कलाकार (kalaakaar)
noun
A single core sense: someone who practices an art -- an artist or performer, used broadly across visual, musical, and performing arts, and often extended figuratively to someone skilled or crafty in a non-artistic sense.
Sense
1
:
artist, performer
noun, masculine/feminine
Synonyms: कलाविद (kalaavid, literary), शिल्पकार (shilpkaar, more for craftsmen/sculptors), अभिनेता (abhinetaa, specifically an actor)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In everyday Delhi speech, कलाकार (kalaakaar) is the go-to word when praising someone's performance at a wedding sangeet, a school function, or a TV show -- 'क्या कलाकार है!' (kyaa kalaakaar hai, 'what an artist he is') is common applause-talk. It pairs naturally with कला (kalaa, 'art'), the root noun from which it's formed.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes assume कलाकार (kalaakaar) means only 'painter,' but it covers any practitioner of an art -- musicians, dancers, actors, singers are all कलाकार (kalaakaar). 2) It's used for both amateurs and professionals; don't reserve it only for the famous.
Sample Sentences:
वह एक बहुत बड़ा कलाकार है।
He is a very great artist.
(vah ek bahut badaa kalaakaar hai।)
क्या कलाकार है!
What an artist he is!
(kyaa kalaakaar hai!)
सारे कलाकार शादी की सजावट देखकर खुश हो गए।
All the artists were pleased on seeing the wedding decorations.
(saare kalaakaar shaadii kii sajaavat dekhkar khush ho gae।)
सांगीत में हर कलाकार अपनी कला दिखाता है।
In the sangeet, every performer shows off their art.
(saangiit men har kalaakaar apnii kalaa dikhaataa hai।)
मंच पर कलाकार गा रहे हैं।
The performers are singing on stage.
(manch par kalaakaar gaa rahe hain।)
अगर मैं कलाकार होता, तो अपनी पेंटिंग की प्रदर्शनी लगाता।
If I were an artist, I would hold an exhibition of my paintings.
(agar main kalaakaar hotaa, to apnii penting kii pradarshnii lagaataa।)
इस फ़िल्म के सभी कलाकारों को पुरस्कार मिला।
All the artists of this film received an award.
(is film ke sabhii kalaakaaron ko puraskaar milaa।)
उस कलाकार से मिलकर बहुत अच्छा लगा।
It felt very nice to meet that artist.
(us kalaakaar se milkar bahut achchhaa lagaa।)
स्कूल के फ़ंक्शन में जो बच्चा नाचा, वह सचमुच बड़ा कलाकार निकला।
The child who danced at the school function really turned out to be a great artist.
(skool ke fankshan men jo bachchaa naachaa, vah sachmuch badaa kalaakaar niklaa।)
इस देश में महान कलाकारों का सम्मान किया जाता है।
Great artists are honored in this country.
(is desh men mahaan kalaakaaron kaa sammaan kiyaa jaataa hai।)
बेहतर होगा कि वह एक सच्चा कलाकार बने, न कि सिर्फ़ मशहूर होने की कोशिश करे।
It would be better if he became a true artist rather than just trying to become famous.
(behtar hogaa ki vah ek sachchaa kalaakaar bane, n ki sirf mashahoor hone kii koshish kare।)
Sense
2
:
cunning or crafty person (figurative)
noun, masculine/feminine Used teasingly or with mild sarcasm to call out someone's clever maneuvering or excuse-making, not genuine artistry.
Synonyms: चालबाज़ (chaalbaaz, more clearly negative), उस्ताद (ustaad, can be admiring or teasing)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: This is the classic Delhi jibe when a friend dodges a bill or spins a smooth excuse for being late -- 'क्या कलाकार निकला!' (kyaa kalaakaar niklaa, 'what a smooth operator he turned out to be'). It's the same word as the literal 'artist' sense, just turned ironic -- the skill has shifted from canvas to conning people.
Common Mistakes: 1) This figurative use can sound sarcastic or accusatory depending on tone -- 'बड़े कलाकार हो!' (bade kalaakaar ho, 'you're quite the operator!') is often said with a smile but can sting if said sharply, so learners should gauge context carefully.
Sample Sentences:
क्या कलाकार निकला तू भी!
What a smooth operator you turned out to be!
(kyaa kalaakaar niklaa too bhii!)
वो बड़ा कलाकार है, हर बार बिल देने से पहले गायब हो जाता है।
He's a real trickster, he disappears every time right before the bill comes.
(vo badaa kalaakaar hai, har baar bil dene se pahle gaayab ho jaataa hai।)
इतना मत बनो कलाकार, सबको पता है तुमने क्या किया।
Don't act so slick, everyone knows what you did.
(itnaa mat bano kalaakaar, sabko pataa hai tumne kyaa kiyaa।)
अगर वो थोड़ा कम कलाकार होता तो शायद सच बोल देता।
If he were a little less of a schemer, he might have told the truth.
(agar vo thodaa kam kalaakaar hotaa to shaayad sach bol detaa।)
मुझे शक है कि वो लड़का बड़ा कलाकार निकलेगा।
I suspect that boy will turn out to be quite the sly one.
(mujhe shak hai ki vo ladkaa badaa kalaakaar niklegaa।)
पुलिस वाले को उसने ऐसी कहानी सुनाई कि वो सच में कलाकार लगा।
He spun such a story for the policeman that he really seemed like a smooth talker.
(pulis vaale ko usne aisii kahaanii sunaaii ki vo sach men kalaakaar lagaa।)
हो सकता है वो कलाकार हो, इसलिए उसकी बातों पर ज़्यादा भरोसा मत करना।
He might be a crafty one, so don't trust his words too much.
(ho saktaa hai vo kalaakaar ho, islie uskii baaton par zyaadaa bharosaa mat karnaa।)
दफ़्तर में सब उसे कलाकार कहकर चिढ़ाते हैं क्योंकि वो हमेशा बहाने बनाने में माहिर है।
Everyone at the office teases him by calling him a trickster because he's always great at making excuses.
(daftar men sab use kalaakaar kahkar chidhaate hain kyonki vo hameshaa bahaane banaane men maahir hai।)
ऐसे कलाकारों से सावधान रहना चाहिए जो मीठी बातों में उलझा लेते हैं।
One should be careful of such sly ones who entangle you with sweet talk.
(aise kalaakaaron se saavdhaan rahnaa chaahie jo miithii baaton men uljhaa lete hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct):
कलाकार
(kalaakaar)
(sg.m/f.oblique):
कलाकार
(kalaakaar)
(pl.m/f.direct):
कलाकारें
(kalaakaaren)
(pl.m/f.oblique):
कलाकारों
(kalaakaaron)