ज़रा (zaraa)

adverb A small, friendly word that means 'a little' or 'just a moment' -- used constantly to soften requests and commands, and also as an intensifier meaning 'just try' or 'go ahead.'

Sense 1 : a little bit, slightly

adverb

Synonyms: थोड़ा (thodaa), कुछ (kuchh, meaning scope: also 'some')

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the softening word you hear everywhere in Delhi markets and homes -- ज़रा इधर आना (zaraa idhar aanaa, 'come here for a second') sounds far gentler than a bare इधर आओ (idhar aao). Adding ज़रा (zaraa) before a request is a small but important politeness move in everyday Hindi.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for थोड़ा (thodaa) by default, but ज़रा (zaraa) is what native speakers actually use in polite requests like ज़रा सुनिए (zaraa sunie, 'listen for a moment') -- the two are largely interchangeable here, but ज़रा (zaraa) feels warmer and more conversational. 2) Unlike थोड़ा (thodaa), ज़रा (zaraa) does not inflect for gender or number, so learners sometimes mistakenly write ज़री (zarii) or ज़रे (zare).

Sample Sentences:

यह चाय ज़रा ठंडी है। This tea is a little cold.

(yah chaay zaraa thandii hai।)

मुझे ज़रा भूख लगी है। I'm a little hungry.

(mujhe zaraa bhookh lagii hai।)

कमरा ज़रा अंधेरा लग रहा था। The room seemed a little dark.

(kamraa zaraa andheraa lag rahaa thaa।)

अगर तुम ज़रा और मेहनत करते तो पास हो जाते। If you had worked a little harder, you would have passed.

(agar tum zaraa aur mehnat karte to paas ho jaate।)

क्या तुम ज़रा धीरे बोल सकते हो? Can you speak a little more quietly?

(kyaa tum zaraa dhiire bol sakte ho?)

सूप में नमक ज़रा कम डालिएगा। Please put a little less salt in the soup.

(soop men namak zaraa kam daaliegaa।)

उसका मन ज़रा उदास हो गया। His mood became a little sad.

(uskaa man zaraa udaas ho gayaa।)

शायद रास्ता ज़रा लंबा हो, पर मंज़िल तो वही है। The route might be a little longer, but the destination is the same.

(shaayad raastaa zaraa lambaa ho, par manzil to vahii hai।)

मुझे लगा कि दाम ज़रा ज़्यादा हैं, इसलिए मैंने मुकाबला किया। I felt the price was a little too much, so I bargained.

(mujhe lagaa ki daam zaraa zyaadaa hain, islie mainne mukaablaa kiyaa।)

बच्चे को ज़रा और दूध पिलाया जाता है। The child is given a little more milk.

(bachche ko zaraa aur doodh pilaayaa jaataa hai।)

उनकी आवाज़ में ज़रा-सी थकान झलक रही थी। A slight tiredness was showing in her voice.

(unkii aavaaz men zaraa-sii thakaan jhalak rahii thii।)

Sense 2 : just, for a moment (softening a request or command)

adverb Placed directly before an imperative or request verb: ज़रा देखिए (zaraa dekhie, 'just take a look'), ज़रा रुकिए (zaraa rukie, 'just wait a moment').

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is arguably the most useful sense for a learner: dropping ज़रा (zaraa) in front of almost any polite request instantly makes it sound more natural and less abrupt, much like English speakers add 'just' before a favor -- 'just hold on a sec.'

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners translate this sense too literally as 'a little' and miss that its real job is softening a command -- ज़रा बताइए (zaraa bataaie) means 'please tell me,' not 'tell me a small amount.' 2) It is easy to overuse थोड़ा (thodaa) here instead, which sounds stiffer and less natural in a spoken request.

Sample Sentences:

ज़रा यह किताब पकड़ो। Just hold this book for a second.

(zaraa yah kitaab pakdo।)

ज़रा सुनिए, आपका फ़ोन बज रहा है। Excuse me, listen -- your phone is ringing.

(zaraa sunie, aapkaa fon baj rahaa hai।)

क्या तुम ज़रा दरवाज़ा खोल सकते हो? Could you just open the door for a moment?

(kyaa tum zaraa darvaazaa khol sakte ho?)

मैंने उससे कहा कि ज़रा रुक जाए। I told him to just wait for a moment.

