नक़ली (naqlii)

adjective One core sense: 'fake, artificial, counterfeit' -- the opposite of असली (aslii, 'real/genuine'). Note the nuqta under क़ (q); the spelling without it, नकली (naklii), is also common in casual writing.
Sense 1 : fake, artificial, counterfeit
adjective
Synonyms: जाली (jaalii, forged/counterfeit documents or money), बनावटी (banaavtii, artificial/put-on), कृत्रिम (kritrim, formal/technical)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word comes up constantly in everyday Delhi life -- नक़ली सामान (naqlii saamaan, 'fake goods') at Sarojini Nagar or Karol Bagh markets, नक़ली नोट (naqlii not, 'fake currency notes'), or नक़ली दूध (naqlii doodh, 'adulterated milk') are all common news and market talk. Its natural opposite, असली (aslii, 'real/genuine'), is almost always taught alongside it -- shopkeepers themselves will say असली है, नक़ली नहीं (aslii hai, naqlii nahiin, 'it's real, not fake') to reassure a buyer.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for झूठा (jhoothaa) to mean 'fake,' but झूठा (jhoothaa) is about a person or statement being untruthful/lying, while नक़ली (naqlii) describes an object, product, or identity being not genuine -- नक़ली दवा (naqlii davaa, 'fake medicine') not झूठी दवा. 2) For counterfeit money or forged documents, जाली (jaalii) is the more natural word than नक़ली (naqlii), though both are understood.
Sample Sentences:
ये घड़ी नक़ली है, असली नहीं। This watch is fake, not real.
(ye ghadii naqlii hai, aslii nahiin।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
करोल बाग़ में नक़ली सामान बहुत बिकता है। A lot of fake goods are sold in Karol Bagh.
(karol baagh men naqlii saamaan bahut biktaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
पुलिस ने बाज़ार से नक़ली नोट बरामद किए। The police recovered fake currency notes from the market.
(pulis ne baazaar se naqlii not baraamad kie।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कहीं ये दूध नक़ली तो नहीं है? Is this milk fake, by any chance?
(kahiin ye doodh naqlii to nahiin hai?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दुकानदार ने कहा, असली है, नक़ली नहीं। The shopkeeper said, 'It's real, not fake.'
(dukaandaar ne kahaa, aslii hai, naqlii nahiin।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर सामान नक़ली निकला, तो पैसे वापस माँगना। If the item turns out to be fake, ask for your money back.
(agar saamaan naqlii niklaa, to paise vaapas maangnaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
सस्ते दामों पर मिलने वाले ब्रांडेड कपड़े अक्सर नक़ली होते हैं। Branded clothes available at cheap prices are often fake.
(saste daamon par milne vaale braanded kapde aksar naqlii hote hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर वो पेंटिंग नक़ली होती, तो इतनी महंगी कैसे बिकती? If that painting were fake, how would it sell for so much?
(agar vo penting naqlii hotii, to itnii mahangii kaise biktii?)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Passive
दवाओं में नक़ली मिलावट लोगों की जान ले सकती है। Fake adulteration in medicines can take people's lives.
(davaaon men naqlii milaavat logon kii jaan le saktii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
जाँच में पता चला कि दस्तावेज़ नक़ली थे। The investigation revealed that the documents were fake.
(jaanch men pataa chalaa ki dastaavez naqlii the।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
सरोजिनी नगर से नक़ली सामान मत खरीदना, ठगे जाओगे। Don't buy fake goods from Sarojini Nagar, you'll get cheated.
(sarojinii nagar se naqlii saamaan mat khariidnaa, thage jaaoge।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m): नक़ली (naqlii)
(pl.m): नक़लीे ([[नक़लीे]])
(sg.f): नक़लीी ([[नक़लीी]])
(pl.f): नक़लीी ([[नक़लीी]])