कुछ (kuchh)
pronoun/adjective/adverb
A very common indefinite word covering 'something', 'some (amount/quantity)', and 'a bit/somewhat' -- the exact English translation depends heavily on context.
Sense
1
:
something (indefinite pronoun)
pronoun
Synonyms: कोई चीज़ (koii chiiz, something/some thing)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: कुछ (kuchh) is one of the first 'filler' words learners lean on, much like English 'something' -- you will hear it constantly in hedging phrases like कुछ पता नहीं (kuchh pataa nahiin, 'no idea at all') or कुछ भी (kuchh bhii, 'anything at all'), which add emphasis rather than changing the core meaning.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to add a plural marker or an article; कुछ (kuchh) as 'something' is invariant and needs neither. 2) In questions like क्या कुछ हुआ? (kyaa kuchh huaa?, 'did something happen?'), कुछ (kuchh) pairs naturally with negation later (कुछ नहीं हुआ (kuchh nahiin huaa, 'nothing happened')) -- learners sometimes reach for कोई नहीं (koii nahiin) instead, which is for people, not things.
Sample Sentences:
अगर कुछ हो जाए तो मुझे फ़ोन करना।
If something happens, call me.
(agar kuchh ho jaae to mujhe fon karnaa।)
Listen: F85
कुछ खा लो, वरना कमज़ोरी हो जाएगी।
Eat something, or you'll feel weak.
(kuchh khaa lo, varnaa kamzorii ho jaaegii।)
Listen: M85
अगर उसे कुछ चाहिए होता, तो वह माँग लेता।
If he had needed something, he would have asked for it.
(agar use kuchh chaahie hotaa, to vah maang letaa।)
Listen: F85
दाल में कुछ डाला गया है, शायद मसाला।
Something has been added to the lentils, maybe a spice.
(daal men kuchh daalaa gayaa hai, shaayad masaalaa।)
Listen: M85
मुझे नहीं लगता कि आज कुछ नया होगा।
I don't think anything new will happen today.
(mujhe nahiin lagtaa ki aaj kuchh nayaa hogaa।)
Listen: F85
क्या मैं आपसे कुछ पूछ सकता हूँ?
May I ask you something?
(kyaa main aapse kuchh poochh saktaa hoon?)
Listen: F85
मुझे संदेह है कि उसने कुछ छिपाया हो।
I suspect he may have hidden something.
(mujhe sandeh hai ki usne kuchh chhipaayaa ho।)
Listen: F85
Sense
2
:
some (quantity/amount, uncountable or plural)
adjective Placed before a noun to mean 'some amount of' (कुछ पैसे (kuchh paise, 'some money')) or 'some (unspecified) people/things' with plural nouns.
Synonyms: थोड़ा (thodaa, a little), कई (kaii, several, for countables)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Because कुछ (kuchh) never changes form, it is often the safer choice for beginners over थोड़ा (thodaa) or कई (kaii), which require matching gender and number -- you will hear shopkeepers and family members use it constantly when offering or asking for a bit of something, like कुछ चाय लो (kuchh chaay lo, 'have some tea').
Common Mistakes: 1) With countable plural nouns, कुछ (kuchh) means 'a few/some' (कुछ लोग (kuchh log, 'some people')), while with mass nouns it means 'a bit of' (कुछ पानी (kuchh paanii, 'some water')) -- learners sometimes confuse this with थोड़ा (thodaa), which leans more toward 'a small amount' and agrees in gender/number, unlike invariant कुछ (kuchh).
Sample Sentences:
घर में कुछ सामान पड़ा है।
There is some stuff lying in the house.
(ghar men kuchh saamaan padaa hai।)
Listen: M85
उसने कुछ दूध और कुछ फल खरीदे।
He bought some milk and some fruit.
(usne kuchh doodh aur kuchh phal khariide।)
Listen: F85
अगर तुम्हारे पास कुछ जानकारी हो, तो मुझे बताना।
If you have some information, let me know.
(agar tumhaare paas kuchh jaankaarii ho, to mujhe bataanaa।)
Listen: F85
अगर मेरे पास कुछ समय होता, तो मैं तुम्हारी मदद करता।
If I had some time, I would have helped you.
