फाँसी (phaansii)

noun A single-sense noun centered on death by hanging -- both the literal execution method and the noose/rope itself, plus the common idiom for sentencing someone to death.
Sense 1 : death by hanging (execution)
noun, feminine
Synonyms: मृत्युदंड (mrityudand, formal, refers to death penalty generally)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: फाँसी (phaansii) is the word every Hindi newspaper reader knows from court verdicts -- फाँसी की सज़ा (phaansii kii sazaa, 'death sentence by hanging') is the standard legal phrase in India, since hanging remains the prescribed method of execution. The word carries real weight in everyday speech too, often used hyperbolically, as in मेरी तो फाँसी लग गई (merii to phaansii lag gaii, 'I'm doomed/finished'), where the image of the noose stands in for being trapped in serious trouble.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often try to use फांसी (phaansii) without the chandrabindu; both spellings circulate, but फाँसी (phaansii) with the nasalized vowel is the standard form. 2) फाँसी देना (phaansii denaa, 'to hang someone') and फाँसी लगाना (phaansii lagaanaa, 'to hang oneself') are distinct fixed expressions -- mixing up देना (denaa) and लगाना (lagaanaa) changes who is doing the hanging to whom.
Sample Sentences:
अदालत ने उसे फाँसी की सज़ा सुनाई। The court sentenced him to death by hanging.
(adaalat ne use phaansii kii sazaa sunaaii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उसे कल सुबह फाँसी दी जाएगी। He will be hanged tomorrow morning.
(use kal subah phaansii dii jaaegii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Passive
मेरी तो फाँसी लग गई, बॉस को पूरी बात पता चल गई है। I'm doomed -- the boss has found out everything.
(merii to phaansii lag gaii, bos ko poorii baat pataa chal gaii hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर सबूत मिल जाते तो उसे फाँसी हो जाती। If the evidence had been found, he would have been hanged.
(agar saboot mil jaate to use phaansii ho jaatii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Perfective -- Voice: Active
क्या भारत में फाँसी की सज़ा खत्म हो जानी चाहिए? Should the death penalty by hanging be abolished in India?
(kyaa bhaarat men phaansii kii sazaa khatm ho jaanii chaahie?)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
उस समय बहुत से कैदियों को फाँसी दी जाती थी। Many prisoners used to be hanged in those days.
(us samay bahut se kaidiyon ko phaansii dii jaatii thii।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
जज साहब, उसे फाँसी मत दीजिए, वह बेकसूर है। Your honor, don't hang him -- he's innocent.
(jaj saahab, use phaansii mat diijie, vah beksoor hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
आतंकवादी को फाँसी की सज़ा सुनाई जा चुकी है। The terrorist has already been sentenced to hanging.
(aatankvaadii ko phaansii kii sazaa sunaaii jaa chukii hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
फाँसी की खबर सुनकर पूरे गाँव में सन्नाटा छा गया। Hearing the news of the hanging, a silence fell over the whole village.
(phaansii kii khabar sunkar poore gaanv men sannaataa chhaa gayaa।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
काश उसे फाँसी न होती। If only he hadn't been sentenced to hang.
(kaash use phaansii n hotii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): फाँसी (phaansii)
(sg.f.oblique): फाँसी (phaansii)
(pl.f.direct): फाँसियाँ (phaansiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique): फाँसियों (phaansiyon)