औरत
aurateveryday
In Hindi "woman" is औरत (aurat) in everyday speech and महिला (mahilā) in polite or official language. It is also called स्त्री (strī).
Meaning: an adult female person (noun)
Ways to say it
| Indian | Romanization | Note |
|---|---|---|
| औरत | aurat | everyday |
| महिला | mahilā | polite, formal |
| स्त्री | strī | formal, literary |
औरत is the common word in conversation. महिला is what you read on signs, forms and in the news, for example on a ladies' seat or queue.
Which one should you use?
स्त्री (strī) is a formal and literary word for woman, also used in compounds and written texts.
Did you know?
- The word औरत (aurat) came into Hindi from Arabic through Urdu, while महिला (mahilā) comes from Sanskrit.
Examples in context
- वह औरत मेरी टीचर है।vah aurat merī ṭīcar hai.That woman is my teacher.
- महिलाओं के लिए अलग लाइन है।mahilāoṁ ke lie alag lāin hai.There is a separate line for women.
Example conversation
A visitor asks a guard for directions at a railway station.
- Yatriमहिला डिब्बा कहाँ है?mahilā ḍibbā kahāṁ hai?Where is the ladies' coach?
- Guardवह आगे है।vah āge hai.It is up ahead.
- Yatriधन्यवाद।dhanyavād.Thank you.
