नखरा (nakhraa)
noun
Mostly used in its plural form नखरे (nakhre) meaning fussy demands, affectation, or attitude; also has a more specific sense of coquettish/flirtatious airs.
Sense
1
:
fussiness, attitude, demanding behavior
noun, masculine Almost always heard in the plural नखरे (nakhre) with verbs like करना (karnaa) or दिखाना (dikhaanaa) -- 'नखरे करना' (nakhre karnaa, 'to make a fuss/be fussy').
Synonyms: बहाना (bahaanaa, excuse-making, meaning overlaps but not identical), नाटक (naatak, drama, colloquial), तेवर (tevar, attitude/temper)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is a classic word you'll hear from mothers, shopkeepers, and friends alike -- 'इतने नखरे मत करो' (itne nakhre mat karo, 'don't be so fussy') is a common scolding line when someone is being difficult about food, clothes, or plans. It carries a light, often affectionate or teasing edge rather than harsh criticism, especially between family members.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use the singular नखरा (nakhraa) where native speakers would default to the plural नखरे (nakhre), even when talking about a general trait rather than one specific incident. 2) This word is used with करना (karnaa) as a compound expression ('नखरे करना'), not as a direct object of a generic verb like 'होना' (honaa) -- learners sometimes try to say 'उसका नखरा है' when 'वह नखरे करता है' (vah nakhre kartaa hai, 'he is fussy/throws tantrums') is far more natural.
Sample Sentences:
इतने नखरे मत करो, खाना खा लो।
Don't be so fussy, just eat your food.
(itne nakhre mat karo, khaanaa khaa lo।)
वो हर छोटी बात पर नखरा करता है।
He makes a fuss over every little thing.
(vo har chhotii baat par nakhraa kartaa hai।)
मेरी बेटी कपड़ों को लेकर बहुत नखरे करती थी।
My daughter used to make a lot of fuss about clothes.
(merii betii kapdon ko lekar bahut nakhre kartii thii।)
दुकानदार ने कहा, इतना नखरा मत दिखाओ, माल अच्छा है।
The shopkeeper said, don't act so fussy, the goods are good.
(dukaandaar ne kahaa, itnaa nakhraa mat dikhaao, maal achchhaa hai।)
अगर तुम इतना नखरा करोगे तो कोई तुम्हारे साथ काम नहीं करेगा।
If you keep up so much attitude, no one will work with you.
(agar tum itnaa nakhraa karoge to koii tumhaare saath kaam nahiin karegaa।)
काश वो अपना नखरा थोड़ा कम करता।
I wish he would tone down his fussiness a little.
(kaash vo apnaa nakhraa thodaa kam kartaa।)
अगर वो थोड़ा नखरा कम करता, तो सब उससे खुश रहते।
If he had toned down his attitude a bit, everyone would have been happy with him.
(agar vo thodaa nakhraa kam kartaa, to sab usse khush rahte।)
बच्चे का नखरा देखकर मम्मी परेशान हो गई।
Seeing the child's tantrum-like fussiness, mom got exasperated.
(bachche kaa nakhraa dekhkar mammii pareshaan ho gaii।)
उसका नखरा तो पूरे दफ्तर में मशहूर है।
Her fussy attitude is famous throughout the whole office.
(uskaa nakhraa to poore daphtar men mashahoor hai।)
उम्मीद है कि वो होटल में इतना नखरा न करे।
I hope he doesn't make such a fuss at the hotel.
(ummiid hai ki vo hotal men itnaa nakhraa n kare।)
क्लाइंट के इतने नखरे झेलने पड़ते हैं कि पूछो मत।
You have to put up with so much attitude from the client, don't even ask.
(klaaint ke itne nakhre jhelne padte hain ki poochho mat।)
Sense
2
:
coquettish airs, flirtatious mannerisms
noun, masculine
Synonyms: अदा (adaa, graceful/coquettish charm), चोंचला (chonchlaa, affected airs, less common)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear this sense in the context of classical dance, courtesan culture in old Bollywood films, or someone being playfully dramatic in a romantic sense -- 'नखरे दिखाना' (nakhre dikhaanaa) here suggests coy, theatrical charm rather than annoyance.
Common Mistakes: 1) This sense overlaps with the 'fussiness' sense in form (both usually plural, both with करना (karnaa) or दिखाना (dikhaanaa)), so context -- often romantic or performative -- is what signals this meaning rather than any grammatical marker.
Sample Sentences:
मुजरे में तवायफ़ ने ऐसे नखरे दिखाए कि सब मंत्रमुग्ध हो गए।
In the mujra, the courtesan displayed such coy, flirtatious airs that everyone was spellbound.
(mujre men tavaayaf ne aise nakhre dikhaae ki sab mantrmugdh ho gae।)
नायिका परदे पर नखरे दिखाते हुए गाना गा रही थी।
The heroine was singing on screen while showing off her coquettish charm.
(naayikaa parde par nakhre dikhaate hue gaanaa gaa rahii thii।)
वह अपनी आँखों से नखरा करती है और सबका दिल जीत लेती है।
She flirts with her eyes and wins everyone's heart.
(vah apnii aankhon se nakhraa kartii hai aur sabkaa dil jiit letii hai।)
थोड़ा नखरा तो दिखा, वरना मज़ा नहीं आएगा।
Show a little coy charm, otherwise it won't be fun.
(thodaa nakhraa to dikhaa, varnaa mazaa nahiin aaegaa।)
काश वह इतना नखरा न दिखाती, तो बात कब की बन जाती।
If only she hadn't put on so much coy charm, things would have worked out long ago.
(kaash vah itnaa nakhraa n dikhaatii, to baat kab kii ban jaatii।)
फ़िल्म के गाने में हीरोइन का नखरा देखते ही बनता था।
The heroine's coy charm in the film song was a sight to behold.
(film ke gaane men hiiroin kaa nakhraa dekhte hii bantaa thaa।)
अगर वह थोड़ा नखरा दिखाए, तो प्रेम कहानी और दिलचस्प हो जाए।
If she were to show a bit of coy charm, the love story would become more interesting.
(agar vah thodaa nakhraa dikhaae, to prem kahaanii aur dilchasp ho jaae।)
कथक की उस मुद्रा में नखरे और भाव का अद्भुत संगम था।
In that Kathak pose, there was a wonderful blend of coquettish charm and expression.
(kathak kii us mudraa men nakhre aur bhaav kaa adbhut sangam thaa।)
पुरानी हिंदी फ़िल्मों में नायिका के नखरों को बड़े प्यार से फ़िल्माया जाता था।
In old Hindi films, the heroine's coy airs used to be filmed with great affection.
(puraanii hindii filmon men naayikaa ke nakhron ko bade pyaar se filmaayaa jaataa thaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
नखरा
(nakhraa)
(sg.m.oblique):
नखरे
(nakhre)
(pl.m.direct):
नखरे
(nakhre)
(pl.m.oblique):
नखरों
(nakhron)