नन्हा-मुन्नी (nanhaa-munnii)

adjective An affectionate reduplicated adjective meaning 'tiny, little' -- used almost exclusively about small children or small, cute things. It agrees in gender/number like an ordinary -आ adjective, changing to नन्ही-मुन्नी (nanhii-munnii) for feminine forms.
Sense 1 : tiny, little (affectionate, of a child or small cute thing)
adjective
Synonyms: छोटा (chhotaa), नन्हा (nanhaa, one word without the rhyming partner), प्यारा-सा (pyaaraa-saa, adds 'cute' rather than just 'small')
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is a classic Hindi 'echo compound' (रैमिंग जोड़ी) where मुन्नी (munnii) doesn't mean anything on its own outside this pairing -- it exists just to rhyme with and intensify नन्हा (nanhaa), the way English speakers might say 'itty-bitty.' You'll hear it constantly from grandmothers and parents fussing over babies -- नन्ही मुन्नी बच्ची (nanhii munnii bachchii, 'the tiny little girl') is a stock phrase of affection in Delhi households.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use this for any small object, but it carries a built-in tone of endearment -- it is what you say cooing over a baby or a kitten, not what you'd say about a small pebble or a small mistake, where छोटा (chhotaa) is the natural choice. 2) The feminine form is नन्ही-मुन्नी (nanhii-munnii), not a simple mechanical swap of both halves' vowels -- both halves change together.
Sample Sentences:
यह मेरी नन्ही मुन्नी बच्ची है। This is my tiny little girl.
(yah merii nanhii munnii bachchii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दादी अपनी नन्ही मुन्नी पोती को गोद में लिए बैठी थीं। Grandma was sitting with her tiny little granddaughter in her lap.
(daadii apnii nanhii munnii potii ko god men lie baithii thiin।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
देखो, कितनी नन्ही मुन्नी उँगलियाँ हैं इसकी! Look, what tiny little fingers she has!
(dekho, kitnii nanhii munnii ungliyaan hain iskii!)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
पड़ोस वाली नन्ही मुन्नी बच्ची रोज़ शाम को हमारे घर आती है। The tiny little girl from next door comes to our house every evening.
(pados vaalii nanhii munnii bachchii roz shaam ko hamaare ghar aatii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर वह नन्ही मुन्नी गुड़िया मुझे मिल जाती, तो मैं उसे अपने पास रख लेता। If I had found that tiny little doll, I would have kept it with me.
(agar vah nanhii munnii gudiyaa mujhe mil jaatii, to main use apne paas rakh letaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
उसकी नन्ही मुन्नी बेटी अगले महीने स्कूल जाना शुरू करेगी। Her tiny little daughter will start going to school next month.
(uskii nanhii munnii betii agle mahiine skool jaanaa shuroo karegii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
काश मेरी भी एक नन्ही मुन्नी बहन होती। I wish I too had a tiny little sister.
(kaash merii bhii ek nanhii munnii bahan hotii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
उस नन्ही मुन्नी जान को इतनी ठंड में बाहर मत ले जाइए। Please do not take that tiny little darling outside in such cold weather.
(us nanhii munnii jaan ko itnii thand men baahar mat le jaaie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
नानी हमेशा कहती थीं कि मैं भी कभी ऐसी ही नन्ही मुन्नी थी। Grandma always used to say that I too was once just such a tiny little thing.
(naanii hameshaa kahtii thiin ki main bhii kabhii aisii hii nanhii munnii thii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Adjective (variable)
Morphology could not be generated (hyphen-joined variable adjective 'नन्हा-मुन्नी').