बाँका (baankaa)
adjective/noun
Primarily an adjective describing a dashing, rakish, jaunty look or bearing, especially of a man; also survives as a noun for such a dashing man. It carries a stylish, slightly swaggering flavor rather than plain 'handsome'.
Sense
1
:
dashing, rakishly stylish, jauntily tilted
adjective Often used with nouns like टोपी (topii, 'cap') or अंदाज़ (andaaz, 'style') to describe something worn or carried at a rakish angle or with swagger, e.g. बाँकी टोपी (baankii topii, 'a cap worn at a jaunty tilt').
Synonyms: छैला (chhailaa), रंगीला (rangiilaa), फबीला (phabiilaa, rare)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Picture an old-style Lucknavi or Delhi dandy with his टोपी (topii) cocked just so and a swing in his walk -- that's the image बाँका (baankaa) conjures. It has an old-fashioned, almost folk-song flavor, showing up often in Bollywood lyrics and older Hindi literature describing a devil-may-care young hero.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for सुंदर (sundar) or हैंडसम (haindsam) when they mean 'handsome,' but बाँका (baankaa) specifically evokes swagger and a stylish tilt, not just good looks -- a plain, well-groomed man is not बाँका (baankaa). 2) This word is heard far more often describing a man's bearing than a woman's; for a woman, learners should reach for other terms.
Sample Sentences:
उसकी टोपी बड़े बाँके अंदाज़ में एक तरफ़ झुकी हुई थी।
His cap was tilted to one side in a very dashing style.
(uskii topii bade baanke andaaz men ek taraf jhukii huii thii।)
गाने में नायक की बाँकी चाल का ज़िक्र बार-बार आता है।
The song repeatedly mentions the hero's jaunty gait.
(gaane men naayak kii baankii chaal kaa zikr baar-baar aataa hai।)
वह बाँकी मूँछों पर ताव देते हुए बाज़ार में निकला।
He stepped out into the market twirling his rakishly styled mustache.
(vah baankii moonchhon par taav dete hue baazaar men niklaa।)
काश उसकी पगड़ी भी उतनी ही बाँकी होती जितनी उसकी चाल थी।
If only his turban had been as jauntily set as his walk was.
(kaash uskii pagdii bhii utnii hii baankii hotii jitnii uskii chaal thii।)
पुरानी हवेलियों की तस्वीरों में मर्दों की बाँकी अदाएँ अक्सर दिखती हैं।
In old mansion photographs, men's dashing, jaunty airs are often visible.
(puraanii haveliyon kii tasviiron men mardon kii baankii adaaen aksar dikhtii hain।)
इस कव्वाली में शायर ने अपने महबूब की बाँकी अदा का बखान किया है।
In this qawwali, the poet has described his beloved's jauntily stylish manner.
(is kavvaalii men shaayar ne apne mahboob kii baankii adaa kaa bakhaan kiyaa hai।)
बाँकी टोपी पहनकर मंच पर आओ, तभी असली नवाबी अंदाज़ लगेगा।
Come onto the stage wearing your cap at a jaunty tilt -- only then will it look truly like a nawab's style.
(baankii topii pahankar manch par aao, tabhii aslii navaabii andaaz lagegaa।)
लोकगीतों में अक्सर किसी बाँके सजीले जवान का वर्णन मिलता है।
Folk songs often contain a description of some dashingly stylish young man.
(lokgiiton men aksar kisii baanke sajiile javaan kaa varnan miltaa hai।)
Sense
2
:
a dashing young man, a dandy or gallant
noun, masculine Used as a standalone noun referring to the man himself, e.g. गाँव का बाँका (gaanv kaa baankaa, 'the village's dashing young man').
Synonyms: छैला (chhailaa), रंगीला (rangiilaa)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: This noun sense pairs naturally with the adjective sense above -- the बाँका (baankaa) is simply the man who carries himself in that jaunty, swaggering way. It has a slightly rustic, storytelling ring to it, the kind of word you'd meet in a folk tale or an old film song rather than in office chat.
Sample Sentences:
गाँव का वह बाँका सबकी नज़रों में रहता था।
That dandy of the village stayed in everyone's gaze.
(gaanv kaa vah baankaa sabkii nazron men rahtaa thaa।)
मेले में एक बाँका घोड़े पर सवार होकर आया।
A gallant came to the fair riding on a horse.
(mele men ek baankaa ghode par savaar hokar aayaa।)
वह बाँका मूँछों पर ताव देते हुए बाज़ार से निकला।
That dandy strutted through the market, twirling his mustache.
(vah baankaa moonchhon par taav dete hue baazaar se niklaa।)
पुरानी कहानियों में हर बाँका किसी न किसी राजकुमारी के लिए तड़पता था।
In old stories, every dandy used to pine for some princess or other.
(puraanii kahaaniyon men har baankaa kisii n kisii raajkumaarii ke lie tadaptaa thaa।)
अगर वह ज़रा और बाँका होता, तो नायक का किरदार उसी को मिलता।
If he had been a bit more of a dashing gallant, he would have gotten the hero's role.
(agar vah zaraa aur baankaa hotaa, to naayak kaa kirdaar usii ko miltaa।)
काश मैं भी उस ज़माने का कोई बाँका होता!
If only I too had been some dashing gallant of that era!
(kaash main bhii us zamaane kaa koii baankaa hotaa!)
लोकगीतों में इस बाँके की बहादुरी का बखान आज भी होता है।
In folk songs, this gallant's bravery is still recounted even today.
(lokgiiton men is baanke kii bahaadurii kaa bakhaan aaj bhii hotaa hai।)
फ़िल्मी गाने में नायिका कहती है, "मेरा बाँका सजन कब आएगा?"
In the film song, the heroine says, 'When will my dashing beloved come?'
(filmii gaane men naayikaa kahtii hai, "meraa baankaa sajan kab aaegaa?")
दादी कहानी सुनाते हुए बोलीं, "एक बाँका था, जो सात गाँवों में मशहूर था।"
Telling the story, grandmother said, 'There was a gallant who was famous across seven villages.'
(daadii kahaanii sunaate hue boliin, "ek baankaa thaa, jo saat gaanvon men mashahoor thaa।")
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
(sg.m):
बाँका
(baankaa)
(pl.m):
बाँके
(baanke)
(sg.f):
बाँकी
(baankii)
(pl.f):
बाँकी
(baankii)
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
बाँका
(baankaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
बाँके
(baanke)
(pl.m.direct):
बाँके
(baanke)
(pl.m.oblique):
बाँकों
(baankon)