Hindi Suffixes for Size

The magic happens at the end of the word. Most Hindi nouns ending in -ā are masculine. If you change that -ā to an -ī, the object suddenly shrinks. It becomes feminine. It also becomes more 'refined' or 'small'. For example, a rassā is a thick, heavy cable used for towing ships. Change it to rassī, and now it is a simple piece of string. This is not just a vocabulary trick. It is a grammatical system. Sometimes, we add -iyā to make things even smaller or more affectionate. This is very common in rural dialects and cozy home settings. It is like adding a 'hug' to the word. Even native speakers mess this up sometimes when they get too creative, so don't worry!

1. 1There are three main ways to change the size of a noun in Hindi:
2. 2The Gender Swap: Change the masculine -ā ending to a feminine -ī.
3. 3Example: golā (large ball/cannonball) becomes golī (small pill/bullet).
4. 4The Affectionate Shrink: Add the suffix -iyā to the base of the noun. Note that the internal vowel often shortens.
5. 5Example: beṭā (son) becomes biṭiyā (dear little daughter/girl).
6. 6The Consonant Drop: Sometimes, you just add -ī to a word ending in a consonant.
7. 7Example: thāl (large platter) becomes thālī (standard dinner plate).

Use these suffixes when you want to be precise about scale. If you are at a hardware store, asking for a rassā when you need to tie a small parcel will get you a very confused look. Use the diminutive -ī or -iyā when you want to sound endearing. If you are talking to a child, you might call their small bed a khaṭiyā instead of a khāṭ. It sounds softer and warmer. In food settings, this is crucial. A parāṭhā is a standard size, but a purī is inherently smaller and more delicate. You will also use this to distinguish between tools. A hathoṛā is a heavy sledgehammer, while a hathoṛī is a small hammer for hanging pictures. Think of it like a grammar traffic light; the suffix tells you how fast or heavy the object is.

Avoid using the -iyā suffix in formal business meetings. Calling your boss's large office a koṭhiyā (tiny hut/room) might sound like an insult to his status. It sounds too 'village-style' or overly 'cute' for a corporate setting. Also, do not apply these suffixes to every noun you see. Some words have fixed sizes. You cannot turn a jahāz (ship) into a jahāzī to mean a toy boat; that word actually means a sailor! Stick to the established pairs first. If you try to shrink a word that doesn't traditionally shrink, you might accidentally create a brand new word with a totally different meaning.

The biggest mistake is forgetting the vowel shortening rule with -iyā. You cannot say buḍhiyā with a long 'u' sound; it must be buḍhiyā. Another mistake is assuming every feminine word is a small version of a masculine one. A ghaṛī (watch) is not just a small ghaṛā (water pot). They are completely different objects now! Also, watch out for 'false diminutives'. Some words end in -ī but are naturally large. Don't assume a nadī (river) is small just because it ends in -ī. It is much bigger than a nālā (drain/stream), which is masculine. It is a bit of a mental workout, but you will get the hang of it.

Do not confuse size suffixes with profession suffixes. The -ī ending can also mean 'someone who does X'. For example, tel is oil, and a telī is an oil-presser, not a 'small oil'. Similarly, don't confuse size suffixes with the possessive kī. The size suffix is part of the noun itself. It changes the noun's identity. Adjectives like choṭā (small) or baṛā (big) are the 'safe' way to describe size. However, using a suffix like ghaṇṭī (bell) instead of choṭā ghaṇṭā (small bell) makes you sound much more like a native speaker. It shows you understand the soul of the language, not just the dictionary definitions.