शक्ति (shakti)

noun A feminine noun meaning power, strength, or energy in both physical and abstract senses; also carries a devotional sense as the divine feminine force/goddess energy in Hindu thought.

Sense 1 : power, strength, energy (physical/abstract)

noun, feminine

Synonyms: ताकत (taakat), बल (bal), ज़ोर (zor, colloquial), ऊर्जा (oorjaa, scientific energy)

Frequency: high

Cultural Note: You will see शक्ति (shakti) everywhere in formal registers: news broadcasts talk of सैनिक शक्ति (sainik shakti, military strength), scientists discuss सौर ऊर्जा (saur oorjaa) and शक्ति (shakti) almost interchangeably for energy. It sits a notch above ताकत (taakat) in formality, the way 'strength' and 'vigor' differ in English.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often reach for ताकत (taakat) in casual speech and शक्ति (shakti) in more formal or written contexts -- both are correct, but शक्ति (shakti) sounds noticeably more formal/bookish for everyday physical strength (e.g. arm-wrestling talk favors ताकत (taakat)). 2) In compounds like सौर शक्ति (saur shakti, solar power) or परमाणु शक्ति (parmaanu shakti, nuclear power), शक्ति (shakti) is the only natural choice -- ताकत (taakat) would sound odd here.

Sample Sentences:

परमाणु शक्ति का उपयोग बिजली बनाने में होता है। Nuclear power is used to generate electricity.

(parmaanu shakti kaa upyog bijlii banaane men hotaa hai।)

देश की सैनिक शक्ति पिछले दस सालों में काफी बढ़ी है। The country's military strength has increased considerably in the last ten years.

(desh kii sainik shakti pichhle das saalon men kaaphii badhii hai।)

अगर हम सब मिलकर काम करें तो हमारी शक्ति कई गुना बढ़ जाएगी। If we all work together, our strength will multiply many times over.

(agar ham sab milkar kaam karen to hamaarii shakti kaii gunaa badh jaaegii।)

सौर शक्ति भविष्य के लिए सबसे स्वच्छ विकल्प मानी जाती है। Solar power is considered the cleanest option for the future.

(saur shakti bhavishy ke lie sabse svachchh vikalp maanii jaatii hai।)

उस दुर्घटना के बाद उसकी शारीरिक शक्ति पहले जैसी नहीं रही। After that accident, his physical strength was never the same as before.

(us durghatnaa ke baad uskii shaariirik shakti pahle jaisii nahiin rahii।)

काश मुझमें इतनी शक्ति होती कि मैं यह पहाड़ जैसा बोझ उठा पाता। If only I had so much strength that I could lift this mountain-like burden.

(kaash mujhmen itnii shakti hotii ki main yah pahaad jaisaa bojh uthaa paataa।)

विशेषज्ञों का कहना है कि पवन शक्ति का उपयोग और बढ़ाया जाना चाहिए। Experts say that the use of wind power should be increased further.

(visheshgyon kaa kahnaa hai ki pavan shakti kaa upyog aur badhaayaa jaanaa chaahie।)

अपनी आंतरिक शक्ति को पहचानो, तभी तुम आगे बढ़ पाओगे। Recognize your inner strength, only then will you be able to move forward.

(apnii aantrik shakti ko pahchaano, tabhii tum aage badh paaoge।)

आर्थिक शक्ति के मामले में यह देश दुनिया में तीसरे स्थान पर आ गया है। In terms of economic power, this country has come to third place in the world.

(aarthik shakti ke maamle men yah desh duniyaa men tiisre sthaan par aa gayaa hai।)

शक्ति के बिना कोई भी बड़ा निर्माण कार्य संभव नहीं होता। Without power, no large construction work is possible.

(shakti ke binaa koii bhii badaa nirmaan kaary sambhav nahiin hotaa।)

उस मशीन में इतनी शक्ति नहीं थी कि वह इतना भारी सामान खींच सके। That machine did not have enough power to pull such heavy material.

(us mashiin men itnii shakti nahiin thii ki vah itnaa bhaarii saamaan khiinch sake।)

Sense 2 : divine feminine power/energy; the goddess as embodiment of cosmic force

noun, feminine Often capitalized in English translation as a proper noun referring to the goddess or the feminine cosmic principle, distinct from the common-noun sense of 'power.'

Synonyms: देवी (devii, goddess, not identical but overlapping), माँ शक्ति (maan shakti, devotional address)

Frequency: devotional

Cultural Note: In Hindu devotional and philosophical thought, शक्ति (shakti) is the primal cosmic energy personified as the Goddess (often as Durga (durgaa) or Kali (kaalii)), the active feminine force that animates Shiva (shiv), who is otherwise pure consciousness without her. Navratri (navraatri) is essentially a festival honoring Shakti in her many forms -- if you've heard people say 'माँ की शक्ति' (maan kii shakti, 'the mother goddess's power'), this is the sense at work.

Sample Sentences:

माँ की शक्ति सारे संसार को चलाती है। The Divine Mother's Shakti sustains the entire universe.

(maan kii shakti saare sansaar ko chalaatii hai।)

नवरात्रि में हम शक्ति के नौ रूपों की पूजा करते हैं। During Navratri, we worship the nine forms of Shakti.

(navraatri men ham shakti ke nau roopon kii poojaa karte hain।)

शिव के बिना शक्ति स्वयं को प्रकट नहीं कर सकती। Without Shiva, Shakti cannot manifest herself.

(shiv ke binaa shakti svayan ko prakat nahiin kar saktii।)

हे शक्ति, अपनी कृपा हम पर बनाए रखो। O Shakti, keep your grace upon us.

(he shakti, apnii kripaa ham par banaae rakho।)

दुर्गा माँ शक्ति का ही एक रूप मानी जाती हैं। Mother Durga is considered a form of Shakti herself.

(durgaa maan shakti kaa hii ek roop maanii jaatii hain।)

यदि शक्ति न होती, तो शिव भी निराकार शून्य ही रहते। If Shakti did not exist, even Shiva would remain formless void.

(yadi shakti n hotii, to shiv bhii niraakaar shoony hii rahte।)

काली को शक्ति का सबसे भयंकर और उग्र रूप माना जाता है। Kali is regarded as the most fierce and intense form of Shakti.

(kaalii ko shakti kaa sabse bhayankar aur ugr roop maanaa jaataa hai।)

भक्त गाते हैं कि शक्ति ही सृष्टि की रचना और संहार दोनों करती है। Devotees sing that Shakti alone both creates and destroys the universe.

(bhakt gaate hain ki shakti hii srishti kii rachnaa aur sanhaar donon kartii hai।)

पुजारी ने शक्ति की आराधना पूरी रात की। The priest worshipped Shakti all through the night.

(pujaarii ne shakti kii aaraadhnaa poorii raat kii।)

शायद यही शक्ति की इच्छा हो कि हमें यह कष्ट सहना पड़े। Perhaps it is Shakti's very will that we must endure this suffering.

(shaayad yahii shakti kii ichchhaa ho ki hamen yah kasht sahnaa pade।)

Morphology

Noun

(sg.f.direct): शक्ति (shakti)

(sg.f.oblique): शक्ति (shakti)

(pl.f.direct): शक्तिएँ (shaktien)

(pl.f.oblique): शक्तिओं (shaktion)