घड़ी (ghadii)
noun
Primarily means a clock or watch, the timekeeping device; also extends to mean a moment or point in time, as in a memorable or fateful occasion.
Sense
1
:
clock, watch (timekeeping device)
noun, feminine
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: In an Indian household you will hear kaii bar ghadii dekho (kaii baar ghadii dekho, 'keep checking the clock') from an elder hurrying someone along, since checking the time is often framed as watching the clock itself rather than 'checking time' the way English does. Wristwatches and wall clocks are both just घड़ी (ghadii) -- context, not vocabulary, tells you which one.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes reach for अलार्म (alaarm) or टाइमर (taaimar) when they mean an ordinary wall clock or wristwatch; घड़ी (ghadii) covers both a wristwatch and a wall/table clock without distinguishing them the way English 'watch' vs 'clock' does. 2) Time-telling phrases use घड़ी (ghadii) with में (men) or बजे (baje) constructions (e.g., घड़ी में कितने बजे हैं (ghadii men kitne baje hain, 'what time is it on the clock')) rather than a direct possessive frame an English speaker might expect.
Sample Sentences:
मेरी घड़ी में अभी पाँच बजे हैं।
It's five o'clock on my watch right now.
(merii ghadii men abhii paanch baje hain।)
दीवार पर लगी घड़ी रुक गई है।
The clock hanging on the wall has stopped.
(diivaar par lagii ghadii ruk gaii hai।)
कई बार घड़ी देखो, वरना ट्रेन छूट जाएगी।
Keep checking the clock, or you'll miss the train.
(kaii baar ghadii dekho, varnaa tren chhoot jaaegii।)
क्या तुम्हें अपनी घड़ी में सही समय दिख रहा है?
Can you see the correct time on your watch?
(kyaa tumhen apnii ghadii men sahii samay dikh rahaa hai?)
अगर मेरी घड़ी सही होती, तो मैं समय पर पहुँच जाता।
If my watch had been right, I would have arrived on time.
(agar merii ghadii sahii hotii, to main samay par pahunch jaataa।)
दादी हर सुबह अपनी पुरानी घड़ी में चाबी भरती थीं।
Grandmother used to wind her old clock every morning.
(daadii har subah apnii puraanii ghadii men chaabii bhartii thiin।)
यह घड़ी उसके पिता ने उसे तोहफे में दी थी।
This watch was given to him by his father as a gift.
(yah ghadii uske pitaa ne use tohphe men dii thii।)
स्टेशन की घड़ी से समय मिला लो।
Match your time with the station clock.
(steshan kii ghadii se samay milaa lo।)
शायद उसकी घड़ी थोड़ी आगे चल रही हो।
Perhaps his watch is running a little fast.
(shaayad uskii ghadii thodii aage chal rahii ho।)
पुरानी घड़ियाँ अब मुश्किल से ठीक की जाती हैं।
Old clocks are now rarely repaired.
(puraanii ghadiyaan ab mushkil se thiik kii jaatii hain।)
मैं कल एक नई घड़ी खरीदूँगा।
I will buy a new watch tomorrow.
(main kal ek naii ghadii khariidoongaa।)
Sense
2
:
moment, point in time (often a significant or fateful one)
noun, feminine Common in set phrases like शुभ घड़ी (shubh ghadii, 'auspicious moment') and नाज़ुक घड़ी (naazuk ghadii, 'delicate/critical moment'), where घड़ी (ghadii) refers to an occasion or juncture rather than a device.
Synonyms: पल (pal), क्षण (kshan, literary), वक़्त (vaqt, meaning scope: general time, not a specific instant)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will often hear this in emotionally charged contexts -- a wedding priest announcing the शुभ घड़ी (shubh ghadii, 'auspicious moment') for a ritual, or someone reflecting on a नाज़ुक घड़ी (naazuk ghadii, 'critical moment') in a family crisis. It carries a sense of gravity that plain समय (samay) lacks.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners familiar only with the 'clock' sense may miss this figurative use entirely and default to वक़्त (vaqt) or समय (samay) in every context; घड़ी (ghadii) specifically suits a weighty, singular moment, not time in general.
Sample Sentences:
आखिरकार वह शुभ घड़ी आ गई।
Finally, that auspicious moment arrived.
(aakhirkaar vah shubh ghadii aa gaii।)
पंडित जी ने विवाह की शुभ घड़ी का ऐलान किया।
The priest announced the auspicious moment for the wedding.
(pandit jii ne vivaah kii shubh ghadii kaa ailaan kiyaa।)
यह परिवार के लिए बहुत नाज़ुक घड़ी है।
This is a very critical moment for the family.
(yah parivaar ke lie bahut naazuk ghadii hai।)
मुश्किल घड़ी में उसने हमारा साथ दिया था।
In the difficult hour, he had stood by us.
(mushkil ghadii men usne hamaaraa saath diyaa thaa।)
अगर वह घड़ी न आती, तो शायद हम कभी न मिलते।
If that moment hadn't come, we might never have met.
(agar vah ghadii n aatii, to shaayad ham kabhii n milte।)
जीवन में हर घड़ी का अपना महत्व होता है।
In life, every moment has its own significance.
(jiivan men har ghadii kaa apnaa mahatv hotaa hai।)
काश वह घड़ी फिर लौट आए।
If only that moment would return again.
(kaash vah ghadii phir laut aae।)
संकट की इस घड़ी में हमें एकजुट रहना चाहिए।
In this hour of crisis, we should stay united.
(sankat kii is ghadii men hamen ekjut rahnaa chaahie।)
वह घड़ी हमेशा याद रखी जाएगी जब देश आज़ाद हुआ।
That moment when the country became free will always be remembered.
(vah ghadii hameshaa yaad rakhii jaaegii jab desh aazaad huaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.f.direct):
घड़ी
(ghadii)
(sg.f.oblique):
घड़ी
(ghadii)
(pl.f.direct):
घड़ियाँ
(ghadiyaan)
(pl.f.oblique):
घड़ियों
(ghadiyon)