आँसु ā̃su, डाकू dākū | मऻमुआ mămuā/ मऻमवा măm$^a$wā, नऻउवा/नॏवा năuwā/nauwā, पुतॊहिया putohiyā, ॴँसुआ ẵsuā, डऻकुआ dăkuā | मऻमुअवा/मऻमूआ/मऻमॏवा mămuawā/mămūwā/mămauwā, नऻउअवा/नऻऊवा năuawā/năūwā, पुतॊहियवा/पुतॊहीया putohiyawā/putohīyā, ॴँसुअवा/ॴँसूवा ẵsuawā/ẵsūwā, डऻकुअवा/डऻकूवा dăkuawā, dăkūwā | maternal uncle (mother's brother), barber, daughter-in-law, tear |
| ē | साबे sābē | सऻबॆआ/सऻबॆया săbe(y)ā | सऻबॆयवा/सऻबेवा săbey$^a$wā/ sabēwā | |
| ō | भादो bhādō | भऻदॊआ/भऻदवा bhădoā/bhăd$^a$wā | भऻदोवा/भऻदॏवा bhădōwā/bhădauwā | the month bhādrapada |

#### Nominal Declension

Nouns are inflected for several cases, some of them are fusional, and some are formed with case markers (post-positional).
| Stem | Nom. | Obl. | Erg. | Instr. | Gen. | Loc. |
| -अ a/∅ | ∅ घर ghar, नेना nēnā | ∅ घर ghar, नेना nēnā | -एँ ẽ घरेँ gharē̃, नेनेँ nēnē̃ | -एँ ẽ घरेँ gharē̃, नेनेँ nēnē̃ | -अक ak घरक gharak, नेनाक nēnāk | -ए e घरे gharē, कहले kah$^a$lē |
| -आ ā | ∅ घर ghar, नेना nēnā | ∅ घर ghar, नेना nēnā | -एँ ẽ/ -आँ ā̃ घोड़ेँ/घोड़ाँ ghōḍē̃/ghōdā̃, कहलेँ/ कहलाँ kah$^a$lē̃/ kah$^a$lā̃ | -एँ ẽ घोड़ेँ ghōḍē̃, कहलेँ kah$^a$lē̃ | -आक āk/ अक ak घोड़ाक/ घोड़क ghōḍāk/ ghoḍak, कहलाक/ कहलक kah$^a$lāk/ kah$^a$lak | -ए e घरे gharē, कहले kah$^a$lē |
| -र/ड़/ल/न/म/ब r/ṛ/l/n/m/b (a/∅) | ∅ घोड़ ghōḍ/घोड़ा ghōḍā, कहल kahal | +आ ā घोड़ा ghōḍā, कहला kah$^a$lā | -एँ ẽ/ -आँ ā̃ घोड़ेँ/घोड़ाँ ghōḍē̃/ghōdā̃, कहलेँ/ कहलाँ kah$^a$lē̃/ kah$^a$lā̃ | -एँ ẽ घोड़ेँ ghōḍē̃, कहलेँ kah$^a$lē̃ | -आक āk/ अक ak घोड़ाक/ घोड़क ghōḍāk/ ghoḍak, कहलाक/ कहलक kah$^a$lāk/ kah$^a$lak | -ए e घरे gharē, कहले kah$^a$lē |
| Other vocalic stems | ∅ नदि' nad$^i$, स्त्री strī | ∅ नदि' nad$^i$, स्त्री strī | +एँ ẽ, ँ ̃ (nasalisation) नदिएँ/ नदीँ nadĩ/ nadiẽ, स्त्रीँ/ स्त्रिएँ strī̃ striẽ | +एँ ẽ नदिएँ nadiẽ, स्त्रिएँ striẽ | +क k नदीक/नदिक nadīk/ nadik, स्त्रीक/ स्त्रिक strīk/ strik | +ए e नदिए nadie |
| Stem | Nom.-Acc. | Nom.-Acc. | Erg./Instr. | Erg./Instr. | Erg./Instr. | Instr.-Abl.-Dat. | Gen. | Gen.-Dat. | Loc. | Loc. | Loc. | Loc. |
