Hindi · Everyday Verbs

"to wait" in Hindi: इंतज़ार करना

इंतज़ार करनाintazaar karna

Say it: in-ta-ZAAR KAR-naverb/ɪt̪əzɑːr kərnɑː/

Note: "wait!": रुको! (ruko!)

To wait in Hindi is इंतज़ार करना (intazaar karna). Keep ज़. Say मैं आपका इंतज़ार कर रहा हूँ. Ruko means wait! but needs intazaar karna in the sentence to count for this headword.

Lobby

कृपया यहाँ इंतज़ार कीजिए।

kripya yahaan intazaar kijiye.

Please wait here.
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How to pronounce इंतज़ार करना

Say it

in-ta-ZAAR KAR-na

/ɪt̪əzɑːr kərnɑː/

Intazaar karna is in-ta-ZAAR KAR-na. Keep z from ज़, long aa on zaar, then karna.

"to wait" in Hindi: quick reference

HindiEnglish
इंतज़ार करनाintazaar karnato wait (for)

Default phrase — keep ज़.

इंतज़ार कीजिएintazaar kijiyeplease wait

Polite aap.

इंतज़ार कियाintazaar kiyawaited (past)

Maine intazaar kiya.

इंतज़ार हो रहा हैintazaar ho raha haiwaiting is happening

Mera intazaar ho raha hai.

How to use इंतज़ार करना in real life

  1. 1Lobby

    कृपया यहाँ इंतज़ार कीजिए।

    kripya yahaan intazaar kijiye.

    Please wait here.

    Full phrase.

  2. 2Late train

    हमने आधे घंटे इंतज़ार किया।

    hamne aadhe ghante intazaar kiya.

    We waited half an hour.

    Past.

  3. 3Call hold

    मैं आपका इंतज़ार कर रहा हूँ।

    main aapka intazaar kar raha hoon.

    I'm waiting for you.

    Progressive.

Mistakes English speakers make with इंतज़ार करना

Incorrect: Only रुको without इंतज़ार करना

Correct: Intazaar karna / intazaar kijiye

Ruko is a short "wait!" and does not count alone for this headword.

Incorrect: Intajaar with j

Correct: Intazaar with z (ज़)

Keep the nukta z.

Good to know

इंतज़ार करना is patient Hindi for stations, clinics, and WhatsApp replies. Hosts say thoda intazaar kijiye with chai. Writing with ज़ keeps the z sound clear.

Try it in a ChatPal conversation

Waiting for a table at a busy café

  1. ChatPal

    क्या हमें बाहर इंतज़ार करना होगा?

    kya hamen baahar intazaar karna hoga?

    Will we have to wait outside?

  2. You

    हाँ, दस मिनट इंतज़ार कर लेते हैं।

    haan, das minute intazaar kar lete hain.

    Yes — let's wait ten minutes.

  3. ChatPal

    मैं वेटिंग लिस्ट का इंतज़ार करूँगा।

    main waiting list ka intazaar karoonga.

    I'll wait for the waiting list.

  4. You

    ठीक, आप नाम लिखवा दीजिए।

    theek, aap naam likhwa dijiye.

    Okay — please get the name written.

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"to wait" in other languages

FAQ

Common questions about "to wait" in Hindi

Polite wait?

Intazaar kijiye.

I'm waiting for you?

Main aapka intazaar kar raha/rahi hoon.

Does ruko count?

Only if intazaar karna is also in the sentence.

Spelling tip?

Keep ज़ in इंतज़ार.

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