उत्तर (uttar)
noun
Two everyday senses live in this one word: उत्तर (uttar) as 'answer/reply' (the word you'll meet constantly in school and exam contexts) and उत्तर (uttar) as the cardinal direction 'north.' They are unrelated in daily use but share the same spelling and gender.
Sense
1
:
answer, reply
noun, masculine
Synonyms: जवाब (javaab), प्रत्युत्तर (pratyuttar, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Ask any Indian schoolkid and they'll tell you: उत्तर (uttar) is the word stamped all over exam papers -- 'सही उत्तर चुनिए (sahii uttar chunie, choose the correct answer)' is a phrase every student has stared at. In spoken life, though, जवाब (javaab) usually takes over.
Common Mistakes: 1) उत्तर देना (uttar denaa) and जवाब देना (javaab denaa) both mean 'to give an answer,' but उत्तर (uttar) leans more formal/written -- it's the word used on exam papers and in textbooks -- while जवाब (javaab) is what people actually say in casual conversation. Using उत्तर (uttar) in a casual chat isn't wrong, but it can sound a touch stiff.
Sample Sentences:
कृपया सही उत्तर चुनिए।
Please choose the correct answer.
(kripyaa sahii uttar chunie।)
उसने परीक्षा में सारे उत्तर सही लिखे।
He wrote all the answers correctly in the exam.
(usne pariikshaa men saare uttar sahii likhe।)
मुझे इस सवाल का उत्तर नहीं पता।
I don't know the answer to this question.
(mujhe is savaal kaa uttar nahiin pataa।)
शिक्षक हर प्रश्न का उत्तर बहुत धैर्य से देते हैं।
The teacher patiently gives an answer to every question.
(shikshak har prashn kaa uttar bahut dhairy se dete hain।)
अगर तुम मुझसे यह प्रश्न पूछते, तो मैं उत्तर दे देता।
If you had asked me this question, I would have given the answer.
(agar tum mujhse yah prashn poochhte, to main uttar de detaa।)
उत्तर-पुस्तिका में हर उत्तर के लिए अलग नंबर दिए जाते हैं।
Separate marks are given for each answer in the answer sheet.
(uttar-pustikaa men har uttar ke lie alag nambar die jaate hain।)
क्या तुम इस उत्तर से संतुष्ट हो?
Are you satisfied with this answer?
(kyaa tum is uttar se santusht ho?)
परीक्षक ने कहा कि उत्तर संक्षेप में लिखा जाए।
The examiner said that the answer should be written briefly.
(pariikshak ne kahaa ki uttar sankshep men likhaa jaae।)
उसका उत्तर सुनकर सब चौंक गए।
Everyone was startled upon hearing his answer.
(uskaa uttar sunkar sab chaunk gae।)
इस निबंध का उत्तर कल तक जमा करना होगा।
The answer to this essay will have to be submitted by tomorrow.
(is nibandh kaa uttar kal tak jamaa karnaa hogaa।)
शायद वह इस सवाल का उत्तर जानता हो।
Perhaps he knows the answer to this question.
(shaayad vah is savaal kaa uttar jaantaa ho।)
Sense
2
:
north (the cardinal direction)
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the same उत्तर (uttar) you see in the state name उत्तर प्रदेश (uttar pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, literally 'northern province') and उत्तराखंड (uttraakhand, Uttarakhand). Direction words like this show up often on road signs and weather reports, so it's worth knowing even though it's less central to daily chit-chat than the 'answer' sense.
Sample Sentences:
दिल्ली उत्तर भारत में है।
Delhi is in north India.
(dillii uttar bhaarat men hai।)
यह सड़क उत्तर की ओर जाती है।
This road goes toward the north.
(yah sadak uttar kii or jaatii hai।)
कल उत्तर से ठंडी हवाएँ चल रही हैं।
Cold winds are blowing from the north today.
(kal uttar se thandii havaaen chal rahii hain।)
उत्तर की तरफ मुड़ जाओ, फिर बाज़ार मिलेगा।
Turn toward the north, then you'll find the market.
(uttar kii taraph mud jaao, phir baazaar milegaa।)
उत्तर प्रदेश का नाम उसकी भौगोलिक स्थिति से पड़ा है।
Uttar Pradesh got its name from its geographical position.
(uttar pradesh kaa naam uskii bhaugolik sthiti se padaa hai।)
अगर हम उत्तर की ओर चलते तो पहाड़ दिखते।
If we had walked toward the north, we would have seen the mountains.
(agar ham uttar kii or chalte to pahaad dikhte।)
मौसम विभाग ने कहा है कि उत्तर में बारिश होगी।
The weather department has said that it will rain in the north.
(mausam vibhaag ne kahaa hai ki uttar men baarish hogii।)
कमरे का दरवाज़ा उत्तर की ओर खुलता है।
The room's door opens toward the north.
(kamre kaa darvaazaa uttar kii or khultaa hai।)
नक्शे में उत्तर हमेशा ऊपर की तरफ दिखाया जाता है।
In a map, north is always shown at the top.
(nakshe men uttar hameshaa oopar kii taraph dikhaayaa jaataa hai।)
शायद पक्षी सर्दियों में उत्तर की ओर न जाएँ।
Perhaps the birds don't go toward the north in winter.
(shaayad pakshii sardiyon men uttar kii or n jaaen।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
उत्तर
(uttar)
(sg.m.oblique):
उत्तर
(uttar)
(pl.m.direct):
उत्तर
(uttar)
(pl.m.oblique):
उत्तरों
(uttron)