(mainne usse kahaa ki zaraa ruk jaae।)

ज़रा इधर आना, कुछ पूछना है। Just come here for a sec, I have to ask you something.

(zaraa idhar aanaa, kuchh poochhnaa hai।)

अगर आप ज़रा ध्यान देंगे तो बात समझ में आ जाएगी। If you just pay a little attention, you'll understand.

(agar aap zaraa dhyaan denge to baat samajh men aa jaaegii।)

काश वह ज़रा जल्दी आ जाता। I wish he would just come a bit earlier.

(kaash vah zaraa jaldii aa jaataa।)

ज़रा अपनी बात यहाँ भी रख दी जाए। Let's just put our point across here too.

(zaraa apnii baat yahaan bhii rakh dii jaae।)

ज़रा गौर से देखो, कुछ गड़बड़ लग रही है। Just look carefully -- something seems off.

(zaraa gaur se dekho, kuchh gadbad lag rahii hai।)

बस ज़रा एक मिनट दे दो, मैं अभी तैयार हो जाती हूँ। Just give me one minute, I'll be ready right now.

(bas zaraa ek minat de do, main abhii taiyaar ho jaatii hoon।)

क्या आप ज़रा साइड हो जाएँगे? Would you mind just moving aside a bit?

(kyaa aap zaraa saaid ho jaaenge?)

Sense 3 : used as a challenge or provocation ('just try')

adverb Common in confrontational or teasing speech: ज़रा हाथ लगाना (zaraa haath lagaanaa, 'just try touching it') implies a dare or warning.

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: You will hear this in a heated exchange, like a parent warning a child: ज़रा फिर से बोलना (zaraa phir se bolnaa, 'just say that again' -- meaning 'don't dare say that again'). The same little word that softens a request can also sharpen a threat, depending entirely on tone.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners miss this sense entirely and get confused when ज़रा (zaraa) appears in an angry or challenging sentence rather than a polite one -- the tone here is sharp, almost sarcastic, opposite of the softening sense above.

Sample Sentences:

ज़रा फिर से बोलना, देखता हूँ क्या करते हो। Just say that again, let's see what you do.

(zaraa phir se bolnaa, dekhtaa hoon kyaa karte ho।)

ज़रा हाथ लगाना मुझे, फिर देखना क्या होता है। Just try touching me, then see what happens.

(zaraa haath lagaanaa mujhe, phir dekhnaa kyaa hotaa hai।)

ज़रा घर से बाहर निकलना, माँ को बुलाती हूँ। Just try stepping out of the house, I'm calling Mom.

(zaraa ghar se baahar nikalnaa, maan ko bulaatii hoon।)

ज़रा मेरी बात काटकर तो देख, फिर बताता हूँ। Just go ahead and interrupt me, then I'll tell you.

(zaraa merii baat kaatkar to dekh, phir bataataa hoon।)

अगर तूने ज़रा भी झूठ बोला, तो मुझसे बुरा कोई नहीं होगा। If you dare tell even the slightest lie, no one will be worse than me.

(agar toone zaraa bhii jhooth bolaa, to mujhse buraa koii nahiin hogaa।)

वह गुस्से में चिल्लाया, "ज़रा एक कदम और बढ़ाना!" He shouted in anger, "Just take one more step!"

(vah gusse men chillaayaa, "zaraa ek kadam aur badhaanaa!")

पापा ने आँखें दिखाते हुए कहा, "ज़रा शोर मचाना घर में, फिर देखना।" Dad said, glaring, "Just make noise in this house, and see what happens."

(paapaa ne aankhen dikhaate hue kahaa, "zaraa shor machaanaa ghar men, phir dekhnaa।")

टीचर ने डाँटते हुए कहा, "ज़रा फिर से नकल करके दिखाओ।" The teacher scolded, "Just try copying again and show me."

(tiichar ne daantte hue kahaa, "zaraa phir se nakal karke dikhaao।")

ज़रा उसकी तरफ नज़र भी उठाना, फिर तेरी खैर नहीं। Just try raising your eyes toward her, then you're done for.

(zaraa uskii taraph nazar bhii uthaanaa, phir terii khair nahiin।)

ज़रा मेरे सामने ऊँची आवाज़ में बात करके देख, फिर पता चलेगा। Just go ahead and raise your voice in front of me, then you'll find out.

(zaraa mere saamne oonchii aavaaz men baat karke dekh, phir pataa chalegaa।)