अरे (are)

interjection A very common interjection used to call attention, express surprise, mild annoyance, or affectionate familiarity, depending on tone.

Sense 1 : expression of surprise or realization

interjection

Synonyms: अरे वाह (are vaah, surprised/pleased), ओहो (oho)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the sound of genuine, unfiltered reaction in Hindi -- you will hear it constantly on the street, in kitchens, in offices, the moment someone notices something unexpected: अरे, ये तो बहुत सस्ता है! (are, ye to bahut sastaa hai, 'oh, this is really cheap!'). The exact same word can carry delight, shock, or dismay; the emotion rides entirely on tone, not on the word itself.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often flatten अरे (are) to a single all-purpose 'oh', missing that the same word can shift from delighted surprise to sharp annoyance depending on tone and context -- listen for pitch and what follows. 2) It is not rude by default; treating it as always brusque or always casual-friendly leads to misjudging the speaker's actual mood.

Sample Sentences:

अरे, ये तो बहुत सस्ता है! Oh, this is really cheap!

(are, ye to bahut sastaa hai!)

अरे, तुम यहाँ कैसे? Oh, how come you're here?

(are, tum yahaan kaise?)

अरे, मुझे तो पता ही नहीं था कि आज उसका जन्मदिन है। Oh, I had no idea it was his birthday today.

(are, mujhe to pataa hii nahiin thaa ki aaj uskaa janmdin hai।)

अरे! बत्ती चली गई! Oh! The power went out!

(are! battii chalii gaii!)

अरे, बारिश हो रही है! Oh, it's raining!

(are, baarish ho rahii hai!)

अरे, अगर मैंने पहले बता दिया होता तो तुम इतना परेशान न होते। Oh, if I had told you earlier, you wouldn't have been so worried.

(are, agar mainne pahle bataa diyaa hotaa to tum itnaa pareshaan n hote।)

अरे, क्या यह सच में मुमकिन है? Oh, is this really possible?

(are, kyaa yah sach men mumkin hai?)

अरे, वो तो बिल्कुल बदल ही गया है। Oh, he has completely changed.

(are, vo to bilkul badal hii gayaa hai।)

अरे वाह, ये तो कमाल हो गया! Oh wow, that's amazing!

(are vaah, ye to kamaal ho gayaa!)

अरे, मेरा फ़ोन तो चोरी हो गया! Oh, my phone got stolen!

(are, meraa fon to chorii ho gayaa!)

अरे, यह देखो कितना प्यारा बच्चा है। Oh, look how adorable this child is.

(are, yah dekho kitnaa pyaaraa bachchaa hai।)

Sense 2 : attention-getting call, address to a person

interjection

Synonyms: ऐ (ai, sharper/less warm), सुनो (suno, meaning 'listen', not a direct synonym but often used similarly)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the classic way Indians hail someone across a room, a street, or a dinner table -- अरे भाई, इधर आओ! (are bhaaii, idhar aao, 'hey brother, come here!'). Pairing it with भाई (bhaaii), यार (yaar), or a name softens it into warm familiarity, which is exactly why it feels so at home between friends and family but can jar when aimed at someone you should be formal with.

Common Mistakes: 1) Using अरे (are) to address someone senior or a stranger with respect is a real misstep -- it is fine with peers, juniors, or people you know well, but can sound presumptuous or rude toward an elder, a boss, or someone you'd otherwise address with आप (aap). 2) Learners sometimes treat it as a name-substitute; it is a call for attention, not a term of address like 'sir' or 'ji'.

Sample Sentences:

अरे भाई, इधर आओ! Hey brother, come here!

(are bhaaii, idhar aao!)

अरे यार, ज़रा सुनो तो! Hey buddy, listen for a second!

(are yaar, zaraa suno to!)

अरे सुनीता, ज़रा इधर देखना। Hey Sunita, look over here for a moment.

(are suniitaa, zaraa idhar dekhnaa।)

अरे, तुम कब से यहाँ बैठे हो? Hey, since when have you been sitting here?

(are, tum kab se yahaan baithe ho?)

अरे भइया, ज़रा एक गिलास पानी देना। Hey there, could you give me a glass of water?

(are bhaiyaa, zaraa ek gilaas paanii denaa।)

मैं दुकान के बाहर से चिल्लाया, "अरे, ज़रा रुको तो!" I shouted from outside the shop, "Hey, wait a second!"

(main dukaan ke baahar se chillaayaa, "are, zaraa ruko to!")

अरे मोहन, तू कहाँ चला गया था कल? Hey Mohan, where had you gone off to yesterday?

(are mohan, too kahaan chalaa gayaa thaa kal?)

अरे, कोई है क्या यहाँ? Hey, is anyone here?

(are, koii hai kyaa yahaan?)

अरे साहब, क्या मैं आपसे कुछ पूछ सकता हूँ? Excuse me sir, may I ask you something?

(are saahab, kyaa main aapse kuchh poochh saktaa hoon?)

अरे बच्चों, थोड़ा धीरे खेलो, पड़ोसी सो रहे हैं। Hey kids, play a little quietly, the neighbors are sleeping.

(are bachchon, thodaa dhiire khelo, padosii so rahe hain।)

Sense 3 : mild protest, exasperation, or dismissal

interjection

Synonyms: अरे यार (are yaar, softer, exasperated-but-affectionate), छोड़ो (chhodo, 'leave it', related dismissive move)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: This is the अरे (are) of a mother swatting away a child's excuse, or a friend brushing off over-thanks -- अरे, कोई बात नहीं! (are, koii baat nahiin, 'oh come on, it's nothing!'). It carries a light, deflecting energy rather than real anger, which is part of why the same syllable can sound so different across these three senses.

Common Mistakes: 1) This exasperated use overlaps heavily with the surprise sense, and learners often cannot tell them apart from the transcript alone -- in real speech the clipped, slightly drawn-out tone and a following correction or complaint (अरे नहीं, ऐसे नहीं! (are nahiin, aise nahiin, 'no no, not like that!')) mark this sense.

Sample Sentences:

अरे, कोई बात नहीं! Oh come on, it's nothing!

(are, koii baat nahiin!)

अरे, इतना भी मत सोचो यार। Come on, don't overthink it, man.

(are, itnaa bhii mat socho yaar।)

अरे, फिर वही बहाना मत बनाओ। Oh stop it, don't give the same excuse again.

(are, phir vahii bahaanaa mat banaao।)

अरे, ये कोई इतनी बड़ी बात थोड़े ही है। Come on, it's not that big a deal.

(are, ye koii itnii badii baat thode hii hai।)

अरे, तुम भी न, हर बात को दिल पर ले लेते हो। Oh, honestly, you take everything to heart.

(are, tum bhii n, har baat ko dil par le lete ho।)

अरे, अगर मैं होता तो इतना परेशान नहीं होता। Oh come on, if I were you I wouldn't be so worried.

(are, agar main hotaa to itnaa pareshaan nahiin hotaa।)

अरे, माफी मत मांगो, कोई गुनाह नहीं किया तुमने। Oh stop apologizing, you haven't committed a crime.

(are, maaphii mat maango, koii gunaah nahiin kiyaa tumne।)

अरे साहब, ये तो रोज़ की बात है, इतना बुरा मत मानिए। Oh come now, sir, this happens every day, don't take it so badly.

(are saahab, ye to roz kii baat hai, itnaa buraa mat maanie।)

अरे, छोड़ो भी ये सब पुरानी बातें। Oh, forget all this old stuff already.

(are, chhodo bhii ye sab puraanii baaten।)