शरणार्थी (sharnaarthii)
noun
A single-sense word meaning 'refugee' -- someone who has fled to seek shelter or asylum. Built from शरण (sharan, 'shelter/refuge') plus अर्थी (arthii, 'one who seeks'), the same pattern seen in words like स्वार्थी (svaarthii, 'selfish').
Sense
1
:
refugee
noun, masculine/feminine
Synonyms: निर्वासित (nirvaasit, exile/deportee, narrower sense), प्रवासी (pravaasii, migrant, broader/less precise)
Frequency: medium
Cultural Note: You'll hear this word constantly on Indian news channels (samaachaar) when discussing refugee crises -- from Partition-era (vibhaajan) refugees to more recent situations involving Rohingya or Afghan refugees (sharnaarthii). It carries real historical weight in India, since Partition created one of the largest refugee movements in modern history, and the word still evokes that collective memory for many older Hindi speakers.
Common Mistakes: 1) Learners sometimes use प्रवासी (pravaasii) as a direct substitute, but that word covers migrants and expatriates generally, not specifically people fleeing danger or persecution -- शरणार्थी (sharnaarthii) is the precise term used in news and legal contexts for 'refugee.' 2) The word is grammatically masculine in form but is used for people of any gender (sharnaarthii does not change for a female refugee) -- this can surprise learners expecting a feminine counterpart like the -ी ending might suggest.
Sample Sentences:
विभाजन के समय लाखों शरणार्थी सीमा पार करके भारत आए थे।
At the time of Partition, millions of refugees crossed the border and came to India.
(vibhaajan ke samay laakhon sharnaarthii siimaa paar karke bhaarat aae the।)
सरकार सीमा पर बने शरणार्थी शिविरों में राहत सामग्री भेज रही है।
The government is sending relief supplies to the refugee camps set up on the border.
(sarkaar siimaa par bane sharnaarthii shiviron men raahat saamagrii bhej rahii hai।)
समाचार चैनल हर रोज़ रोहिंग्या शरणार्थियों की स्थिति पर रिपोर्ट दिखाते हैं।
News channels show reports on the condition of Rohingya refugees every day.
(samaachaar chainal har roz rohingyaa sharnaarthiyon kii sthiti par riport dikhaate hain।)
युद्ध शुरू होते ही हज़ारों लोग शरणार्थी बन गए।
As soon as the war began, thousands of people became refugees.
(yuddh shuroo hote hii hazaaron log sharnaarthii ban gae।)
अगर हालात न बिगड़ते, तो इतने अफ़गान शरणार्थी पड़ोसी देशों में न भटकते।
If the situation hadn't worsened, so many Afghan refugees wouldn't be wandering in neighboring countries.
(agar haalaat n bigadte, to itne afgaan sharnaarthii padosii deshon men n bhatakte।)
क्या तुम्हारे दादा-दादी विभाजन के दौरान शरणार्थी थे?
Were your grandparents refugees during Partition?
(kyaa tumhaare daadaa-daadii vibhaajan ke dauraan sharnaarthii the?)
संयुक्त राष्ट्र चाहता है कि सभी देश शरणार्थियों को सुरक्षित शरण दें।
The United Nations wants all countries to grant refugees safe asylum.
(sanyukt raashtr chaahtaa hai ki sabhii desh sharnaarthiyon ko surakshit sharan den।)
उस उपन्यास में एक शरणार्थी परिवार के संघर्ष की मार्मिक कहानी बताई गई है।
In that novel, the poignant story of a refugee family's struggle is told.
(us upanyaas men ek sharnaarthii parivaar ke sangharsh kii maarmik kahaanii bataaii gaii hai।)
शरणार्थियों को नई जगह बसने में सालों लग जाते हैं।
It takes refugees years to settle in a new place.
(sharnaarthiyon ko naii jagah basne men saalon lag jaate hain।)
उन शरणार्थियों को खाना और कंबल दो, बाहर बहुत ठंड है।
Give those refugees food and blankets, it's very cold outside.
(un sharnaarthiyon ko khaanaa aur kambal do, baahar bahut thand hai।)
Morphology
Noun
(sg.m/f.direct):
शरणार्थी
(sharnaarthii)
(sg.m/f.oblique):
शरणार्थी
(sharnaarthii)
(pl.m/f.direct):
शरणार्थियाँ
(sharnaarthiyaan)
(pl.m/f.oblique):
शरणार्थियों
(sharnaarthiyon)