Hindi Abstract Nouns:
Mastering suffixes like -tā, -pan, and -ī unlocks the ability to discuss complex ideas and feelings in Hindi.
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Abstract nouns turn qualities into concepts.
- Suffixes determine the noun's gender.
- -tā and -ī are usually Feminine.
- -pan and -tv are usually Masculine.
Quick Reference
| Suffix | Gender | Base Word (Meaning) | Abstract Noun (Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| -tā | Feminine | safal (successful) | safaltā (success) |
| -pan | Masculine | akelā (lonely) | akelāpan (loneliness) |
| -ī | Feminine | dost (friend) | dostī (friendship) |
| -āvat | Feminine | sajānā (to decorate) | sajāvat (decoration) |
| -ahat | Feminine | muskurānā (to smile) | muskurāhat (smile/smiling) |
| -tv | Masculine | mātā (mother) | mātṛtva (motherhood) |
مثالهای کلیدی
3 از 9उस की **सुंदरता** सबको भा गई।
Her **beauty** pleased everyone.
मुझे तुम्हारा **पागलपन** पसंद है।
I like your **madness**.
आजकल **महँगाई** बहुत बढ़ गई है।
Nowadays **inflation/expensiveness** has increased a lot.
The 'Kā/Kī' Trick
Always learn the abstract noun with its possessive particle. Don't just learn `sundartā` (beauty); learn `us kī sundartā`. The `kī` instantly reminds you it's feminine.
Don't Over-translate
English words ending in '-ing' (like 'writing') can be tricky. Sometimes they are verbs, sometimes nouns. In Hindi, `likhāvat` is the *style* of writing (handwriting), not the act of writing (`likhnā`).
The Rule in 30 Seconds
- Abstract nouns turn qualities into concepts.
- Suffixes determine the noun's gender.
- -tā and -ī are usually Feminine.
- -pan and -tv are usually Masculine.
Overview
Ready to level up your Hindi conversations? Abstract nouns are the secret sauce. They let you talk about ideas, feelings, and concepts—things you can't physically touch but definitely feel. Instead of just saying "The food is good," you can discuss its "goodness" (or lack thereof!). This is B2 territory, where you stop sounding like a tourist and start sounding like a philosopher (or at least a very articulate complainer).
How This Grammar Works
In Hindi, abstract nouns are often formed by adding specific suffixes to adjectives, common nouns, or verb roots. The tricky part? The gender of the resulting noun usually depends on the suffix used. It's like a secret code: know the suffix, know the gender. Most abstract nouns are intangible—you can't put bachpan (childhood) in a box, but you can definitely reminisce about it.
Formation Pattern
- 1Creating these words is like building with Lego blocks. Here are the most common patterns:
- 2-ता (-tā): Added to adjectives. Always Feminine. Example:
sundar(beautiful) →sundartā(beauty). - 3-पन (-pan): Added to nouns/adjectives. Always Masculine. Example:
bachcha(child) →bachpan(childhood). - 4-ई (-ī): Added to adjectives/nouns. Always Feminine. Example:
dost(friend) →dostī(friendship). - 5-आवट (-āvat) / -आहट (-āhat): Added to verb roots. Always Feminine. Example:
thakna(to tire) →thakāvat(tiredness). - 6-tv (-tva): Added to nouns. Always Masculine. Example:
vyakti(person) →vyaktitva(personality).
When To Use It
Use abstract nouns when you want to discuss a concept directly.
- discussing the "sweetness" of tea (
chāy kī miṭhās). - Talking about the "importance" of time (
samay kā mahatva). - Complaining about the "length" of a movie (
film kī lambāī).
When Not To Use It
Don't use them when you actually need an adjective. If you want to say "He is honest," say vah īmāndār hai. Don't say vah īmāndārī hai (He is honesty)—unless you are being incredibly poetic or sarcastic.
