इत्र
itr/ɪt̪.ɾᵊ/
The English word 'perfume' can be translated into Hindi as इत्र (itr).
इत्र refers specifically to traditional, often concentrated, essential oil-based perfumes common in South Asian culture. While इत्र names the substance itself, the word खुशबू is used to describe the pleasant scent or fragrance produced by it.
Meaning: substance providing a pleasant smell (noun)
Which one should you use?
There are different ways to express this concept depending on the context. इत्र is used for traditional oil-based scents, whereas the English loanword परफ्यूम is commonly used in modern, urban Hindi. If you wish to describe the pleasant smell itself rather than the liquid, use खुशबू. For more general formal contexts regarding a fragrance or scent, you may use सुगंध.
How do you pronounce it?
The word is pronounced as /ɪt̪.ɾᵊ/. It has two syllables: itr.
Did you know?
- The word इत्र is a loanword from the Arabic word عِطْر, showing the historical influence of Persian and Arabic cultures on the Hindi language.
- In many traditional Indian households, इत्र is not just applied to the skin but also used to scent clothing, curtains and even letters.
- The town of Kannauj is known as the 'Perfume Capital of India' and is world-famous for its ancient methods of creating इत्र.
Examples in context
- कृपया, मुझे दुकान पर कुछ इत्र दिखाइए।Please show me some perfume at the shop.
- यह इत्र बहुत महँगा है।yah itr bahut mahangā hai.This perfume is very expensive.
- मुझे गुलाब का इत्र पसंद है।mujhe gulāb kā itr pasand hai.I like rose perfume.
- क्या आपके पास कोई अच्छा इत्र है?kyā āpke pās koī achchā itr hai?Do you have a good perfume?
Example conversation
Priya and Vikas are at a gift shop.
- प्रिया Priyaविकास, क्या तुम्हें यह इत्र अच्छा लगा?vikās, kyā tumhe yah itr achchā lagā?Vikas, did you like this perfume?
- विकास Vikasहाँ, इसकी खुशबू बहुत अच्छी है।hān, iskī khushbū bahut achchī hai.Yes, its scent is very good.
- प्रिया Priyaक्या हम इसे खरीद लें?kyā ham ise kharīd lein?Should we buy it?
- विकास Vikasहाँ, यह उपहार के लिए सही रहेगा।hān, yah uphār ke liye sahī rahegā.Yes, it will be perfect for a gift.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry इत्र, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries इत्र, CC BY-SA 4.0.
