10 Commonly Confused English Words for Hindi Speakers (With Examples & Fixes!)

Introduction

Many Hindi speakers mix up English words that sound similar or have slight differences in meaning. These mistakes happen because:

✔ Some English words look the same but have different meanings (e.g., accept vs. except).
✔ Some words have different spellings in British and American English (e.g., practice vs. practise).
✔ Hindi doesn’t always have two separate words for these English variations.

🎯 Example of a Common Mistake:

❌ Wrong: "The medicine had a bad effect on me."
✅ Correct: "The medicine had a bad affect on me."

🚀 Solution:
This guide will help you avoid the 10 most confusing English word pairs, with meanings, differences, and example sentences.


1. Affect vs. Effect

✔ Difference:

  • Affect (verb) → To influence something.
  • Effect (noun) → The result of an action.
Example Sentence Meaning
This weather affects my mood. (affect = influences)
The new law had a positive effect. (effect = result)

🎯 Tip:

  • If you need a verb, use affect.
  • If you need a noun, use effect.


2. Advice vs. Advise

✔ Difference:

  • Advice (noun) → A suggestion or recommendation.
  • Advise (verb) → To give a suggestion.
Example Sentence Meaning
She gave me good advice. (advice = suggestion)
The doctor advised me to rest. (advise = to suggest)

🎯 Tip:

  • Advice = thing (noun).
  • Advise = action (verb).

🟢 Where to Add a Backlink?

  • Link to the blog on common English grammar mistakes for Hindi speakers.


3. Practice vs. Practise

✔ Difference:

  • Practice (noun) → The act of doing something repeatedly (used in the US and UK).
  • Practise (verb) → To do something repeatedly (Only in British English).
Example Sentence Meaning
Daily practice improves English. (practice = noun)
She practises piano every day. (practise = verb in UK English)

🎯 Tip:

  • If you're writing in American English, always use "practice".
  • If you're writing in British English, use "practise" for the verb.


4. Accept vs. Except

✔ Difference:

  • Accept (verb) → To agree or receive something.
  • Except (preposition) → Excluding something.
Example Sentence Meaning
I accept your invitation. (accept = agree to receive)
Everyone except John came. (except = excluding John)

🎯 Tip:

  • Use accept when you’re receiving or agreeing to something.
  • Use except when you’re excluding something.


5. Lose vs. Loose

✔ Difference:

  • Lose (verb) → To not have something anymore.
  • Loose (adjective) → Not tight.
Example Sentence Meaning
I don’t want to lose my keys. (lose = to misplace something)
My shirt is too loose. (loose = not tight)

🎯 Tip:

  • If it’s about misplacing or failing, use lose.
  • If it’s about something not tight, use loose.

🟢 Where to Add a Backlink?

  • Link to the blog on how to improve English vocabulary from Hindi.


6. Then vs. Than

✔ Difference:

  • Then → Refers to time (next, after that).
  • Than → Used for comparison.
Example Sentence Meaning
I will go to school, then I will meet my friend. (then = after that)
He is taller than me. (than = comparison)

🎯 Tip:

  • Use "then" for time and "than" for comparison.


7. Farther vs. Further

✔ Difference:

  • Farther → Physical distance.
  • Further → Non-physical (figurative) distance.
Example Sentence Meaning
Delhi is farther from Mumbai than Jaipur. (farther = physical distance)
We need further discussion on this. (further = more explanation)

🎯 Tip:

  • If talking about real distance, use farther.
  • If talking about extra information or progress, use further.


8. Their vs. There vs. They’re

✔ Difference:

  • Their → Shows possession.
  • There → Indicates a place.
  • They’re → Short for "They are".
Example Sentence Meaning
Their house is beautiful. (their = belonging to them)
She is sitting over there. (there = place)
They’re coming soon. (they’re = they are)

🎯 Tip:

  • "Their" = Possession, "There" = Place, "They’re" = They are.


9. Borrow vs. Lend

✔ Difference:

  • Borrow → To take something temporarily.
  • Lend → To give something temporarily.
Example Sentence Meaning
Can I borrow your book? (borrow = take)
I will lend you my pen. (lend = give)

🎯 Tip:

  • "Borrow" = Take, "Lend" = Give.


10. Stationary vs. Stationery

✔ Difference:

  • Stationary → Not moving.
  • Stationery → Office/school supplies.
Example Sentence Meaning
The car remained stationary. (stationary = not moving)
I bought new stationery. (stationery = office supplies)

🎯 Tip:

  • StationAry = "A" for "At rest".
  • StationEry = "E" for "Envelope" (paper, pens, etc.).


Conclusion

By avoiding these commonly confused words, Hindi speakers can improve their English fluency and accuracy.

✅ Key Takeaways:
✔ Learn word meanings and differences carefully.
✔ Use examples to remember words better.
✔ Practice writing and speaking daily.

🔗 Related Articles You May Like:

  1. [How to Improve Hindi to English Sentence Structure]
  2. [How to Improve English Vocabulary from Hindi]
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