ख़ैर (khair)
particle/noun
An Arabic-origin loanword used mainly as a discourse particle meaning 'anyway/well' to move a conversation along, with a related noun sense meaning 'welfare, well-being' seen mostly in fixed expressions.
Sense
1
:
anyway, well (discourse filler to change or close a topic)
particle Typically placed at the start of a sentence or clause to signal that the speaker is moving past a point, wrapping up a digression, or softening a shift in topic.
Synonyms: अच्छा (achchhaa), चलो (chalo, moves the topic forward rather than closing it), वैसे (vaise)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear this constantly in Delhi chai-shop conversation when someone wants to gracefully drop a sensitive or tiring subject: ख़ैर, छोड़ो (khair, chhodo, 'anyway, forget it') is a classic move to end an argument without conceding it. It carries a slight air of resignation or philosophical shrug, as if to say 'whatever the case may be.'
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often skip this word entirely since it has no fixed one-word English equivalent, but leaving it out makes speech sound abrupt when changing topics. 2) It is not used to mean 'well' in the sense of physical health here (that is the noun sense below); this is purely a conversational connector. 3) It's often paired with तो (to) as ख़ैर तो (khair to) or followed by a comma-pause in speech, functioning much like English 'anyway,' or 'well then,' at the start of a sentence.
Sample Sentences:
ख़ैर, छोड़ो, इस बात पर बहस करने का कोई फ़ायदा नहीं।
Anyway, forget it, there's no point arguing about this.
(khair, chhodo, is baat par bahas karne kaa koii faaydaa nahiin।)
Listen: M85
ख़ैर, अब जो हो गया सो हो गया।
Anyway, what's done is done now.
(khair, ab jo ho gayaa so ho gayaa।)
Listen: F85
ख़ैर, तुम्हें जो अच्छा लगे वही करो।
Anyway, do whatever seems right to you.
(khair, tumhen jo achchhaa lage vahii karo।)
Listen: M85
वो नहीं आया, ख़ैर, हम बिना उसके शुरू कर देते हैं।
He didn't come, well, let's just start without him.
(vo nahiin aayaa, khair, ham binaa uske shuroo kar dete hain।)
Listen: M85
ख़ैर, यह मुद्दा फिर कभी उठा लेंगे।
Anyway, we'll bring up this issue some other time.
(khair, yah muddaa phir kabhii uthaa lenge।)
Listen: M85
अगर उस वक़्त पैसे होते तो शायद फ़ैसला अलग होता, ख़ैर, अब सोचने से क्या फ़ायदा।
If there had been money at that time, maybe the decision would have been different, anyway, what's the use of thinking about it now.
(agar us vaqt paise hote to shaayad faislaa alag hotaa, khair, ab sochne se kyaa faaydaa।)
Listen: M85
ख़ैर जी, आपकी जो भी राय हो, हमें कोई एतराज़ नहीं।
Well then, whatever your opinion may be, we have no objection.
(khair jii, aapkii jo bhii raay ho, hamen koii etraaz nahiin।)
Listen: M85
साहब बहुत नाराज़ थे, पर ख़ैर, बात रफ़ा-दफ़ा हो गई।
Sir was very angry, but anyway, the matter got settled.
(saahab bahut naaraaz the, par khair, baat rafaa-dafaa ho gaii।)
Listen: M85
ख़ैर, इतनी छोटी बात के लिए इतना परेशान होने की ज़रूरत नहीं थी।
Anyway, there was no need to get so worried over such a small thing.
(khair, itnii chhotii baat ke lie itnaa pareshaan hone kii zaroorat nahiin thii।)
Listen: M85
ख़ैर, चाय ठंडी हो रही है, बात बाद में करते हैं।
Anyway, the tea is getting cold, let's talk about it later.
