रूखा (rookhaa)

adjective Primarily describes a physical texture that is dry or rough (skin, bread, hair), with a common extended sense describing a person's manner as dry, curt, or unfriendly.

Sense 1 : dry, rough (of texture)

adjective

Synonyms: सूखा (sookhaa), खुरदरा (khuradraa, rough texture)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will hear this a lot around winter in Delhi when everyone's skin gets रूखा (rookhaa) from the dry cold -- लोशन लगाओ, त्वचा रूखी हो गई है (loshan lagaao, tvachaa rookhii ho gaii hai, 'apply lotion, your skin has gotten dry') is a classic mother's line.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse रूखा (rookhaa) with सूखा (sookhaa, 'dried up/dried out') -- रूखा (rookhaa) specifically stresses a rough, harsh-to-touch quality (like chapped skin or stale bread), while सूखा (sookhaa) just means dry/not wet, without that harsh texture implication.

Sample Sentences:

सर्दियों में मेरी त्वचा बहुत रूखी हो जाती है। In winter, my skin gets very dry.

(sardiyon men merii tvachaa bahut rookhii ho jaatii hai।)

लोशन लगाओ, त्वचा रूखी हो गई है। Apply lotion, your skin has gotten dry.

(loshan lagaao, tvachaa rookhii ho gaii hai।)

उसके हाथ इतने रूखे थे कि छूने में तकलीफ हो रही थी। Her hands were so rough that it hurt to touch them.

(uske haath itne rookhe the ki chhoone men takliiph ho rahii thii।)

यह तौलिया बहुत रूखा है, दूसरा दे दो। This towel is very rough, give me another one.

(yah tauliyaa bahut rookhaa hai, doosraa de do।)

अगर तुम रोज़ लोशन लगाते तो त्वचा इतनी रूखी नहीं होती। If you applied lotion daily, your skin wouldn't get so dry.

(agar tum roz loshan lagaate to tvachaa itnii rookhii nahiin hotii।)

डॉक्टर ने कहा कि रूखी त्वचा के लिए नारियल तेल अच्छा रहेगा। The doctor said that coconut oil would be good for dry skin.

(doktar ne kahaa ki rookhii tvachaa ke lie naariyal tel achchhaa rahegaa।)

दिल्ली की सर्द हवा से बाल भी रूखे हो जाते हैं। Because of Delhi's cold wind, even hair gets dry.

(dillii kii sard havaa se baal bhii rookhe ho jaate hain।)

शायद यह क्रीम रूखी त्वचा के लिए ठीक न हो। Maybe this cream isn't right for dry skin.

(shaayad yah kriim rookhii tvachaa ke lie thiik n ho।)

उसकी होंठों की त्वचा रूखी होकर फट गई थी। The skin on her lips had gotten so dry that it cracked.

(uskii honthon kii tvachaa rookhii hokar phat gaii thii।)

रूखी त्वचा पर मॉइस्चराइज़र से मालिश की जाती है। Dry skin is massaged with moisturizer.

(rookhii tvachaa par moischraaizar se maalish kii jaatii hai।)

इस साबुन से मेरी त्वचा और रूखी हो जाती है। This soap makes my skin even drier.

(is saabun se merii tvachaa aur rookhii ho jaatii hai।)

Sense 2 : curt, cold, unfriendly (of manner or speech)

adjective

Synonyms: कठोर (kathor, harsher, more about severity), रूखा-सूखा (rookhaa-sookhaa, emphatic doubled form)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the word for that flat, unwelcoming tone -- जब कोई रूखे स्वर में बात करता है (jab koii rookhe svar men baat kartaa hai, 'when someone speaks in a cold/curt tone'), it signals emotional distance or annoyance, the opposite of the warmth Hindi speakers usually prize in conversation.

Common Mistakes: 1) This sense describes tone or behavior, not physical dryness -- उसने रूखा जवाब दिया (usne rookhaa javaab diyaa, 'he gave a curt/cold reply') has nothing to do with texture, so do not default to translating it as 'dry' in English, which sounds odd; 'curt' or 'cold' usually fits better.

Sample Sentences:

उसने बहुत रूखे स्वर में जवाब दिया। He replied in a very curt tone.

(usne bahut rookhe svar men javaab diyaa।)

वह हमेशा इतने रूखे तरीके से बात क्यों करती है? Why does she always speak in such a curt manner?

(vah hameshaa itne rookhe tariike se baat kyon kartii hai?)

मुझसे रूखे स्वर में बात मत करो। Don't talk to me in such a cold tone.

(mujhse rookhe svar men baat mat karo।)

जब कोई रूखे स्वर में बात करता है, तो बातचीत का सारा माहौल बिगड़ जाता है। When someone speaks in a curt tone, the whole mood of the conversation is spoiled.

(jab koii rookhe svar men baat kartaa hai, to baatchiit kaa saaraa maahaul bigad jaataa hai।)

काश वह इतना रूखा न होता, तो लोग उससे खुलकर बात करते। If only he weren't so curt, people would talk to him openly.

(kaash vah itnaa rookhaa n hotaa, to log usse khulkar baat karte।)

मैनेजर का रूखा व्यवहार देखकर नए कर्मचारी घबरा गए। Seeing the manager's cold behavior, the new employees got nervous.

(mainejar kaa rookhaa vyavahaar dekhkar nae karmchaarii ghabraa gae।)

अगर आप ग्राहकों से रूखे स्वर में बात करेंगे, तो वे दोबारा नहीं आएँगे। If you speak to customers in a curt tone, they won't come back again.

(agar aap graahkon se rookhe svar men baat karenge, to ve dobaaraa nahiin aaenge।)

क्षमा करें, अगर मेरा रूखा जवाब आपको बुरा लगा हो। I apologize if my curt reply upset you.

(kshamaa karen, agar meraa rookhaa javaab aapko buraa lagaa ho।)

उसकी आवाज़ में एक रूखापन था जो पहले कभी नहीं सुना था। There was a coldness in his voice that I had never heard before.

(uskii aavaaz men ek rookhaapan thaa jo pahle kabhii nahiin sunaa thaa।)

इतने रूखे लहजे में बात की जाती है, तो सामने वाला दुखी हो जाता है। When speech is made in such a curt tone, the other person gets hurt.

(itne rookhe lahje men baat kii jaatii hai, to saamne vaalaa dukhii ho jaataa hai।)

शायद वह थकी हुई थी, इसलिए उसका जवाब रूखा लगा। Maybe she was tired, that's why her reply sounded curt.

(shaayad vah thakii huii thii, islie uskaa javaab rookhaa lagaa।)

Morphology

Adjective (variable)

(sg.m): रूखा (rookhaa)

(pl.m): रूखे (rookhe)

(sg.f): रूखी (rookhii)

(pl.f): रूखी (rookhii)