पटाका (pataakaa)
noun
Literally a firecracker (pataakaa); the same word is also used figuratively for a strikingly attractive or dazzling person, and colloquially for a piece of shocking or explosive news.
Sense
1
:
firecracker
noun, masculine
Synonyms: पटाखा (pataakhaa, variant spelling), आतिशबाज़ी (aatishbaazii, meaning scope: fireworks display overall)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: This is a Diwali (divaalii) word above all -- markets fill with stalls selling पटाके (pataake) in the weeks before the festival, and the loud bursts on the night itself are called पटाके फोड़ना (pataake phodnaa, 'to burst firecrackers'). Note the spelling varies freely between पटाका (pataakaa) and पटाखा (pataakhaa) with no difference in meaning.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often only know पटाका (pataakaa) in its figurative 'attractive person' sense from Bollywood songs and are surprised to learn the literal, more common meaning is simply 'firecracker,' as used around Diwali (divaalii).
Sample Sentences:
दिवाली पर बच्चे पटाके फोड़ते हैं।
Children burst firecrackers on Diwali.
(divaalii par bachche pataake phodte hain।)
बाज़ार में पटाकों की दुकानें सजी हुई हैं।
The market is decked out with firecracker stalls.
(baazaar men pataakon kii dukaanen sajii huii hain।)
कल रात हमने खूब पटाके फोड़े।
Last night we burst a lot of firecrackers.
(kal raat hamne khoob pataake phode।)
इस साल पटाके मत फोड़ो, प्रदूषण बहुत बढ़ गया है।
Don't burst firecrackers this year, the pollution has increased a lot.
(is saal pataake mat phodo, pradooshan bahut badh gayaa hai।)
अगर सरकार इजाज़त देती तो हम और पटाके खरीदते।
If the government had allowed it, we would have bought more firecrackers.
(agar sarkaar ijaazat detii to ham aur pataake khariidte।)
दिवाली से पहले दिल्ली में पटाकों की बिक्री पर रोक लगाई जाती है।
Before Diwali, the sale of firecrackers is banned in Delhi.
(divaalii se pahle dillii men pataakon kii bikrii par rok lagaaii jaatii hai।)
शायद इस बार पुलिस ने कुछ दुकानों से पटाके पकड़े हों।
Perhaps the police may have seized firecrackers from some shops this time.
(shaayad is baar pulis ne kuchh dukaanon se pataake pakde hon।)
छत पर पटाके फोड़ते समय सावधानी रखनी चाहिए।
One should be careful while bursting firecrackers on the roof.
(chhat par pataake phodte samay saavdhaanii rakhnii chaahie।)
बच्चा पटाका जलाकर खुशी से चिल्लाया।
The child lit a firecracker and shouted with joy.
(bachchaa pataakaa jalaakar khushii se chillaayaa।)
आतिशबाज़ी की दुकान में हर तरह के पटाके मिलते हैं, फुलझड़ी से लेकर अनार तक।
In the fireworks shop, you find every kind of firecracker, from sparklers to fountains.
(aatishbaazii kii dukaan men har tarah ke pataake milte hain, phulajhdii se lekar anaar tak।)
गली में इतने पटाके फोड़े गए कि पूरा इलाका धुएँ से भर गया।
So many firecrackers were burst in the lane that the whole area filled with smoke.
(galii men itne pataake phode gae ki pooraa ilaakaa dhuen se bhar gayaa।)
Sense
2
:
a stunning, dazzling person (usually a woman)
noun, masculine Used almost always as a predicate or exclamation about a person's looks, e.g. calling someone पटाका है (pataakaa hai, 'she's a knockout').
Synonyms: बम (bam, colloquial), हॉट (hot, colloquial, English loan)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This figurative use took off through Hindi film songs and dialogue -- calling someone a पटाका (pataakaa) is a flirtatious, filmi compliment, the same instinct behind English slang like 'firecracker' or 'bombshell' for a striking person.
Common Mistakes: 1) This sense is casual and a bit cheeky; using it about someone in a formal or professional context would land as inappropriate or disrespectful. 2) It is applied overwhelmingly to describe women's looks in everyday speech, so learners should be cautious about tone when using it about men.
Sample Sentences:
अरे यार, वो लड़की तो एकदम पटाका है!
Dude, that girl is an absolute knockout!
(are yaar, vo ladkii to ekdam pataakaa hai!)
पार्टी में एक नया पटाका आया था, सबकी नजरें उस पर थीं।
A new bombshell showed up at the party, and everyone's eyes were on her.
