Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| योद्धा | yoddhā | /joːd̪.d̪ʱɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| लड़ाका | laṛākā | /lə.ɽɑː.kɑː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
| जंगजू | jaṅgjū | /d͡ʒəŋɡ.d͡ʒuː/ (Hindi, Standard) | masculine |
The term refers to a person actively engaged in battle, conflict or warfare. While all forms denote a combatant, योद्धा specifically carries the connotation of a brave, skilled and honorable fighter.
Which one should you use?
योद्धा is the most formal and literary term, frequently used in historical or epic contexts. In contrast, लड़ाका is a more colloquial term that often implies a 'fighter' or someone who engages in brawls or physical combat. जंगजू is a formal term of Persian origin, used in poetic or highly stylized Urdu-influenced Hindi.
How does it change in a sentence?
In its base form, योद्धा is an indeclinable noun. However, when a postposition follows the word, you must use the oblique plural form योद्धाओं to refer to 'warriors'.
How do you pronounce it?
yoddhā (/joːd̪.d̪ʱɑː/)
Did you know?
- Hindi has a distinct conceptual gap between a 'soldier' सैनिक and a 'warrior' योद्धा, where the latter implies an innate spirit of bravery rather than a professional rank.
- In many Indian epic poems, a 'warrior' is not just defined by their ability to fight, but by their adherence to 'Dharma'. A true योद्धा is often expected to follow a strict moral code of conduct.
- While योद्धा comes from Sanskrit, the term जंगजू is a loanword from Classical Persian, reflecting the deep influence of the Mughal Empire on North Indian military vocabulary.
Examples in context
- वीर योद्धा ने अपनी बहादुरी की मिसालें प्रदर्शित की।The brave warrior showcased examples of his bravery.
- हमारे वीर सैनिक हमेशा अपना देश बचाने के लिए आगे आते हैं।Our brave soldiers always step forward to protect our nation.
- वह एक महान योद्धा था।vaha ek mahaan yoddha tha.He was a great warrior.
- पुराने समय में योद्धा बहुत साहसी होते थे।puraane samay mein yoddha bahut saahasee hote the.In ancient times, warriors used to be very brave.
Example conversation
Two friends are discussing a historical movie.
- नेहा Nehaक्या तुम्हें वह फिल्म पसंद आई?kya tumhe vah film pasand aayi?Did you like that movie?
- राहुल Rahulहाँ, फिल्म का मुख्य योद्धा बहुत प्रभावशाली था।haan, film ka mukhya yoddha bahut prabhaavshaalee tha.Yes, the film's main warrior was very impressive.
- नेहा Nehaउसका युद्ध कौशल अद्भुत था।uska yuddh kaushal adbhut tha.His combat skill was amazing.
- राहुल Rahulबिल्कुल, वह एक सच्चा योद्धा था।bilkul, vah sachaa yoddha tha.Exactly, he was a true warrior.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “warrior” translations and entries योद्धा, लड़ाका, जंगजू, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries जंगजू, योद्धा, लड़ाका, CC BY-SA 4.0.
