Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| बच्चा | baccā | /bət̪.t͡ʃɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| बेटा | beṭā | /beː.ʈɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| बेटी | beṭī | /beː.ʈiː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| शिशु | śiśu | /ʃɪ.ʃuː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| लड़का | laṛkā | /ləɽ.kɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| लड़की | laṛkī | /ləɽ.kiː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| छोरी | chorī | /t͡ʃʰoː.ɾiː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| बच्ची | baccī | /bət̪.t͡ʃiː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| बालक | bālak | /bɑː.lək/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| बालिका | bālikā | /bɑː.lɪ.kɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| कन्या | kanyā | /kən.jɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
The terms for child in Hindi vary significantly depending on whether you are referring to a son or daughter, the gender of the child, their age or the level of formality required.
Which one should you use?
While बच्चा is a general term for a child, several other forms are more specific. बेटा is used specifically to mean "son" or as an informal term of endearment for a boy. Similarly, while बच्ची refers to a female child, बेटी is the specific term for "daughter". To distinguish gender rather than just the concept of a child, लड़का is used for "boy" and लड़की is used for "girl".
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
In formal or literary contexts, बालक is used for a child or boy. If you are referring specifically to a baby or infant in a formal or technical sense, use शिशु.
Is it said differently in some regions?
The term छोरी is a colloquial or dialectal word for a girl or daughter used in certain parts of Northern India.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine form बच्चा becomes बच्चे when referring to "children". The feminine form बच्ची becomes बच्चियाँ when referring to "female children".
How do you pronounce it?
The word बच्चा is pronounced as /bət̪.tʃɑː/ and has two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word बच्चा did not originate in India but was borrowed from Classical Persian.
- In many Indian households, the word बेटा meaning 'son' is often used as a term of endearment for both boys and girls.
- Adults in India often address strangers or younger people as बेटा to show affection or authority, even if there is no biological relation.
Examples in context
- यह तो एक बच्चा भी जानता है।Even a child knows this.This sentence uses बच्चा to show that even a child has certain knowledge.
- क्या यह आपकी बच्ची है?Is this your child?This sentence uses बच्ची to ask if someone is your female child.Tatoeba #10051974 by sabretou, translation #5790351 by Eccles17
- तुम्हारी बेटी अब बच्ची नहीं है।Your daughter is not a child anymore.This sentence uses बेटी to state that a daughter is no longer a child.Tatoeba #506474 by minshirui, translation #16889 by CK
- वह एक बालक है।He/She is a child.
- मेरे पड़ोस में दो बालक रहते हैं।There are two children in my neighborhood.
- मैंने आज एक शिशु को देखा।I saw a baby today.
- उसके पास दो बच्चे हैं।He/She has two children.
- यह बच्चा बहुत ही स्मार्ट है।This child is very smart.
- वह छोटा बच्चा बहुत खुश हो गया।That little child became very happy.
- वह एक बालिका है।She is a child.
- दोनों बालक बहुत खुश थे।Both children were very happy.
- हमारे दोस्त के यहां बच्चे आए हैं।Children have come to our friend's place.
- 9 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Priya and Aditya are talking about a child playing in the park.
- प्रिया Priyaवह बच्चा बहुत प्यारा है।Vah baccha bahut pyara hai.That child is very cute.
- आदित्य Adityaहाँ, वह खेल रहा है।Haan, vah khel raha hai.Yes, he is playing.
- प्रिया Priyaक्या वह तुम्हारा बच्चा है?Kya vah tumhara baccha hai?Is that your child?
- आदित्य Adityaनहीं, वह मेरा भतीजा है।Nahi, vah mera bhatija hai.No, he is my nephew.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “child” translations and entries बच्चा, बेटा, बेटी, शिशु, लड़का, लड़की, छोरी, बच्ची, बालक, बालिका, कन्या, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries बच्चा, बेटा, बेटी, शिशु, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0, Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
