महा- (mahaa-)

adjective A bound prefix meaning 'great' or 'mega-,' attached to nouns and adjectives to intensify or elevate them; it never stands alone as a word.

Sense 1 : great, mighty, supreme (prefixed to a noun)

adjective Attaches directly to the following noun with no space in careful spelling, e.g. महापुरुष (mahaapurush, 'great man'), महाशक्ति (mahaashakti, 'superpower'); the compound as a whole then behaves as an ordinary noun.

Synonyms: बड़ा (badaa, separate word, not a prefix), परम (param, literary)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will meet this everywhere from mythology to modern media: महाभारत (mahaabhaarat, the great epic), महात्मा (mahaatmaa, 'great soul,' as in Mahatma Gandhi), and even casual exaggeration like महामूर्ख (mahaamoorkh, 'a huge fool'). It carries the same instinct as English 'mega-' or 'super-' but with a more classical, weighty flavor drawn from Sanskrit.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes write it as a free-standing word with a space before the noun it modifies, like महा पुरुष (mahaa purush); in standard usage it is fused: महापुरुष (mahaapurush). 2) महा- (mahaa-) itself never inflects for gender or number -- only the noun it attaches to does.

Sample Sentences:

महात्मा गांधी को पूरी दुनिया सम्मान से याद करती है। The whole world remembers Mahatma Gandhi with respect.

(mahaatmaa gaandhii ko poorii duniyaa sammaan se yaad kartii hai।)

महाभारत भारत के सबसे बड़े महाकाव्यों में से एक है। The Mahabharata is one of India's greatest epics.

(mahaabhaarat bhaarat ke sabse bade mahaakaavyon men se ek hai।)

वह इलाके का महामूर्ख है, कोई भी उसकी बात नहीं सुनता। He is the biggest fool in the neighborhood; nobody listens to him.

(vah ilaake kaa mahaamoorkh hai, koii bhii uskii baat nahiin suntaa।)

यह शहर पिछले साल एक महामारी से जूझ रहा था। This city was struggling with a great epidemic last year.

(yah shahar pichhle saal ek mahaamaarii se joojh rahaa thaa।)

अगर वह सच में महापुरुष होता, तो इतना घमंड नहीं करता। If he were truly a great man, he wouldn't be so arrogant.

(agar vah sach men mahaapurush hotaa, to itnaa ghamand nahiin kartaa।)

कृपया इस महायोजना का बजट फिर से जांच लें। Please check the budget of this grand plan again.

(kripyaa is mahaayojnaa kaa bajat phir se jaanch len।)

शायद यह देश का सबसे बड़ा महाघोटाला निकले। This might turn out to be the country's biggest mega-scandal.

(shaayad yah desh kaa sabse badaa mahaaghotaalaa nikle।)

उस महायुद्ध में लाखों सैनिक मारे गए थे। Millions of soldiers were killed in that great war.

(us mahaayuddh men laakhon sainik maare gae the।)

महाशक्तियों के बीच यह तनाव कई दशकों से चला आ रहा है। This tension between the superpowers has been going on for decades.

(mahaashaktiyon ke biich yah tanaav kaii dashkon se chalaa aa rahaa hai।)

महादेव के मंदिर में हर सोमवार भारी भीड़ लगती है। There is a huge crowd at the great Lord Shiva's temple every Monday.

(mahaadev ke mandir men har somvaar bhaarii bhiid lagtii hai।)

जब तक वह महानायक न बने, वह चुप नहीं बैठेगा। He won't sit quiet until he becomes a great hero.

(jab tak vah mahaanaayak n bane, vah chup nahiin baithegaa।)

Sense 2 : used ironically/humorously to mock exaggerated importance

adjective The prefix itself doesn't change form for this sense; the ironic tone comes entirely from context and the noun chosen, e.g. महाज्ञानी (mahaagyaanii, 'ever so wise,' said sarcastically).

Synonyms: तथाकथित (tathaakthit, so-called, more formal)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: Delhi friends love this move: calling someone महाज्ञानी (mahaagyaanii) or महारानी (mahaaraanii, 'queen,' used sarcastically toward someone acting entitled) is a classic gently teasing jab, similar to English 'oh, Your Highness.' The literal grandeur of महा- (mahaa-) is what makes the sarcasm land.

Sample Sentences:

अरे महारानी, अब उठ भी जाओ, दोपहर हो गई है। Oh, Your Highness, get up already, it's afternoon now.

(are mahaaraanii, ab uth bhii jaao, dopahar ho gaii hai।)

ये महाज्ञानी साहब हर बात में अपनी राय देते हैं, चाहे कोई पूछे या न पूछे। This so-called great sage gives his opinion on everything, whether anyone asks or not.

(ye mahaagyaanii saahab har baat men apnii raay dete hain, chaahe koii poochhe yaa n poochhe।)

जब से प्रमोशन हुआ है, ये अपने को महानेता समझने लगे हैं। Ever since the promotion, he's started thinking of himself as some great leader.

(jab se pramoshan huaa hai, ye apne ko mahaanetaa samajhne lage hain।)

क्या हुआ महारानी जी, आज खाना खुद बनाना पड़ रहा है? What happened, Your Highness, having to cook your own food today?

(kyaa huaa mahaaraanii jii, aaj khaanaa khud banaanaa pad rahaa hai?)

अगर तुम इतने महाज्ञानी होते तो अपना फोन खुद ही ढूंढ लेते। If you were such a great genius, you'd have found your own phone yourself.

(agar tum itne mahaagyaanii hote to apnaa phon khud hii dhoondh lete।)

इन महाशय को कौन समझाए कि दुनिया उनके इशारों पर नहीं चलती। Who's going to explain to this great gentleman that the world doesn't run on his say?

(in mahaashay ko kaun samjhaae ki duniyaa unke ishaaron par nahiin chaltii।)

महाशय, ज़रा अपना बैग खुद उठा लीजिए, कोई नौकर नहीं है यहाँ। Great sir, do pick up your own bag, there's no servant here.

(mahaashay, zaraa apnaa baig khud uthaa liijie, koii naukar nahiin hai yahaan।)

पूरे दफ्तर में यही एक महाविद्वान हैं जिन्हें हर विषय की पूरी जानकारी है, ऐसा वो खुद कहते हैं। In the whole office, he's the one great scholar who has full knowledge of every subject, or so he says himself.

(poore daphtar men yahii ek mahaavidvaan hain jinhen har vishay kii poorii jaankaarii hai, aisaa vo khud kahte hain।)

देखो तो, महारानी को आज हमारी मदद की याद आ गई! Look at that, Her Highness suddenly remembered our help today!

(dekho to, mahaaraanii ko aaj hamaarii madad kii yaad aa gaii!)

अगर सबकी बात मान ली जाए तो ये महामानव अगला प्रधानमंत्री बन जाएँगे। If everyone's word is to be believed, this so-called great man will become the next prime minister.

(agar sabkii baat maan lii jaae to ye mahaamaanav aglaa pradhaanmantrii ban jaaenge।)

Morphology

Adjective (invariant)

invariant: महा- ([[महा-]])