ताज (taaj)

noun Primarily a noun meaning 'crown' -- literal (royal headwear) and figurative (topmost honor or distinction).

Sense 1 : crown (royal headwear)

noun, masculine

Synonyms: मुकुट (mukut)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: The word immediately calls to mind the Taj Mahal (taaj mahal), whose name literally means 'crown of palaces' -- a useful hook for remembering the word. In everyday speech, ताज (taaj) itself is mostly reserved for kings, queens, and pageant winners rather than anything you'd see day to day.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse ताज (taaj) with ताजा (taajaa, 'fresh') because of the similar spelling -- they are unrelated words.

Sample Sentences:

राजा के सिर पर सोने का ताज था। The king had a gold crown on his head.

(raajaa ke sir par sone kaa taaj thaa।)

रानी हमेशा अपने ताज को बड़े गर्व से पहनती है। The queen always wears her crown with great pride.

(raanii hameshaa apne taaj ko bade garv se pahantii hai।)

ताज पहनते ही वह असली मलिका जैसी लगने लगी। As soon as she put on the crown, she started looking like a real queen.

(taaj pahante hii vah aslii malikaa jaisii lagne lagii।)

यह ताज सदियों पुराना है और कई पीढ़ियों से शाही परिवार में चला आ रहा है। This crown is centuries old and has been passed down through generations in the royal family.

(yah taaj sadiyon puraanaa hai aur kaii piidhiyon se shaahii parivaar men chalaa aa rahaa hai।)

अगर वह उस समय राजा होता, तो उसके सिर पर ताज होता। If he had been king at that time, there would have been a crown on his head.

(agar vah us samay raajaa hotaa, to uske sir par taaj hotaa।)

कृपया ताज को बहुत सावधानी से संभालिए, यह अनमोल है। Please handle the crown very carefully, it is priceless.

(kripyaa taaj ko bahut saavdhaanii se sambhaalie, yah anmol hai।)

संग्रहालय में रखा हुआ ताज हीरे-जवाहरातों से जड़ा हुआ है। The crown kept in the museum is studded with diamonds and jewels.

(sangrahaalay men rakhaa huaa taaj hiire-javaahraaton se jadaa huaa hai।)

नए सम्राट को ताज पहनाया जाएगा। The new emperor will be crowned.

(nae samraat ko taaj pahnaayaa jaaegaa।)

ताज इतना भारी था कि रानी को उसे पहनने में भी दिक्कत होती थी। The crown was so heavy that even the queen had trouble wearing it.

(taaj itnaa bhaarii thaa ki raanii ko use pahanne men bhii dikkat hotii thii।)

कवि ने लिखा है कि राजा का ताज धूल में मिल गया। The poet has written that the king's crown was reduced to dust.

(kavi ne likhaa hai ki raajaa kaa taaj dhool men mil gayaa।)

Sense 2 : the top honor, pinnacle of achievement (figurative)

noun, masculine Common in the phrase ताज पहनना (taaj pahannaa, 'to wear/win the crown') or ताज जीतना (taaj jiitnaa, 'to win the title'), used for sports and competitions.

Synonyms: खिताब (khitaab, used specifically for titles/championships)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: You'll hear this a lot in cricket and sports commentary -- ताज (taaj) or खिताब का ताज (khitaab kaa taaj, 'the crown of the title') gets used for whoever comes out on top of a tournament, much like English 'crowning' a champion.

Sample Sentences:

इस बार जीत का ताज भारत के सिर पर सजा। This time, the crown of victory adorned India's head.

(is baar jiit kaa taaj bhaarat ke sir par sajaa।)

फाइनल जीतकर टीम ने खिताब का ताज अपने नाम कर लिया। By winning the final, the team claimed the crown of the title.

(phaainal jiitkar tiim ne khitaab kaa taaj apne naam kar liyaa।)

क्या इस साल भी वही टीम चैंपियन का ताज जीतेगी? Will the same team win the champion's crown again this year?

(kyaa is saal bhii vahii tiim chaimpiyan kaa taaj jiitegii?)

अगर वह आज जीत जाता, तो उसके सिर पर ताज होता। If he had won today, the crown would have been his.

(agar vah aaj jiit jaataa, to uske sir par taaj hotaa।)

हर सीज़न कोई नया खिलाड़ी ताज पहनता है। Every season some new player wears the crown.

(har siizan koii nayaa khilaadii taaj pahantaa hai।)

उस मैच में ताज खोने के बाद टीम बुरी तरह टूट गई थी। After losing the crown in that match, the team was completely shattered.

(us maich men taaj khone ke baad tiim burii tarah toot gaii thii।)

यह गोल्ड मेडल उसकी मेहनत का ताज है। This gold medal is the crown of his hard work.

(yah gold medal uskii mehnat kaa taaj hai।)

उम्मीद है कि इस बार ताज हमारी टीम को मिले। Hopefully the crown goes to our team this time.

(ummiid hai ki is baar taaj hamaarii tiim ko mile।)

जब तक फाइनल न जीता जाए, ताज किसी का नहीं कहा जा सकता। Until the final is won, the crown can't be called anyone's.

(jab tak phaainal n jiitaa jaae, taaj kisii kaa nahiin kahaa jaa saktaa।)

इस टूर्नामेंट का ताज उसी को दिया जाएगा जो सबसे ज़्यादा रन बनाएगा। This tournament's crown will be given to whoever scores the most runs.

(is toornaament kaa taaj usii ko diyaa jaaegaa jo sabse zyaadaa ran banaaegaa।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.m.direct): ताज (taaj)

(sg.m.oblique): ताज (taaj)

(pl.m.direct): ताज (taaj)

(pl.m.oblique): ताजों (taajon)