Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| संत | sant | /sənt̪/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| मुकद्दस | mukaddas | ||
| पुनीत | punīt | ||
| महात्मा | mahātmā | /mə.ɦɑːt̪.mɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
संत is a noun used to refer to a saint. महात्मा is a highly respectful title used for saints or highly revered figures. पुनीत and मुकद्दस are primarily used as adjectives rather than nouns to describe people.
What does it mean word for word?
The word महात्मा is a compound consisting of maha (great) and atma (soul), literally meaning "great soul".
Which one should you use?
While संत refers to the person (a saint), मुकद्दस is an adjective meaning "holy" or "sacred". Similarly, पुनीत is typically used as an adjective to describe something that has been purified or made holy, whereas संत and महात्मा are used for the person themselves.
How does it change in a sentence?
महात्मा and संत are masculine nouns.
How do you pronounce it?
sant is pronounced /sənt̪/.
When do people say it?
The title महात्मा is a common way to honor highly revered figures in Indian culture, reflecting their status as a "great soul".
Did you know?
- The word मुकद्दस comes from Arabic roots. Its presence in Hindi reflects the deep linguistic influence of Persian and Arabic on the language during the Mughal Empire.
- Unlike the English 'saint', which often implies a canonized person in a church, संत and महात्मा can be used for living people who are perceived to be in a state of spiritual perfection.
- The word पुनीत is often used as a proper name for boys in India. Using a word that means 'purified' or 'holy' as a first name is a common cultural practice.
Examples in context
- वे एक महान संत थे।ve ek mahaan sant the.They were a great saint.
- इस संत के आश्रम में बहुत शांति है।is sant ke aashram mein bahut shaanti hai.There is a lot of peace in this saint's ashram.
- लोग उस संत का सम्मान करते हैं।log us sant ka sammaan karte hain.People respect that saint.
Example conversation
Pooja and Vikas are visiting a temple.
- पूजा Poojaविकास, देखो वहाँ एक संत बैठे हैं।Vikas, dekho vahan ek sant baithe hain.Vikas, look, a saint is sitting there.
- विकास Vikasहाँ, वे बहुत शांत लग रहे हैं।Haan, ve bahut shaant lag rahe hain.Yes, he looks very peaceful.
- पूजा Poojaक्या हम उनसे बात कर सकते हैं?Kya hum unse baat kar sakte hain?Can we talk to him?
- विकास Vikasज़रूर, चलिए उनके पास चलते हैं।Zaroor, chaliye unke paas chalte hain.Sure, let's go to him.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “saint” translations and entries संत, महात्मा, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
