कथक (kathak)
noun
Primarily the name of a classical North Indian dance form; can also refer to a performer/narrator of stories in the older, literary sense.
Sense
1
:
Kathak (classical dance form)
noun, masculine
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: कथक (kathak) is one of the eight classical dance forms of India, closely associated with Lucknow and Jaipur gharanas, and known for its intricate footwork and spins. In Delhi you will hear the word constantly around cultural events at places like Kamani Auditorium or India Habitat Centre.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes treat कथक (kathak) as if it were the word for a dancer, but in this sense it names the dance style itself; the performer is कथक नर्तक (kathak nartak) or कथक नृत्यांगना (kathak nrityaangnaa) for a woman.
Sample Sentences:
वह कई सालों से कथक सीख रही है।
She has been learning Kathak for several years.
(vah kaii saalon se kathak siikh rahii hai।)
कल शाम कमानी ऑडिटोरियम में कथक का कार्यक्रम है।
There is a Kathak performance at Kamani Auditorium tomorrow evening.
(kal shaam kamaanii oditoriyam men kathak kaa kaaryakram hai।)
उसने लखनऊ घराने से कथक की तालीम ली थी।
She had received her Kathak training from the Lucknow gharana.
(usne lakhnaoo gharaane se kathak kii taaliim lii thii।)
कथक सीखो, इससे तुम्हारी बॉडी लैंग्वेज भी सुधर जाएगी।
Learn Kathak, it will improve your body language too.
(kathak siikho, isse tumhaarii bodii laingvej bhii sudhar jaaegii।)
अगर मुझे मौका मिलता तो मैं बचपन में ही कथक सीखती।
If I had gotten the chance, I would have learned Kathak in my childhood itself.
(agar mujhe maukaa miltaa to main bachpan men hii kathak siikhtii।)
इंडिया हैबिटेट सेंटर में हर महीने कथक की कोई न कोई प्रस्तुति होती है।
There is some Kathak performance or the other at India Habitat Centre every month.
(indiyaa haibitet sentar men har mahiine kathak kii koii n koii prastuti hotii hai।)
कथक की चक्करदार तेज़ घूमने वाली मुद्राएँ देखकर दर्शक दंग रह गए।
Seeing Kathak's rapid, spinning movements, the audience was left stunned.
(kathak kii chakkardaar tez ghoomne vaalii mudraaen dekhkar darshak dang rah gae।)
क्या तुम्हें कथक की घुँघरू वाली फुटवर्क पसंद है?
Do you like the ghungroo-based footwork of Kathak?
(kyaa tumhen kathak kii ghunghroo vaalii phutvark pasand hai?)
जयपुर घराने का कथक अपनी गति और भाव-भंगिमाओं के लिए जाना जाता है।
The Kathak of the Jaipur gharana is known for its speed and expressive gestures.
(jaypur gharaane kaa kathak apnii gati aur bhaav-bhangimaaon ke lie jaanaa jaataa hai।)
काश मैं भी उस कथक कार्यशाला में भाग ले पाता।
If only I too could have taken part in that Kathak workshop.
(kaash main bhii us kathak kaaryshaalaa men bhaag le paataa।)
Sense
2
:
storyteller/narrator (older, literary sense)
noun, masculine This sense derives from कथा (kathaa, 'story') plus the agentive suffix, literally 'one who tells a story'; it is the etymological root from which the dance form's name also comes, since Kathak performers historically narrated stories through dance.
Synonyms: कथावाचक (kathaavaachak, literary), वक्ता (vaktaa)
Frequency: literary
Cultural Note: This older sense survives mainly in religious or literary contexts, describing someone who narrates katha (kathaa) -- stories from scriptures like the Ramayana or Bhagavad Gita -- to an audience, often in a temple setting.
Sample Sentences:
मंदिर में कथक भागवत की कथा सुना रहा था।
In the temple, the storyteller was narrating a story from the Bhagavat.
(mandir men kathak bhaagvat kii kathaa sunaa rahaa thaa।)
एक कुशल कथक श्रोताओं को मंत्रमुग्ध कर देता है।
A skilled storyteller captivates the listeners.
(ek kushal kathak shrotaaon ko mantrmugdh kar detaa hai।)
कथक ने रामायण की कथा आरंभ की।
The storyteller began the tale of the Ramayana.
(kathak ne raamaayan kii kathaa aarambh kii।)
यदि कथक स्वयं कथा में डूब जाए, तो श्रोता भी डूब जाते हैं।
If the storyteller himself becomes immersed in the tale, the listeners become immersed too.
(yadi kathak svayan kathaa men doob jaae, to shrotaa bhii doob jaate hain।)
इस गाँव में कथक की वाणी को ईश्वर का आशीर्वाद माना जाता है।
In this village, the storyteller's speech is regarded as a blessing from God.
(is gaanv men kathak kii vaanii ko iishvar kaa aashiirvaad maanaa jaataa hai।)
हे कथक, हमें कृष्ण-लीला की कथा सुनाओ।
O storyteller, tell us the tale of Krishna's divine play.
(he kathak, hamen krishn-liilaa kii kathaa sunaao।)
यदि वह कथक होता, तो पूरा गाँव उसकी कथा सुनने आता।
If he were a storyteller, the whole village would come to hear his tale.
(yadi vah kathak hotaa, to pooraa gaanv uskii kathaa sunne aataa।)
प्राचीन काल में कथक राजाओं की सभा में भी कथा सुनाते थे।
In ancient times, storytellers used to narrate tales even in the courts of kings.
(praachiin kaal men kathak raajaaon kii sabhaa men bhii kathaa sunaate the।)
कथक की वाणी से समस्त सभा भावविभोर हो गई।
The entire assembly was overwhelmed with emotion by the storyteller's words.
(kathak kii vaanii se samast sabhaa bhaavvibhor ho gaii।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
कथक
(kathak)
(sg.m.oblique):
कथक
(kathak)
(pl.m.direct):
कथक
(kathak)
(pl.m.oblique):
कथकों
(kathkon)