मिस्त्री (mistrii)
noun
A loanword (from Portuguese via mestre/mistri) meaning a skilled manual tradesman -- mason, carpenter, plumber, or mechanic depending on context. One core sense.
Sense
1
:
skilled tradesman / craftsman (mason, carpenter, mechanic, etc.)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: कारीगर (kaariigar, craftsman, broader term), बढ़ई (badhaii, carpenter specifically), राज मिस्त्री (raaj mistrii, mason specifically)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Every neighborhood in Delhi-NCR has its go-to मिस्त्री (mistrii) -- the guy you call when the tap leaks, the fan stops, or the scooter won't start; it is a term of practical respect for hands-on skill, not a formal job title. You will also hear राज मिस्त्री (raaj mistrii) specifically for a mason who builds walls, showing how the base word combines with a qualifier to narrow the trade.
Common Mistakes: 1) मिस्त्री (mistrii) is a general term that shifts meaning with context -- a plumbing job makes it 'plumber,' a car problem makes it 'mechanic,' a wall makes it 'mason.' Learners sometimes assume it always means one fixed trade, but Hindi speakers let the situation supply the specialty. 2) For a specifically car/machine mechanic, speakers often just say मिस्त्री (mistrii) or the more specific मोटर मिस्त्री (motar mistrii) rather than a separate borrowed word.
Sample Sentences:
नल से पानी टपक रहा है, मिस्त्री को बुलाओ।
Water is dripping from the tap, call the mechanic.
(nal se paanii tapak rahaa hai, mistrii ko bulaao।)
हमारे मोहल्ले का मिस्त्री हर तरह का काम कर लेता है।
Our neighborhood's tradesman can handle all kinds of work.
(hamaare mohalle kaa mistrii har tarah kaa kaam kar letaa hai।)
कल मिस्त्री ने पूरा पंखा ठीक कर दिया।
Yesterday the mechanic fixed the whole fan.
(kal mistrii ne pooraa pankhaa thiik kar diyaa।)
दीवार बनाने के लिए राज मिस्त्री की ज़रूरत पड़ेगी।
We'll need a mason to build the wall.
(diivaar banaane ke lie raaj mistrii kii zaroorat padegii।)
अगर मिस्त्री समय पर आ जाता तो स्कूटर आज ही चल जाता।
If the mechanic had come on time, the scooter would have started today itself.
(agar mistrii samay par aa jaataa to skootar aaj hii chal jaataa।)
शायद मिस्त्री कल आ पाए, आज उसका दूसरा काम है।
Maybe the tradesman will be able to come tomorrow, today he has other work.
(shaayad mistrii kal aa paae, aaj uskaa doosraa kaam hai।)
मिस्त्री द्वारा बनाई गई अलमारी बहुत मज़बूत है।
The cupboard made by the carpenter is very sturdy.
(mistrii dvaaraa banaaii gaii almaarii bahut mazboot hai।)
एक अच्छा मिस्त्री ढूँढना आज के ज़माने में मुश्किल हो गया है।
Finding a good tradesman has become difficult these days.
(ek achchhaa mistrii dhoondhnaa aaj ke zamaane men mushkil ho gayaa hai।)
मिस्त्री जी, ज़रा देखिए तो यह मशीन क्यों नहीं चल रही।
Mistri ji, please have a look at why this machine isn't running.
(mistrii jii, zaraa dekhie to yah mashiin kyon nahiin chal rahii।)
मिस्त्री ने बताया कि पाइप बदलना पड़ेगा।
The mechanic said that the pipe would need to be changed.
(mistrii ne bataayaa ki paaip badalnaa padegaa।)
राज मिस्त्री सुबह से छत पर काम कर रहा है।
The mason has been working on the roof since morning.
(raaj mistrii subah se chhat par kaam kar rahaa hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
मिस्त्री
(mistrii)
(sg.m.oblique):
मिस्त्री
(mistrii)
(pl.m.direct):
मिस्त्री
(mistrii)
(pl.m.oblique):
मिस्त्रीयों
(mistriiyon)