What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of the verb root जा (go), the continuous marker रहा (being/staying) and the auxiliary verb है (is).
Which one should you use?
The form of the phrase changes based on the gender and number of the subject. While जा रहा है is the default masculine singular form, जा रही है is used if the subject is feminine. For plural subjects or to show respect to a single person, use जा रहे हैं. Additionally, जा रहे हो is the informal plural version of going in Hindi used for addressing a group informally.
How does it change in a sentence?
The continuous marker must match the subject's gender. If the subject is feminine, the marker changes from रहा to रही. For plural subjects or to show respect to a single person, the phrase becomes जा रहे हैं.
How do you pronounce it?
ja raha hai
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often forget to change the gender of the continuous marker रहा to match the subject's gender.
Did you know?
- The root जा is a distant linguistic cousin to the Latin word 'ianitrīx', showing how deeply connected the phrase is to ancient Indo-European history.
- The continuous marker रहा literally means 'staying' or 'being', turning 'going' into a hybrid concept of 'staying in the act of moving'.
- Hindi uses the same root जा to express both the physical act of going and the figurative 'passing' of time.
Examples in context
- टॉम वहाँ जा रहा है।Tom is going there.This sentence is useful for seeing how to name a person performing the action with जा रहा है.Tatoeba #11381113 by PrasantaHembram, translation #11229757 by ddnktr
- वह स्कूल जा रहा है।He is going to school.This sentence shows how to use the phrase to describe going to a destination.Tatoeba #12625881 by PrasantaHembram, translation #12826861 by Yepthatscool
- जंग हमारे हित में जा रहा है।The war is going in our favor.This sentence demonstrates a figurative use of the phrase to describe a situation moving in a certain direction.Tatoeba #485507 by minshirui, translation #273236 by CK
- आज मैं एक मीटिंग के लिए जा रहा हूँ।Today I am going for a meeting.
- कल हम सभी पार्क जा रहे हैं।Tomorrow, we all are going to the park.
- 6 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Aditya and Pooja are talking on the phone about a friend.
- आदित्य Adityaक्या राहुल बाज़ार जा रहा है?Kya Rahul bazaar ja raha hai?Is Rahul going to the market?
- पूजा Poojaहाँ, वह बाज़ार जा रहा है।Haan, vah bazaar ja raha hai.Yes, he is going to the market.
- आदित्य Adityaठीक है, उसे मेरा नमस्ते कहना।Thik hai, use mera namaste kehna.Okay, give him my greetings.
- पूजा Poojaमैं कह दूँगी।Main keh doongi.I will tell him.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries जा, है, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