| Stem | sg. | pl. | sg. | sg. | sg. | pl. | sg. | pl. | sg. | sg. | sg. | pl. |
| Stem | sg. | pl. | Com. | Diph. | Asp. | pl. | sg. | pl. | Com. | Diph. | Asp. | pl. |
| -अ a/∅ | ∅ | -(अ)न/नि (a)n/ni | -एँ ē̃, nasal-isation, -एन/ण* ēn/ṇ* | -अइँ ahĩ | -अहिँ aĩ | -एहि ehi, -अन्हि anhi | -(अ)क (a)k -(अ)ह ah, -(अ)स/स्स* (a)s/ss* | -आँ(क) ā̃(k), आह āh, -आन/ण ān/ṇ | -ए e, -इत it | -अइ ai | -अहि ahi | -एहु ehu, -आँ ā̃ |
| -आ ā | ∅ | -(अ)न/नि (a)n/ni | -एँ ē̃, nasal-isation | -अइँ ahĩ | -अहिँ aĩ | -एहि ehi, -अन्हि anhi | -(अ)क (a)k -(अ)ह ah, -(अ)स/स्स* (a)s/ss* | -आँ(क) ā̃(k), आह āh, -आन/ण ān/ṇ | -ए e, -इत it | -अइ ai | -अहि ahi | -एहु ehu, -आँ ā̃ |
| -आ ā (fem.) | ∅ | -(अ)न/नि (a)n/ni | -एँ ē̃, nasal-isation | -अइँ ahĩ | -अहिँ aĩ | -(अ)हि (a)hi -(अ)न्हि (a)nhi | -(अ)क (a)k -(अ)ह ah, -(अ)स/स्स* (a)s/ss* | -आँ(क) ā̃(k), आह āh, -आन/ण ān/ṇ | -ए e, -इत it | -अइ ai | -अहि ahi | -(आ)हु āhu, -आँ ā̃ |
| -इ | ∅ | -ई ī, -इन/इनि in/ini | -एँ ē̃, nasal-isation | -अइँ ahĩ | -अहिँ aĩ | -(अ)हि (a)hi -(अ)न्हि (a)nhi | -(अ)क (a)k -(अ)ह ah, -(अ)स/स्स* (a)s/ss* | +(stem lengthened) ह‌ h, +(stem lengthened) न/ण n/ṇ | -ए e, -इत it | -अइ ai | -अहि ahi | -(आ)हु āhu, -आँ ā̃ |
| -उ | ∅ | -ऊ ū, -उन/उनि un/uni | -एँ ē̃, nasal-isation | -अइँ ahĩ | -अहिँ aĩ | -(अ)हि (a)hi -(अ)न्हि (a)nhi | -(अ)क (a)k -(अ)ह ah, -(अ)स/स्स* (a)s/ss* | +(stem lengthened) ह‌ h, +(stem lengthened) न/ण n/ṇ | -ए e, -इत it | -अइ ai | -अहि ahi | -(आ)हु āhu, -आँ ā̃ |
| Other vocalic stems | ∅ | -न/नि n/ni | -एँ ē̃, nasal-isation | -अइँ ahĩ | -अहिँ aĩ | -(अ)हि (a)hi -(अ)न्हि (a)nhi | -(अ)क (a)k -(अ)ह ah, -(अ)स/स्स* (a)s/ss* | +(stem lengthened) ह‌ h, +(stem lengthened) न/ण n/ṇ | -ए e, -इत it | -अइ ai | -अहि ahi | -(आ)हु āhu, -आँ ā̃ |
* Prakrit and Sanskrit endings are marked with *. These are found only in loanwords from those languages.
* Locative -ए ē is not used for animate nouns.
* When suffixes with initial vowel are added to the stem, the stem is shortened in length, such as स्त्रिएँ striē̃ (by the woman) from स्त्री strī (woman), भाषहि bhāṣahi (in the language) from भाषा bhāṣā (language).
