कृतज्ञता (kritagytaa)

noun A formal, Sanskrit-derived noun meaning gratitude or thankfulness; a single-sense word used mainly in reflective or written speech rather than casual chat.
Sense 1 : gratitude, thankfulness
noun, feminine
Synonyms: आभार (aabhaar), शुक्रगुज़ारी (shukrguzaarii)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This word belongs to the same register as speeches, essays, and heartfelt letters -- you would write it in a school essay on 'गुरु का महत्व' (guru kaa mahatv, 'the importance of a teacher') far more readily than say it at the dinner table, where शुक्रिया (shukriyaa) or धन्यवाद (dhanyvaad) does the job. It shares its root with कृतज्ञ (kritagy, 'grateful,' the adjective) -- learning that pair together is efficient.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for कृतज्ञता (kritagytaa) where a native speaker would simply say धन्यवाद (dhanyvaad) or शुक्रिया (shukriyaa) -- this word names the *feeling* of gratitude, not the act of saying thanks, so it rarely appears as a one-word interjection. 2) It takes के प्रति (ke prati, 'towards') to mark the person or thing one feels grateful for, e.g. अपने माता-पिता के प्रति कृतज्ञता (apne maataa-pitaa ke prati kritagytaa, 'gratitude towards one's parents') -- not को (ko).
Sample Sentences:
हमें अपने माता-पिता के प्रति कृतज्ञता व्यक्त करनी चाहिए। We should express gratitude toward our parents.
(hamen apne maataa-pitaa ke prati kritagytaa vyakt karnii chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गुरु के प्रति कृतज्ञता प्रकट करना हमारी संस्कृति का हिस्सा है। Expressing gratitude toward one's teacher is part of our culture.
(guru ke prati kritagytaa prakat karnaa hamaarii sanskriti kaa hissaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उसने अपने भाषण में शिक्षकों के प्रति गहरी कृतज्ञता व्यक्त की। In his speech, he expressed deep gratitude toward his teachers.
(usne apne bhaashan men shikshkon ke prati gahrii kritagytaa vyakt kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
इस निबंध में जीवन के प्रति कृतज्ञता का महत्व समझाया गया है। In this essay, the importance of gratitude toward life has been explained.
(is nibandh men jiivan ke prati kritagytaa kaa mahatv samjhaayaa gayaa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर हम अपनी सफलता का श्रेय दूसरों को दें, तो यही सच्ची कृतज्ञता है। If we credit others for our success, that itself is true gratitude.
(agar ham apnii saphaltaa kaa shrey doosron ko den, to yahii sachchii kritagytaa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
काश हमारे भीतर उतनी कृतज्ञता होती जितनी हमें प्रकृति ने दी है। If only we had as much gratitude within us as nature has given us.
(kaash hamaare bhiitar utnii kritagytaa hotii jitnii hamen prakriti ne dii hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
देश के प्रति कृतज्ञता व्यक्त करते हुए उसने अपना जीवन सेवा में समर्पित कर दिया। Expressing gratitude toward the nation, he dedicated his life to service.
(desh ke prati kritagytaa vyakt karte hue usne apnaa jiivan sevaa men samarpit kar diyaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
समारोह के अंत में सभी अतिथियों ने आयोजकों के प्रति कृतज्ञता प्रकट की। At the end of the ceremony, all the guests expressed gratitude toward the organizers.
(samaaroh ke ant men sabhii atithiyon ne aayojkon ke prati kritagytaa prakat kii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
प्रकृति के प्रति कृतज्ञता का भाव हमें विनम्र बनाता है। A sense of gratitude toward nature makes us humble.
(prakriti ke prati kritagytaa kaa bhaav hamen vinamr banaataa hai।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): कृतज्ञता (kritagytaa)
(sg.f.oblique): कृतज्ञता (kritagytaa)
(pl.f.direct): कृतज्ञताएँ (kritagytaaen)
(pl.f.oblique): कृतज्ञताओं (kritagytaaon)