अदा (adaa)
noun
Two distinct words sharing a spelling: a feminine noun meaning 'grace, charming mannerism' (often plural, अदाएँ (adaaen)), and a separate use meaning 'payment/discharge (of a debt or duty)' found mainly in the fixed verb pairing अदा करना (adaa karnaa).
Sense
1
:
charming gesture, coquettish manner, style
noun, feminine
Synonyms: नाज़ (naaz, often paired as नाज़-अदा), नज़ाकत (nazaakat), अंदाज़ (andaaz, style/manner, broader sense)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is a classic word from Urdu-Hindi film and ghazal vocabulary -- think of an actress's नखरे (nakhre) and अदाएँ (adaaen) being praised together, a coy glance or a graceful hand gesture. It has a slightly old-world, romantic flavor, evoking the language of Bollywood love songs and shayari more than everyday small talk.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use this only in the singular, but it appears very frequently in the plural अदाएँ (adaaen) when describing someone's overall charm or mannerisms -- e.g. उसकी अदाएँ (uskii adaaen, 'her mannerisms/charms'). 2) This word carries a flavor of flirtatious or theatrical charm; it is not a neutral word for 'style' in general (for that, अंदाज़ (andaaz) is more common).
Sample Sentences:
उसकी हर अदा दिल को छू जाती है।
Her every gesture touches the heart.
(uskii har adaa dil ko chhoo jaatii hai।)
वह मुस्कुराते हुए अपनी अदा से सबको दीवाना बना देती है।
Smiling, she makes everyone crazy with her charm.
(vah muskuraate hue apnii adaa se sabko diivaanaa banaa detii hai।)
नायिका ने पर्दे पर ऐसी अदा दिखाई कि दर्शक झूम उठे।
The heroine showed such a charming manner on screen that the audience swooned.
(naayikaa ne parde par aisii adaa dikhaaii ki darshak jhoom uthe।)
काश मैं भी उसकी तरह अदा से बात कर पाता।
If only I too could speak with such grace, like her.
(kaash main bhii uskii tarah adaa se baat kar paataa।)
गाने में शायर ने उसकी अदाओं का खूब बखान किया है।
In the song, the poet has beautifully described her charming mannerisms.
(gaane men shaayar ne uskii adaaon kaa khoob bakhaan kiyaa hai।)
अगर वह इतनी अदा से न चलती, तो शायद कोई उसकी तरफ न देखता।
If she didn't walk with such grace, perhaps no one would look at her.
(agar vah itnii adaa se n chaltii, to shaayad koii uskii taraph n dekhtaa।)
उसके नखरे और अदाएँ दोनों ही मशहूर हैं।
Both her tantrums and her graceful mannerisms are famous.
(uske nakhre aur adaaen donon hii mashahoor hain।)
जरा अदा से मुस्कुराओ तो सही, कैमरा तैयार है।
Just smile with a bit of charm, the camera is ready.
(jaraa adaa se muskuraao to sahii, kaimraa taiyaar hai।)
उस गजल में शायर उसकी अदाओं पर मर मिटने की बात करता है।
In that ghazal, the poet speaks of being utterly enchanted by her charm.
(us gajal men shaayar uskii adaaon par mar mitne kii baat kartaa hai।)
क्या पता उसकी यह अदा असली है या बनावटी।
Who knows whether this charming manner of hers is real or put on.
(kyaa pataa uskii yah adaa aslii hai yaa banaavtii।)
Sense
2
:
payment, discharge (of debt, duty, dues)
noun, feminine Lives almost entirely inside the compound अदा करना (adaa karnaa, 'to pay/discharge/fulfill') -- used for bills, debts, taxes, and abstract duties alike, e.g. किराया अदा करना (kiraayaa adaa karnaa, 'to pay the rent') or फ़र्ज़ अदा करना (farz adaa karnaa, 'to fulfill a duty').
Synonyms: भुगतान (bhugtaan, more common for money specifically), चुकौती (chukautii, rare)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will meet this in formal or semi-formal contexts: bank notices, rent conversations, or someone solemnly saying अपना फ़र्ज़ अदा करना (apnaa farz adaa karnaa, 'to fulfill one's duty'), which carries a slightly noble, dutiful tone rather than a casual one.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat अदा (adaa) here as a standalone verb, but it functions as a noun that needs करना (karnaa) to become an action -- you cannot say अदाया (adaayaa) for 'paid'; it must be अदा किया (adaa kiyaa). 2) This sense is unrelated in feeling to the 'charm' sense, despite sharing a spelling -- context (bills, debts, duties vs. glances, gestures) makes clear which is meant.
Sample Sentences:
उसने अपना कर्ज़ अदा कर दिया।
He paid off his debt.
(usne apnaa karz adaa kar diyaa।)
किराया हर महीने की पहली तारीख़ को अदा करना होता है।
The rent has to be paid on the first of every month.
(kiraayaa har mahiine kii pahlii taariikh ko adaa karnaa hotaa hai।)
बेटे ने पिता के अंतिम संस्कार का फ़र्ज़ अदा किया।
The son fulfilled his duty of performing his father's last rites.
(bete ne pitaa ke antim sanskaar kaa farz adaa kiyaa।)
बैंक ने नोटिस भेजा है कि बकाया राशि जल्द अदा की जाए।
The bank has sent a notice that the outstanding amount should be paid soon.
(baink ne notis bhejaa hai ki bakaayaa raashi jald adaa kii jaae।)
कृपया अपनी बकाया फीस समय पर अदा करें।
Please pay your outstanding fees on time.
(kripyaa apnii bakaayaa phiis samay par adaa karen।)
अगर उसके पास पैसे होते, तो वह कर्ज़ अदा कर देता।
If he had had the money, he would have paid off the debt.
(agar uske paas paise hote, to vah karz adaa kar detaa।)
सारी देनदारियाँ अदा हो जाने के बाद ही घर बिकेगा।
The house will be sold only after all liabilities are discharged.
(saarii dendaariyaan adaa ho jaane ke baad hii ghar bikegaa।)
मैं अपना फ़र्ज़ अदा करके ही चैन से बैठूँगा।
I will rest in peace only after fulfilling my duty.
(main apnaa farz adaa karke hii chain se baithoongaa।)
क्या तुमने पिछले महीने की क़िस्त अदा कर दी है?
Have you paid last month's installment?
(kyaa tumne pichhle mahiine kii qist adaa kar dii hai?)
समय पर टैक्स अदा करना हर नागरिक का दायित्व है।
Paying taxes on time is the responsibility of every citizen.
(samay par taiks adaa karnaa har naagrik kaa daayitv hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
अदा
(adaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
अदा
(adaa)
(pl.f.direct):
अदाएँ
(adaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
अदाओं
(adaaon)