* Some old Maithili forms are not found today in direct use, but most of them can be found in limited roles-
** The nominative plural suffix -(अ)न/नि (a)n/ni is found in some found in the honorific forms of pronouns such as हुनि huni (he/she-Hon.), कनिका kanikā (whose -Hon.), as well as some plural markers, such as लॊकनि lok$^a$ni and ॴरनि ăr$^a$ni. It is still present in Bhojpuri, and therefore in the western Maithili dialects, it is still found.
** The instrumental plural suffix -(अ)न्हि (a)nhi is used in some honorofic stems of verbs, such as कहलिऎन्हि' kah$^a$liainh$^i$ (I said (to him/her-Hon.), and सुनथीन्हि' sun$^a$thīnh$^i$ (he/she-Hon. listens).
** Plural genitive suffix -आह āh/(stem lengthened) + ह h is used for forming the 3rd person honorific form of simple past intransitive verbs, such as सुतलाह sut$^a$lāh (he/she-Hon. slept).
** Both singular and plural genitive suffix -(अ/आ)ह (a/ā)h, and instrumental and locative plural suffixes -(ए/अ)हि (ē/a)hi, and -(ए/अ)हु (ē/a)hu as well as the aspirated suffixes of instrumental and locative singular -अहि, -अहिँ are used to form adverbs and adverbial nouns, such as पछिमाहा pachimāhā (the western one), धीमहि dhīmahi (slowly).
** Number was not so clearly marked even in Old Maithili, therefore they were used interchangeably with singular.

### Gender

Gender in Maithili is generally not in agreement, though it can be identified through suffixes. Some masculine nouns are converted to feminine using suffixes, others are common for both the genders. Neuter is sometimes separate from Masculine. Some neuters are diminutive and are marked like feminine. Both tadbhava and tatsama suffixes are used for different words of different origin.
| Stem | Origin | Gender | Example | Feminine/ Masculine | Feminine/ Masculine | Common | Common | Neuter | Neuter |
| Stem | Origin | Gender | Example | Suffix | Example | Suffix | Example | Suffix | Example |
| -अ a/∅ | Tats. | MN | सुन्दर गौर | ई/आ (F) | सुन्दरी गौरा/गौरी | ∅ | सुन्दर गौर | Same as neuter | Same as neuter |
| -अ a/∅ | Tats. | MN | सुन्दर गौर | इ' (F) | सुन्दरि' गौरि' | ∅ | सुन्दर गौर | Same as neuter | Same as neuter |
| -अ a/∅ | Tad. | MN | गोर बड्ड/ ब$^ऽ$ड़ बाघ | इ' (F) | गोरि' बड़ि' | ∅ | गोर बड़ | Same as neuter | Same as neuter |
| -अ a/∅ | Tad. | M | गोर बड्ड/ ब$^ऽ$ड़ बाघ | इनि॑ | बाघिनि' | | | | |
| -अ a/∅ | Tad. | F | बात | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| -अ a/∅ | Tad. | F | बाँह/ बाँहि' | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| -आ ā | Tats. | F | लता | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| -आ ā | Tad. | MN | घोड़ा | ई | घोड़ी | ∅/ आ | घोड़/ घोड़ा | Same as neuter | Same as neuter |
| -ई/इ | Tats./ Tad. | M | माली/मालि | इनि' | मालिनि' | इ/ इन् | मालि/ मालिन् | इन् | हस्तिन् |
| -ऋ/आ | Tats./ Tad. | MN (Some F also) | कर्ता नेता | री/ रि' | कर्त्री/कर्त्रि' नेत्री/ नेत्रि' | इन् | कर्त्रिन् | इन्/ आर् | कर्त्रिन्/ कर्तार् |

### Adpositions

The aforementioned inflectional case system only goes so far on its own, and rather serves as that upon which is built a system of agglutinative suffixes or particles known as postpositions or Case markers. It is their use with a noun or verb that necessitates the noun taking the oblique case, and it is with them that the locus of grammatical function or "case-marking" then lies.