(khair, chaay thandii ho rahii hai, baat baad men karte hain।)
Listen: F85
उसने माफ़ी नहीं मांगी, ख़ैर, कोई बात नहीं, ज़िंदगी चलती रहती है।
He didn't apologize, oh well, never mind, life goes on.
(usne maafii nahiin maangii, khair, koii baat nahiin, zindgii chaltii rahtii hai।)
Listen: F85
Sense
2
:
welfare, well-being, good (as in someone's safety or benefit)
noun, feminine Mostly encountered in the set phrase ख़ैर मनाना (khair manaanaa, 'to be thankful that things turned out okay') and in ख़ैरियत (khairiyat, a related derived noun meaning 'well-being/news of welfare'), rather than used freely as a standalone noun in everyday speech.
Synonyms: भलाई (bhalaaii), कल्याण (kalyaan, formal)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: The phrase अपनी ख़ैर मनाओ (apnii khair manaao, 'be grateful you got off easy') is a common half-joking warning, said with a smile after someone narrowly avoids trouble, like a scolding parent letting a child off the hook.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse this with ख़ैरियत (khairiyat) -- ख़ैर (khair) itself is rarely used alone to ask 'how are you'; that job belongs to ख़ैरियत (khairiyat) or सब ठीक है? (sab thiik hai, 'is everything fine?').
Sample Sentences:
भगवान सबकी ख़ैर करे।
May God look after everyone's welfare.
(bhagvaan sabkii khair kare।)
Listen: F85
अपनी ख़ैर मनाओ कि टीचर ने तुम्हें डाँटा नहीं।
Be grateful you got off easy that the teacher didn't scold you.
(apnii khair manaao ki tiichar ne tumhen daantaa nahiin।)
Listen: F85
माँ हमेशा हमारी ख़ैर की दुआ करती है।
Mother always prays for our welfare.
(maan hameshaa hamaarii khair kii duaa kartii hai।)
Listen: M85
उसने अपने भाई की ख़ैर की ख़बर सुनकर राहत की साँस ली।
Hearing news of his brother's well-being, he breathed a sigh of relief.
(usne apne bhaaii kii khair kii khabar sunkar raahat kii saans lii।)
Listen: M85
अगर उस दिन पुलिस आ जाती, तो अपनी ख़ैर मनाना ही अच्छा होता।
If the police had come that day, it would have been better to just be grateful you got off easy.
(agar us din pulis aa jaatii, to apnii khair manaanaa hii achchhaa hotaa।)
Listen: M85
यात्रा से पहले उन्होंने अपने परिवार की ख़ैर के लिए मंदिर में दिया जलाया।
Before the journey, they lit a lamp at the temple for their family's welfare.
(yaatraa se pahle unhonne apne parivaar kii khair ke lie mandir men diyaa jalaayaa।)
Listen: F85
बेटा, सँभल कर चलना, अपनी ख़ैर मनाओ अगर इस बार गिरे नहीं।
Son, walk carefully -- be grateful you got off easy if you don't fall this time.
(betaa, sambhal kar chalnaa, apnii khair manaao agar is baar gire nahiin।)
Listen: F85
महामहिम ने देश की ख़ैर के लिए संदेश दिया।
His Excellency gave a message for the welfare of the nation.
(mahaamahim ne desh kii khair ke lie sandesh diyaa।)
Listen: M85
क्या तुम्हें अपने दोस्तों की ख़ैर की कोई ख़बर मिली?
Did you get any news of your friends' well-being?
(kyaa tumhen apne doston kii khair kii koii khabar milii?)
Listen: M85
सबकी ख़ैर हो, यही मेरी दुआ है।
May everyone's welfare be ensured -- this is my prayer.
(sabkii khair ho, yahii merii duaa hai।)
Listen: F85
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
ख़ैर
(khair)
(sg.f.oblique):
ख़ैर
(khair)
(pl.f.direct):
ख़ैरें
(khairen)
(pl.f.oblique):
ख़ैरों
(khairon)