थोड़ा-थोड़ा (thodaa-thodaa)

adjective/adverb A reduplicated form of थोड़ा (thodaa, 'a little'), used as an adjective/adverb meaning 'little by little' or 'a bit of each/gradually'.

Sense 1 : a little of each; small amounts distributed

adjective Agrees in gender/number with the noun it modifies, just like थोड़ा (thodaa) itself, since reduplication doesn't change its adjectival behavior.

Synonyms: कुछ-कुछ (kuchh-kuchh, overlaps in 'a bit of each' sense)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: Picture a mother at the dinner table doling out थोड़ा-थोड़ा (thodaa-thodaa) चावल (chaaval, 'rice') to everyone from a shared pot -- a little to this plate, a little to that one. The reduplication captures that 'bit by bit, to each' feel that a single थोड़ा (thodaa) can't convey alone.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat थोड़ा-थोड़ा (thodaa-thodaa) as simply an emphatic 'very little' -- it's not intensifying smallness, it's distributing it across items or portions, e.g. sharing a little of several things rather than saying one thing is very small. 2) Confusing this with ज़रा-सा (zaraa-saa), which emphasizes smallness of a single quantity rather than distribution.

Sample Sentences:

माँ ने सबको थोड़ा-थोड़ा चावल दिया। Mom gave everyone a little rice each.

(maan ne sabko thodaa-thodaa chaaval diyaa।)

सबको थोड़ा-थोड़ा पैसा मिलेगा। Everyone will get a little money each.

(sabko thodaa-thodaa paisaa milegaa।)

हर बच्चे को थोड़ी-थोड़ी मिठाई दो। Give each child a little sweet.

(har bachche ko thodii-thodii mithaaii do।)

अगर तुम सबको थोड़ा-थोड़ा हिस्सा दे देते, तो कोई नाराज़ नहीं होता। If you had given everyone a small share each, no one would have been upset.

(agar tum sabko thodaa-thodaa hissaa de dete, to koii naaraaz nahiin hotaa।)

वह हमेशा सबको थोड़ा-थोड़ा खाना बाँटती है। She always distributes a little food to everyone.

(vah hameshaa sabko thodaa-thodaa khaanaa baanttii hai।)

सब्ज़ियों में थोड़ा-थोड़ा नमक और मसाला डाला जाता है। A little salt and a little spice are added to the vegetables, in each portion.

(sabziyon men thodaa-thodaa namak aur masaalaa daalaa jaataa hai।)

शायद वह सबको थोड़ा-थोड़ा उपहार दे। Maybe she'll give everyone a small gift each.

(shaayad vah sabko thodaa-thodaa upahaar de।)

कृपया सभी मेहमानों को थोड़ी-थोड़ी चाय परोसें। Please serve all the guests a little tea each.

(kripyaa sabhii mehmaanon ko thodii-thodii chaay parosen।)

उसने सबको थोड़ा-थोड़ा प्रसाद बाँट दिया। He distributed a little of the offering to everyone.

(usne sabko thodaa-thodaa prasaad baant diyaa।)

हर थाली में थोड़ा-थोड़ा अचार भी रखा गया था। A little pickle each was also placed on every plate.

(har thaalii men thodaa-thodaa achaar bhii rakhaa gayaa thaa।)

Sense 2 : gradually, little by little (over time)

adverb Used with verbs to describe an action happening in small increments over time, often paired with बढ़ना (badhnaa, 'to increase') or सीखना (siikhnaa, 'to learn').

Synonyms: धीरे-धीरे (dhiire-dhiire, focuses on slowness/pace rather than incremental amount), क्रमशः (kramshah, literary)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the word you'll hear from a Hindi teacher encouraging a nervous beginner: थोड़ा-थोड़ा सीखो (thodaa-thodaa siikho, 'learn a little at a time') -- it carries a gentle, encouraging tone about incremental progress rather than urgency.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for धीरे-धीरे (dhiire-dhiire) when they mean 'gradually,' but that word emphasizes slow pace, while थोड़ा-थोड़ा (thodaa-thodaa) emphasizes small increments -- the two overlap but aren't interchangeable in every context, e.g. 'walking slowly' wants धीरे-धीरे (dhiire-dhiire), not थोड़ा-थोड़ा (thodaa-thodaa).

Sample Sentences:

थोड़ा-थोड़ा सीखो, जल्दी मत करो। Learn a little at a time, don't rush.

(thodaa-thodaa siikho, jaldii mat karo।)

मैं थोड़ा-थोड़ा हिंदी सीख रहा हूँ। I'm learning Hindi little by little.

(main thodaa-thodaa hindii siikh rahaa hoon।)

वह थोड़ा-थोड़ा ठीक होता जा रहा है। He's getting better little by little.

(vah thodaa-thodaa thiik hotaa jaa rahaa hai।)

अगर तुम थोड़ा-थोड़ा पैसा बचाओ, तो साल भर में अच्छी रकम जुड़ जाएगी। If you save a little at a time, you'll have a good sum by the end of the year.

(agar tum thodaa-thodaa paisaa bachaao, to saal bhar men achchhii rakam jud jaaegii।)

पहले वह हिचकिचाती थी, पर अब थोड़ा-थोड़ा खुलने लगी है। She used to be hesitant before, but now she's gradually opening up.

(pahle vah hichkichaatii thii, par ab thodaa-thodaa khulne lagii hai।)

अगर उसने थोड़ा-थोड़ा अभ्यास किया होता, तो आज इतनी मुश्किल न होती। If he had practiced little by little, it wouldn't be this hard today.

(agar usne thodaa-thodaa abhyaas kiyaa hotaa, to aaj itnii mushkil n hotii।)

बच्चे थोड़ा-थोड़ा चलना सीख रहे हैं। The children are learning to walk little by little.

(bachche thodaa-thodaa chalnaa siikh rahe hain।)

समय के साथ दर्द थोड़ा-थोड़ा कम हो जाएगा। The pain will gradually lessen over time.

(samay ke saath dard thodaa-thodaa kam ho jaaegaa।)

उसे संभालो थोड़ा-थोड़ा, एक साथ सब कुछ मत बताओ। Handle it gradually with him, don't tell him everything at once.

(use sambhaalo thodaa-thodaa, ek saath sab kuchh mat bataao।)

समाज में यह बदलाव थोड़ा-थोड़ा करके आया है, एक दिन में नहीं। This change in society has come about gradually, not overnight.

(samaaj men yah badlaav thodaa-thodaa karke aayaa hai, ek din men nahiin।)

क्या तुम थोड़ा-थोड़ा रोज़ पढ़ नहीं सकते? Can't you study a little every day, bit by bit?

(kyaa tum thodaa-thodaa roz padh nahiin sakte?)

Morphology

Adjective (variable)

Morphology could not be generated (hyphen-joined variable adjective 'थोड़ा-थोड़ा').