फंदा (phandaa)
noun
Primarily a physical 'noose/snare/loop,' with a common figurative extension to a trap or entanglement (often romantic or situational) that a person gets caught in. Also note the variant spelling फ़ंदा (fandaa) with the nuqta.
Sense
1
:
noose, snare, loop (physical)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: जाल (jaal, net/trap, broader sense), पाश (paash, literary)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You will hear this word in news reports about suicides (phandaa lagaanaa, 'to hang oneself') as well as in hunting/trapping contexts -- शिकारी ने फंदा लगाया (shikaarii ne phandaa lagaayaa, 'the hunter set a snare'). It is a fairly blunt, concrete word, not euphemistic.
Common Mistakes: 1) फंदा (phandaa) refers to a loop of rope/string, whether used to catch an animal, hang oneself, or even a knitting loop -- learners sometimes default only to 'noose' and miss the broader 'loop/snare' sense.
Sample Sentences:
पुलिस को कमरे में एक फंदा लटका हुआ मिला।
The police found a noose hanging in the room.
(pulis ko kamre men ek phandaa latkaa huaa milaa।)
शिकारी ने जंगल में जगह-जगह फंदे लगाए।
The hunter set snares at various spots in the forest.
(shikaarii ne jangal men jagah-jagah phande lagaae।)
उस आदमी ने पंखे से फंदा लगाकर जान दे दी।
The man hanged himself from the ceiling fan.
(us aadmii ne pankhe se phandaa lagaakar jaan de dii।)
रस्सी का फंदा मत बनाओ, यह खतरनाक है।
Don't make a noose out of the rope, it's dangerous.
(rassii kaa phandaa mat banaao, yah khatarnaak hai।)
खरगोश फंदे में फँस गया।
The rabbit got caught in the snare.
(khargosh phande men phans gayaa।)
अगर तुम फंदा ठीक से नहीं बाँधोगे तो जानवर निकल भागेगा।
If you don't tie the snare properly, the animal will slip away.
(agar tum phandaa thiik se nahiin baandhoge to jaanvar nikal bhaagegaa।)
पेड़ की डाल पर एक फंदा बना हुआ था।
A noose was tied on the branch of the tree.
(ped kii daal par ek phandaa banaa huaa thaa।)
खबर आई कि छात्र ने छात्रावास में फंदा लगाकर खुदकुशी कर ली।
News came that the student had hanged himself in the hostel.
(khabar aaii ki chhaatr ne chhaatraavaas men phandaa lagaakar khudkushii kar lii।)
काश वह समय रहते फंदे से बच पाता।
If only he had managed to escape the noose in time.
(kaash vah samay rahte phande se bach paataa।)
फंदा इतना कसा हुआ था कि उसे खोलना मुश्किल हो गया।
The noose was tied so tight that it became hard to undo.
(phandaa itnaa kasaa huaa thaa ki use kholnaa mushkil ho gayaa।)
Sense
2
:
trap, entanglement (figurative)
noun, masculine Common in the fixed expression फंदे में फंसना (phande men phansnaa, 'to get caught in a trap') -- often used lightly about romantic entanglements or tricky situations, not just literal danger.
Synonyms: जाल (jaal, trap/web), चक्कर (chakkar, colloquial, situational mess/entanglement)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: Bollywood and everyday banter love this metaphor -- शादी का फंदा (shaadii kaa phandaa, 'the trap of marriage') is a common half-joking phrase older relatives or friends use to tease someone about getting married, framing commitment as a loop you get caught in.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners often translate this too literally as 'noose' in figurative contexts -- इश्क़ का फंदा (ishq kaa phandaa, 'the trap of love') is playful/idiomatic, not sinister. 2) The verb pairing is फंसना (phansnaa, to get caught) or फंसाना (phansaanaa, to entrap someone) -- फंदा (phandaa) itself is the noun, not the action.
Sample Sentences:
शादी का फंदा गले में पड़ ही गया।
The trap of marriage finally got around his neck.
(shaadii kaa phandaa gale men pad hii gayaa।)
भाई, अभी शादी के फंदे में मत फँस, थोड़ा एन्जॉय कर ले।
Bro, don't get caught in the trap of marriage yet, enjoy life a bit first.
(bhaaii, abhii shaadii ke phande men mat phans, thodaa enjoy kar le।)
यह नौकरी तो कर्ज़ के फंदे जैसी लगती है।
This job feels just like a trap of debt.
(yah naukrii to karz ke phande jaisii lagtii hai।)
अगर वह उस सौदे के फंदे में फँस जाता तो बहुत नुकसान होता।
If he had gotten caught in the trap of that deal, he would have suffered a big loss.
(agar vah us saude ke phande men phans jaataa to bahut nuksaan hotaa।)
उसे डर है कि यह रिश्ता किसी फंदे से कम नहीं निकलेगा।
She fears this relationship will turn out to be nothing less than a trap.
(use dar hai ki yah rishtaa kisii phande se kam nahiin niklegaa।)
लोन की किश्तों का फंदा हर महीने गले पर कसता जा रहा है।
The trap of loan installments is tightening around his neck every month.
(lon kii kishton kaa phandaa har mahiine gale par kastaa jaa rahaa hai।)
काश मैं उस राजनीतिक फंदे में न फँसता।
I wish I hadn't gotten entangled in that political trap.
(kaash main us raajniitik phande men n phanstaa।)
सत्ता की चाहत ने उन्हें ऐसे फंदे में डाल दिया जिससे निकलना नामुमकिन था।
The lust for power put them in such a trap that escaping was impossible.
(sattaa kii chaahat ne unhen aise phande men daal diyaa jisse nikalnaa naamumkin thaa।)
क्या तुम्हें नहीं लगता कि यह ऑफर भी एक फंदा हो सकता है?
Don't you think this offer could also be a trap?
(kyaa tumhen nahiin lagtaa ki yah ophar bhii ek phandaa ho saktaa hai?)
एक बार जब वह इस फंदे में फँस गया, तो वापस निकलना मुश्किल हो गया।
Once he got caught in this trap, getting back out became difficult.
(ek baar jab vah is phande men phans gayaa, to vaapas nikalnaa mushkil ho gayaa।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
फंदा
(phandaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
फंदे
(phande)
(pl.m.direct):
फंदे
(phande)
(pl.m.oblique):
फंदों
(phandon)