दफ़ा (dafaa)
noun
Two main uses: as a noun meaning 'time/occasion' (as in counting how many times something happens) and as a noun meaning a legal 'section/clause' (as in a section of a law or the penal code).
Sense
1
:
occasion, instance, time (as in 'once', 'twice')
noun, feminine Used with numerals or quantifiers, e.g. एक दफ़ा (ek dafaa, 'once'), कई दफ़ा (kaii dafaa, 'several times').
Synonyms: बार (baar), मर्तबा (martbaa)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this constantly in everyday Delhi speech: फिर एक दफ़ा (phir ek dafaa, 'once more') or इस दफ़ा (is dafaa, 'this time') pop up in casual conversation just as often as their बार (baar) equivalents. It has a slightly more colloquial, conversational flavor than बार (baar).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often default to बार (baar) for 'time/occasion' and forget दफ़ा (dafaa) is a fully natural, common alternative in speech, not a rare or bookish synonym. 2) दफ़ा (dafaa) is feminine, so watch agreement: एक दफ़ा (ek dafaa) not एक दफ़ा वाला (ek dafaa vaalaa).
Sample Sentences:
इस दफ़ा मैं तुम्हारी बात नहीं मानूँगा।
This time I won't listen to you.
(is dafaa main tumhaarii baat nahiin maanoongaa।)
पिछली दफ़ा तुम बहुत देर से आए थे।
Last time you came very late.
(pichhlii dafaa tum bahut der se aae the।)
फिर एक दफ़ा कोशिश कर लो, हो जाएगा।
Try once more, it'll work out.
(phir ek dafaa koshish kar lo, ho jaaegaa।)
मैं रोज़ इस रास्ते से कई दफ़ा गुज़रता हूँ।
I pass this way several times every day.
(main roz is raaste se kaii dafaa guzartaa hoon।)
अगर एक दफ़ा और गलती हुई, तो मुश्किल हो जाएगी।
If there's one more mistake, it'll become a problem.
(agar ek dafaa aur galtii huii, to mushkil ho jaaegii।)
काश एक दफ़ा और मौका मिल जाता।
I wish I had gotten one more chance.
(kaash ek dafaa aur maukaa mil jaataa।)
यह किताब मैंने तीन दफ़ा पढ़ी है।
I have read this book three times.
(yah kitaab mainne tiin dafaa padhii hai।)
क्या तुमने कभी एक दफ़ा भी उससे माफ़ी माँगी?
Did you ever, even once, apologize to him?
(kyaa tumne kabhii ek dafaa bhii usse maafii maangii?)
हर दफ़ा जब वह आती है, कुछ न कुछ नया लाती है।
Every time she comes, she brings something new.
(har dafaa jab vah aatii hai, kuchh n kuchh nayaa laatii hai।)
उस दफ़ा जो हुआ, वह भुलाया नहीं जा सकता।
What happened that time can't be forgotten.
(us dafaa jo huaa, vah bhulaayaa nahiin jaa saktaa।)
एक दफ़ा हिम्मत करके देखो, सब ठीक हो जाएगा।
Just try being brave once, everything will be fine.
(ek dafaa himmat karke dekho, sab thiik ho jaaegaa।)
Sense
2
:
section or clause of a law
noun, feminine Common in legal and news contexts: दफ़ा 302 (dafaa 302, 'Section 302') referring to a section of the penal code.
Synonyms: धारा (dhaaraa)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This sense comes from Persian/Urdu legal terminology and is deeply embedded in Indian police and courtroom culture -- you'll hear it in news reports and crime dramas, as in दफ़ा 420 (dafaa 420) which has become slang for a fraudster (from the cheating section of the old penal code).
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse this with धारा (dhaaraa), which is actually the more standard/official term for legal sections in modern usage; दफ़ा (dafaa) is the older, still-common colloquial and journalistic equivalent, especially in police and crime contexts.
Sample Sentences:
पुलिस ने उस पर दफ़ा 420 लगा दी।
The police charged him under section 420.
(pulis ne us par dafaa 420 lagaa dii।)
वह असली दफ़ा 420 का आदमी है, किसी पर भरोसा मत करो।
He's a real fraudster, don't trust him at all.
(vah aslii dafaa 420 kaa aadmii hai, kisii par bharosaa mat karo।)
वकील ने बताया कि इस मामले में कौन सी दफ़ा लगेगी।
The lawyer explained which section would apply in this case.
(vakiil ne bataayaa ki is maamle men kaun sii dafaa lagegii।)
अगर सबूत मिलते तो उस पर और भी दफ़ाएँ लगतीं।
If evidence had been found, more sections would have been applied against him.
(agar saboot milte to us par aur bhii dafaaen lagtiin।)
जज साहब, कृपया बताएं कि यह अपराध किस दफ़ा के अंतर्गत आता है।
Your honor, please tell us under which section this crime falls.
(jaj saahab, kripyaa bataaen ki yah apraadh kis dafaa ke antargat aataa hai।)
हो सकता है कि उस पर दफ़ा 302 भी लगाई जाए।
It's possible that section 302 might also be applied against him.
(ho saktaa hai ki us par dafaa 302 bhii lagaaii jaae।)
इस दफ़ा के तहत तीन साल तक की सज़ा हो सकती है।
Under this section, a sentence of up to three years can be given.
(is dafaa ke tahat tiin saal tak kii sazaa ho saktii hai।)
एफ़आईआर में कई दफ़ाएँ जोड़ी गई थीं।
Several sections had been added to the FIR.
(efaaiiaar men kaii dafaaen jodii gaii thiin।)
टीवी पर खबर आ रही थी कि उस नेता पर भ्रष्टाचार की दफ़ा लगाई जा रही है।
The news on TV was reporting that a corruption section was being applied against that leader.
(tiivii par khabar aa rahii thii ki us netaa par bhrashtaachaar kii dafaa lagaaii jaa rahii hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
दफ़ा
(dafaa)
(sg.f.oblique):
दफ़ा
(dafaa)
(pl.f.direct):
दफ़ाएँ
(dafaaen)
(pl.f.oblique):
दफ़ाओं
(dafaaon)