Ways to say it
| Hindi | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| चुड़ैल | cuṛail | /t͡ʃʊ.ɽɛːl/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| जादूगरनी | jādūgarnī | /d͡ʒɑː.d̪uː.ɡəɾ.niː/ (Hindi, Standard) | feminine |
| डाइन | ḍāin | /ɖɑː.ɪn/ (Hindi, Standard) /ɖɑː.jən/ (Hindi, Standard) |
feminine |
In Hindi, the terms for a witch vary significantly depending on whether you are describing a supernatural being or a person who practices magic. चुड़ैल and डाइन refer to malevolent or negative supernatural entities. In colloquial speech, चुड़ैल can be used as a derogatory insult directed at a woman, regardless of any belief in magic.
Which one should you use?
While चुड़ैल and डाइन carry a negative, supernatural or malevolent connotation, जादूगरनी is a more neutral term for a female practitioner of magic. Specifically, चुड़ैल is specifically used to describe a female entity or person perceived as a malevolent witch or a ghost/spirit.
How does it change in a sentence?
The feminine term जादूगरनी is formed by adding the suffix –नी (-nī) to the masculine noun जादूगर (jādūgar), which means a male magician or wizard. All three provided forms are feminine.
How do you pronounce it?
The word चुड़ैल is pronounced /tʃʊ.ɽɛːl/. It has 2 syllables.
Did you know?
- While चुड़ैल is often used as a joke or insult among friends, it specifically evokes the image of a ghost with feet turned backwards.
- In certain rural regions of India, accusing a woman of being a डाइन can lead to severe social ostracization or targeted violence.
- The word चुड़ैल shares a linguistic root with Hindi terms for female genitalia and harlots.
Examples in context
- मैं चुड़ैल हूँ।I'm a witch.This sentence demonstrates the use of चुड़ैल to identify oneself.Tatoeba #13689110 by sabretou, translation #12927425 by rul
- उस दिन, डायन ने एक यात्री को अपनी मायाजाल में फँसाया।That day, the witch trapped a traveler in her enchantment.
- वह कहानी में एक चुड़ैल है।vah kahani mein ek chudail hai.She is a witch in the story.
- क्या वह चुड़ैल है?kya vah chudail hai?Is she a witch?
Example conversation
Aditya and Priya are discussing a movie they just watched.
- आदित्य Adityaक्या तुम्हें वह चुड़ैल डरावनी लगी?kya tumhen vah chudail daravnee lagee?Did you find that witch scary?
- प्रिया Priyaहाँ, वह बहुत डरावनी थी!haan, vah bahut daravnee thee!Yes, she was very scary!
- आदित्य Adityaमुझे उसकी जादुई शक्तियाँ पसंद आईं।mujhe uskee jaaduee shaktiyaan pasand aaeen.I liked her magical powers.
- प्रिया Priyaवह सच में एक शक्तिशाली चुड़ैल थी।vah sach mein ek shaktishaalee chudail thee.She really was a powerful witch.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “witch” translations and entries चुड़ैल, जादूगरनी, डाइन, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries चुड़ैल, जादूगरनी, डाइन, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
