माता-पिता (maataa-pitaa)
noun
A compound noun meaning 'parents' -- literally 'mother-father' -- built from माता (maataa, mother) and पिता (pitaa, father). Single sense, always used in this fixed pair form.
Sense
1
:
parents
noun, masculine Grammatically plural, agreeing with plural verb forms even though it is a fixed dvandva (pair) compound rather than a true plural noun.
Synonyms: अभिभावक (abhibhaavak, guardians/parents, formal), मां-बाप (maan-baap, colloquial)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: माता-पिता (maataa-pitaa) is the standard, respectful, everyday way to say 'parents' in Hindi -- more neutral and slightly more formal-sounding than मां-बाप (maan-baap), which is common in casual speech and carries a warmer, more colloquial flavor. Respect for माता-पिता (maataa-pitaa) is a deeply embedded value in Indian family life, often invoked in schools, festivals, and everyday moral conversation.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes try to split and inflect माता (maataa) and पिता (pitaa) separately, but the compound is treated as a single unit taking plural agreement as a whole, e.g. मेरे माता-पिता आए (mere maataa-pitaa aae, 'my parents came'). 2) Because it looks singular in form (no plural marker), learners forget it needs plural verb and adjective agreement, not singular.
Sample Sentences:
माता-पिता का सम्मान करना हर बच्चे का कर्तव्य है।
Respecting one's parents is every child's duty.
(maataa-pitaa kaa sammaan karnaa har bachche kaa kartavy hai।)
मेरे माता-पिता दिल्ली में रहते हैं।
My parents live in Delhi.
(mere maataa-pitaa dillii men rahte hain।)
उसके माता-पिता कल शादी में आए थे।
His parents had come to the wedding yesterday.
(uske maataa-pitaa kal shaadii men aae the।)
अपने माता-पिता से हमेशा सच बोलो।
Always tell the truth to your parents.
(apne maataa-pitaa se hameshaa sach bolo।)
काश मेरे माता-पिता मेरे इस फैसले को समझ पाते।
I wish my parents could have understood this decision of mine.
(kaash mere maataa-pitaa mere is phaisle ko samajh paate।)
स्कूल में शिक्षक अक्सर कहते हैं कि माता-पिता की सेवा करनी चाहिए।
Teachers at school often say that one should serve one's parents.
(skool men shikshak aksar kahte hain ki maataa-pitaa kii sevaa karnii chaahie।)
बच्चे को उसके माता-पिता से अलग कर दिया गया।
The child was separated from his parents.
(bachche ko uske maataa-pitaa se alag kar diyaa gayaa।)
अगर माता-पिता समय पर ध्यान दें, तो बच्चे बेहतर बनते हैं।
If parents pay attention in time, children turn out better.
(agar maataa-pitaa samay par dhyaan den, to bachche behtar bante hain।)
दशहरे पर वह अपने माता-पिता के पैर छूकर आशीर्वाद लेता है।
On Dussehra, he touches his parents' feet and takes their blessing.
(dashahre par vah apne maataa-pitaa ke pair chhookar aashiirvaad letaa hai।)
माता-पिता के बिना यह घर कभी खुशहाल नहीं रहेगा।
Without parents, this house will never remain happy.
(maataa-pitaa ke binaa yah ghar kabhii khushahaal nahiin rahegaa।)
माता-पिता अपने बच्चों के लिए हर सुख-दुख साझा करते हैं।
Parents share every joy and sorrow for the sake of their children.
(maataa-pitaa apne bachchon ke lie har sukh-dukh saajhaa karte hain।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
माता-पिता
([[माता-पिता]])
(sg.m.oblique):
माता-पिता
([[माता-पिता]])
(pl.m.direct):
माता-पिता
([[माता-पिता]])
(pl.m.oblique):
माता-पिताओं
([[माता-पिताओं]])