"मेरी बिल्लियाँ ठीक हैं ।"

Translation: My cats are fine.

[AilurophileEG]

This is a very useful sentence.

[ro_38]

What about ⟨⟨ Mine cats are fine ⟩⟩

[benros1]

Why not मेरे? As plural form of ''my''?
Is it because feminine singular and plural are always the same?
Thanks

[zeebo7]

Yes, feminine plural still uses मेरी/तुम्हारी/उसकी etc.

[PapaKwaben3]

Because cat is a feminine noun and मेरी is used for feminine singular/plural nouns.

[MangalKama]

These app is very useful

[mike658920]

How would one say "My cats are good" (as in well behaved)?

[KoshalSing]

Sentence me are kyo aya he

[VishakhaS]

बहुवचन में is का are हो जाता है

[AdamOoi85]

My Indian neighbour calls the cats Kuti (not the name but kuti is literally cat)

[JatinMishr5]

I am to close

[ph.v18VVZ]

Oo

[mukul397103]

heelo my name is mukul is new friends

[ph.v18VVZ]

What I am new duolingo student

[ph.VOsH6v]

This app is very intresting

[ph.v18VVZ]

Yes really

[ph.IO7mU3]

My cats are fine it's correct

[ph.CrmZa5]

Hi

[HerMyKneeGinger]

Why is "cat" pronounced "velya" and written "beelleeya"? Is it an error in the app recording or is it just normal for hindi to alter the pronunciation?

[rct1z]

The audio that I hear is fine.

The sentence: मेरी बिल्लियाँ ठीक हैं ।
means: "My cats are fine". (Note: more than one cat.)

बिल्ली means "cat" (singular) and is a feminine noun.

A feminine noun that ends in ई /ी changes its ending to -इयाँ/ - ियाँ in the plural.
So, बिल्लियाँ means "cats" (plural).

You should be hearing "बिल्लियाँ" in the audio. If not, it may just take some time for your ears to recognize the sounds.
I am not entirely sure what you are asking, but I hope this helps.

[HerMyKneeGinger]

Thanks.
In any case, the first and second vowel of the word should be the same, right? (Since they use the same letter).
I clearly hear them different.
The first one sounds like e in "bet", and the other like i in "fit".
Or is it because the second vowel is somehow influenced by the "y" sound that follows (y as in "yes")?

[rct1z]

Yes, the first and second vowel sounds should be the same--like i in "fit" or "tin."

From what I have read, the second vowel sound should not be influenced by any adjacent sounds.
I have listened to the Duolingo pronunciation of बिल्लियाँ over and over... I don't hear what you do (but maybe it's my ear??).
However, it may be the case that what you are hearing is the influence of the doubled consonant: bil-liyaan.

This is what Rupert Snell says about doubled consonants in Teach Yourself Hindi/Complete Hindi:

"A doubled consonant is 'held' momentarily-- as in English 'night train,' whose 't...t' is held to distinguish it from 'night rain.'"

If you are interested in hearing more spoken Hindi (for learners of Hindi), you should check out Glossaries Alive. It is done by Rupert Snell and the vocabulary/sentences correspond to the chapters in his book. But the book is not necessary-- I think it is great as a stand-alone resource. You should be able to find it via a link on the Hindi Urdu Flagship website or by going directly to: https://repositories.lib.utexas.edu/handle/2152/41427. It is also available as a podcast in the Apple podcast app.

[HerMyKneeGinger]

Thank you.
Are you checking the audio by listening to the word by itself or the whole sentences in which it is used?
I have noticed it sounds off only in the sentences. When I click on the word to listen to it on its own, it sounds different (and correct from what I understand).

[rct1z]

I was listening to the word alone.
Now I have listened to the sentence audio over and over-- I'm not sure!! Maybe someone else out there has a better ear.

In the Letters lessons the इ sound off to me-- so maybe that is happening here too.