(paartii men ek nayaa pataakaa aayaa thaa, sabkii najren us par thiin।)
फिल्म की हीरोइन सच में पटाका लग रही थी उस गाने में।
The film's heroine really looked like a bombshell in that song.
(philm kii hiiroin sach men pataakaa lag rahii thii us gaane men।)
सुना है उसकी नई गर्लफ्रेंड बड़ी पटाका है।
I've heard his new girlfriend is a real bombshell.
(sunaa hai uskii naii garlaphrend badii pataakaa hai।)
क्या तू भी कभी पटाका बनेगी या यूँ ही रहेगी?
Will you ever become a knockout, or will you just stay like this?
(kyaa too bhii kabhii pataakaa banegii yaa yoon hii rahegii?)
अगर वो थोड़ा तैयार होकर आती, तो एकदम पटाका दिखती।
If she had come a bit dressed up, she would have looked like an absolute bombshell.
(agar vo thodaa taiyaar hokar aatii, to ekdam pataakaa dikhtii।)
यार, तू आजकल पटाका दिखने लगी है!
Dude, you've started looking like a total knockout these days!
(yaar, too aajkal pataakaa dikhne lagii hai!)
उस गाने में हीरो हीरोइन को 'ऐ पटाका' कहकर बुलाता है।
In that song, the hero calls the heroine 'hey bombshell.'
(us gaane men hiiro hiiroin ko 'ai pataakaa' kahkar bulaataa hai।)
उसे पटाका मत बोल, उसे बुरा लग सकता है।
Don't call her a bombshell, she might feel offended.
(use pataakaa mat bol, use buraa lag saktaa hai।)
कॉलेज में उसे सबसे बड़ा पटाका माना जाता था।
In college, she was considered the biggest bombshell.
(kolej men use sabse badaa pataakaa maanaa jaataa thaa।)
Sense
3
:
explosive/sensational news or event
noun, masculine Common in phrases like पटाका फूटना (pataakaa phootnaa, 'for a bombshell to drop/burst') used about sudden news, scandals, or announcements.
Synonyms: धमाका (dhamaakaa)
Frequency: low
Cultural Note: Just as firecrackers burst suddenly and loudly, this sense borrows that image for news that explodes onto the scene -- a scandal, a surprise announcement, or a shocking twist, often heard in TV news anchors' dramatic phrasing.
Sample Sentences:
आज सुबह चैनल पर एक बड़ा पटाका फूटा।
This morning a big bombshell exploded on the channel.
(aaj subah chainal par ek badaa pataakaa phootaa।)
नेताजी के इस्तीफे की खबर तो असली पटाका है।
The news of the leader's resignation is a real bombshell.
(netaajii ke istiiphe kii khabar to aslii pataakaa hai।)
एंकर चिल्लाया, "आ गया है आज का सबसे बड़ा पटाका!"
The anchor shouted, "Here comes today's biggest bombshell!"
(enkar chillaayaa, "aa gayaa hai aaj kaa sabse badaa pataakaa!")
अगर वो राज़ खुल गया तो एक और पटाका फूटेगा।
If that secret comes out, another bombshell will go off.
(agar vo raaz khul gayaa to ek aur pataakaa phootegaa।)
पत्रकार हमेशा किसी न किसी पटाके की तलाश में रहते हैं।
Journalists are always on the lookout for some bombshell or other.
(patrkaar hameshaa kisii n kisii pataake kii talaash men rahte hain।)
अगर मुझे उस समय यह पटाका मिल जाता, तो स्टोरी सबसे पहले मेरे चैनल पर आती।
If I had gotten this bombshell at that time, the story would have aired on my channel first.
(agar mujhe us samay yah pataakaa mil jaataa, to storii sabse pahle mere chainal par aatii।)
यह पटाका तो अगले हफ्ते फूटने वाला है, अभी से इंतज़ार करो।
This bombshell is going to drop next week, start waiting from now.
(yah pataakaa to agle haphte phootne vaalaa hai, abhii se intzaar karo।)
संपादक ने कहा कि इस खबर को कल का पटाका बनाकर पेश करो।
The editor said to present this news as tomorrow's bombshell.
(sampaadak ne kahaa ki is khabar ko kal kaa pataakaa banaakar pesh karo।)
सुनने में आया है कि कंपनी के घोटाले वाला पटाका जल्दी ही सामने आएगा।
It's been heard that the bombshell about the company's scam will surface soon.
(sunne men aayaa hai ki kampnii ke ghotaale vaalaa pataakaa jaldii hii saamne aaegaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
पटाका
(pataakaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
पटाके
(pataake)
(pl.m.direct):
पटाके
(pataake)
(pl.m.oblique):
पटाकों
(pataakon)