खोटा (khotaa)

adjective An adjective meaning 'counterfeit, base, or flawed' -- used literally of debased coin/metal and figuratively of a person's character or intentions.

Sense 1 : false-hearted, dishonest, of bad character

adjective

Synonyms: बेईमान (beiimaan), दुष्ट (dusht, stronger, 'wicked'), कपटी (kaptii, 'deceitful')

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: Applied to people, खोटा (khotaa) extends the 'counterfeit coin' image to character: a खोटा इंसान (khotaa insaan, 'a false/crooked person') is someone whose outer appearance doesn't match their real, untrustworthy inside -- much like a coin that looks genuine but isn't. You'll also hear खोटी नीयत (khotii niiyat, 'bad/dishonest intention') used when someone's real motives are suspect.

Common Mistakes: 1) Do not confuse with खट्टा (khattaa, 'sour') -- the spellings and sounds are close and learners sometimes mix them up in speech.

Sample Sentences:

वह बहुत खोटा इंसान है, उससे बचकर रहो। He is a very crooked person, stay away from him.

(vah bahut khotaa insaan hai, usse bachkar raho।)

मुझे उसकी नीयत खोटी लग रही है। His intentions seem dishonest to me.

(mujhe uskii niiyat khotii lag rahii hai।)

अगर वह खोटा न होता तो हम उस पर आँख मूँदकर भरोसा कर लेते। If he weren't false-hearted, we would have trusted him blindly.

(agar vah khotaa n hotaa to ham us par aankh moondkar bharosaa kar lete।)

व्यापारी की खोटी नीयत का पता तब चला जब उसने माल में मिलावट कर दी। The merchant's dishonest intention became clear when he adulterated the goods.

(vyaapaarii kii khotii niiyat kaa pataa tab chalaa jab usne maal men milaavat kar dii।)

कोई भी खोटे आदमी की मीठी बातों में मत आना। Don't ever fall for the sweet talk of a crooked man.

(koii bhii khote aadmii kii miithii baaton men mat aanaa।)

समाज में ऐसे खोटे लोग भी होते हैं जो दोस्ती की आड़ में धोखा देते हैं। In society there are also such crooked people who deceive under the guise of friendship.

(samaaj men aise khote log bhii hote hain jo dostii kii aad men dhokhaa dete hain।)

यदि उसकी नीयत खोटी हो तो सावधान रहना। If his intentions turn out to be dishonest, then be careful.

(yadi uskii niiyat khotii ho to saavdhaan rahnaa।)

खोटे मन से की गई दोस्ती कभी टिकती नहीं। A friendship formed with a false heart never lasts.

(khote man se kii gaii dostii kabhii tiktii nahiin।)

पहले वह इतना खोटा नहीं था, हालात ने उसे ऐसा बना दिया। Earlier he wasn't so crooked, circumstances made him like this.

(pahle vah itnaa khotaa nahiin thaa, haalaat ne use aisaa banaa diyaa।)

खोटे इंसान की पहचान उसके शब्दों से नहीं, उसके कर्मों से होती है। A false-hearted person is recognized not by his words, but by his deeds.

(khote insaan kii pahchaan uske shabdon se nahiin, uske karmon se hotii hai।)

Sense 2 : counterfeit, debased (of coin or metal)

adjective

Synonyms: नकली (naklii), जाली (jaalii, especially for forged documents/currency), मिलावटी (milaavtii, for adulterated substances)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: The classic phrase is खोटा सिक्का (khotaa sikkaa, 'a counterfeit coin') -- and from there Hindi built a whole proverb, खोटा सिक्का कभी न कभी खनक ही जाता है (khotaa sikkaa kabhii n kabhii khanak hii jaataa hai, 'a counterfeit coin eventually rings itself out'), meaning a fraud always gets exposed in the end. This literal sense is the root image behind the figurative 'false-hearted person' sense below.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for नकली (naklii) in every 'fake' context, but खोटा (khotaa) carries an older, more literal flavor tied to debased coin/metal and now survives mainly in the idiom खोटा सिक्का (khotaa sikkaa, 'counterfeit coin') and its figurative extension -- it is not the default word for a fake product.

Sample Sentences:

यह सिक्का खोटा है। This coin is counterfeit.

(yah sikkaa khotaa hai।)

दुकानदार ने कहा कि यह सोना खोटा है। The shopkeeper said that this gold is adulterated.

(dukaandaar ne kahaa ki yah sonaa khotaa hai।)

बाज़ार में खोटे सिक्के चलाना कानूनन जुर्म है। Circulating counterfeit coins in the market is a legal offense.

(baazaar men khote sikke chalaanaa kaanoonan jurm hai।)

जौहरी ने जाँचकर बताया कि हार में लगी धातु खोटी है। The jeweler examined it and told us that the metal used in the necklace is debased.

(jauhrii ne jaanchkar bataayaa ki haar men lagii dhaatu khotii hai।)

अगर यह चाँदी खोटी होती, तो इतनी हल्की न लगती। If this silver were debased, it wouldn't feel this light.

(agar yah chaandii khotii hotii, to itnii halkii n lagtii।)

खोटा सिक्का कभी न कभी खनक ही जाता है। A counterfeit coin eventually rings itself out.

(khotaa sikkaa kabhii n kabhii khanak hii jaataa hai।)

पुराने समय में खोटे सिक्के ढालने वालों को कड़ी सज़ा दी जाती थी। In olden times, those who minted counterfeit coins were given severe punishment.

(puraane samay men khote sikke dhaalne vaalon ko kadii sazaa dii jaatii thii।)

क्या यह मुहर खोटी है या असली? Is this seal fake or real?

(kyaa yah muhar khotii hai yaa aslii?)

इस सिक्के को खोटा मत समझो, यह असली चाँदी का है। Don't think this coin is counterfeit; it's made of real silver.

(is sikke ko khotaa mat samjho, yah aslii chaandii kaa hai।)

Morphology

Adjective (variable)

(sg.m): खोटा (khotaa)

(pl.m): खोटे (khote)

(sg.f): खोटी (khotii)

(pl.f): खोटी (khotii)