Case-markers :
| Case | Case | Marker | Example | English | Explanation | Old forms and dialectical variation |
| Nominative | Nominative | — | नेना nēnā घोड़/घोड़ा ghōḍ/ghōḍā घर ghar | boy horse house | marks the subject | |
| Accusative | Accusative | — | नेना nēnā घोड़/घोड़ा ghōḍ/ghōḍā घर ghar | boy horse house | marks the direct object (definite and animate are only marked) | |
| Accusative | Accusative | केँ kē̃, (see below) | नेना केँ nēnā kē̃ घोड़ा केँ ghōḍā kē̃ घर केँ ghar kē̃ | boy horse house | marks the direct object (definite and animate are only marked) | क◌ꣿँ kaĩ, काँ kā̃, कोँ kō̃, त ta |
| Dative | Dative | केँ kē̃, (see below) | नेना केँ nēnā kē̃ घोड़ा केँ ghōḍā kē̃ घर केँ ghar kē̃ | to the boy/ horse/ house | marks the indirect object (can also mark the subject)dative subjects; dative subject | क◌ꣿँ kaĩ, काँ kā̃, कोँ kō̃, त ta |
| Ergative (Non-standard, only in Old Maithili and southern dialects) | Ergative (Non-standard, only in Old Maithili and southern dialects) | -एँ ē̃, ने nē | नेनेँ, नेना ने nēnē̃, nēnā nē घोड़ेँ, घोड़ा ने ghōḍē̃, ghōḍā nē घरेँ, घर ने gharē̃, ghar nē | | marks the subject for transitive verbs, only present in some Southern dialects | |
| Instrumental | Instrumental | -एँ ē̃ | नेनेँ nēnē̃ घोड़ेँ ghōḍē̃ घरेँ gharē | with the boy/ horse// house | marks the instrument of the action; "with", "using", "by" | स◌ꣿ saĩ, सोँ sō̃, सॏँ saĩ, ते tē, त ta |
| Instrumental-Ablative | Instrumental-Ablative | सँ꣱ så̃ | नेना सँ꣱ nēnā så̃ घोड़ा सँ꣱ ghōḍā så̃ घर सँ꣱ ghar så̃ | with/from the boy/ horse/ house | marks the instrument of the action; "with", "using", "by", ablative, and perlative marker; "from", "through", "along" | स◌ꣿ saĩ, सोँ sō̃, सॏँ saĩ, ते tē, त ta |
| Genitive | Genitive | -(अ)क (a)k, केर kēr, क/कॆ ka/ke | नेनाक, नेना केर, नेना कॆ nēnāk, nēnā kēr, nēnā ke घोड़ाक, घोड़ा केर, घोड़ा कॆ ghōḍāk, ghōḍā kēr, ghōḍā ke घरक, घर केर, घर कॆ gharak, ghar kēr, ghar ke | boy's of the horse/ house | shows possession; | कॊ ko, कु ku, करु karu, कहु kahu |
| Locative | | -ए ē | घरे gharē | in the house | shows something is in/on/at something; | |
| Locative | Inessive | मे mē | नेना मे nēnā mē घोड़ा मे ghōḍā mē घर मे ghar mē | in the boy/ horse/ house | shows something is in/inside something; | मोँ mō̃, मँ$^ऽ$ må̃, त ta |
| Locative | Adessive | पर par | नेना पर nēnā par घोड़ा पर ghōḍā par घर पर ghar par | on the boy/ horse/ house | shows something is on/at something; | पे pē, परि pari/pair |
Definiteness is also marked in Maithili using prepositions and postpositions. The accusative marker kē̃ केँ is not used always, it is used in specific conditions-
| | | Preposition | Postposition | Postposition |
| | | Preposition | Accusative | Dative |
| Animate | Indefinite | ∅ | +केँ kē̃ | -केँ kē̃ |
| Animate | Indefinite specific | एकटा/एक गोट ēk$^a$ṭā/ ēk gōṭ(ā)- | +केँ kē̃ | -केँ kē̃ |
| Animate | Definite | Demonstratives are used | +केँ kē̃ | -केँ kē̃ |
| Inanimate | Indefinite | ∅ | ∅ | -केँ kē̃ |
| Inanimate | Indefinite specific | एकटा/एक गोट ēkaṭā/ ēk gōṭ(ā)- | ∅ | -केँ kē̃ |
| Inanimate | Definite | Demonstratives are used | +केँ kē̃ | -केँ kē̃ |
Some other postpositions are-
| Case name | Case name | Postposition |
| Allative | Allative | दक daka |
| Beneficative | Beneficative | ला, लेल, लगि lā, lēl, lagi |
| Terminative | Terminative | तक, ला tak, lā |
| Abessive | Abessive | बिनु binu |
| Semblative | Semblative | जकाँ , सोँ jakā̃, sõ |
| Possessive | Masculine-Neuter object | क꣱, र꣱ kå, rå |
| Possessive | Feminine object (optional) | कि, रि ki, ri |
* Some postpositions are added to the genitive too, and sometimes the genitive inflection is not used at all, except in pronominal inflection.
