If you have ever typed raise meaning in Hindi into a search bar, you’re not alone — it’s a small phrase that opens up many different translations and uses depending on context. In English, "raise" is a versatile transitive verb used in everyday speech, business, parenting, law, and even card games. In Hindi, the exact translation changes with meaning: उठाना (uṭhānā), बढ़ाना (baṛhānā), पालना (pālnā), जमा करना (jamā karnā), and more. This article walks you through the most common senses of raise, gives natural Hindi equivalents, provides example sentences with translations, and offers practical learning tips so you can use the right Hindi word naturally.
Why one English verb needs many Hindi words
English often compresses related but distinct ideas into a single verb. Hindi, with its rich verbal system and compound verbs, tends to select verbs that preserve nuances. That means "raise" in different contexts will translate differently. Consider these core senses:
- To lift something physically — उठाना (uṭhānā)
- To increase something (price, voice) — बढ़ाना (baṛhānā) / बढ़ना for intransitive increase
- To bring up a child — पालन करना / पालना (pālan karnā / pālnā)
- To gather money or resources — इकट्ठा करना (ikaṭṭhā karnā) / पैसा जुटाना (paisā juṭānā)
- To raise a question — सवाल उठाना (savāl uṭhānā)
- To promote or cause to advance — पदोन्नति देना / बढ़ावा देना (padonnati denā / baṛhāvā denā)
Detailed senses with examples
1) Physical lifting — उठाना (uṭhānā)
When you pick something up, use उठाना. This is the closest direct translation for “lift” or “raise” in a physical sense.
Example: "Please raise the box so I can see the label." — "कृपया डिब्बा उठाइए ताकि मैं लेबल देख सकूँ।" (Kṛpayā ḍibbā uṭhāie tāki main lebal dekh sakū̃.)
2) Increasing quantity or intensity — बढ़ाना (baṛhānā)
Use बढ़ाना when talking about raising prices, volume, temperature, or intensity.
Example: "The company plans to raise prices next month." — "कंपनी अगले महीने दाम बढ़ाने की योजना बना रही है।" (Kampanī agle mahīne dām baṛhāne kī yojanā banā rahī hai.)
3) Raising or bringing up children — पालन करना / पालना (pālan karnā / pālnā)
When the subject is child-rearing, “raise” becomes पालन करना or पालना — terms that carry cultural and emotional weight.
Example: "They raised three children in a small town." — "उन्होंने एक छोटे शहर में तीन बच्चों को पाला।" (Unhõne ek chhoṭe śahar mẽ tīn bacchõ ko pālā.)
4) Raising funds or resources — इकट्ठा करना / पैसा जुटाना
In finance or charity, “raise” usually translates as इकट्ठा करना or पैसा जुटाना.
Example: "We need to raise funds for the school." — "हमें स्कूल के लिए धन इकट्ठा करना होगा।" (Hamen skūl ke liye dhan ikaṭṭhā karnā hogā.)
5) Raising a question or issue — सवाल उठाना (savāl uṭhānā)
To draw attention to a concern, use सवाल उठाना or मुद्दा उठाना.
Example: "She raised an important point during the meeting." — "उसने बैठक के दौरान एक महत्वपूर्ण सवाल उठाया।" (Usne baithak ke daurān ek mahatvapūrṇ savāl uṭhāyā.)
6) Raising in professional advancement — पदोन्नति / बढ़ावा देना
When "raise" refers to promotion or giving someone a higher status, context-specific phrases like पदोन्नति देना or बढ़ावा देना are appropriate.
Example: "He was raised to manager last year." — "उसे पिछले साल मैनेजर के पद पर बढ़ावा दिया गया।" (Use pichle sāl mainejar ke pad par baṛhāvā diyā gayā.)
Common confusions: raise vs. rise
Many learners mix up raise and rise. A simple rule: raise is transitive (needs an object — you raise something); rise is intransitive (it happens by itself — it rises). Hindi often reflects this difference with verbs that are either transitive or intransitive, so pair each English usage with the right Hindi verb to avoid errors.
Examples to compare:
- "They raise the flag every morning." — "वे हर सुबह झंडा फहराते हैं।" (Ve har subah jhaṇḍā phaharāte hain.)
- "The sun rises at dawn." — "सुरज सुबह उगता है।" (Suraj subah ugta hai.)
Idioms and special uses
Some English idioms with raise need idiomatic Hindi equivalents rather than literal translations:
- "Raise an eyebrow" — "भौंह उठाना" (bhaũh uṭhānā)
- "Raise hell" — "शोर मचाना" or "बवाल खड़ा करना" (śor machānā / bawāl khaṛā karnā)
- "Raise the bar" — "मानक ऊँचा करना" (mānak ū̃chā karnā)
Pronunciation and stress
Raise is pronounced with a long vowel: /reɪz/. When teaching Hindi speakers, contrast it with rise /raɪz/ so learners can hear the vowel difference. Practice minimal pairs in short drills: raise / reɪz — lens to lift something; rise / raɪz — to go up by itself.
Practical exercises to internalize translations
- Take 10 English sentences using raise in different senses and translate them into Hindi, paying attention to context. For example: "They will raise a toast" vs. "They raised a wall."
- Swap out the Hindi verb and see how meaning changes: बदलें (badlēṃ) vs. उठाना (uṭhānā) vs. बढ़ाना (baṛhānā).
- Record yourself saying both languages. Listening back helps catch subtle register issues — formal vs. colloquial Hindi.
Common mistakes and how to fix them
Mistake: Using उठाना for abstract increases (e.g., "raise prices" — wrong if translated literally as "कीमत उठाना"). Fix: use बढ़ाना or दाम बढ़ाना.
Mistake: Confusing raise with raise up in spiritual or idiomatic contexts. Fix: learn idiomatic equivalents (e.g., "raise spirits" → "हौसला बढ़ाना").
Real-world example: a short anecdote
When I first started teaching Hindi speakers to write business emails, a student repeatedly wrote "हमने दाम उठाए" intending to say "we raised the price." Native readers found it odd. After a quick explanation that दाम बढ़ाए or दाम बढ़ाने का निर्णय लिया would be natural, the student corrected their phrase and the emails immediately read more professional. Little adjustments like choosing बढ़ाना instead of उठाना make a big difference in tone and clarity.
Resources and next steps
To continue improving, read bilingual news stories and note how translators choose verbs. Practice with short dialogues where you must pick the correct Hindi verb for raise in context. If you want a quick lookup while reading, try searching for raise meaning in Hindi to see example sentences and collocations, then practice creating your own.
Summary: match meaning to Hindi verb
“Raise” is not one-to-one with a single Hindi word. Think about what you are raising: a physical object, prices, a child, funds, or a question. Then choose the Hindi verb that fits the context: उठाना, बढ़ाना, पालना, इकट्ठा करना, सवाल उठाना, or बढ़ावा देना. With a few focused practice exercises and exposure to native usage, choosing the right word becomes intuitive.
If you want a printable quick-reference list, make a two-column table: English sense — Hindi verb — example sentence. Reviewing that table weekly for a month will cement the choices in your active vocabulary.
Good luck, and remember: context is the key to translating raise naturally into Hindi.
