ग़ैरक़ानूनी (ghairqaanoonii)
adjective
A single-sense adjective meaning 'illegal, unlawful' -- built from the Persian-derived prefix ग़ैर (ghair, 'non-/un-') plus क़ानूनी (qaanoonii, 'legal'), so the two halves are transparent once you know the pieces.
Sense
1
:
illegal, unlawful
adjective
Synonyms: अवैध (avaidh), ग़लत (ghalat, meaning scope: covers 'wrong' broadly, not specifically legal), क़ानून के ख़िलाफ़ (qaanoon ke khilaaf, phrase variant)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This word shows up constantly in news broadcasts and official notices -- ग़ैरक़ानूनी क़ब्ज़ा (ghairqaanoonii qabzaa, 'illegal occupation/encroachment') and ग़ैरक़ानूनी निर्माण (ghairqaanoonii nirmaan, 'illegal construction') are staples of Delhi civic reporting, especially around unauthorized colonies. The prefix ग़ैर (ghair) is productive and pairs with many nouns to make 'non-/un-' adjectives, similar to how English uses 'un-' or 'non-'.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes drop the nuqta and write/say गैरकानूनी (gairkaanoonii) -- this is common in casual writing and widely understood, but the dotted form ग़ैरक़ानूनी (ghairqaanoonii) reflects the Persian-Arabic origin of both ग़ैर (ghair) and क़ानून (qaanoon). 2) Don't confuse with अनुचित (anuchit, 'improper') or ग़लत (ghalat, 'wrong') -- this word is specifically about violating law, not general wrongness or impropriety.
Sample Sentences:
यह इमारत ग़ैरक़ानूनी क़ब्ज़े में है।
This building is under illegal occupation.
(yah imaarat ghairqaanoonii qabze men hai।)
नगर निगम ने कई ग़ैरक़ानूनी निर्माणों को गिरा दिया।
The municipal corporation demolished several illegal constructions.
(nagar nigam ne kaii ghairqaanoonii nirmaanon ko giraa diyaa।)
पुलिस उस गोदाम में ग़ैरक़ानूनी शराब बेचने वालों की तलाश कर रही है।
The police are searching for those selling illegal liquor in that warehouse.
(pulis us godaam men ghairqaanoonii sharaab bechne vaalon kii talaash kar rahii hai।)
अगर यह काम ग़ैरक़ानूनी निकला, तो तुम मुसीबत में पड़ जाओगे।
If this turns out to be illegal, you'll end up in trouble.
(agar yah kaam ghairqaanoonii niklaa, to tum musiibat men pad jaaoge।)
कृपया इस ज़मीन पर ग़ैरक़ानूनी क़ब्ज़ा न करें।
Please do not illegally occupy this land.
(kripyaa is zamiin par ghairqaanoonii qabzaa n karen।)
अगर सरकार सख़्त होती, तो इतना ग़ैरक़ानूनी निर्माण कभी न होता।
If the government were strict, so much illegal construction would never have happened.
(agar sarkaar sakht hotii, to itnaa ghairqaanoonii nirmaan kabhii n hotaa।)
ख़बरों के मुताबिक़ यह पूरी कॉलोनी ग़ैरक़ानूनी है।
According to the news, this entire colony is illegal.
(khabron ke mutaabiq yah poorii kolonii ghairqaanoonii hai।)
मुमकिन है कि यह सौदा ग़ैरक़ानूनी हो।
It's possible that this deal is illegal.
(mumkin hai ki yah saudaa ghairqaanoonii ho।)
उस इलाक़े में ग़ैरक़ानूनी क़ब्ज़ा किया जाता है और कोई कार्रवाई नहीं होती।
Illegal occupation is carried out in that area, and no action is taken.
(us ilaaqe men ghairqaanoonii qabzaa kiyaa jaataa hai aur koii kaarrvaaii nahiin hotii।)
यह हथियार ग़ैरक़ानूनी तरीक़े से देश में लाया गया था।
This weapon was brought into the country illegally.
(yah hathiyaar ghairqaanoonii tariiqe se desh men laayaa gayaa thaa।)
यार, ये तो साफ़ ग़ैरक़ानूनी काम है, इसमें मत पड़।
Dude, this is clearly an illegal thing, don't get involved in it.
(yaar, ye to saaf ghairqaanoonii kaam hai, ismen mat pad।)
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
ग़ैरक़ानूनी
(ghairqaanoonii)