Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to stay" in Hindi: रुकना

रुकनाrukna

Say it: RUK-naaverb/rʊknɑː/

Note: also: ठहरना (thaharna)

To stay is रुकना (rukna). Say मैं यहाँ रुकता हूँ or थोड़ा रुकिए — keep रुक, not ठहरना, as the taught verb.

Hotel desk

मैं तीन रात यहाँ रुकता हूँ।

main teen raat yahaan rukta hoon.

I'm staying here three nights.
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How to pronounce रुकना

Say it

RUK-naa

/rʊknɑː/

RUK-naa. Soft dental न; short u in रुक like put.

"to stay" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
रुकनाruknato stay / to stop

Dictionary frame.

रुकता हूँrukta hoonI stay (m)

Present.

रुकिएrukiyeplease stay / wait

Polite aap request.

रुकाrukastayed (m)

Past.

यहाँ रुकूँगाyahaan rukoongaI'll stay here

Future plan.

How to use रुकना in real life

  1. 1Hotel desk

    मैं तीन रात यहाँ रुकता हूँ।

    main teen raat yahaan rukta hoon.

    I'm staying here three nights.

    Lodging.

  2. 2Friend at the door

    थोड़ा रुकिए, चाय पी लीजिए।

    thoda rukiye, chaay pee leejiye.

    Stay a bit — have tea.

    Hospitality.

  3. 3After rain

    बारिश में दुकान में रुका।

    baarish mein dukaan mein ruka.

    I stayed in the shop during the rain.

    Past.

Mistakes English speakers make with रुकना

Incorrect: Teaching only ठहरना on this page

Correct: रुकना / रुकता हूँ

ठहरना is a note; this page teaches रुकना.

Incorrect: Using रोकिए (stop the vehicle) as the stay verb

Correct: यहाँ रुकता हूँ

रोकिए is stop-here; रुकना is stay/wait.

Good to know

Hosts say थोड़ा रुकिए with chai even when you try to leave. Hotels ask कितने दिन रुकेंगे. ठहरना appears in formal speech; everyday talk prefers रुकना.

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Booking a guesthouse

  1. ChatPal

    आप कितने दिन रुकेंगे?

    aap kitne din rukenge?

    How many days will you stay?

  2. You

    मैं दो रात यहाँ रुकता हूँ।

    main do raat yahaan rukta hoon.

    I'm staying here two nights.

  3. ChatPal

    ठीक है कमरा तैयार है।

    theek hai — kamra taiyaar hai.

    Fine — the room is ready.

  4. You

    शुक्रिया, कल तक रुकूँगा।

    shukriya, kal tak rukoonga.

    Thanks — I'll stay till tomorrow.

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"to stay" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to stay" in Hindi

How do you say to stay?

रुकना — e.g. मैं रुकता हूँ.

Polite stay a bit?

थोड़ा रुकिए.

Does ठहरना count here?

No — it is only a note; teach रुकना.

Is रोकिए the same?

No — रोकिए means stop (a vehicle); रुकना is stay.

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