राज़ (raaz)

noun A single core sense: 'secret' -- a piece of hidden information, and by extension the state of being kept hidden.
Sense 1 : secret
noun, masculine
Synonyms: रहस्य (rahasy, slightly more formal/literary), भेद (bhed)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: राज़ (raaz) is a Persian loanword and is the everyday word for 'secret' in Hindi speech and film songs alike -- you'll hear it constantly in phrases like दिल का राज़ (dil kaa raaz, 'secret of the heart') in romantic contexts. Its near-synonym रहस्य (rahasy) leans slightly more bookish or mysterious (think 'mystery novel'), while राज़ (raaz) is what your friend actually whispers to you over chai.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often say राज़ कहना (raaz kahnaa) when native speakers overwhelmingly prefer राज़ खोलना (raaz kholnaa, 'to reveal a secret') or राज़ बताना (raaz bataanaa, 'to tell a secret') -- खोलना (kholnaa) is the natural collocation for 'divulging' a secret, on the image of 'opening' it. 2) राज़ रखना (raaz rakhnaa) means 'to keep a secret,' not 'to keep [something] as a secret item' -- learners sometimes reach for संभालना (sambhaalnaa) or बचाना (bachaanaa) instead, which sound off here.
Sample Sentences:
यह हमारे बीच का राज़ है। This is a secret between us.
(yah hamaare biich kaa raaz hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने मुझे अपने दिल का राज़ बताया। She told me the secret of her heart.
(usne mujhe apne dil kaa raaz bataayaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
प्लीज़ यह राज़ किसी को मत बताना। Please don't tell this secret to anyone.
(pliiz yah raaz kisii ko mat bataanaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मैं यह राज़ किसी से नहीं बताऊँगी। I will not tell this secret to anyone.
(main yah raaz kisii se nahiin bataaoongii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश वह मुझसे अपना राज़ छिपाता नहीं। I wish he hadn't hidden his secret from me.
(kaash vah mujhse apnaa raaz chhipaataa nahiin।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
यह राज़ आखिरकार सबके सामने खुल गया। This secret was finally revealed to everyone.
(yah raaz aakhirkaar sabke saamne khul gayaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
यह राज़ बरसों से छिपाया गया था। This secret had been hidden for years.
(yah raaz barson se chhipaayaa gayaa thaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
हो सकता है उसे अपने परिवार का कोई राज़ पता हो। It's possible she knows some secret about her family.
(ho saktaa hai use apne parivaar kaa koii raaz pataa ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
दोस्तों के बीच अक्सर छोटे-छोटे राज़ छिपे रहते हैं। Small secrets often remain hidden between friends.
(doston ke biich aksar chhote-chhote raaz chhipe rahte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उस गाने में एक अनकहा राज़ छिपा है। An unspoken secret is hidden in that song.
(us gaane men ek ankahaa raaz chhipaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
चाय पीते-पीते उसने धीरे से अपना राज़ खोल दिया। While sipping tea, she slowly revealed her secret.
(chaay piite-piite usne dhiire se apnaa raaz khol diyaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): राज़ (raaz)
(sg.m.oblique): राज़ (raaz)
(pl.m.direct): राज़ (raaz)
(pl.m.oblique): राज़ों (raazon)