(agar mere paas kuchh samay hotaa, to main tumhaarii madad kartaa।)
Listen: F85
रसोई में कुछ सब्ज़ियाँ रखी हुई हैं, इस्तेमाल कर लेना।
There are some vegetables kept in the kitchen, use them.
(rasoii men kuchh sabziyaan rakhii huii hain, istemaal kar lenaa।)
Listen: M85
मैडम ने कहा कि कुछ दस्तावेज़ अभी जमा किए जा रहे हैं।
Madam said that some documents are being submitted right now.
(maidam ne kahaa ki kuchh dastaavez abhii jamaa kie jaa rahe hain।)
Listen: M85
क्या तुम कुछ रोटियाँ बना दोगी?
Will you make some rotis?
(kyaa tum kuchh rotiyaan banaa dogii?)
Listen: M85
कृपया कुछ सुझाव दीजिए ताकि हम आगे बढ़ सकें।
Please give some suggestions so that we can move forward.
(kripyaa kuchh sujhaav diijie taaki ham aage badh saken।)
Listen: M85
उस पुरानी हवेली की दीवारों पर कुछ चित्र अब भी बचे हैं।
Some paintings still remain on the walls of that old mansion.
(us puraanii havelii kii diivaaron par kuchh chitr ab bhii bache hain।)
Listen: F85
Sense
3
:
somewhat, a little, rather
adverb Modifies an adjective or verb to soften or partially qualify it, similar to 'a bit' or 'rather' in English: कुछ अजीब (kuchh ajiib, 'a bit strange').
Synonyms: थोड़ा (thodaa, a little), ज़रा (zaraa, a bit)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the same word wearing a third hat -- once you know कुछ (kuchh) as 'something' and 'some', hearing it soften an adjective (कुछ थका हुआ हूँ (kuchh thakaa huaa hoon, 'I'm a bit tired')) feels like a natural extension rather than a new word to memorize.
Common Mistakes: 1) In this adverbial use, कुछ (kuchh) sits right before the adjective it softens, not the noun -- learners sometimes misplace it as if it were quantifying the noun instead, e.g. confusing कुछ अजीब बात (kuchh ajiib baat, 'a somewhat strange thing') with कुछ बात (kuchh baat, 'some matter').
Sample Sentences:
यह कमरा कुछ ठंडा लग रहा है।
This room feels somewhat cold.
(yah kamraa kuchh thandaa lag rahaa hai।)
Listen: F85
उसकी बात सुनकर मुझे कुछ अजीब लगा।
Hearing what he said, I felt a bit strange.
(uskii baat sunkar mujhe kuchh ajiib lagaa।)
Listen: F85
यह रास्ता कुछ लंबा है, पर सुरक्षित है।
This road is a little long, but it's safe.
(yah raastaa kuchh lambaa hai, par surakshit hai।)
Listen: F85
अगर तुम कुछ जल्दी उठ जाओ, तो हम समय पर पहुँच जाएँगे।
If you get up a bit early, we'll reach on time.
(agar tum kuchh jaldii uth jaao, to ham samay par pahunch jaaenge।)
Listen: F85
अगर वह कुछ ध्यान से सुनता, तो गलती न होती।
If he had listened somewhat more carefully, the mistake wouldn't have happened.
(agar vah kuchh dhyaan se suntaa, to galtii n hotii।)
Listen: F85
कृपया कुछ धीरे बोलिए, बच्चा सो रहा है।
Please speak a little softly, the baby is sleeping.
(kripyaa kuchh dhiire bolie, bachchaa so rahaa hai।)
Listen: F85
आजकल बाजार में सब्जियों के दाम कुछ ज़्यादा हैं।
These days vegetable prices in the market are somewhat higher.
(aajkal baajaar men sabjiyon ke daam kuchh zyaadaa hain।)
Listen: F85
यह काम कुछ मुश्किल ज़रूर है, फिर भी हो जाएगा।
This task is admittedly somewhat difficult, but it will still get done.
(yah kaam kuchh mushkil zaroor hai, phir bhii ho jaaegaa।)
Listen: M85
उनकी आवाज़ में कुछ थकान महसूस हो रही थी।
There was a bit of tiredness noticeable in his voice.
(unkii aavaaz men kuchh thakaan mahsoos ho rahii thii।)
Listen: M85
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
कुछ
(kuchh)