* Plural is made using postpositions, and also by preposition having a sense of completeness.
| | Dual | Plural | Plural |
| | Dual | Common | Only for honorific and animate |
| Both post-position and preposition | दुनु dunu, जुग/युग jug/e̯ug, जुगल/युगल jugal/e̯ugal, जोड़ा jōḍā | सभ sabh, सबहि' sabahi (most common plural suffix) | सभ sabh, सबहि' sabahi (most common plural suffix) |
| Only post-position | द्वय dvay | गण gaṇa, आरु' ār$^u$/āur, आरनि ār$^a$ni, | जन jana, लॊकनि lok$^a$ni, लोक lōk |
| Only preposition | दू/दुइ dū/dui | बहुत bahut, बड्ड/ब$^ऽ$ड़baḍḍ/båḍ, कतेको katēkō | बहुत bahut, बड्ड/ब$^ऽ$ड़baḍḍ/båḍ, कतेको katēkō |
| Post-positions marking completeness | दू/दुइ dū/dui + गो’/ गोटा/ गोट gō/ gōṭā/ gōṭ | गो’/ गोटा/ गोट gō/ gōṭā/ gōṭ, केओ kēō | लोकनि lok$^a$ni |
| Postpositions marking numerals | दू/दुइ dū/dui + गो’/ गोटा/ गोट gō/ gōṭā/ gōṭ | गो’/ गोटा/ गोट gō/ gōṭā/ gōṭ | गो’/ गोटा/ गोट gō/ gōṭā/ gōṭ |

## Pronouns

Pronouns in Maithili are declined in similar way to nominals. However, genetic case has a different form in most of the pronouns.

### First and Second Person Pronouns

| Case name | First Person | First Person | Second Person | Second Person | Second Person |
| Case name | Exclusive | Inclusive (Plural) | First Grade Honour | Honorofic | High-Honorofic |
| Nominative | हम ham | Normally Declined अपना सभ ap$^a$nā sabh | तोँह tō̃h | अहाँ ahā̃ | Declined Normally अपने ap$^a$nē |
| Accusative-Dative-Oblique | हमरा ham$^a$ra | Normally Declined अपना सभ ap$^a$nā sabh | तॊहरा/ तोरा tōh$^a$rā/ tōrā | अहाँ केँ ahā̃ kē̃ | Declined Normally अपने ap$^a$nē |
| Instrumental | हमरेँ ham$^a$rē̃ | Normally Declined अपना सभ ap$^a$nā sabh | तोहरेँ tōh$^a$rē̃ | अहेँ ahē̃ | Declined Normally अपने ap$^a$nē |
| Ergative | हम्मेँ hammē̃ | Normally Declined अपना सभ ap$^a$nā sabh | तोएँ/ तोहेँ tōē̃/ tōhē̃ | अहेँ ahē̃ | Declined Normally अपने ap$^a$nē |
| Genitive | हमर hamar | अपना सभक ap$^a$na sabh | तोहर/तोर tōhar/ tōr | अहाँक ahā̃k | Declined Normally अपने ap$^a$nē |

### Third Person Pronouns

| Case name | Proximate | Proximate | Proximate | Distant | Distant | Distant |
