In 15 Seconds
- Used for restarting devices or resetting a situation.
- A blend of English 'restart' and Hindi past continuous grammar.
- Common in tech-heavy, urban, or professional Indian environments.
Meaning
This phrase is used when you are starting something over again. It is most commonly used for electronic devices, but people also use it metaphorically for their lives or routines.
Key Examples
3 of 6Explaining a late join to a Zoom call
माफ़ करना, मैं अपना लैपटॉप रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था।
Sorry, I was restarting my laptop.
Texting a friend after a phone crash
फ़ोन हैंग हो गया था, रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था।
The phone hung, I was restarting it.
Trying to fix a bad mood with a partner
चलो झगड़ा छोड़ो, मैं अपना मूड रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था।
Let's stop fighting, I was restarting my mood.
Cultural Background
In cities like Delhi, Mumbai, and Bangalore, Hinglish is the primary mode of communication. Using 'restart' is more natural than the Hindi 'punah prarambh'. India's massive IT workforce has made tech terms like 'restart', 'hang', and 'crash' part of everyday household Hindi. Modern Hindi films use this phrase to show a character is modern and educated. In rural areas, while 'restart' is understood due to mobile phone usage, people might use 'band karke chalu karna' (closing and starting).
Gender Matters
Always remember to change 'tha' to 'thi' if you are female. It's the most common mistake for beginners.
Don't over-Hindi it
In a tech context, saying 'punah prarambh' will make people look at you strangely. Stick to 'restart'.
In 15 Seconds
- Used for restarting devices or resetting a situation.
- A blend of English 'restart' and Hindi past continuous grammar.
- Common in tech-heavy, urban, or professional Indian environments.
What It Means
रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था (Restart kar raha tha) is a classic example of 'Hinglish.' It combines the English word 'restart' with Hindi grammar. It literally means 'I was restarting.' You use it when a process was interrupted. Or when you needed a fresh start. It is simple, modern, and very common.
How To Use It
The phrase is quite flexible. You can use it for your phone or laptop. You can also use it for a conversation. If you lost your train of thought, say this. It signals that you are trying again. The tha at the end makes it past continuous. It implies the action was happening just a moment ago.
When To Use It
Use it when your computer freezes during a meeting. It is a perfect excuse for a late reply. Use it when you are trying to fix a bad mood. If you and a friend are arguing, say you are 'restarting' the chat. It acts as a reset button for social tension. It is very common in office environments in India.
When NOT To Use It
Do not use this in very traditional Hindi settings. Avoid it when speaking to elders who prefer pure Hindi. In those cases, use फिर से शुरू करना (phir se shuru karna). Don't use it for things that don't 'boot up.' You wouldn't say you are 'restarting' a sandwich. It mostly applies to systems, habits, or digital tasks.
Cultural Background
India is a global tech hub. English technical terms have blended into daily speech. 'Restart' is now more common than the Hindi equivalent in cities. It reflects the fast-paced, tech-savvy nature of modern Indian life. It shows how language evolves with technology. Even people who don't speak fluent English use this word.
Common Variations
If you are a woman, you say रिस्टार्ट कर रही थी (kar rahi thi). If you are talking about the future, use रिस्टार्ट करूँगा (karunga). For a group, use कर रहे थे (kar rahe the). Sometimes people just say 'Restart kiya' for 'I restarted.' The 'kar raha tha' version sounds more like an ongoing explanation.
Usage Notes
This phrase sits in the 'Neutral' to 'Informal' zone. It is the go-to expression for anyone using a computer or smartphone in India. Ensure you match the auxiliary verb to your gender.
Gender Matters
Always remember to change 'tha' to 'thi' if you are female. It's the most common mistake for beginners.
Don't over-Hindi it
In a tech context, saying 'punah prarambh' will make people look at you strangely. Stick to 'restart'.
The 'Maarna' trick
Use 'restart maar raha tha' to sound like a local tech expert or a cool gamer.
The Excuse
This is a very polite way to explain why you didn't answer a call immediately.
Examples
6माफ़ करना, मैं अपना लैपटॉप रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था।
Sorry, I was restarting my laptop.
A very common professional excuse.
फ़ोन हैंग हो गया था, रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था।
The phone hung, I was restarting it.
Casual explanation for a communication gap.
चलो झगड़ा छोड़ो, मैं अपना मूड रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था।
Let's stop fighting, I was restarting my mood.
Metaphorical use to ease tension.
राउटर काम नहीं कर रहा था, मैं उसे रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था।
The router wasn't working, I was restarting it.
Describing a troubleshooting action.
अरे, मैं बस अपना दिमाग रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था!
Hey, I was just restarting my brain!
Self-deprecating humor when confused.
पिछली बार गलती हुई, इसलिए मैं सब रिस्टार्ट कर रहा था।
A mistake happened last time, so I was restarting everything.
Shows determination to fix a process.
Test Yourself
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'raha tha' or 'rahi thi'.
मैं अपना लैपटॉप रिस्टार्ट कर ______ (Male speaker).
Since the speaker is male, 'raha tha' is the correct masculine singular form.
Which sentence correctly means 'She was restarting the phone'?
Select the correct sentence:
'Rahi thi' is the feminine singular form for 'she'.
Complete the dialogue.
A: तुमने मेरा मैसेज क्यों नहीं देखा? B: सॉरी, मैं अपना फोन ______।
The past continuous 'was restarting' explains why the message was missed.
Match the situation to the phrase.
Your computer froze while working.
Restarting is the logical action for a frozen computer.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesमैं अपना लैपटॉप रिस्टार्ट कर ______ (Male speaker).
Since the speaker is male, 'raha tha' is the correct masculine singular form.
Select the correct sentence:
'Rahi thi' is the feminine singular form for 'she'.
A: तुमने मेरा मैसेज क्यों नहीं देखा? B: सॉरी, मैं अपना फोन ______।
The past continuous 'was restarting' explains why the message was missed.
Your computer froze while working.
Restarting is the logical action for a frozen computer.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsYes, if the engine stalled, you can say 'Main car restart kar raha tha'.
In Hindi, English loanwords ending in a consonant are usually treated as masculine. So, it's 'restart kiya' (masculine).
In Hindi conversation, they are used interchangeably, but 'restart' is much more common.
You would say 'Mujhe restart karna hai'.
Yes, if you are playing a movie and want to start it over, you can say 'Movie restart kar raha tha'.
Yes, if you are explaining a technical task you performed, it is perfectly acceptable.
Use the plural form: 'Hum restart kar rahe the'.
Then you say 'Computer restart ho raha tha' (using 'ho' instead of 'kar').
In texting, people just write 'Restart kar raha tha' or even 'Restarting...'.
Not at all. It is the standard term in modern India for all tech-related restarts.
Related Phrases
अपडेट कर रहा था
similarWas updating
फॉर्मेट कर रहा था
similarWas formatting
शुरू से शुरू करना
synonymTo start from the beginning
बंद हो गया
contrastIt stopped/closed
हैंग हो गया
builds onIt hung/froze
