शरारती (sharaartii)

adjective A single-sense adjective meaning 'mischievous, naughty' -- describes playful troublemaking, most often said about children, with a fond rather than harsh tone.

Sense 1 : mischievous, naughty, playfully troublesome

adjective

Synonyms: नटखट (natkhat, especially for children), उपद्रवी (upadrvii, stronger, closer to 'troublemaking'), चंचल (chanchal, restless/fickle rather than naughty)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: This is the word every Indian parent or grandparent reaches for when a child hides someone's chappals (chappal) or draws on the wall -- it carries real affection, not real anger. It comes from शरारत (sharaarat, 'mischief, prank'), so calling someone शरारती (sharaartii) literally means 'full of pranks.'

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for उपद्रवी (upadrvii) to mean 'naughty,' but that word leans toward genuine disruptiveness or troublemaking, not the affectionate 'cheeky kid' sense शरारती (sharaartii) usually carries. 2) शरारती (sharaartii) describes a personality trait or a specific act of mischief; it is not used for physically dangerous or malicious behavior, where a stronger word would be expected.

Sample Sentences:

मेरा भतीजा बहुत शरारती है। My nephew is very mischievous.

(meraa bhatiijaa bahut sharaartii hai।)

बचपन में मैं बहुत शरारती था। I was very mischievous as a child.

(bachpan men main bahut sharaartii thaa।)

इतनी शरारती मत बनो, कोई देख लेगा। Don't be so mischievous, someone will see you.

(itnii sharaartii mat bano, koii dekh legaa।)

अगर वो थोड़ी कम शरारती होती तो टीचर उसे इतना नहीं डाँटतीं। If she were a little less mischievous, the teacher wouldn't scold her so much.

(agar vo thodii kam sharaartii hotii to tiichar use itnaa nahiin daanttiin।)

उसकी शरारती आँखें बता रही थीं कि उसने ही चप्पल छिपाई है। Her mischievous eyes were telling that it was she who had hidden the chappals.

(uskii sharaartii aankhen bataa rahii thiin ki usne hii chappal chhipaaii hai।)

क्लास का सबसे शरारती बच्चा आज बहुत चुप बैठा है। The naughtiest kid in the class is sitting very quietly today.

(klaas kaa sabse sharaartii bachchaa aaj bahut chup baithaa hai।)

काश वो इतना शरारती न होता, तो मुझे उसकी हरकतों की सफाई न देनी पड़ती। I wish he weren't so mischievous, then I wouldn't have to explain away his antics.

(kaash vo itnaa sharaartii n hotaa, to mujhe uskii harakton kii saphaaii n denii padtii।)

शरारती बच्चों को समझाना आसान नहीं होता, प्यार से ही काम बनता है। It's not easy to reason with mischievous children -- only affection works.

(sharaartii bachchon ko samjhaanaa aasaan nahiin hotaa, pyaar se hii kaam bantaa hai।)

दादी हमेशा कहती थीं, "तू तो बहुत शरारती है, बिल्कुल अपने पापा जैसा।" Grandma always used to say, "You're so mischievous, just like your dad."

(daadii hameshaa kahtii thiin, "too to bahut sharaartii hai, bilkul apne paapaa jaisaa।")

हो सकता है वो शरारती हो, पर दिल का बुरा नहीं है। He may be mischievous, but he's not bad-hearted.

(ho saktaa hai vo sharaartii ho, par dil kaa buraa nahiin hai।)

दीवार पर यह रंग-बिरंगी लकीरें किसी शरारती बच्चे ने ही खींची होंगी। These colorful scribbles on the wall must have been drawn by some mischievous child.

(diivaar par yah rang-birangii lakiiren kisii sharaartii bachche ne hii khiinchii hongii।)

Morphology

Adjective (invariant)

invariant: शरारती (sharaartii)