इंतजार करना
to wait
Wörtlich: Wait to-do
Use `इंतजार करना` with `का` to describe waiting for people, things, or events in any context.
In 15 Sekunden
- The standard Hindi way to say 'to wait' for anything.
- Always use the word 'ka' before it to link the object.
- Common in both romantic Bollywood songs and boring office meetings.
Bedeutung
This phrase is the standard way to say you are waiting for someone or something. It is like saying you are 'doing the wait' for a person, a bus, or even a life event.
Wichtige Beispiele
3 von 6Waiting for a friend at a cafe
मैं आधे घंटे से तुम्हारा इंतजार कर रहा हूँ।
I have been waiting for you for half an hour.
In a professional email
मैं आपके जवाब का इंतजार करूँगा।
I will wait for your reply.
Texting a sibling who is late
कब तक इंतजार करना पड़ेगा?
How much longer will I have to wait?
Kultureller Hintergrund
The phrase has deep roots in Urdu poetry and Ghazals, often depicting the 'longing' of a lover. In modern India, it reflects a cultural patience often required in daily life, from long queues to slow traffic. It is a word that bridges the gap between everyday chores and high-stakes romance.
The 'Ka' Rule
Never forget the 'ka' (का). If you say 'Main tum intazaar kar raha hoon,' it sounds like you are 'doing a wait' named 'you.' Always link the person with 'ka' or 'ke'!
Don't confuse with Intezaam
Be careful! 'Intezaam' (इंतजाम) means 'arrangement.' If you say you are doing someone's 'intezaam,' it sounds like you are planning their funeral or a party!
In 15 Sekunden
- The standard Hindi way to say 'to wait' for anything.
- Always use the word 'ka' before it to link the object.
- Common in both romantic Bollywood songs and boring office meetings.
What It Means
इंतजार करना (Intazaar karna) is your bread and butter for expressing patience. It is a 'compound verb.' This means it combines a noun इंतजार (wait) with the verb करना (to do). In English, we just say 'wait,' but in Hindi, you literally 'do a wait.' It is warm, common, and works in almost every situation involving time and expectation.
How To Use It
Here is the golden rule: always use the postposition का (ka) before it. You don't wait 'for' someone; you wait 'of' someone. For example, मैं तुम्हारा इंतजार कर रहा हूँ (I am waiting of you). It sounds strange in English, but it is perfect Hindi. You can change the verb करना to fit the tense. Use किया for 'waited' or करूँगा for 'will wait.' It is a flexible phrase that fits into any sentence structure easily.
When To Use It
Use this when you are standing at a bus stop. Use it when your friend is twenty minutes late for chai. It is perfect for professional emails when you are 'waiting for a reply.' It also works for big life moments. You might be waiting for results or waiting for the right time to travel. It is the most natural way to express the passage of time while expecting something.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this if you mean 'to stay' or 'to stop.' If you want someone to stay at your house, use रुकना (rukna). If you are pausing a video, use रोकना (rokna). इंतजार करना specifically implies an expectation of something happening later. Also, avoid it if you are just 'hanging out' without a specific goal. That is just समय बिताना (spending time).
Cultural Background
The word इंतजार actually comes from Persian and Urdu. Because of this, it has a very poetic and romantic feel. You will hear it in almost every Bollywood love song ever written. While there is a more formal Sanskrit-based word (प्रतीक्षा करना), most people prefer इंतजार because it feels more soulful and conversational. It captures the essence of Indian life, where waiting is often a shared social activity.
Common Variations
In very formal settings, you might hear प्रतीक्षा करना (pratiksha karna). In modern Hinglish, young people often just say wait करना. If you are waiting very eagerly, you can add बेसब्री से (besabri se) to the start. This means you are waiting 'without patience' or 'restlessly.' It adds a nice layer of emotion to a simple action.
Nutzungshinweise
This phrase is neutral and works in all registers. The most common mistake is forgetting to use the possessive form (mera, tumhara, uska) before the phrase.