| Case name | First Grade Honour | Neuter | Honorofic | First Grade Honour | Neuter | Honorofic |
| Nominative | ई ī | ई ī | ए ē, हिनि hini | ऊ ū, वा vā(Non-standard) | ऊ ū, वा vā(Non-standard) | ओ ō, हुनि huni |
| Accusative-Dative-Oblique | ऎकरा ek$^a$rā | ऎहि ehi, अथि athi | हिनका hin$^a$kā | ऒकरा ok$^a$rā | ऒहि ohi | हुनका hun$^a$kā |
| Instrumental | ऎकरेँ ek$^a$rē̃ | एँ ē̃, येँ yē̃ (i̯ē̃) | हिनकेँ hin$^a$kē̃ | ऒकरेँ ok$^a$rē̃ | वेँ/ उएँ wē̃ (u̯ē̃) | हुनकेँ hunkē̃ |
| Ergative | येँ yē̃ (i̯ē̃) | एँ ē̃, येँ yē̃ (i̯ē̃) | येँ yē̃ (i̯ē̃), हिनिँ hinī̃ | वेँ/ उएँ wē̃ (u̯ē̃) | वेँ/ उएँ wē̃ (u̯ē̃) | वेँ/ उएँ wē̃ (u̯ē̃) |
| Genitive | एकर ēkar | एकर ēkar | हिनकर hin$^a$kar, हिनक hinak | ओकर ōkar | ओकर ōkar | हुनकर hun$^a$kar, हुनक hunak |

## Verbs

Conjugation of a transitive verb "कह" /kəɦ/ 'to tell'.
| Subject | Subject | Object | Object | Present | Past | Future | Imperative | Optative | Conditional | Remote Imperative |
| Remote Imperative ||
| First | First | Second | HON | कही [kəɦiː] | कहली [kəɦəliː] | कहब [kəɦəb] | कहू [kəɦuː] | कही [kəɦiː] | कहितहुँ [kəɦɪtəɦʊ̃] | ∅ |
| First | First | Second | HON | कही [kəɦiː] | कहलहुँ [kəɦᵊləɦʊ̃] | कहब [kəɦəb] | कहू [kəɦuː] | कही [kəɦiː] | कहितहुँ [kəɦɪtəɦʊ̃] | ∅ |
| First | First | Second | Equal | कहिअहु [kəɦɪəɦʊ] | कहलिअहु [kəɦᵊlɪəɦʊ] | कहबहु [kəɦᵊbəɦʊ] | कहिअहु [kəɦɪəɦʊ] | कहिअहु [kəɦɪəɦʊ] | कहितिअहु [kəɦɪtɪəɦʊ] | ∅ |
| First | First | Second | NonHON | कहिऔक [kəɦɪəʊ̯k] | कहलिऔक [kəɦᵊlɪəʊ̯k] | कहबौक [kəɦᵊbəʊ̯k] | कहिऔक [kəɦɪəʊ̯k] | कहिऔक [kəɦɪəʊ̯k] | कहितिऔक [kəɦɪtɪəʊ̯k] | ∅ |
| First | First | Third | HON | कहिअन्हि [kəɦɪəɪ̯nɦ] | कहलिअन्हि [kəɦᵊlɪəɪ̯nɦ] | कहबन्हि [kəɦᵊbəɪ̯nɦ] | कहिऔन्ह् [kəɦɪəʊ̯nɦ] | कहिएन्ह् [kəɦɪeːnɦ] | कहितिऐन्ह् [kəɦɪtɪəɪ̯nɦ] | ∅ |
| First | First | Third | NonHON | कहिऐक [kəɦɪəɪ̯k] | कहलिऐक [kəɦᵊlɪəɪ̯k] | कहबैक [kəɦᵊbəɪ̯k] | कहिऔक [kəɦɪəʊ̯k] | कहिऐक [kəɦɪəɪ̯k] | कहितिऐक [kəɦɪtɪəɪ̯k] | ∅ |
| Second | HON | First | First | कही [kəɦiː] | कहली [kəɦᵊliː] | कहब [kəɦəb] | कहू [kəɦuː] | कही [kəɦiː] | कहितहुँ [kəɦɪtəɦʊ̃] | ∅ |
| Second | HON | First | First | कही [kəɦiː] | कहलहुँ [kəɦᵊləɦʊ̃] | कहब [kəɦəb] | कहू [kəɦuː] | कही [kəɦiː] | कहितहुँ [kəɦɪtəɦʊ̃] | ∅ |
