साँप
sānpeveryday, Hindi
In Hindi a snake is साँप (sānp). The formal word is सर्प (sarp), and a cobra is नाग (nāg).
Meaning: the reptile (noun)
Ways to say it
| Indian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| साँप | sānp | everyday, Hindi |
| सर्प | sarp | formal, literary |
| नाग | nāg | cobra |
साँप is the word everybody uses. साँप निकला है (sānp niklā hai) is what you shout when one appears.
When do people say it?
The festival नाग पंचमी (nāg panchamī) honours snakes in Hindu tradition and is celebrated in the monsoon season.
Did you know?
- Hindi has a saying आस्तीन का साँप (āstīn kā sānp), "a snake in the sleeve", for a hidden traitor.
Examples in context
- खेत में एक साँप दिखा।Khet mein ek sānp dikhā.A snake was seen in the field.
- नाग पंचमी पर लोग साँप की पूजा करते हैं।Nāg panchamī par log sānp kī pūjā karte hain.On Nag Panchami people worship snakes.
Example conversation
Farmer Dinesh warns his son Pawan at the edge of a field in Nagpur.
- Dineshपवन, सँभलकर चलना, यहाँ साँप हो सकता है।Pawan, sanbhalkar chalnā, yahān sānp ho saktā hai.Pawan, walk carefully, there could be a snake here.
- Pawanठीक है, पापा।Ṭhīk hai, pāpā.Okay, dad.
- Dineshडंडा साथ रखो।Ḍanḍā sāth rakho.Keep a stick with you.
