मुन्ना (munnaa)
noun
An affectionate term for a young boy, used both as a common noun ('little boy') and as a pet name/term of endearment for a son of any age; the feminine counterpart मुन्नी (munnii) exists as a related but separate lemma.
Sense
1
:
little boy, baby boy
noun, masculine
Synonyms: बच्चा (bachchaa), लड़का (ladkaa)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: You will hear शाबाश मुन्ने (shaabaash munne, 'well done, little one')! from grandparents and shopkeepers alike -- it is the default soft address for any small boy, related or not, much like 'sonny' in English but far more common in daily speech.
Common Mistakes: 1) मुन्ना (munnaa) is warmer and more affectionate than लड़का (ladkaa); do not reach for it as a neutral word for 'boy' in formal or descriptive contexts -- it signals fondness, the way an adult coos over a toddler. 2) It is almost always used for young children, not teenagers or grown men, even though it can survive as a pet name into adulthood (see next sense).
Sample Sentences:
मुन्ना बहुत प्यारा है।
The little boy is very cute.
(munnaa bahut pyaaraa hai।)
शाबाश मुन्ने, बहुत बढ़िया काम किया!
Well done, little one, you did a great job!
(shaabaash munne, bahut badhiyaa kaam kiyaa!)
मुन्ना पार्क में झूला झूल रहा है।
The little boy is swinging on the swing in the park.
(munnaa paark men jhoolaa jhool rahaa hai।)
मुन्ने, इधर आओ, देखो मैंने क्या लाया है।
Little boy, come here, look what I brought.
(munne, idhar aao, dekho mainne kyaa laayaa hai।)
दुकानदार ने मुन्ने को टॉफी दे दी।
The shopkeeper gave the little boy a toffee.
(dukaandaar ne munne ko tophii de dii।)
अगर मुन्ना रोता तो सब परेशान हो जाते।
If the little boy had cried, everyone would have gotten worried.
(agar munnaa rotaa to sab pareshaan ho jaate।)
मुन्ना रोज़ शाम को गली में खेलता है।
The little boy plays in the lane every evening.
(munnaa roz shaam ko galii men kheltaa hai।)
मुन्ना सोफे पर बैठा है और टीवी देख रहा है।
The little boy is sitting on the sofa watching TV.
(munnaa sophe par baithaa hai aur tiivii dekh rahaa hai।)
शायद मुन्ना स्कूल जाना नहीं चाहता हो।
Maybe the little boy does not want to go to school.
(shaayad munnaa skool jaanaa nahiin chaahtaa ho।)
पड़ोस के मुन्ने ने मेरी बेटी की गुड़िया तोड़ दी।
The neighbor's little boy broke my daughter's doll.
(pados ke munne ne merii betii kii gudiyaa tod dii।)
मुन्ने को दूध पिलाया जा रहा है।
The little boy is being fed milk.
(munne ko doodh pilaayaa jaa rahaa hai।)
Sense
2
:
pet name for one's son (used regardless of age)
noun, masculine
Synonyms: बेटा (betaa)
Frequency: high
Cultural Note: It is very common for मुन्ना (munnaa) to become a person's actual lifelong nickname within the family, distinct from the formal name on their school certificate -- you will meet grown men whose parents and siblings still call them मुन्ना (munnaa) at family gatherings.
Common Mistakes: 1) Many families keep calling a son मुन्ना (munnaa) well into his teens or even adulthood as a household nickname -- this is not baby talk gone wrong, it is a normal, lasting family pet name, sometimes the only name younger relatives ever use for him.
Sample Sentences:
मुन्ना, ज़रा इधर आना।
Sonny, come here for a second.
(munnaa, zaraa idhar aanaa।)
मुन्ना अब पैंतीस साल का हो गया है, पर घर में सब उसे मुन्ना ही बुलाते हैं।
Munna is thirty-five years old now, but everyone at home still just calls him Munna.
(munnaa ab paintiis saal kaa ho gayaa hai, par ghar men sab use munnaa hii bulaate hain।)
मुन्ना ने खाना खा लिया क्या?
Has sonny eaten his food?
(munnaa ne khaanaa khaa liyaa kyaa?)
मुन्ना दिल्ली से कल रात को लौटेगा।
Sonny will be back from Delhi tomorrow night.
(munnaa dillii se kal raat ko lautegaa।)
अगर मुन्ना यहाँ होता तो सबको संभाल लेता।
If Munna were here, he would have taken care of everyone.
(agar munnaa yahaan hotaa to sabko sambhaal letaa।)
श्रीमान शर्मा जी ने अपने बेटे, यानी मुन्ना, के लिए अच्छा रिश्ता ढूँढ लिया है।
Mr. Sharma has found a good match for his son, that is, Munna.
(shriimaan sharmaa jii ne apne bete, yaanii munnaa, ke lie achchhaa rishtaa dhoondh liyaa hai।)
मुन्ना, तुझे कुछ हो गया तो मैं क्या करूँगी?
Sonny, if something happens to you, what will I do?
(munnaa, tujhe kuchh ho gayaa to main kyaa karoongii?)
काश मुन्ना अभी भी हमारे साथ रहता।
I wish Munna still lived with us.
(kaash munnaa abhii bhii hamaare saath rahtaa।)
मुन्ना की शादी में पूरा खानदान इकट्ठा हुआ था।
The whole family had gathered for Munna's wedding.
(munnaa kii shaadii men pooraa khaandaan ikatthaa huaa thaa।)
दादी हमेशा कहती हैं, मुन्ना को ठंड जल्दी लग जाती है।
Grandma always says that Munna catches a chill easily.
(daadii hameshaa kahtii hain, munnaa ko thand jaldii lag jaatii hai।)
फोन पर माँ ने पूछा, मुन्ना कैसा है?
On the phone, mother asked, how is sonny?
(phon par maan ne poochhaa, munnaa kaisaa hai?)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m.direct):
मुन्ना
(munnaa)
(sg.m.oblique):
मुन्ने
(munne)
(pl.m.direct):
मुन्ने
(munne)
(pl.m.oblique):
मुन्नों
(munnon)