Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| हाथी | hāthī | /ɦɑː.t̪ʰiː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| हस्ती | hastī | /ɦəs.t̪iː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| गज | gaj | /ɡəd͡ʒ/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| पील | pīl | masculine |
All provided forms of the word refer to the large mammal known as an elephant. While they share the same meaning, they vary significantly in their stylistic application.
Which one should you use?
हाथी is the most common, everyday word for elephant used in standard conversation. गज is a formal or literary term often found in religious contexts or Sanskrit-derived poetry. हस्ती is a poetic or literary term that can also metaphorically refer to one's 'existence' or 'stature' depending on the context. पील is also a term for elephant.
How does it change in a sentence?
The masculine noun हाथी remains unchanged in its form when used as a plural noun in many contexts, though it may take oblique case markers.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as hāthī (/ɦɑː.t̪ʰiː/). It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- The word हस्ती is a rare double loanword, meaning it was borrowed into Hindi from both Classical Persian and Sanskrit independently.
- The Sanskrit root for हाथी and हस्ती is हस्त, meaning 'hand', because the elephant's trunk is viewed as a hand.
- The word गज is often used in the names of traditional Indian measurements, such as the 'gaj' used for measuring cloth.
Examples in context
- घोडे पर हौदा, हाथी पर ज़ीन।There is a howdah on the horse and a saddle on the elephant.This sentence illustrates the placement of a howdah on an elephant using हाथी.Tatoeba #2583025 by sabretou, translation #2563144 by sabretou
- हाथी एक बहुत बड़ा जानवर होता है।An elephant is a very large animal.This sentence describes an elephant as a very large animal using हाथी.Tatoeba #486254 by minshirui, translation #268257 by CK
- मारें तो हाथी और लूटें तो भंडार।If you must kill, kill an elephant and if you must rob, rob a treasury.This sentence uses a proverb involving an elephant using हाथी.Tatoeba #2583014 by sabretou, translation #2570325 by sabretou
- कृपया हाथी की जाति का विवरण बताएं।Please provide a description of the elephant species.
- हाथी एक बड़े आकार का जानवर है।An elephant is a large-sized animal.
- ऊँटों को हाथियों से बचाने के लिए हम पंडित जी के पास गए।We went to Pandit Ji to protect the camels from elephants.
Example conversation
Amit and Anjali are visiting a zoo together.
- अमित Amitक्या तुमने वह हाथी देखा?Kya tumne vah hathi dekha?Did you see that elephant?
- अंजलि Anjaliहाँ, हाथी बहुत बड़ा है।Haan, hathi bahut bada hai.Yes, the elephant is very big.
- अमित Amitमुझे हाथी बहुत पसंद हैं।Mujhe hathi bahut pasand hain.I like elephants very much.
- अंजलि Anjaliवह सच में बहुत प्यारा है।Vah sach mein bahut pyaara hai.It really is very cute.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “elephant” translations and entries हाथी, हस्ती, गज, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries गज, हस्ती, हाथी, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
