गुस्ताख़ (gustaakh)

adjective An adjective meaning 'insolent, impudent, rude' -- describes someone overstepping the bounds of respect, often toward an elder or superior.
Sense 1 : insolent, impudent, disrespectful
adjective
Synonyms: बदतमीज़ (badatmiiz), बेअदब (beadab), उद्धत (uddhat, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word has a distinctly Urdu-courtly flavor -- you meet it in Mughal-era dramas and old Hindi films where a courtier or subject is scolded with गुस्ताख़ी माफ़ हो (gustaakhii maaf ho, 'forgive my insolence'), a stock phrase of humble apology before saying something bold. The noun form गुस्ताख़ी (gustaakhii, 'insolence') is at least as common as this adjective in daily use.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for बदतमीज़ (badatmiiz) as a casual synonym, but गुस्ताख़ (gustaakh) carries a slightly more literary, old-world flavor -- it shows up in period dramas and formal scoldings more than in everyday bickering. 2) It describes overstepping toward someone owed respect (an elder, a ruler, a boss), not generic rudeness between equals -- calling a friend गुस्ताख़ (gustaakh) for a joke would sound oddly formal or theatrical.
Sample Sentences:
माफ़ी चाहता हूँ, अगर मेरी बात गुस्ताख़ लगे तो। I beg pardon, if my words seem insolent.
(maafii chaahtaa hoon, agar merii baat gustaakh lage to।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गुस्ताख़ी माफ़ हो, हुज़ूर, मगर यह बात कहनी ज़रूरी थी। Forgive my insolence, my lord, but this had to be said.
(gustaakhii maaf ho, huzoor, magar yah baat kahnii zaroorii thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
दरबार में इतना गुस्ताख़ आदमी पहले कभी नहीं आया था। Such an insolent man had never come to the court before.
(darbaar men itnaa gustaakh aadmii pahle kabhii nahiin aayaa thaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
तुम बहुत गुस्ताख़ हो गए हो, ज़बान संभालो। You've become very insolent, watch your tongue.
(tum bahut gustaakh ho gae ho, zabaan sambhaalo।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इतना गुस्ताख़ मत बनो, बड़ों के सामने ऐसे नहीं बोलते। Don't be so insolent, one doesn't speak like this in front of elders.
(itnaa gustaakh mat bano, badon ke saamne aise nahiin bolte।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर वह गुस्ताख़ न होता तो शायद माफ़ कर दिया जाता। If he hadn't been so insolent, he might have been forgiven.
(agar vah gustaakh n hotaa to shaayad maaf kar diyaa jaataa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Passive
उसकी गुस्ताख़ मुस्कान देखकर बादशाह का ग़ुस्सा और बढ़ गया। Seeing his insolent smile, the king's anger flared even more.
(uskii gustaakh muskaan dekhkar baadshaah kaa ghussaa aur badh gayaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
क्या तुम्हें पता है कि इतना गुस्ताख़ सवाल पूछने की सज़ा क्या होती है? Do you know what the punishment is for asking such an insolent question?
(kyaa tumhen pataa hai ki itnaa gustaakh savaal poochhne kii sazaa kyaa hotii hai?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गुस्ताख़ लोगों को इस महल में घुसने की इजाज़त नहीं दी जाती। Insolent people are not given permission to enter this palace.
(gustaakh logon ko is mahal men ghusne kii ijaazat nahiin dii jaatii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Adjective (invariant)
invariant: गुस्ताख़ (gustaakh)