सिख (sikh)
noun/adjective
A noun referring to a follower of Sikhism, also used adjectivally to describe things associated with the Sikh community. Not to be confused with सीख (siikh, 'advice/lesson') or सीख (siikh, 'skewer'), which are spelled with a long ी and are different words entirely.
Sense
1
:
a Sikh person
noun, masculine/feminine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Delhi has one of the largest Sikh populations outside Punjab, and you will hear सिख (sikh) constantly in everyday conversation here -- from neighborhood gurdwaras to references to सिख भाई-बहन (sikh bhaaii-bahan, 'Sikh brothers and sisters') in civic speech. The word comes from the same root as सीखना (siikhnaa, 'to learn') and सिख्खी (sikhkhii) or शिष्य (shishy, 'disciple'), reflecting the core idea of a Sikh as a 'disciple' of the Guru.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often confuse this word in writing with सीख (siikh), which means 'advice' or a 'skewer' -- the vowel length (short इ vs long ी) is the only difference and changes the meaning completely. 2) The word is used both as a noun ('a Sikh') and as an adjective before another noun, e.g. सिख धर्म (sikh dharm, 'the Sikh religion'), without changing form.
Sample Sentences:
मेरा पड़ोसी एक सिख है।
My neighbor is a Sikh.
(meraa padosii ek sikh hai।)
दिल्ली में बहुत सारे सिख रहते हैं।
A lot of Sikhs live in Delhi.
(dillii men bahut saare sikh rahte hain।)
उसका दादा एक सिख था जो पंजाब से आया था।
His grandfather was a Sikh who had come from Punjab.
(uskaa daadaa ek sikh thaa jo panjaab se aayaa thaa।)
गुरुद्वारे के बाहर कई सिख लंगर बांट रहे थे।
Many Sikhs were distributing langar outside the gurdwara.
(gurudvaare ke baahar kaii sikh langar baant rahe the।)
क्या तुम सिख हो या हिंदू?
Are you a Sikh or a Hindu?
(kyaa tum sikh ho yaa hindoo?)
नेता जी ने भाषण में सिख भाई-बहनों का धन्यवाद किया।
The leader thanked the Sikh brothers and sisters in his speech.
(netaa jii ne bhaashan men sikh bhaaii-bahnon kaa dhanyvaad kiyaa।)
अगर वह सिख होता, तो पगड़ी बांधता।
If he were a Sikh, he would wear a turban.
(agar vah sikh hotaa, to pagdii baandhtaa।)
हर सिख को अपने धर्म पर गर्व होना चाहिए।
Every Sikh should be proud of their faith.
(har sikh ko apne dharm par garv honaa chaahie।)
उस मोहल्ले में सिखों का एक बड़ा गुरुद्वारा है।
There is a big gurdwara belonging to the Sikhs in that neighborhood.
(us mohalle men sikhon kaa ek badaa gurudvaaraa hai।)
सिखों ने इतिहास में कई बार बहादुरी दिखाई है।
Sikhs have shown bravery many times in history.
(sikhon ne itihaas men kaii baar bahaadurii dikhaaii hai।)
उस टैक्सी वाले भाई साहब को सब सरदार जी कहते हैं क्योंकि वे सिख हैं।
Everyone calls that taxi driver 'Sardar ji' because he is a Sikh.
(us taiksii vaale bhaaii saahab ko sab sardaar jii kahte hain kyonki ve sikh hain।)
Sense
2
:
relating to Sikhism or Sikh people
adjective Used invariantly before a noun, e.g. सिख धर्म (sikh dharm, 'Sikh religion'), सिख इतिहास (sikh itihaas, 'Sikh history').
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll see this adjectival use in phrases like सिख गुरुद्वारा (sikh gurudvaaraa, 'Sikh gurdwara') or सिख परंपरा (sikh parampraa, 'Sikh tradition') -- it simply attaches to the noun it modifies without any change in form.
Sample Sentences:
हमारे मोहल्ले में एक सिख गुरुद्वारा है।
There is a Sikh gurdwara in our neighborhood.
(hamaare mohalle men ek sikh gurudvaaraa hai।)
सिख परंपरा में सेवा को बहुत महत्व दिया जाता है।
In Sikh tradition, great importance is given to service.
(sikh parampraa men sevaa ko bahut mahatv diyaa jaataa hai।)
उसने सिख इतिहास पर एक किताब पढ़ी।
He read a book on Sikh history.
(usne sikh itihaas par ek kitaab padhii।)
स्कूल में सिख त्योहारों के बारे में भी पढ़ाया जाता है।
Sikh festivals are also taught about in school.
(skool men sikh tyohaaron ke baare men bhii padhaayaa jaataa hai।)
क्या तुम सिख धर्मग्रंथों के बारे में कुछ जानते हो?
Do you know anything about Sikh scriptures?
(kyaa tum sikh dharmagranthon ke baare men kuchh jaante ho?)
अगर वह सिख संगीत सीखता, तो कीर्तन में गाता।
If he had learned Sikh music, he would have sung in kirtan.
(agar vah sikh sangiit siikhtaa, to kiirtan men gaataa।)
सिख समुदाय हर साल यहाँ लंगर का आयोजन करता है।
The Sikh community organizes langar here every year.
(sikh samudaay har saal yahaan langar kaa aayojan kartaa hai।)
सिख वास्तुकला को गुरुद्वारों की बनावट में साफ़ देखा जा सकता है।
Sikh architecture can be clearly seen in the design of gurdwaras.
(sikh vaastuklaa ko gurudvaaron kii banaavat men saaf dekhaa jaa saktaa hai।)
यह सिख रीति-रिवाज़ों पर एक शोधपत्र है।
This is a research paper on Sikh customs.
(yah sikh riiti-rivaazon par ek shodhpatr hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct):
सिख
(sikh)
(sg.m/f.oblique):
सिख
(sikh)
(pl.m/f.direct):
सिखें
(sikhen)
(pl.m/f.oblique):
सिखों
(sikhon)
Adjective (invariant)
invariant:
सिख
(sikh)