इंतजार करना

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.

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.

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).

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.

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.