चीता (chiitaa)
noun
Refers to the big cat, the cheetah or (colloquially, by loose overlap) the leopard; also survives as a proper name and in the funeral-pyre sense in some registers.
Sense
1
:
the animal: cheetah
noun, masculine
Synonyms: तेंदुआ (tenduaa, technically 'leopard,' but often confused with चीता in everyday speech)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Cheetahs went extinct in India by the mid-20th century, so most Indians only know चीता (chiitaa) from zoos, wildlife documentaries, or news; there was major national excitement a few years back when cheetahs were reintroduced from Africa into Kuno National Park, so the word has recently become more present in everyday news chatter.
Common Mistakes: 1) Many Hindi speakers use चीता (chiitaa) loosely for both cheetah and leopard, since the animals are visually similar to a non-specialist; a learner should know that in casual conversation, precise zoological distinction is often not intended. 2) Do not confuse with चिड़िया (chidiyaa, 'small bird'), which sounds similar to beginners but is unrelated.
Sample Sentences:
चीता दुनिया का सबसे तेज़ दौड़ने वाला जानवर है।
The cheetah is the fastest running animal in the world.
(chiitaa duniyaa kaa sabse tez daudne vaalaa jaanvar hai।)
कुछ साल पहले कूनो नेशनल पार्क में अफ्रीका से चीते लाए गए थे।
A few years ago, cheetahs were brought from Africa to Kuno National Park.
(kuchh saal pahle koono neshnal paark men aphriikaa se chiite laae gae the।)
भारत में चीते बीसवीं सदी के बीच में ही खत्म हो गए थे।
Cheetahs had already gone extinct in India by the middle of the twentieth century.
(bhaarat men chiite biisviin sadii ke biich men hii khatm ho gae the।)
बच्चे चिड़ियाघर में चीते को देखकर बहुत खुश हुए।
The children were very happy seeing the cheetah at the zoo.
(bachche chidiyaaghar men chiite ko dekhkar bahut khush hue।)
अगर जंगल सुरक्षित होते तो चीते फिर से यहाँ बस पाते।
If the forests were safe, cheetahs would be able to settle here again.
(agar jangal surakshit hote to chiite phir se yahaan bas paate।)
क्या तुमने कभी चीते को शिकार करते हुए देखा है?
Have you ever seen a cheetah hunting?
(kyaa tumne kabhii chiite ko shikaar karte hue dekhaa hai?)
डॉक्यूमेंट्री में दिखाया गया कि चीता कैसे अपने शिकार का पीछा करता है।
The documentary showed how a cheetah chases its prey.
(dokyoomentrii men dikhaayaa gayaa ki chiitaa kaise apne shikaar kaa piichhaa kartaa hai।)
वैज्ञानिकों ने चीतों की संख्या बढ़ाने के लिए कई कदम उठाए हैं।
Scientists have taken several steps to increase the number of cheetahs.
(vaigyaanikon ne chiiton kii sankhyaa badhaane ke lie kaii kadam uthaae hain।)
कृपया चीते के पास मत जाइए, यह खतरनाक हो सकता है।
Please do not go near the cheetah, it could be dangerous.
(kripyaa chiite ke paas mat jaaie, yah khatarnaak ho saktaa hai।)
उम्मीद है कि आने वाले सालों में चीतों की तादाद और बढ़े।
It is hoped that the number of cheetahs will increase further in the coming years.
(ummiid hai ki aane vaale saalon men chiiton kii taadaad aur badhe।)
Sense
2
:
figurative: someone very fast
noun, masculine Used predicatively or as an exclamation about a person's speed, e.g. praising a fast runner or driver.
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: Just like English speakers say 'fast as a cheetah,' Hindi speakers casually call a quick runner or a rash driver चीता (chiitaa) -- for instance, a motorcyclist weaving through Delhi traffic might get called चीता (chiitaa) by an admiring or exasperated friend.
Sample Sentences:
अरे यार, तू तो चीता है, इतनी जल्दी कैसे पहुँच गया?
Dude, you're a total speedster, how did you get here so fast?
(are yaar, too to chiitaa hai, itnii jaldii kaise pahunch gayaa?)
वह लड़का बाइक पर बिलकुल चीता बन जाता है।
That guy turns into an absolute speed demon on his bike.
(vah ladkaa baaik par bilkul chiitaa ban jaataa hai।)
सड़क पर इतना मत उड़ा, तुझे कौन-सा चीता बनना है!
Don't fly like that on the road, who told you to become a speedster!
(sadak par itnaa mat udaa, tujhe kaun-saa chiitaa bannaa hai!)
दौड़ में वह चीता निकला, सबको पीछे छोड़ दिया।
He turned out to be a real speedster in the race, left everyone behind.
(daud men vah chiitaa niklaa, sabko piichhe chhod diyaa।)
अगर वह थोड़ा ट्रेनिंग करता तो पक्का चीता बन जाता।
If he had trained a bit, he would have definitely become a speedster.
(agar vah thodaa trening kartaa to pakkaa chiitaa ban jaataa।)
दिल्ली की सड़कों पर हर दूसरा बाइक वाला खुद को चीता समझता है।
On Delhi's roads, every second biker thinks he's a speedster.
(dillii kii sadkon par har doosraa baaik vaalaa khud ko chiitaa samajhtaa hai।)
काश मैं भी उसकी तरह चीता होता, तब यह रेस मैं जीत जाता।
I wish I were a speedster like him too, then I would have won this race.
(kaash main bhii uskii tarah chiitaa hotaa, tab yah res main jiit jaataa।)
उसे चीता कहा जाता है क्योंकि वह हर काम फटाफट निपटा देता है।
He's called a speedster because he finishes every task in a flash.
(use chiitaa kahaa jaataa hai kyonki vah har kaam phataaphat niptaa detaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
चीता
(chiitaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
चीता
(chiitaa)
(pl.m.direct):
चीता
(chiitaa)
(pl.m.oblique):
चीताओं
(chiitaaon)