Common Mistakes
- Gender Guessing: Assuming all abstract nouns are feminine. Nope!
bachpan(childhood) andpāgalpan(madness) are masculine because of that tough-panending. - Wrong Suffix: Trying to add
-tāto everything. You can't saylambātā; it'slambāī(length). English has "-ness", "-tion", "-ity"—Hindi is just as picky.
Contrast With Similar Patterns
- Adjectives: Describe a noun (
khush- happy). - Abstract Nouns: *Are* the noun (
khushī- happiness). - Think of it this way: An adjective is the paint; the abstract noun is the color itself.
Quick FAQ
Q: Can I make up words using these suffixes?
You can try, but people might look at you funny. Stick to the standard ones first!
Q: How do I know if it's masculine or feminine?
Look at the tail! -tā, -ī, -āvat usually signal a lady (Feminine). -pan, -tv usually signal a gent (Masculine).
Reference Table
| Suffix | Gender | Base Word (Meaning) | Abstract Noun (Meaning) |
|---|---|---|---|
| -tā | Feminine | safal (successful) | safaltā (success) |
| -pan | Masculine | akelā (lonely) | akelāpan (loneliness) |
| -ī | Feminine | dost (friend) | dostī (friendship) |
| -āvat | Feminine | sajānā (to decorate) | sajāvat (decoration) |
| -ahat | Feminine | muskurānā (to smile) | muskurāhat (smile/smiling) |
| -tv | Masculine | mātā (mother) | mātṛtva (motherhood) |
The 'Kā/Kī' Trick
Always learn the abstract noun with its possessive particle. Don't just learn `sundartā` (beauty); learn `us kī sundartā`. The `kī` instantly reminds you it's feminine.
Don't Over-translate
English words ending in '-ing' (like 'writing') can be tricky. Sometimes they are verbs, sometimes nouns. In Hindi, `likhāvat` is the *style* of writing (handwriting), not the act of writing (`likhnā`).
Formal vs. Casual
Words ending in `-tv` (like `vyaktitva`, `mahatva`) are Sanskrit-based and sound more formal. Use them in speeches or serious discussions to sound smart!
Feelings are Feminine... mostly
A huge number of feelings ending in `-ī` or `-hat` are feminine (`khushī`, `māyūsī`, `ghabrāhat`). When talking about your heart, 'Feminine' is a safe bet to start guessing.
مثالها
9उस की **सुंदरता** सबको भा गई।
Focus: sundartā
Her **beauty** pleased everyone.
Derived from 'sundar' (beautiful). Feminine due to '-tā'.
मुझे तुम्हारा **पागलपन** पसंद है।
Focus: pāgalpan
I like your **madness**.
Derived from 'pāgal' (crazy). Masculine due to '-pan'.
आजकल **महँगाई** बहुत बढ़ गई है।
Focus: mahñgāī
Nowadays **inflation/expensiveness** has increased a lot.
A very common topic of conversation in India!
इस कमरे की **सजावट** कमाल की है।
Focus: sajāvat
The **decoration** of this room is amazing.
From verb 'sajānā'. '-āvat' indicates the state of being decorated.
उसने **इंसानियत** के नाते मदद की।
Focus: insāniyat
He helped for the sake of **humanity**.
Urdu-origin suffix '-iyat' is also common and usually Feminine.
उस की **खुशी** अच्छी है।
Focus: khushī
His/Her **happiness** is good.
Correction: 'khushī' is feminine, so use 'kī' and 'achhī'.
वह बहुत **ईमानदार** है।
Focus: īmāndār
He is very **honest**.
Correction: Don't use the noun (honesty) when you mean the adjective (honest).
राजनीति में **व्यक्तित्व** का महत्व है।
Focus: vyaktitva
In politics, **personality** has importance.
Formal/Advanced. 'Vyaktitva' (personality) is masculine.
मुझे **घबराहट** हो रही है।
Focus: ghabrāhat
I am feeling **nervousness/anxiety**.
Standard way to say 'I am nervous'. Literally: 'Nervousness is happening to me'.
خودت رو بسنج
Choose the correct form to complete the sentence.
