Hindi Word of the Day Archives for July 2008

This month, I focused on names. Four out of every five of the words this month are actually names of either characters from movies, or of actors and actresses. Names are not usually translated in the subtitles of movies, so I had to do a lot of looking up in the dictionary this month. I apologize for any mistranslations.

My other mini-theme for the month is words that are the same or similar in Hindi and English. (Some of them are the same because they are both derived from Arabic or Persian.) And then there are a few random words rounding out the list.

shantii (calmness, quiet, peace)

shakti ( power, strength, energy)

shashii (the moon; see also chandaa, chandra)

rishi (a sage, a seer)

safarii (pertaining to a journey); safar karna (to make a journey)

geet, geeta (a song)

puujaa (worship, adoration of a deity, prayer)

priya (dear, beloved; agreeable, kind person)

preeti (love, affection)

duurdarshan (television [literally=far-sightedness, long-sightedness, foresight])

aishvaryaa, aishwarya (supremacy, dominion; superhuman quality, divine majesty; grandeur)

abhishek (anointing, usually with sacred water; investiture, consecration; religious ablutions, the ceremonial bathing of an idol)

jayaa, jaya (the victorious one: a title of several goddesses, including Parvati and Durga); also "Jaya Hind!" = "Long Live India!"

amitabh (supremely brilliant, magnificent); amit (immeasurable, incalculable)

zameen (earth, ground, soil); zamindar (landowner, landlord)

amaan (1. modest; 2. incalculable, vast)

rohan (rising)

amar (immortal; eternal)

aakash (1. space; 2. the sky, the heavens)

jangal (forest, woods; a wild, uninhabited place)

sharmiilaa, sharmila (bashful, shy; modest);

rakhee (a protective talisman)

rehkha (a line, streak, mark, sign; a line such as on the palm [figuratively=fate])

madhubaalaa, madhubala (bee attracted to honey);           maadhurii, madhuri (1. type of jasmine 2. sweetness; 3. charm); madhu-raaj (bee)

paajaamaa (loose cotton trousers)

amir (of rank or distinction; rich, wealthy)

roshan, adj. (light, bright, lighted); roshnii, noun (light; brightness; illumination)

akshay (imperishable; permanent, durable; undecaying)

anupam (incomparable; excellent, best)

sahraa (desert, wilderness)

raaj, raaja (king; prince; ruler); raanii (queen)

 

 

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Disclaimers:

I am not a native Hindi speaker. The words I list are either ones I have picked up by watching Bollywood movies or from perusing my Hindi reference books, including Teach Yourself Beginner's Hindi Script, Teach Yourself Hindi Dictionary, Teach Yourself Hindi Complete Course, Living Language Hindi Complete Course, and best of all, the enormous Oxford Hindi-English Dictionary. Despite all these reference sources, it is still totally possible that I read something wrong or misunderstood it--so keep in mind that this list is made by someone who's only been watching Hindi movies on a regular basis since November 2007 and has no previous experience with the language.