Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| चाँदनी | cā̃dnī | /t͡ʃɑːnd̪.niː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| चंद्रिका | candrikā | /t͡ʃən.d̪ɾɪ.kɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| चन्द्रिका | candrikā | /t͡ʃən.d̪ɾɪ.kɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine, alternative form |
| ज्योत्स्ना | jyotsnā | /d͡ʒjoːt̪.snɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| कौमुदी | kaumudī | /kɔː.mʊ.d̪iː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| चंद्रप्रभा | candraprabhā | /t͡ʃən.d̪ɾəp.ɾə.bʱɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| शशिप्रभा | śaśiprabhā | /ʃə.ʃɪp.ɾə.bʱɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| महताब | mahtāb | /məɦ.t̪ɑːb/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
चाँदनी is the standard word for the light of the moon in ordinary speech, for example when talking about a bright moonlit night.
What does it mean word for word?
चाँदनी is made of चाँद (cā̃d), meaning moon and the suffix -nī, which here creates a feminine noun meaning the light of. So it is literally the light of the moon.
Which one should you use?
चंद्रिका (candrikā), also spelled चन्द्रिका and ज्योत्स्ना (jyotsnā) are much more poetic and are usually reserved for literature or songs. कौमुदी, चंद्रप्रभा and शशिप्रभा are also literary. महताब (mahtāb) is a Persian-derived term used in Urdu-influenced Hindi poetry and formal literature for the moon or its light.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
महताब belongs to formal and poetic language. चाँदनी is the neutral everyday choice.
How does it change in a sentence?
चाँदनी is a feminine noun, so adjectives that change for gender take their feminine ending with it and verbs agree in the feminine. Most of the other words are feminine too, while महताब is masculine.
How do you pronounce it?
Say it as cā̃dnī, IPA /tʃɑːnd̪.niː/. The first vowel is long and nasal, and the d is dental, made with the tongue against the upper teeth.
When do people say it?
Sharad Purnima, the full moon night in autumn mentioned in the second example, is especially associated with bright moonlight.
Did you know?
- The word चाँदनी is a linguistic relative of the word for silver, चाँदी (cā̃dī), because both share the same root in the moon.
- In Hindi poetry, moonlight is frequently used as a metaphor for purity or a beloved's face, often contrasting the cooling चाँदनी with the scorching heat of the sun.
Examples in context
- शीतल शशिप्रभा ने रात्रि के अंधकार को मिटाकर संपूर्ण वाटिका को आलोकित कर दिया।The cool moonlight erased the darkness of the night and illuminated the entire garden.This is a literary sentence using शशिप्रभा, a poetic word for moonlight.
- शरद पूर्णिमा की रात को चारों ओर फैली उज्ज्वल चंद्रप्रभा धरती को आलोकित कर रही थी।On the night of Sharad Purnima, the bright moonlight spread all around was illuminating the earth.चंद्रप्रभा is another literary word, here describing the bright light of a full moon night.
- आज रात को बाहर बैठकर चांद की रौशनी में बातें करना बहुत रोमांटिक होता है।Sitting outside and chatting in the moonlight is very romantic.
- चाँदनी बहुत सुंदर लग रही है।chaandnee bahut sundar lag rahee hai.The moonlight looks very beautiful.
Example conversation
A couple is walking in a park at night.
- आदित्य Adityaदेखो, आज चाँदनी कितनी साफ़ है।dekho, aaj chaandnee kitnee saaf hai.Look, the moonlight is so clear today.
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, आदित्य, यह बहुत ही शांत है।haan, aaditya, yah bahut hee shaant hai.Yes, Aditya, it is very peaceful.
- आदित्य Adityaक्या तुम्हें रात में टहलना पसंद है?kya tumhen raat mein tahalna pasand hai?Do you like walking at night?
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, मुझे यह समय बहुत अच्छा लगता है।haan, mujhe yah samay bahut achchha lagta hai.Yes, I like this time a lot.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “moonlight” translations and entries चाँदनी, चंद्रिका, चन्द्रिका, ज्योत्स्ना, कौमुदी, चंद्रप्रभा, शशिप्रभा, महताब, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries चंद्रिका, चाँदनी, ज्योत्स्ना, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
