बंदूक़ (bandooq)

noun A single-sense everyday noun meaning 'gun/rifle'. Often seen spelled without the nuqta as बंदूक (bandook) as well.
Sense 1 : gun, rifle
noun, feminine
Synonyms: राइफल (raaiphal), तोप (top, cannon, not a true synonym but sometimes confused by learners)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You'll hear बंदूक़ (bandooq) often in the context of licensed firearms kept by farmers or landowners in rural Haryana and western UP for protection of crops and property, a real and visible part of rural life around Delhi-NCR. It also shows up constantly in Bollywood action-film dialogue, so learners usually recognize the word before they ever produce it themselves.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes confuse बंदूक़ (bandooq) with पिस्तौल (pistaul) 'pistol' -- बंदूक़ (bandooq) usually implies a longer firearm like a rifle or shotgun, while a handgun is पिस्तौल (pistaul). 2) The verb typically paired with it is चलाना (chalaanaa, 'to fire') -- बंदूक़ चलाना (bandooq chalaanaa, 'to fire a gun') -- not मारना (maarnaa) which learners might reach for by analogy with English 'to shoot.'
Sample Sentences:
किसान ने रात को खेत की रखवाली के लिए बंदूक़ निकाली। The farmer took out his gun at night to guard the field.
(kisaan ne raat ko khet kii rakhvaalii ke lie bandooq nikaalii।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
उसके पास लाइसेंसी बंदूक़ है। He has a licensed gun.
(uske paas laaisensii bandooq hai।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
गाँव में बहुत से ज़मींदार अपनी हवेली में बंदूक़ रखते हैं। Many landowners in the village keep a gun in their mansion.
(gaanv men bahut se zamiindaar apnii havelii men bandooq rakhte hain।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Active
बंदूक़ मत उठाओ, बात से हल हो जाएगा। Don't pick up the gun, it'll be sorted out by talking.
(bandooq mat uthaao, baat se hal ho jaaegaa।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Imperative -- Voice: Active
फ़िल्म के हीरो ने दोनों हाथों में बंदूक़ें थाम रखी थीं। The film's hero was holding guns in both hands.
(film ke hiiro ne donon haathon men bandooqen thaam rakhii thiin।)
Register: Casual -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
अगर उसके पास बंदूक़ होती, तो वह डाकुओं का सामना कर पाता। If he had had a gun, he would have been able to face the dacoits.
(agar uske paas bandooq hotii, to vah daakuon kaa saamnaa kar paataa।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Counterfactual -- Aspect: Habitual -- Voice: Active
बंदूक़ की लाइसेंस लेने के लिए पुलिस थाने में आवेदन दिया जाता है। An application is submitted at the police station to get a gun license.
(bandooq kii laaisens lene ke lie pulis thaane men aavedan diyaa jaataa hai।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Habitual -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
पुलिस मुठभेड़ में तीन बंदूक़ें बरामद हुई हैं। Three guns have been recovered in the police encounter.
(pulis muthbhed men tiin bandooqen baraamad huii hain।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Present -- Voice: Passive
शायद उसने डर के मारे बंदूक़ खरीद ली हो। Maybe he bought a gun out of fear.
(shaayad usne dar ke maare bandooq khariid lii ho।)
Register: Neutral -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
उस बुज़ुर्ग के कमरे की दीवार पर एक पुरानी बंदूक़ टँगी थी। An old gun was hanging on the wall of that elderly man's room.
(us buzurg ke kamre kii diivaar par ek puraanii bandooq tangii thii।)
Register: Literary -- Mood: Indicative -- Aspect: Perfective -- Tense: Past -- Voice: Active
बंदूक़ हमेशा सुरक्षित जगह पर रखनी चाहिए ताकि बच्चों की पहुँच से दूर रहे। A gun should always be kept in a safe place so that it stays out of children's reach.
(bandooq hameshaa surakshit jagah par rakhnii chaahie taaki bachchon kii pahunch se door rahe।)
Register: Formal -- Mood: Subjunctive -- Voice: Active
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct): बंदूक़ (bandooq)
(sg.f.oblique): बंदूक़ (bandooq)
(pl.f.direct): बंदूक़ें (bandooqen)
(pl.f.oblique): बंदूक़ों (bandooqon)