तर

Saying but

Level 2Sounds Like tara

तर means but. It starts a contrast after a comma.

How It Works

तर is the everyday word for but. It joins two ideas that pull in different directions: मलाई चिया मन पर्छ, तर कफी मन पर्दैन (I like tea, but I do not like coffee).

Put a comma before तर. The part after it is a full clause with its own verb, or a short phrase: घर सानो छ, तर राम्रो छ (the house is small, but nice).

तर can also mean but in the sense of however. बस आयो, तर म चढिनँ means the bus came, but I did not get on.

Learners who know Hindi sometimes use लेकिन, and it is heard in speech. This course teaches तर, the safe choice.

तर is a separate word. It does not join to the word that follows.

Examples (4)

  1. मलाई चिया मन पर्छ, तर कफी मन पर्दैन।

    I like tea, but I do not like coffee.

    तर opens the contrast.

  2. बस आयो, तर म चढिनँ।

    The bus came, but I did not get on.

    The negative past चढिनँ follows तर.

  3. घर सानो छ, तर राम्रो छ।

    The house is small, but it is nice.

    The second part can be short.

  4. मलाई जानु छ, तर समय छैन।

    I have to go, but I have no time.

    The two parts are separate clauses.

Common Mistakes

  • Learners write तर joined to the next word.

    मलाई चिया मन पर्छ, तरकफी मन पर्दैन।
    मलाई चिया मन पर्छ, तर कफी मन पर्दैन।

    तर is a separate word, so leave a space after it.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

तरLevel 2Saying but

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