बराबर (baraabar)

adjective/adverb Mainly an adjective/adverb meaning 'equal' or 'even', but it also does double duty as a common adverb meaning 'constantly, continuously' -- two related but distinct everyday uses.

Sense 1 : equal, same

adjective Often used with के (ke) in the frame X के बराबर (ke baraabar, 'equal to X') to compare two quantities.

Synonyms: समान (samaan), एक जैसा (ek jaisaa)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in shops and kitchens when splitting things evenly -- बराबर बराबर बाँट दो (baraabar baraabar baant do, 'divide it equally'), doubling the word for emphasis is very common in casual speech.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often forget the के (ke) before बराबर (baraabar) when comparing two things -- दो और दो चार के बराबर हैं (do aur do chaar ke baraabar hain, 'two and two are equal to four'), not just दो और दो चार बराबर हैं (do aur do chaar baraabar hain).

Sample Sentences:

दोनों भाइयों को हिस्सा बराबर बराबर बाँट दो। Divide the share equally between both brothers.

(donon bhaaiyon ko hissaa baraabar baraabar baant do।)

यह दोनों टुकड़े बिलकुल बराबर हैं। These two pieces are exactly equal.

(yah donon tukde bilkul baraabar hain।)

दो और दो बराबर चार होते हैं। Two plus two equals four.

(do aur do baraabar chaar hote hain।)

अगर दोनों टीमों के अंक बराबर होते, तो मैच टाई हो जाता। If both teams' scores had been equal, the match would have been a tie.

(agar donon tiimon ke ank baraabar hote, to maich taaii ho jaataa।)

कानून की नज़र में सब बराबर हैं। In the eyes of the law, everyone is equal.

(kaanoon kii nazar men sab baraabar hain।)

मिठाई सबको बराबर बराबर मिलनी चाहिए, किसी को कम नहीं। Everyone should get an equal amount of sweets, no one less.

(mithaaii sabko baraabar baraabar milnii chaahie, kisii ko kam nahiin।)

पिछले साल दोनों कंपनियों का मुनाफ़ा लगभग बराबर रहा। Last year, both companies' profits remained roughly equal.

(pichhle saal donon kampniyon kaa munaafaa lagbhag baraabar rahaa।)

यह ज़मीन दो हिस्सों में बराबर बाँटी गई है। This land has been divided equally into two parts.

(yah zamiin do hisson men baraabar baantii gaii hai।)

काश दोनों की तनख्वाह बराबर होती। If only both of their salaries were equal.

(kaash donon kii tanakhvaah baraabar hotii।)

बराबर काम के लिए बराबर वेतन मिलना चाहिए। Equal pay should be given for equal work.

(baraabar kaam ke lie baraabar vetan milnaa chaahie।)

Sense 2 : constantly, continuously, all the time

adverb Placed before the verb to describe an ongoing, uninterrupted action, often with habitual or progressive tenses: वह बराबर फोन करता रहता है (vah baraabar phon kartaa rahtaa hai, 'he keeps calling constantly').

Synonyms: लगातार (lagaataar), हमेशा (hameshaa)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the sense you will hear from an exasperated parent or teacher -- तुम बराबर गलती करते हो (tum baraabar galtii karte ho, 'you keep making the same mistake') -- carrying a slightly weary, repetitive-complaint tone.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse this sense with the 'equal' sense since the word looks identical -- context (presence of a verb of ongoing action vs. a comparison) is the only clue. 2) It pairs naturally with रहना (rahnaa) as a continuity marker, which learners may not expect from a word they first learned as 'equal.'

Sample Sentences:

तुम बराबर गलती करते हो। You keep making the same mistake all the time.

(tum baraabar galtii karte ho।)

वह बराबर देर से आता है। He constantly comes late.

(vah baraabar der se aataa hai।)

माँ बराबर फोन करती रहती थी कि मैंने खाना खाया या नहीं। Mom would constantly call to check whether I'd eaten or not.

(maan baraabar phon kartii rahtii thii ki mainne khaanaa khaayaa yaa nahiin।)

बराबर टोकते मत रहो, मुझे मेरा काम करने दो। Stop constantly interrupting me, let me do my work.

(baraabar tokte mat raho, mujhe meraa kaam karne do।)

अगर तुम बराबर शिकायत करते, तो कोई तुम्हारे साथ काम नहीं करता। If you constantly complained, no one would work with you.

(agar tum baraabar shikaayat karte, to koii tumhaare saath kaam nahiin kartaa।)

पड़ोसी की बेटी बराबर पियानो बजाती रहती है, पूरा घर गूंजता है। The neighbor's daughter plays the piano constantly, the whole house resonates.

(padosii kii betii baraabar piyaano bajaatii rahtii hai, pooraa ghar goonjtaa hai।)

उसे बराबर यह डर सताता रहा कि परीक्षा में फेल हो जाएगा। He was constantly plagued by the fear that he would fail the exam.

(use baraabar yah dar sataataa rahaa ki pariikshaa men phel ho jaaegaa।)

अध्यापिका ने कहा कि तुम बराबर बातें करते रहो तो सीख नहीं पाओगे। The teacher said that if you keep talking constantly, you won't be able to learn.

(adhyaapikaa ne kahaa ki tum baraabar baaten karte raho to siikh nahiin paaoge।)

उसका फोन बराबर बजता रहता है, चैन से बैठ नहीं सकता। His phone rings constantly, he can't sit in peace.

(uskaa phon baraabar bajtaa rahtaa hai, chain se baith nahiin saktaa।)

बच्चों को बराबर यह याद दिलाया जाता है कि सड़क पार करते समय सावधान रहें। Children are constantly reminded to be careful while crossing the road.

(bachchon ko baraabar yah yaad dilaayaa jaataa hai ki sadak paar karte samay saavdhaan rahen।)

क्या तुम बराबर उसी बात को दोहराते रहोगे? Will you keep repeating the same thing constantly?

(kyaa tum baraabar usii baat ko dohraate rahoge?)

Morphology

Adjective (invariant)

invariant: बराबर (baraabar)