नन्हा-मुन्ना (nanhaa-munnaa)

adjective An affectionate reduplicated adjective meaning 'tiny, little' -- almost always used when cooing over small children or baby animals. It is built from नन्हा (nanhaa, 'tiny') plus its rhyming echo मुन्ना (munnaa, which also independently means 'little boy').

Sense 1 : tiny, adorably small (of a child, baby, or small creature)

adjective

Synonyms: छोटा सा (chhotaa saa), नन्हा (nanhaa, same root, less doting), प्यारा सा (pyaaraa saa, emphasizes cuteness over size)

Frequency: medium

Cultural Note: This is classic baby-talk vocabulary -- the kind of word a Delhi grandmother uses while pinching a toddler's cheeks, as in नन्हा-मुन्ना बच्चा (nanhaa-munnaa bachchaa, 'a tiny little child'). The reduplication itself carries the affection; saying just नन्हा (nanhaa) is fine but noticeably less warm and cooing.

Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often use this for any small object -- a small phone, a small bag -- but नन्हा-मुन्ना (nanhaa-munnaa) is reserved almost exclusively for living, endearing things: babies, children, kittens, chicks. For a small inanimate object, छोटा (chhotaa) is the right word. 2) Because it inflects like a regular -आ adjective, learners sometimes forget to inflect *both* halves together: it becomes नन्ही-मुन्नी (nanhii-munnii) for feminine/plural agreement, not just the second word.

Sample Sentences:

यह नन्हा-मुन्ना बच्चा कितना प्यारा है। This tiny little child is so adorable.

(yah nanhaa-munnaa bachchaa kitnaa pyaaraa hai।)

दादी अपने नन्हे-मुन्ने पोते को गोद में लिए बैठी थीं। Grandma was sitting with her tiny little grandson in her lap.

(daadii apne nanhe-munne pote ko god men lie baithii thiin।)

उस नन्ही-मुन्नी बच्ची को देखो, कैसे मुस्कुरा रही है। Look at that tiny little girl, how she's smiling.

(us nanhii-munnii bachchii ko dekho, kaise muskuraa rahii hai।)

मेरी नन्ही-मुन्नी गुड़िया आज बहुत खुश है। My little darling is very happy today.

(merii nanhii-munnii gudiyaa aaj bahut khush hai।)

अगर वह नन्हा-मुन्ना बिल्ली का बच्चा घर में आ जाता, तो सब खुश हो जाते। If that tiny little kitten had come into the house, everyone would have been happy.

(agar vah nanhaa-munnaa billii kaa bachchaa ghar men aa jaataa, to sab khush ho jaate।)

काश मेरा भी एक नन्हा-मुन्ना बच्चा होता। I wish I too had a tiny little baby.

(kaash meraa bhii ek nanhaa-munnaa bachchaa hotaa।)

नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चों को पार्क में खेलते देखकर दिल खुश हो जाता है। Watching the tiny little children play in the park makes the heart happy.

(nanhe-munne bachchon ko paark men khelte dekhkar dil khush ho jaataa hai।)

नानी हमेशा कहती थीं, 'यह नन्हा-मुन्ना है, इसे प्यार से रखो।' Grandma always used to say, 'He's a tiny little one, keep him with love.'

(naanii hameshaa kahtii thiin, 'yah nanhaa-munnaa hai, ise pyaar se rakho।')

इस नन्ही-मुन्नी चिड़िया को घोंसले से मत छेड़ो। Don't disturb this tiny little bird from its nest.

(is nanhii-munnii chidiyaa ko ghonsle se mat chhedo।)

उस नन्हे-मुन्ने बच्चे को दूध पिलाया जा रहा है। That tiny little baby is being given milk.

(us nanhe-munne bachche ko doodh pilaayaa jaa rahaa hai।)

Morphology

Adjective (variable)

Morphology could not be generated (hyphen-joined variable adjective 'नन्हा-मुन्ना').