| Second | HON | Third | HON | कहिअन्हि [kəɦɪəɪ̯nɦ] | कहलिअन्हि [kəɦᵊlɪəɪ̯nɦ] | कहबन्हि [kəɦᵊbəɪ̯nɦ] | कहिऔन्ह् [kəɦɪəʊ̯nɦ] | कहिऐन्ह् [kəɦɪəɪ̯nɦ] | कहितिऐक [kəɦɪtɪəɪ̯k] | ∅ |
| Second | HON | Third | NonHON | कहिऐक [kəɦɪəɪ̯k] | कहलिऐक [kəɦᵊlɪəɪ̯k] | कहबैक [kəɦᵊbəɪ̯k] | कहिऔक [kəɦɪəʊ̯k] | कहिऐक [kəɦɪəɪ̯k] | कहितह [kəɦɪtəɦ] | ∅ |
| Second | Equal | First | First | कहह [kəɦəɦ] | कहलह [kəɦᵊləɦ] | कहबह [kəɦᵊbəɦ] | कहह [kəɦəɦ] | कहह [kəɦəɦ] | कहितहुन्हु [kəɦɪtəɦʊnɦ] | कहिहह [kəɦɪɦəɦ] |
| Second | Equal | Third | HON | कहुन्ह् [kəɦʊnɦ] | कहलहुन्ह् [kəɦᵊləɦʊnɦ] | कहबहुन्ह् [kəɦᵊbəɦʊnɦ] | कहुन्ह् [kəɦʊnɦ] | कहुन्ह् [kəɦʊnɦ] | कहितहिक [kəɦɪtəɦɪk] | कहिहौन्ह् [kəɦɪɦəʊ̯nɦ] |
| Second | Equal | Third | NONHON | कहक [kəɦək] | कहलहक [kəɦᵊləɦək] | कहबहक [kəɦᵊbəɦək] | कहक [kəɦək] | कहक [kəɦək] | ∅ | कहिहक [kəɦɪɦək] |
| Second | NonHON | First | First | कहें [kəɦeː] | कहलें [kəɦᵊleː] | कहबें [kəɦᵊbeː] | कह [kəɦ] | कह‍हिं [kəɦəɦɪ̃] | ∅ | कह‍हिं [kəɦəɦɪ̃] |
| Second | NonHON | Third | HON | कहुन्ह् [kəɦʊnɦ] | कहलहुन्ह् [kəɦᵊləɦʊnɦ] | कहबहुन्ह् [kəɦᵊbəɦʊnɦ] | कहुन्ह् [kəɦʊnɦ] | कहुनह् [kəɦʊnəɦ] | ∅ | कहिहौन्ह् [kəɦɪɦəʊ̯nɦ] |
| Second | NonHON | Third | NonHON | कहिक [kəɦɪk] | कहलहीक [kəɦᵊləɦiːk] | कहबहीक [kəɦᵊbəɦiːk] | कहीक [kəɦiːk] | कहीक [kəɦiːk] | कहितथि [kəɦɪtəɪ̯tʰ] | कहिहक [kəɦɪɦək] |
| Third | HON | First | First | कह‍थि [kəɦəɪ̯tʰ] | कहलन्हि [kəɦᵊləɪ̯nɦ] | कहताह [kəɦᵊtaːɦ] | कह‍थु [kəɦəʊ̯tʰ] | कहाथि [kəɦaːɪtʰ] | कहितथि [kəɦɪtəɪ̯tʰ] | ∅ |
| Third | HON | First | First | कह‍थि [kəɦəɪ̯tʰ] | कहलन्हि [kəɦᵊləɪ̯nɦ] | कहतीह [kəɦᵊtiːɦ] | कह‍थु [kəɦəʊ̯tʰ] | कहाथि [kəɦaːɪtʰ] | कहितथि [kəɦɪtəɪ̯tʰ] | ∅ |
| Third | HON | Second | HON | कह‍थि [kəɦəɪ̯tʰ] | कहलनि [kəɦᵊləɪ̯n] | कहताह [kəɦᵊtaːɦ] | कह‍थु [kəɦəʊ̯tʰ] | कहाथि [kəɦaːɪtʰ] | कहिथुन्ह् [kəɦɪtʰʊnɦ] | ∅ |
| Third | HON | Second | Equal | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहलनि [kəɦᵊləɪ̯n] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहिथुन्ह् [kəɦɪtʰʊnɦ] | ∅ |
| Third | HON | Second | NonHON | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहलथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊlətʰʊnɦ] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहितथिन्हु [kəɦɪtətʰɪʊnɦ] | ∅ |
