Agentive Suffix वाला — Hindi Grammar

The suffix (vālāwala) is one of the most versatile tools in Hindi grammar. It functions primarily as an adjectival suffix that modifies nouns, verbs, adjectives, or adverbs. Depending on the context, it can mean "the one who does," "the one with," "the seller of," or simply "the one."

Because (vālāwala) acts like an adjective, it must agree in gender and number with the noun it describes or refers to.

Masculine Singular: (vālāwala)
Masculine Plural / Respect: (vālewale)
Feminine (Singular & Plural): (vālīwali)

Creating Agents (The "Doer")

When attached to a verb, (vālāwala) creates a noun or adjective indicating the person performing the action. This is similar to the English suffix "-er" (e.g., teach → teacher) or the phrase "one who [verbs]."

Grammar Rule: To use (vālāwala) with a verb, you must change the infinitive ending (-nā-na) to the oblique form (-ne) before adding the suffix.

वह हिंदी बोलने वाला है।
vah hiṃdī bolne vālā hai.wah hiṃdi bolne wala hai.
He is a Hindi speaker (one who speaks Hindi).
काम करने वाले लोग थक गए हैं।
kām karne vāle log thak gae haiṃ.kam karne wale log thak gae haiṃ.
The working people (people who work) are tired.
लिखने वाली लड़की मेरी बहन है।
likhne vālī laṛkī merī bahan hai.likhne wali larki meri bahan hai.
The girl who is writing is my sister.

Expressing Imminent Action (About to...)

When combined with the verb "to be" (honāhona), the verb + (vālāwala) construction indicates that an action is about to happen in the immediate future.

बारिश होने वाली है।
bāriś hone vālī hai.barish hone wali hai.
It is about to rain.
हम जाने वाले हैं।
ham jāne vāle haiṃ.ham jane wale haiṃ.
We are about to go.
बस आने वाली थी।
bas āne vālī thī.bas ane wali thi.
The bus was about to come.

Professions and Sellers

When attached to a noun representing a product or item, (vālāwala) indicates a person who sells, deals with, or distributes that item. This is very common for job titles.

दूध वाला आ गया।
dūdh vālā ā gayā.dudh wala a gaya.
The milkman has arrived.
सब्ज़ी वाली बाज़ार में है।
sabzī vālī bāzār meṃ hai.sabzi wali bazar meṃ hai.
The vegetable seller (female) is in the market.
रिक्शा वाला कहाँ है?
rikśā vālā kahā̃ hai?riksha wala kahan hai?
Where is the rickshaw driver?

Possession and Association

(vālāwala) can describe a person or object by a specific feature, possession, or origin. In this context, it translates to "the one with" or "the one from."

पैसे वाला आदमी
paise vālā ādmīpaise wala admi
The rich man (the man with money).
चश्मे वाला लड़का
caśme vālā laṛkāchashme wala larka
The boy with glasses.
दिल्ली वाले लोग
dillī vāle logdilli wale log
People from Delhi.

Selection and Specification (The "One")

You can use (vālāwala) with adjectives or demonstrative pronouns (like "this" or "that") to single out a specific item from a group. This corresponds to the English usage of "the [adjective] one."

मुझे लाल वाला चाहिए।
mujhe lāl vālā cāhie.mujhe lal wala chahie.
I want the red one.
बड़ा वाला महँगा है।
baṛā vālā mahãgā hai.bara wala mahãga hai.
The big one is expensive.
यह वाला या वह वाला?
yah vālā yā vah vālā?yah wala ya wah wala?
This one or that one?

Time and Location

Finally, (vālāwala) can turn adverbs of time or place into adjectives to describe nouns based on when or where they are.

कल वाली बात
kal vālī bātkal wali bat
Yesterday's matter (the matter from yesterday).
ऊपर वाला कमरा
ūpar vālā kamrāupar wala kamra
The room upstairs (the above room).
घर का खाना बाहर वाले खाने से अच्छा है।
ghar kā khānā bāhar vāle khāne se acchā hai.ghar ka khana bahar wale khane se achchha hai.
Home food is better than outside food.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s Hindi course

6 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 14. A few of them, with the words “Agentive Suffix वाला” is about in bold:

काश आप थोड़े बचाने वाले होते।
kāś āp thoṛe bacāne vāle hote.kash ap thore bachane wale hote.
I wish you were more frugal.
Lesson 328
आप ध्यान देने वाली पहली व्यक्ति हैं!
āp dhyān dene vālī pahlī vyakti ha͠i!ap dhyan dene wali pahli wyakti hain!
You are the first person to notice!
Lesson 337

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