गुंडागर्दी (gundaagardii)

noun A single-sense noun meaning thuggery or hooliganism -- the behavior of a गुंडा (gundaa, 'goon/thug'), with the abstract-noun suffix -गर्दी (gardii) tacked on.
Sense 1 : hooliganism, thuggish behavior, bullying by force
noun, feminine
Synonyms: बदमाशी (badmaashii), आतंक (aatank, stronger, 'terror/reign of fear'), दबंगई (dabangaii, colloquial, 'throwing one's weight around')
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear this word constantly in Indian news and political speech -- politicians accusing rival parties of गुंडागर्दी (gundaagardii) in the streets, or shopkeepers complaining about local गुंडे (gunde) demanding हफ्ता (haphtaa, 'weekly protection money'). It carries a strong charge of illegitimate, muscle-based power, distinct from mere rule-breaking.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use this only for petty misbehavior, but गुंडागर्दी (gundaagardii) usually implies actual intimidation, violence, or abuse of power/force, not just mischief -- for harmless naughtiness, शरारत (sharaarat) is the better word. 2) It is typically used to describe an ongoing pattern of behavior or a general climate (e.g. in a neighborhood, a school, a political context) rather than a single isolated punch or shove.
Sample Sentences:
यहाँ रात को गुंडागर्दी बहुत बढ़ गई है। Hooliganism has increased a lot here at night.
(yahaan raat ko gundaagardii bahut badh gaii hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
दुकानदार बोला कि मोहल्ले के गुंडे हफ्ता वसूलने के लिए गुंडागर्दी करते हैं। The shopkeeper said that the neighborhood thugs commit hooliganism to collect protection money.
(dukaandaar bolaa ki mohalle ke gunde haphtaa vasoolne ke lie gundaagardii karte hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
विपक्षी नेता ने सत्ताधारी पार्टी पर सड़कों पर गुंडागर्दी फैलाने का आरोप लगाया। The opposition leader accused the ruling party of spreading hooliganism on the streets.
(vipakshii netaa ne sattaadhaarii paartii par sadkon par gundaagardii phailaane kaa aarop lagaayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर तुमने यहाँ गुंडागर्दी की, तो पुलिस बुला ली जाएगी। If you do hooliganism here, the police will be called.
(agar tumne yahaan gundaagardii kii, to pulis bulaa lii jaaegii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
इस इलाके में इतनी गुंडागर्दी मत करो, वरना बड़ी मुश्किल में पड़ जाओगे। Don't do so much hooliganism in this area, or you'll get into big trouble.
(is ilaake men itnii gundaagardii mat karo, varnaa badii mushkil men pad jaaoge।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
पुलिस चाहती है कि शहर में गुंडागर्दी पर तुरंत लगाम लगाई जाए। The police want hooliganism in the city to be reined in immediately.
(pulis chaahtii hai ki shahar men gundaagardii par turant lagaam lagaaii jaae।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
अगर सरकार सख्त होती, तो इतनी गुंडागर्दी न होती। If the government were strict, there wouldn't be so much hooliganism.
(agar sarkaar sakht hotii, to itnii gundaagardii n hotii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
चुनाव के दौरान कई जगहों पर गुंडागर्दी की खबरें आ रही हैं। During the elections, news of hooliganism is coming in from many places.
(chunaav ke dauraan kaii jagahon par gundaagardii kii khabren aa rahii hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
उन लड़कों की गुंडागर्दी से पूरा मोहल्ला परेशान है। The whole neighborhood is troubled by those boys' hooliganism.
(un ladkon kii gundaagardii se pooraa mohallaa pareshaan hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
क्या यह गुंडागर्दी नहीं है कि वे बिना पैसे दिए माल उठा ले जाते हैं? Isn't it hooliganism that they carry off goods without paying any money?
(kyaa yah gundaagardii nahiin hai ki ve binaa paise die maal uthaa le jaate hain?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
थाने में शिकायत दर्ज कराई गई कि इलाके में खुलेआम गुंडागर्दी की जा रही है। A complaint was filed at the police station that hooliganism is being carried out openly in the area.
(thaane men shikaayat darj karaaii gaii ki ilaake men khuleaam gundaagardii kii jaa rahii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): गुंडागर्दी (gundaagardii)
(sg.f.oblique): गुंडागर्दी (gundaagardii)
(pl.f.direct): गुंडागर्दियाँ (gundaagardiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): गुंडागर्दियों (gundaagardiyon)