मच्छर (machchhar)

noun A single-sense everyday noun meaning 'mosquito.' Simple and concrete, but it shows up constantly in monsoon-season small talk and household complaints.
Sense 1 : mosquito
noun, masculine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Expect to hear this word a lot in July-September conversations in Delhi-NCR, when dengue and monsoon mosquitoes dominate household chatter -- mच्छर भगाने वाली अगरबत्ती (machchhar bhagaane vaalii agarbattii, 'mosquito-repellent incense stick') and मच्छरदानी (machchhardaanii, 'mosquito net') are common compound terms built on this root.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes forget मच्छर (machchhar) is masculine and pair it with feminine adjectives or verb agreement; it stays masculine regardless of the actual insect's sex, like most animal nouns in Hindi. 2) Note the common verb pairing मच्छर काटना (machchhar kaatnaa, 'for a mosquito to bite') -- the mosquito is the subject that 'cuts/bites' (kaatnaa), not 'bites' in the English sense of teeth.
Sample Sentences:
बरसात में मच्छर बहुत बढ़ जाते हैं। Mosquitoes increase a lot during the monsoon.
(barsaat men machchhar bahut badh jaate hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
कल रात एक मच्छर ने मुझे सोने ही नहीं दिया। Last night a mosquito wouldn't let me sleep at all.
(kal raat ek machchhar ne mujhe sone hii nahiin diyaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
खिड़की बंद कर दो, मच्छर अंदर आ रहे हैं। Close the window, mosquitoes are coming in.
(khidkii band kar do, machchhar andar aa rahe hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
डेंगू फैलाने वाला मच्छर दिन में काटता है। The mosquito that spreads dengue bites during the day.
(dengoo phailaane vaalaa machchhar din men kaattaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
अगर बारिश का पानी न रुके, तो मच्छर इतने न पनपें। If rainwater didn't collect, mosquitoes wouldn't breed so much.
(agar baarish kaa paanii n ruke, to machchhar itne n panpen।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
अगर घर में मच्छरदानी होती, तो हमें इतने काटे न झेलने पड़ते। If there had been a mosquito net at home, we wouldn't have had to endure so many bites.
(agar ghar men machchhardaanii hotii, to hamen itne kaate n jhelne padte।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
नगर निगम ने इलाके में मच्छर मारने के लिए फॉगिंग करवाई है। The municipal corporation has had fogging done in the area to kill mosquitoes.
(nagar nigam ne ilaake men machchhar maarne ke lie phoging karvaaii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
इस मौसम में मच्छरों से बचाव के लिए पूरी बांह के कपड़े पहनने चाहिए। In this season, one should wear full-sleeved clothes to protect against mosquitoes.
(is mausam men machchhron se bachaav ke lie poorii baanh ke kapde pahanne chaahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मच्छर भगाने वाली अगरबत्ती जला दो, वरना रात भर परेशान करेंगे। Light the mosquito-repellent incense stick, or else they'll bother us all night.
(machchhar bhagaane vaalii agarbattii jalaa do, varnaa raat bhar pareshaan karenge।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
मलेरिया मच्छर के काटने से फैलता है। Malaria is spread by a mosquito's bite.
(maleriyaa machchhar ke kaatne se phailtaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
शाम होते ही मच्छर भिनभिनाने लगते हैं। As soon as evening falls, mosquitoes start buzzing.
(shaam hote hii machchhar bhinbhinaane lagte hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct): मच्छर (machchhar)
(sg.m.oblique): मच्छर (machchhar)
(pl.m.direct): मच्छर (machchhar)
(pl.m.oblique): मच्छरों (machchhron)