नियत (niyat)

adjective/noun Mainly used as an adjective meaning 'fixed/decided/appointed' (as in a fixed time or amount); also has a rarer noun use pointing toward 'intention.' Not to be confused with नियति (niyti, destiny/fate), a related-looking but distinct word.

Sense 1 : fixed, appointed, predetermined

adjective

Synonyms: निश्चित (nishchit), तय (tay), मुकर्रर (mukarrar, formal/legal-tinged)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: You will meet नियत (niyat) most often on official notices or in slightly formal speech -- a court notice giving a नियत तारीख़ (niyat taariikh, 'fixed/appointed date'), or a school circular naming a नियत समय (niyat samay, 'fixed time') for an event. In everyday conversation, तय (tay) does the same job with far less starch.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse नियत (niyat) with नियति (niyti, 'fate/destiny') because they look and sound alike -- नियत (niyat) is about something being set or scheduled, not about cosmic fate. 2) It tends to appear with formal or bureaucratic nouns like समय (niyat samay, 'fixed/appointed time') or तारीख़ (niyat taariikh, 'fixed date') rather than in casual chit-chat, where तय (tay) is far more common.

Sample Sentences:

अदालत ने सुनवाई के लिए नियत तारीख़ बता दी है। The court has announced the fixed date for the hearing.

(adaalat ne sunvaaii ke lie niyat taariikh bataa dii hai।)

बैठक नियत समय पर शुरू होगी। The meeting will begin at the appointed time.

(baithak niyat samay par shuroo hogii।)

परीक्षा नियत तिथि से एक सप्ताह पहले टल गई। The exam was postponed a week before the fixed date.

(pariikshaa niyat tithi se ek saptaah pahle tal gaii।)

कृपया नियत स्थान पर ही उपस्थित हों। Please be present only at the designated place.

(kripyaa niyat sthaan par hii upasthit hon।)

हर कर्मचारी को नियत समय पर कार्यालय पहुँचना चाहिए। Every employee should reach the office at the fixed time.

(har karmchaarii ko niyat samay par kaaryaalay pahunchnaa chaahie।)

अगर वह नियत समय पर आ जाता, तो हमें इंतज़ार न करना पड़ता। If he had come at the appointed time, we would not have had to wait.

(agar vah niyat samay par aa jaataa, to hamen intzaar n karnaa padtaa।)

नियत तारीख़ पर सभी दस्तावेज़ प्रस्तुत किए जाने चाहिए। All documents should be submitted on the fixed date.

(niyat taariikh par sabhii dastaavez prastut kie jaane chaahie।)

नियत मूल्य से अधिक कोई राशि नहीं ली जाएगी। No amount more than the fixed price will be charged.

(niyat mooly se adhik koii raashi nahiin lii jaaegii।)

विद्यालय ने प्रवेश परीक्षा के लिए नियत तिथि घोषित कर दी थी। The school had already declared the fixed date for the entrance exam.

(vidyaalay ne pravesh pariikshaa ke lie niyat tithi ghoshit kar dii thii।)

Sense 2 : intention, resolve (formal/literary)

noun, feminine

Synonyms: इरादा (iraadaa), नीयत (niiyat, the more common spelling/word for this sense)

Frequency: literary

Cultural Note: This sense is really the territory of its cousin नीयत (niiyat) -- as in the common saying नीयत साफ़ होनी चाहिए (niiyat saaf honii chaahie, 'one's intentions should be clean/honest'). नियत (niyat) itself is rarely used this way in modern speech; it is included here mainly so you recognize the link if you meet it in older or more literary text.

Common Mistakes: 1) This noun sense overlaps heavily with नीयत (niiyat, 'intention, motive'), which is the far more common spelling and word choice in everyday speech; a learner is more likely to actually hear and need नीयत (niiyat) than this noun use of नियत (niyat).

Sample Sentences:

उसकी नियत में कोई खोट न थी। There was no flaw in his intention.

(uskii niyat men koii khot n thii।)

साधु की नियत सदा शुद्ध रहती है। A sage's intention always remains pure.

(saadhu kii niyat sadaa shuddh rahtii hai।)

यदि नियत शुद्ध होती, तो यह कर्म भी सफल होता। If the intention had been pure, this deed too would have succeeded.

(yadi niyat shuddh hotii, to yah karm bhii saphal hotaa।)

कवि ने अपनी नियत को शब्दों में प्रकट किया। The poet expressed his intention in words.

(kavi ne apnii niyat ko shabdon men prakat kiyaa।)

मनुष्य की नियत उसके कर्मों से जानी जाती है। A person's intention is known through their deeds.

(manushy kii niyat uske karmon se jaanii jaatii hai।)

हे प्रभु, मेरी नियत को शुद्ध कर दो। O Lord, purify my intention.

(he prabhu, merii niyat ko shuddh kar do।)

शास्त्रों में कहा गया है कि नियत ही कर्म का मूल है। It is said in the scriptures that intention is the root of action.

(shaastron men kahaa gayaa hai ki niyat hii karm kaa mool hai।)

उसकी नियत पर संदेह करना उचित न होगा। It would not be right to doubt his intention.

(uskii niyat par sandeh karnaa uchit n hogaa।)

Morphology

Adjective (invariant)

invariant: नियत (niyat)

Noun

(sg.f.direct): नियत (niyat)

(sg.f.oblique): नियत (niyat)

(pl.f.direct): नियतें (niyten)

(pl.f.oblique): नियतों (niyton)