पटाखा (pataakhaa)
noun
Primarily 'firecracker' -- the thing you light during Diwali -- with a lively figurative extension to a spirited or feisty person, mostly used for a woman.
Sense
1
:
firecracker
noun, masculine
Synonyms: आतिशबाज़ी (aatishbaazii, usually the display/fireworks show rather than a single piece)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: पटाखा (pataakhaa) is one of the first words every kid learns before Diwali -- पटाखे चलाना (pataakhe chalaanaa, 'to set off firecrackers') is the classic phrase you will hear all over a Delhi mohalla in late October. In recent years it also comes loaded with the pollution debate, so you will hear ग्रीन पटाखे (griin pataakhe, 'green firecrackers') as a common compromise term on the news.
Common Mistakes: 1) पटाखा (pataakhaa) is the individual firecracker; for the whole fireworks display or the general activity of setting off firecrackers, आतिशबाज़ी (aatishbaazii) is more natural, e.g. आतिशबाज़ी देखना (aatishbaazii dekhnaa, 'to watch the fireworks') rather than पटाखे देखना (pataakhe dekhnaa).
Sample Sentences:
दिवाली पर बच्चे पटाखे चलाते हैं।
Children set off firecrackers on Diwali.
(divaalii par bachche pataakhe chalaate hain।)
कल रात पड़ोसी ने ढेर सारे पटाखे चलाए।
Last night the neighbor set off a huge pile of firecrackers.
(kal raat padosii ne dher saare pataakhe chalaae।)
बाज़ार में इस साल ग्रीन पटाखे ही बिक रहे हैं।
This year only green firecrackers are being sold in the market.
(baazaar men is saal griin pataakhe hii bik rahe hain।)
पटाखे मत चलाओ, आवाज़ से मेरे कान दुखने लगे हैं।
Don't set off firecrackers, my ears have started hurting from the noise.
(pataakhe mat chalaao, aavaaz se mere kaan dukhne lage hain।)
छत पर पटाखे रखे हैं, बच्चों को हाथ मत लगाने देना।
The firecrackers are kept on the roof, don't let the kids touch them.
(chhat par pataakhe rakhe hain, bachchon ko haath mat lagaane denaa।)
अगर प्रदूषण न बढ़ता तो शायद इस बार भी सब खुलेआम पटाखे चलाते।
If pollution hadn't increased, maybe everyone would have set off firecrackers openly this time too.
(agar pradooshan n badhtaa to shaayad is baar bhii sab khuleaam pataakhe chalaate।)
दिल्ली सरकार ने पटाखों की बिक्री पर रोक लगा दी है।
The Delhi government has imposed a ban on the sale of firecrackers.
(dillii sarkaar ne pataakhon kii bikrii par rok lagaa dii hai।)
काश हम भी बचपन में इतने पटाखे चला पाते।
I wish we too could have set off so many firecrackers in our childhood.
(kaash ham bhii bachpan men itne pataakhe chalaa paate।)
अगले हफ्ते तक सारे पटाखे फुंक जाएंगे।
By next week, all the firecrackers will have been set off.
(agle haphte tak saare pataakhe phunk jaaenge।)
शायद इस बार मोहल्ले में पटाखे कम चलें, सबको प्रदूषण की चिंता है।
Maybe fewer firecrackers will go off in the neighborhood this time, everyone is worried about pollution.
(shaayad is baar mohalle men pataakhe kam chalen, sabko pradooshan kii chintaa hai।)
पिछले साल पटाखों की आवाज़ से मेरे कुत्ते बहुत डर गए थे।
Last year, my dogs got really scared from the sound of the firecrackers.
(pichhle saal pataakhon kii aavaaz se mere kutte bahut dar gae the।)
Sense
2
:
a spirited, feisty, or bold person (figurative)
noun, masculine Used predicatively or as a description, almost always affectionately or admiringly: वह लड़की तो पटाखा है (vah ladkii to pataakhaa hai, 'that girl is a real firecracker').
Synonyms: तेज़ (tez, adjective use, sharp/spirited)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the word you will hear in Bollywood-adjacent chatter and Hindi film songs to praise a bold, vivacious woman -- it carries the same punch as English 'firecracker' or 'spitfire' used the same way, so the metaphor actually translates quite directly.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative sense is almost always applied to a woman in everyday speech, describing boldness, sharpness, or striking looks/personality; using it for a man sounds odd to most speakers.
Sample Sentences:
वो लड़की तो पूरी पटाखा है!
That girl is an absolute firecracker!
(vo ladkii to poorii pataakhaa hai!)
मेरी बहन बचपन से ही पटाखा रही है, किसी से डरती नहीं।
My sister has been a firecracker since childhood, she's never afraid of anyone.
(merii bahan bachpan se hii pataakhaa rahii hai, kisii se dartii nahiin।)
फिल्म की हीरोइन को डायरेक्टर ने एक पटाखा किरदार के तौर पर लिखा था।
The director wrote the film's heroine as a firecracker character.
(philm kii hiiroin ko daayrektar ne ek pataakhaa kirdaar ke taur par likhaa thaa।)
अरे यार, तू तो सच में पटाखा निकली!
Dude, you actually turned out to be a real firecracker!
(are yaar, too to sach men pataakhaa niklii!)
अगर वो थोड़ी शांत होती तो पटाखा नहीं कहलाती।
If she were a bit calmer, she wouldn't be called a firecracker.
(agar vo thodii shaant hotii to pataakhaa nahiin kahlaatii।)
गाने में हीरो कहता है, "तू तो है पटाखा, संभल के रहना।"
In the song, the hero says, "You're a firecracker, better watch out."
(gaane men hiiro kahtaa hai, "too to hai pataakhaa, sambhal ke rahnaa।")
उसकी नई सहेली सुनने में पटाखा लगती है, मिलवा दे उससे!
His new friend sounds like a real firecracker, introduce her to me!
(uskii naii sahelii sunne men pataakhaa lagtii hai, milvaa de usse!)
शायद वो थोड़ी पटाखा किस्म की हो, पर दिल की बुरी नहीं है।
She might be a bit of a firecracker type, but she's not bad-hearted.
(shaayad vo thodii pataakhaa kism kii ho, par dil kii burii nahiin hai।)
पार्टी में सब उसे पटाखा बुलाते हैं क्योंकि वो हमेशा माहौल बना देती है।
Everyone at parties calls her a firecracker because she always lights up the mood.
(paartii men sab use pataakhaa bulaate hain kyonki vo hameshaa maahaul banaa detii hai।)
उस ज़माने की हीरोइनें असली पटाखा हुआ करती थीं, बिंदास और बेखौफ।
The heroines of that era used to be real firecrackers, carefree and fearless.
(us zamaane kii hiiroinen aslii pataakhaa huaa kartii thiin, bindaas aur bekhauph।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
पटाखा
(pataakhaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
पटाखे
(pataakhe)
(pl.m.direct):
पटाखे
(pataakhe)
(pl.m.oblique):
पटाखों
(pataakhon)