धीरे-धीरे / बार-बार
Repeating Words
Repeating a word adds a meaning. What it adds depends on the kind of word.
How It Works
Hindi often says a word twice to add a meaning. The effect depends on the kind of word:
| Kind of word | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Adverb | धीरे-धीरे, जल्दी-जल्दी | gradually; quickly, in a hurry |
| Time word | बार-बार, कभी-कभी | again and again; sometimes |
| Noun | घर-घर, गाँव-गाँव | every house; every village |
| Question word | कौन-कौन, क्या-क्या, कहाँ-कहाँ | who all; what all; where all |
| Adjective | गरम-गरम, बड़े-बड़े | nice and hot; lots of big ones |
With question words, the repeat asks for a full list: पार्टी में कौन-कौन आया था? expects several names.
Repeated adjectives agree with the noun as usual: बड़े-बड़े पेड़, गरम-गरम चाय. With food, गरम-गरम sounds warm and inviting: freshly made and hot.
Repeated nouns often go with a verb of movement: घर-घर जाना (to go from house to house).
This is different from echo words such as चाय-वाय, where the second word changes its first sound, and from एक-एक, where a repeated number means each. Verbs can also repeat in the -ते form: चलते-चलते.
Examples (5)
- धीरे-धीरे मेरी हिंदी सुधर रही है।
Little by little, my Hindi is getting better.
धीरे-धीरे means gradually.
- वह बार-बार दरवाज़ा खोलता है।
He keeps opening the door.
बार-बार means again and again.
- चुनाव से पहले नेता घर-घर जाकर वोट माँगते हैं।
Before elections, politicians go from house to house asking for votes.
घर-घर means every house, one after another.
- पार्टी में कौन-कौन आया था?
Who all came to the party?
कौन-कौन asks for a list of people.
- माँ ने गरम-गरम पराठे बनाए।
Mom made piping hot parathas.
गरम-गरम stresses that the food is fresh and hot.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Repeated words extend the pattern learners have seen in कभी-कभी.
Related Patterns
- एक-एक / दो-दोOne Each, Two Each
A repeated number means each.
Level 4 - चाय-वायEcho Words
Echo words change the first sound of the second word.
Level 4 - -ते-तेWhile Continuing an Action
A repeated -ते form shows a continuing action.
Level 5 - हर / प्रत्येकEach and Every
हर says every without repeating the noun.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice धीरे-धीरे / बार-बार in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Hindi lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
