ज़ोरदार (zordaar)

adjective An adjective meaning 'forceful' or 'vigorous' -- built from ज़ोर (zor, 'force/strength') plus the Persian agentive suffix -दार (daar). It covers both literal physical force (a strong push, a loud sound) and figurative intensity (a rousing speech, a hearty laugh).

Sense 1 : forceful, powerful (physical intensity)

adjective

Synonyms: ताकतवर (taakatvar), शक्तिशाली (shaktishaalii, formal), तेज़ (tez, meaning scope: also covers 'fast/sharp')

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in weather and traffic reports: ज़ोरदार बारिश (zordaar baarish, 'heavy/forceful rain') or ज़ोरदार धमाका (zordaar dhamaakaa, 'a loud explosion'). It paints the sound or impact as big and unmistakable, which is exactly the flavor a newsreader wants.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for तेज़ (tez) for everything intense, but ज़ोरदार (zordaar) specifically implies force or power behind the thing (a punch, a jerk, an explosion), not just speed or sharpness. 2) It describes the intensity of an action or sound, not a person's general strength -- for 'he is strong,' ताकतवर (taakatvar) or मज़बूत (mazboot) fits better.

Sample Sentences:

कल रात ज़ोरदार बारिश हुई। There was heavy rain last night.

(kal raat zordaar baarish huii।)

अभी एक ज़ोरदार धमाका हुआ है, सब बाहर निकल आए हैं। There has just been a loud explosion, everyone has come running outside.

(abhii ek zordaar dhamaakaa huaa hai, sab baahar nikal aae hain।)

मौसम विभाग ने कल ज़ोरदार बारिश की चेतावनी दी है। The weather department has issued a warning of heavy rain for tomorrow.

(mausam vibhaag ne kal zordaar baarish kii chetaavnii dii hai।)

हवा इतनी ज़ोरदार थी कि पेड़ की डालें टूट गईं। The wind was so forceful that the tree branches broke.

(havaa itnii zordaar thii ki ped kii daalen toot gaiin।)

अगर हवा इतनी ज़ोरदार होती तो छत का टीन उड़ जाता। If the wind had been that forceful, the tin roof would have blown away.

(agar havaa itnii zordaar hotii to chhat kaa tiin ud jaataa।)

हर साल मॉनसून में यहाँ ज़ोरदार बारिश होती है। Every year during the monsoon there is heavy rain here.

(har saal monsoon men yahaan zordaar baarish hotii hai।)

कल तेज़ तूफ़ान के साथ ज़ोरदार बारिश होगी। Tomorrow there will be heavy rain along with a strong storm.

(kal tez toofaan ke saath zordaar baarish hogii।)

उस गली में एक ज़ोरदार धमाका सुनाई दिया। A loud explosion was heard in that lane.

(us galii men ek zordaar dhamaakaa sunaaii diyaa।)

पुलिस ने बताया कि विस्फोट स्थल पर ज़ोरदार धमाके की आवाज़ कई किलोमीटर दूर तक सुनी गई। The police said that the sound of the powerful explosion at the blast site was heard several kilometers away.

(pulis ne bataayaa ki visphot sthal par zordaar dhamaake kii aavaaz kaii kilomiitar door tak sunii gaii।)

इतनी ज़ोरदार आंधी में बाहर मत निकलो। Don't go outside in such a forceful storm.

(itnii zordaar aandhii men baahar mat niklo।)

शायद रात को ज़ोरदार बारिश हो, छत की टंकी ढक देना। There might be heavy rain tonight, cover the rooftop tank.

(shaayad raat ko zordaar baarish ho, chhat kii tankii dhak denaa।)

Sense 2 : rousing, enthusiastic, impressive (figurative intensity)

adjective

Synonyms: शानदार (shaandaar), जबरदस्त (jabardast), बढ़िया (badhiyaa, colloquial)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the word for a speech that gets the crowd on its feet, or a cricket shot that draws gasps -- ज़ोरदार भाषण (zordaar bhaashan, 'a rousing speech') is a classic collocation you will hear on news channels covering political rallies.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes underuse this word for praise -- ज़ोरदार तालियाँ (zordaar taaliyaan, 'thunderous applause') and ज़ोरदार स्वागत (zordaar svaagat, 'a rousing welcome') are set phrases native speakers reach for automatically, so 'बहुत अच्छा (bahut achchhaa)' can sound flat by comparison in these contexts.

Sample Sentences:

नेता का भाषण बहुत ज़ोरदार था। The leader's speech was very rousing.

(netaa kaa bhaashan bahut zordaar thaa।)

आज रैली में ज़ोरदार भाषण सुनने को मिला। We got to hear a rousing speech at the rally today.

(aaj railii men zordaar bhaashan sunne ko milaa।)

उसने आखिरी ओवर में एक ज़ोरदार शॉट लगाया। He played a terrific shot in the last over.

(usne aakhirii ovar men ek zordaar shot lagaayaa।)

टीम का प्रदर्शन इस बार ज़ोरदार रहा है। The team's performance has been terrific this time.

(tiim kaa pradarshan is baar zordaar rahaa hai।)

अगर वह मंच पर आता, तो और भी ज़ोरदार भाषण होता। If he had come on stage, the speech would have been even more rousing.

(agar vah manch par aataa, to aur bhii zordaar bhaashan hotaa।)

कृपया अपनी प्रस्तुति को थोड़ा और ज़ोरदार बनाइए। Please make your presentation a little more impressive.

(kripyaa apnii prastuti ko thodaa aur zordaar banaaie।)

समारोह में ज़ोरदार तालियों की गूँज सुनाई दी। The sound of rousing applause echoed through the ceremony.

(samaaroh men zordaar taaliyon kii goonj sunaaii dii।)

उम्मीद है कि उसका अगला गाना भी ज़ोरदार निकले। Hopefully his next song turns out terrific too.

(ummiid hai ki uskaa aglaa gaanaa bhii zordaar nikle।)

फ़िल्म का क्लाइमेक्स इतना ज़ोरदार था कि पूरा हॉल तालियों से गूँज उठा। The film's climax was so rousing that the entire hall erupted in applause.

(film kaa klaaimeks itnaa zordaar thaa ki pooraa hol taaliyon se goonj uthaa।)

हर चुनाव में नेता जी ज़ोरदार भाषण देते हैं। The leader gives rousing speeches in every election.

(har chunaav men netaa jii zordaar bhaashan dete hain।)

अगली बार हम एक ज़ोरदार प्रदर्शन देंगे। Next time we will give a terrific performance.

(aglii baar ham ek zordaar pradarshan denge।)

Morphology

Adjective (invariant)

invariant: ज़ोरदार (zordaar)