Is mithāī men bahut ___ hai. (This sweet has a lot of ___.)
'Mīṭhā' is an adjective. 'Miṭhās' is the specific abstract noun for the quality of sweetness in food.
Select the correct possessive marker based on the noun's gender.
Bachchoñ ___ bholāpan sabko achhā lagtā hai. (Everyone likes children's innocence.)
'Bholāpan' ends in '-pan', making it Masculine singular. Therefore, we use 'kā'.
Convert the adjective 'kaṛvā' (bitter) to its abstract noun form.
Davaī kī ___ bardāsht nahīn hotī. (The bitterness of the medicine is unbearable.)
While 'kaṛvāpan' exists, 'kaṛvāhat' is more commonly used for the sensation of bitterness/acrimony.
🎉 امتیاز: /3
ابزارهای بصری یادگیری
Adjective vs. Abstract Noun
Gender Detector
Does it end in -pan?
Does it end in -tā or -ī?
Does it end in -āvat/-āhat?
Abstract Nouns in Daily Life
Emotions
- • khushī (happiness)
- • udāsī (sadness)
- • ghabrāhat (anxiety)
Qualities
- • sundartā (beauty)
- • safaltā (success)
- • īmāndārī (honesty)
States of Being
- • bachpan (childhood)
- • buṛhāpā (old age)
- • thakāvat (tiredness)
سوالات متداول
21 سوالIt's a noun that describes a quality, idea, or state rather than a physical object. For example, kitāb (book) is concrete, but paṛhāī (studies) is abstract.
Gender changes the grammar around the word. If you say merā khushī (masculine marker) instead of merī khushī (feminine marker), it sounds incorrect to a native speaker.
It is **Masculine**. Suffixes ending in -pan are almost always masculine. So you say merā bachpan (my childhood).
Most adjectives have a corresponding abstract noun, but you can't just slap -tā on everything. Some are irregular. It's best to learn them as pairs: garam (hot) → garmī (heat).
Garam is an adjective (The tea is hot). Garmī is the noun (The heat is unbearable). Use garam to describe things, garmī to talk about the temperature itself.
99% of the time, yes! dostī (friendship), dushmanī (enmity), garmī (heat). A rare exception is pānī (water), which is masculine (and concrete, not abstract).
Mahatva is masculine. You usually say is bāt kā mahatva (the importance of this matter). It's a formal, heavy word.
This comes from the verb paṛhnā (to read/study). The -āī suffix makes it a feminine abstract noun. Merī paṛhāī chal rahī hai (My studies are going on).
Yes! And interestingly, pyār is **Masculine**. Mā kā pyār (Mother's love). Even though it's a feeling, it doesn't follow the feminine trend.
Īmāndārī. It comes from the adjective īmāndār (honest) + -ī.
It means 'smile' or the act of smiling. The suffix -āhat indicates a light sound or feeling. It is **Feminine**.
Usually, no. Concepts like 'honesty' or 'childhood' are uncountable. You wouldn't typically say 'childhoods' in Hindi or English.
Lālī (redness). It can refer to the redness of the sky at sunset or a blush.
Yes, it describes a feeling. Dard is **Masculine**. Mere sar men dard hai (There is pain in my head).
In spoken Hinglish, yes! People often say confusion ho rahā hai (confusion is happening). But standard Hindi uses uljhan.
It's similar to -pan. For example, būṛhā (old man) → buṛhāpā (old age). It is **Masculine**.
Connect it to the verb thakna (to tire). The -āvat ending makes it a feminine noun describing the state.
Yes, it represents the concept of life. It ends in -ī and is **Feminine**.
Sach is truth, but sachchāī is 'truthfulness' or the quality of being true. Both are used, but sachchāī is the derived abstract noun.
Mitr is the person (friend). Mitratā is the relationship (friendship). One you can hug, the other you feel!
Sometimes. Bāt is 'matter/talk' (abstract), but bātein can mean 'stories' or 'gossip'.
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