The 'Ka' Rule
Never forget the 'ka' (का). If you say 'Main tum intazaar kar raha hoon,' it sounds like you are 'doing a wait' named 'you.' Always link the person with 'ka' or 'ke'!
Don't confuse with Intezaam
Be careful! 'Intezaam' (इंतजाम) means 'arrangement.' If you say you are doing someone's 'intezaam,' it sounds like you are planning their funeral or a party!
The Bollywood Connection
If you want to sound poetic, use the word 'Raah dekhna' (looking at the path). It's a more visual, old-school way to say you're waiting for someone.
Beispiele
6मैं आधे घंटे से तुम्हारा इंतजार कर रहा हूँ।
I have been waiting for you for half an hour.
Uses 'ka' (tumhara) to show who is being waited for.
मैं आपके जवाब का इंतजार करूँगा।
I will wait for your reply.
A polite and standard way to end a business message.
कब तक इंतजार करना पड़ेगा?
How much longer will I have to wait?
Uses 'padega' to show a bit of frustration or necessity.
मैं पूरी जिंदगी तुम्हारा इंतजार कर सकती हूँ।
I can wait for you my whole life.
Shows the poetic, emotional depth of the phrase.
खाने का इंतजार करना बहुत मुश्किल है!
Waiting for food is very difficult!
A lighthearted way to express hunger.
क्या आप भी 10 नंबर बस का इंतजार कर रहे हैं?
Are you also waiting for bus number 10?
A common small-talk opener in public transport.
Teste dich selbst
Complete the sentence to say 'I am waiting for the bus.'
मैं बस ___ इंतजार कर रहा हूँ।
In Hindi, you always wait 'of' (ka) something, not 'for' it.
Choose the correct verb form for 'We will wait.'
हम आपका इंतजार ___।
'करेंगे' is the future plural form of 'karna', matching 'hum' (we).
🎉 Ergebnis: /2
Visuelle Lernhilfen
Formality of 'Waiting'
Using English directly in Hindi sentences.
Wait करो (Wait karo)
The most common way to speak daily.
इंतजार करना (Intazaar karna)
Used in literature or very formal speeches.
प्रतीक्षा करना (Pratiksha karna)
Where to use 'Intazaar Karna'
At the Airport
Waiting for a flight arrival.
Dating
Waiting for a crush to text back.
Office
Waiting for the meeting to start.
Kitchen
Waiting for the tea to boil.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
10 Fragenरुकना (rukna) means to stop or stay in a place. इंतजार करना (intazaar karna) specifically means you are waiting for something to happen or someone to arrive.
It is originally from Arabic/Persian, which makes it part of the Urdu vocabulary, but it is used universally in standard Hindi.
You can say मैं इंतजार करते-करते थक गया हूँ (Main intazaar karte-karte thak gaya hoon).
Yes! You can wait for a bus (बस का इंतजार), a letter (चिठ्ठी का इंतजार), or even the rain (बारिश का इंतजार).
Not necessarily. इंतजार करना is perfectly fine for professional emails. प्रतीक्षा can sometimes sound a bit too stiff or dramatic.
You say मेरा इंतजार करना (Mera intazaar karna). Notice how 'main' changes to 'mera' because of the 'ka' rule.
It means 'waiting impatiently' or 'waiting with great excitement.' People use it for birthdays or holidays.
Only if you are using it as a noun. For example, 'The wait is over' is इंतजार खत्म हुआ (Intazaar khatm hua).
Yes, 'wait करना' is extremely common in urban areas and is considered very natural Hinglish.
The word 'intazaar' doesn't change, but the verb 'karna' does. A man says कर रहा हूँ and a woman says कर रही हूँ.
Verwandte Redewendungen
प्रतीक्षा करना
To wait (formal/Sanskritized)
राह देखना
To look out for/wait for someone (poetic)
रुकना
To stop or stay
सब्र करना
To have patience
Kommentare (0)
Zum Kommentieren AnmeldenStarte kostenlos mit dem Sprachenlernen
Kostenlos Loslegen