महमान (mahmaan)

noun A common variant spelling of मेहमान (mehmaan, 'guest'), with the same single meaning of a guest or visitor.
Sense 1 : guest, visitor
noun, masculine/feminine
Synonyms: मेहमान (mehmaan, dominant spelling), अतिथि (atithi, formal)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: Hospitality runs deep in North Indian culture, and this word carries that warmth -- a महमान (mahmaan) is treated with real ceremony, offered tea and food almost the moment they cross the threshold, often before anyone even asks why they've come. You'll hear it in the common saying 'महमान भगवान का रूप होता है' (mahmaan bhagvaan kaa roop hotaa hai, 'a guest is a form of god'), which captures the cultural expectation of generous hospitality toward visitors.
Common Mistakes: 1) This is the same word as मेहमान (mehmaan) with the middle vowel dropped in speech and writing; both spellings are heard and read constantly, so don't treat महमान (mahmaan) as an error or a different word. 2) Learners sometimes reach for अतिथि (atithi) in casual speech, but that word feels bookish or ceremonial (e.g. 'अतिथि देवो भव:' (atithi devo bhav:, 'the guest is akin to god')) -- in everyday conversation about who's coming for dinner, महमान/मेहमान (mahmaan/mehmaan) is what people actually say.
Sample Sentences:
आज शाम हमारे घर महमान आ रहे हैं। Guests are coming to our house this evening.
(aaj shaam hamaare ghar mahmaan aa rahe hain।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Continuous -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
महमान भगवान का रूप होता है। A guest is a form of god.
(mahmaan bhagvaan kaa roop hotaa hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
माँ ने महमानों के लिए खाना बना लिया था। Mother had already made food for the guests.
(maan ne mahmaanon ke lie khaanaa banaa liyaa thaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
कृपया महमानों को बैठने के लिए कहिए। Please ask the guests to sit down.
(kripyaa mahmaanon ko baithne ke lie kahie।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
अगर तुम पहले बता देते तो मैं महमानों के लिए ज़्यादा खाना बनाती। If you had told me earlier, I would have made more food for the guests.
(agar tum pahle bataa dete to main mahmaanon ke lie zyaadaa khaanaa banaatii।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
महमानों का स्वागत फूलों की मालाओं से किया गया। The guests were welcomed with garlands of flowers.
(mahmaanon kaa svaagat phoolon kii maalaaon se kiyaa gayaa।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Passive
क्या तुम्हें पता है कि कितने महमान आएँगे? Do you know how many guests will come?
(kyaa tumhen pataa hai ki kitne mahmaan aaenge?)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Future -- Voice: Active
हो सकता है कि आज रात कोई महमान ठहरे। It's possible some guest might stay over tonight.
(ho saktaa hai ki aaj raat koii mahmaan thahre।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
इतने सारे महमानों को संभालना आसान नहीं होता। Managing so many guests isn't easy.
(itne saare mahmaanon ko sambhaalnaa aasaan nahiin hotaa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
मेरे दादा जी हमेशा कहते थे कि महमान का दिल से आदर करना चाहिए। My grandfather always used to say that a guest should be honored with all one's heart.
(mere daadaa jii hameshaa kahte the ki mahmaan kaa dil se aadar karnaa chaahie।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
दरवाज़े की घंटी बजी तो पता चला कोई महमान आया है। The doorbell rang, and it turned out some guest had arrived.
(darvaaze kii ghantii bajii to pataa chalaa koii mahmaan aayaa hai।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct): महमान (mahmaan)
(sg.m/f.oblique): महमान (mahmaan)
(pl.m/f.direct): महमानें (mahmaanen)
(pl.m/f.oblique): महमानों (mahmaanon)