| Third | HON | Third | HON | कहथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰɪnɦ] | कहलथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊlətʰɪnɦ] | कहथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰɪnɦ] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहितए [kəɦɪtəeː] | ∅ |
| Third | HON | Third | HON | कहथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰɪnɦ] | कहलथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊlətʰɪnɦ] | कहथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰɪnɦ] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहथुन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰʊnɦ] | कहैत [kəɦəɪ̯t] | |
| Third | HON | Third | NonHON | कहथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰɪnɦ] | कहलथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊlətʰɪnɦ] | कहथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰɪnɦ] | कहथुह [kəɦᵊtʰʊɦ] | कहथुह [kəɦᵊtʰʊɦ] | कहितए [kəɦɪtəeː] | |
| Third | HON | Third | NonHON | कहथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰɪnɦ] | कहलथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊlətʰɪnɦ] | कहथिन्ह् [kəɦᵊtʰɪnɦ] | कहथुह [kəɦᵊtʰʊɦ] | कहथुह [kəɦᵊtʰʊɦ] | कहैत [kəɦəɪ̯t] | ∅ |
| Third | NonHON | First | First | कहए [kəɦəeː] | कहलक [kəɦᵊlək] | कहत [kəɦət] | कहऒ [kəɦɔ] | कहऒ [kəɦɔ] | कहितहु [kəɦɪtəɦʊ] | ∅ |
| Third | NonHON | Second | HON | कहए [kəɦəeː] | कहलक [kəɦᵊlək] | कहत [kəɦət] | कहऒ [kəɦɔ] | कहऒ [kəɦɔ] | कहितहु [kəɦɪtəɦʊ] | ∅ |
| Third | NonHON | Second | Equal | कहहु [kəɦəɦʊ] | कहलकहु [kəɦᵊləkəɦʊ] | कहतहु [kəɦᵊtəɦʊ] | कहहु [kəɦᵊɦʊ] | कहहु [kəɦᵊɦʊ] | कहितौक [kəɦɪtəʊ̯k] | ∅ |
| Third | NonHON | Second | NonHON | कहौक [kəɦəʊ̯k] | कहलकौक [kəɦᵊləkəʊ̯k] | कहतौक [kəɦᵊtəʊ̯k] | कहौक [kəɦəʊ̯k] | कहौक [kəɦəʊ̯k] | कहितन्हि [kəɦɪtəɪ̯nɦ] | ∅ |
| Third | NonHON | Third | HON | कहन्हि [kəɦəɪ̯nɦ] | कहलकन्हि [kəɦᵊləkəɪ̯nɦ] | कहतनि [kəɦᵊtəɪ̯n] | कहौन्ह् [kəɦəʊ̯nɦ] | कहैन्ह् [kəɦəɪ̯nɦ] | कहितैक [kəɦɪtəɪ̯k] | ∅ |
| Third | NonHON | Third | NonHON | कहैक [kəɦəɪ̯k] | कहलकैक [kəɦᵊləkəɪ̯k] | कहतैक [kəɦətəɪ̯k] | कहौक [kəɦəʊ̯k] | कहौक [kəɦəʊ̯k] | | ∅ |